NFL Picks Week 5: Chicago Bears and Winners of This Week’s Divisional Matchups
Published by Kyle Vassalo on October 8, 2011
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
Last week didn’t bring us any division rivalries. In Week 5, there are four division matchups that are sure to deliver the heated rivalries we were lacking in Week 4.
Anything can happen in a divisional matchup, and we’re bound to see a couple of upsets that will change the complexion of not only the divisions these teams are involved in, but the entire NFL.
Here are the teams that will win this week’s divisional matchups.
The Bears take on the undefeated Lions on the road on Monday Night Football. It’s a daunting task, but the Bears are better than their record indicates and the Lions are overdue for a loss. The Bears are 2-2 after losing to the Packers and Saints, while the Lions are 4-0 after beating three teams who didn’t make the playoffs last season (the other was the Kansas City Chiefs).
The Lions mustered an insane comeback against the Cowboys, but are overdue for a loss. Calvin Johnson is on a tear right now, but Matt Forte has over 300 yards on the ground and another 310 through the air. He’s going to be able to match Johnson’s production and Julius Peppers will make Matthew Stafford‘s life miserable.
The Jets beat the Patriots in the playoffs last season. Big deal. The Jets are falling apart, and with their miserable run defense that ranks 27th in the league and embarrassing run game that only generates 71 yards per game, it’s clear the Jets are out of sorts.
Both teams are going to look to get it done through the air, and a Mark Sanchez vs Tom Brady shootout isn’t going to end well for Rex Ryan‘s Jets. Another week will bring another loss to the soon-to-be 2-3 Jets.
The Broncos have been competitive at home. They are 1-1 and came within a field goal of the Raiders. They may have been blown away by the Packers, but the Broncos aren’t a scrub team or an easy win for the Chargers by any means.
The Chargers barely beat the Chiefs a couple of weeks ago and beating the Dolphins at home isn’t impressing anyone. They’re banged up and only took down the Broncos by five last time they went into Mile High. If this was at Qualcom, it would be all Philip Rivers and the Chargers, but they aren’t.
This game is going to be a lot closer than it looks. The Panthers have a history of playing the Saints tough, and even though Drew Brees and New Orleans put forth one of the best teams in the entire NFL, the Panthers are going to be competitive.
The Saints allow 254 yards per game through the air. Even so, a Cam Newton vs Brees air show favors Brees. This is going to be a shootout and though the Panthers are going to make it interesting, the Saints are going to be too much for the young Panthers.
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