Football,f1 motorsports,NBA,Premier League

The weather in Atlanta is getting cooler. The leaves are changing, chimneys are burning wood and the smell of the seasons are changing. For the Falcons, especially had coach Mike Smith, the days may be getting warmer as his team cannot find the reverse button and change five losses in a row to at least one victory. The 22-21 loss in London was the icing on the cake as the offense came out firing at Wembley Stadium, only to be shut out in the second half.

After a dreadful season last year (four wins) and six in the last 24 games, could this be the make or break season for the defensive-minded leader?

Smith was asked Monday, according to ESPN.com, if he has any concerns about job security, with his team on a five-game losing streak.

"No," Smith said. "None whatsoever. We're going to do what we've done for the last six-plus years and prepare each and every week like we know how to do it. And I'm going to continue to do that until Mr. Blank tells me otherwise.''

Team owner Arthur Blank recently told ESPN.com he had confidence in both Smith and general manager Thomas Dimitroff to guide a turnaround and said he would wait to see how the season plays out before evaluating changes. But Blank was noticeably frustrated after Sunday's loss in London, telling the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "There's no way you lose that game -- just no way. There's nothing else I can say."

Smith is the team’s most successful head coach and the only one to take the team to consecutive playoff berths.

"I talk to Mr. Blank after every game and I think that those conversations do stay private,'' Smith said.”And I do agree with him. When you're up 21-0 at halftime, you should not lose that football game.''

If the Falcons do make a move, here are a few names the organization should consider.

JACK DEL RIO

The Falcons know about Del Rio from his time in Jacksonville. He has turned the Denver defense into a force this season. In 2003, he was named head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, a position he held until 2011. In that capacity he set the NFL record for the longest tenure of any coach without winning a division championship—over eight years.

KEVIN SUMLIN

He is currently head coach at Texas A&M University. Previously, Sumlin was the head football coach at the University of Houston from 2007 to 2011.

Sumlin has been named a potential NFL coach before. He has been the brains behind the machine that helped Johnny Manziel win a Heisman Trophy.

ART BRILES

I will take the suggestion of fellow FN writer Chris Alderson and run with it. I can see Briles gaining some attention from the Falcons.

In 2013, Briles led Baylor to arguably the best season in school history. The Bears started the season 9-0, propelling them as high as third in the nation at one point. They ultimately finished with a school-record 11 wins and only the second top-ten finish in school history. A 30-10 win over Texas in the final game of the season garnered them the Big 12 title—their first outright conference title since 1980—and earning the school's first-ever BCS bowl appearance with a trip to the 2014 Fiesta Bowl.

TERYL AUSTIN

A long shot for the young coach, but Austin is the reason the Detroit Lions defense is so good this season. Austin’s resume is short, but it does not mean it was not successful. Austin spent time in John Harbaugh’s system in Baltimore, helping the Ravens to the franchise’s second Super Bowl title. 

The weather in Atlanta is getting cooler. The leaves are changing, chimneys are burning wood and the smell of the seasons are changing. For the Falcons, especially had coach Mike Smith, the days may be getting warmer as his team cannot find the reverse button and change five losses in a row to at least one victory. The 22-21 loss in London was the icing on the cake as the offense came out firing at Wembley Stadium, only to be shut out in the second half.

After a dreadful season last year (four wins) and six in the last 24 games, could this be the make or break season for the defensive-minded leader?

Smith was asked Monday, according to ESPN.com, if he has any concerns about job security, with his team on a five-game losing streak.

"No," Smith said. "None whatsoever. We're going to do what we've done for the last six-plus years and prepare each and every week like we know how to do it. And I'm going to continue to do that until Mr. Blank tells me otherwise.''

Team owner Arthur Blank recently told ESPN.com he had confidence in both Smith and general manager Thomas Dimitroff to guide a turnaround and said he would wait to see how the season plays out before evaluating changes. But Blank was noticeably frustrated after Sunday's loss in London, telling the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "There's no way you lose that game -- just no way. There's nothing else I can say."

Smith is the team’s most successful head coach and the only one to take the team to consecutive playoff berths.

"I talk to Mr. Blank after every game and I think that those conversations do stay private,'' Smith said.”And I do agree with him. When you're up 21-0 at halftime, you should not lose that football game.''

If the Falcons do make a move, here are a few names the organization should consider.

JACK DEL RIO

The Falcons know about Del Rio from his time in Jacksonville. He has turned the Denver defense into a force this season. In 2003, he was named head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, a position he held until 2011. In that capacity he set the NFL record for the longest tenure of any coach without winning a division championship—over eight years.

KEVIN SUMLIN

He is currently head coach at Texas A&M University. Previously, Sumlin was the head football coach at the University of Houston from 2007 to 2011.

Sumlin has been named a potential NFL coach before. He has been the brains behind the machine that helped Johnny Manziel win a Heisman Trophy.

ART BRILES

I will take the suggestion of fellow FN writer Chris Alderson and run with it. I can see Briles gaining some attention from the Falcons.

In 2013, Briles led Baylor to arguably the best season in school history. The Bears started the season 9-0, propelling them as high as third in the nation at one point. They ultimately finished with a school-record 11 wins and only the second top-ten finish in school history. A 30-10 win over Texas in the final game of the season garnered them the Big 12 title—their first outright conference title since 1980—and earning the school's first-ever BCS bowl appearance with a trip to the 2014 Fiesta Bowl.

TERYL AUSTIN

A long shot for the young coach, but Austin is the reason the Detroit Lions defense is so good this season. Austin’s resume is short, but it does not mean it was not successful. Austin spent time in John Harbaugh’s system in Baltimore, helping the Ravens to the franchise’s second Super Bowl title. 

The weather in Atlanta is getting cooler. The leaves are changing, chimneys are burning wood and the smell of the seasons are changing. For the Falcons, especially had coach Mike Smith, the days may be getting warmer as his team cannot find the reverse button and change five losses in a row to at least one victory. The 22-21 loss in London was the icing on the cake as the offense came out firing at Wembley Stadium, only to be shut out in the second half.

After a dreadful season last year (four wins) and six in the last 24 games, could this be the make or break season for the defensive-minded leader?

Smith was asked Monday, according to ESPN.com, if he has any concerns about job security, with his team on a five-game losing streak.

"No," Smith said. "None whatsoever. We're going to do what we've done for the last six-plus years and prepare each and every week like we know how to do it. And I'm going to continue to do that until Mr. Blank tells me otherwise.''

Team owner Arthur Blank recently told ESPN.com he had confidence in both Smith and general manager Thomas Dimitroff to guide a turnaround and said he would wait to see how the season plays out before evaluating changes. But Blank was noticeably frustrated after Sunday's loss in London, telling the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "There's no way you lose that game -- just no way. There's nothing else I can say."

Smith is the team’s most successful head coach and the only one to take the team to consecutive playoff berths.

"I talk to Mr. Blank after every game and I think that those conversations do stay private,'' Smith said.”And I do agree with him. When you're up 21-0 at halftime, you should not lose that football game.''

If the Falcons do make a move, here are a few names the organization should consider.

JACK DEL RIO

The Falcons know about Del Rio from his time in Jacksonville. He has turned the Denver defense into a force this season. In 2003, he was named head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, a position he held until 2011. In that capacity he set the NFL record for the longest tenure of any coach without winning a division championship—over eight years.

KEVIN SUMLIN

He is currently head coach at Texas A&M University. Previously, Sumlin was the head football coach at the University of Houston from 2007 to 2011.

Sumlin has been named a potential NFL coach before. He has been the brains behind the machine that helped Johnny Manziel win a Heisman Trophy.

ART BRILES

I will take the suggestion of fellow FN writer Chris Alderson and run with it. I can see Briles gaining some attention from the Falcons.

In 2013, Briles led Baylor to arguably the best season in school history. The Bears started the season 9-0, propelling them as high as third in the nation at one point. They ultimately finished with a school-record 11 wins and only the second top-ten finish in school history. A 30-10 win over Texas in the final game of the season garnered them the Big 12 title—their first outright conference title since 1980—and earning the school's first-ever BCS bowl appearance with a trip to the 2014 Fiesta Bowl.

TERYL AUSTIN

A long shot for the young coach, but Austin is the reason the Detroit Lions defense is so good this season. Austin’s resume is short, but it does not mean it was not successful. Austin spent time in John Harbaugh’s system in Baltimore, helping the Ravens to the franchise’s second Super Bowl title. 

The weather in Atlanta is getting cooler. The leaves are changing, chimneys are burning wood and the smell of the seasons are changing. For the Falcons, especially had coach Mike Smith, the days may be getting warmer as his team cannot find the reverse button and change five losses in a row to at least one victory. The 22-21 loss in London was the icing on the cake as the offense came out firing at Wembley Stadium, only to be shut out in the second half.

After a dreadful season last year (four wins) and six in the last 24 games, could this be the make or break season for the defensive-minded leader?

Smith was asked Monday, according to ESPN.com, if he has any concerns about job security, with his team on a five-game losing streak.

"No," Smith said. "None whatsoever. We're going to do what we've done for the last six-plus years and prepare each and every week like we know how to do it. And I'm going to continue to do that until Mr. Blank tells me otherwise.''

Team owner Arthur Blank recently told ESPN.com he had confidence in both Smith and general manager Thomas Dimitroff to guide a turnaround and said he would wait to see how the season plays out before evaluating changes. But Blank was noticeably frustrated after Sunday's loss in London, telling the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "There's no way you lose that game -- just no way. There's nothing else I can say."

Smith is the team’s most successful head coach and the only one to take the team to consecutive playoff berths.

"I talk to Mr. Blank after every game and I think that those conversations do stay private,'' Smith said.”And I do agree with him. When you're up 21-0 at halftime, you should not lose that football game.''

If the Falcons do make a move, here are a few names the organization should consider.

JACK DEL RIO

The Falcons know about Del Rio from his time in Jacksonville. He has turned the Denver defense into a force this season. In 2003, he was named head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, a position he held until 2011. In that capacity he set the NFL record for the longest tenure of any coach without winning a division championship—over eight years.

KEVIN SUMLIN

He is currently head coach at Texas A&M University. Previously, Sumlin was the head football coach at the University of Houston from 2007 to 2011.

Sumlin has been named a potential NFL coach before. He has been the brains behind the machine that helped Johnny Manziel win a Heisman Trophy.

ART BRILES

I will take the suggestion of fellow FN writer Chris Alderson and run with it. I can see Briles gaining some attention from the Falcons.

In 2013, Briles led Baylor to arguably the best season in school history. The Bears started the season 9-0, propelling them as high as third in the nation at one point. They ultimately finished with a school-record 11 wins and only the second top-ten finish in school history. A 30-10 win over Texas in the final game of the season garnered them the Big 12 title—their first outright conference title since 1980—and earning the school's first-ever BCS bowl appearance with a trip to the 2014 Fiesta Bowl.

TERYL AUSTIN

A long shot for the young coach, but Austin is the reason the Detroit Lions defense is so good this season. Austin’s resume is short, but it does not mean it was not successful. Austin spent time in John Harbaugh’s system in Baltimore, helping the Ravens to the franchise’s second Super Bowl title. 

The New York Jets have been a circus this season. Today, the Jets fell to the Buffalo Bills 43-23 at Metlife Stadium, falling to 1-7 on the season. New York has lost seven in a row for the first time since 2005.

Geno Smith was pulled in favor of Michael Vick late in the first quarter after throwing his third interception of the game. New addition Percy Harvin, who was acquired from the Seattle Seahawks for a 2015 conditional draft pick,had three receptions for 23 yards while adding 28 yards on the ground. The game was close at halftime as Nick Folk kicked a 55 yard field goal as time expired in the first half. But the Jets were outscored 20-6 in the second half with the game pretty much over going into the fourth quarter.

So where do the Jets go from here? In the difficult AFC East division that is clearly out of reach and a season that is by all means over, many questions still loom.

1. Will Rex Ryan be fired?

After reaching back-to-back AFC Champiomship games in 2009 and 2010, the Jets have failed to get back to the playoffs since. In his sixth season as the head coach, Rex Ryan has a record of 43-44. Just two weeks ago, Ryan admitted that if his team doesn't right the ship he believes he will be fired. "You're right, if that's the case and we don't get this thing on the right track, I don't think for a minute I'll be here. I know I won't, but I believe this team will right itself and we'll find a way." Well now that the team has fallen to 1-7, Rex Ryan's job is quickly slipping from his grasp.

2. Is Geno Smith a NFL starting quarterback?

Coming out of training camp, the Jets organization was very pleased with the development of Geno Smith. After showing promising signs at the end of last season, Geno Smith looked poised to take the reigns for the Jets in his second season in the NFL. The team brought in Michael Vick to contend for the starting job, but it was evident early in camp that it was Smith's job to lose. But after just eight games, Geno Smith has thrown 10 interceptions while only throwing seven touchdown passes in that same span. Smith looks extremely uncomfortable in the spotlight of New York. With a high draft pick looming, Geno Smith's days as the quarterback for the New York Jets are numbered.

3. Can Percy Harvin be an every down wide receiver?

Percy Harvin was dealt to the Jets from the Seattle Seahawks just a day after the Jets fell to the Patriots on Thursday Night Football two weeks ago. The speedy wideout is a great addition to the Jets who lack explosiveness on the offensive side of the ball. But can he really be expected to be an every down receiver? Seattle used Harvin mostly in the screen game, a little out of the backfield and had him on special teams returning kicks. Harvin says that he wants to be defined strictly as a wide receiver and not a player that did a little bit of everything else. Percy Harvin unquestionably brings intrigue to this lackluster offense but without a quality quarterback to get him the ball, the addition of Harvin might go rather unnoticed in the short run.

The New York Jets generated plenty of excitement coming into this year. A team that was expected to compete for a playoff spot in the AFC, the Jets are now inevitably looking ahead to the offseason where a complete overhaul is expected for Gang Green. For all the Jets fans out there, just remember, it can only get better from here. 

This season the Atlanta Falcons, from the NFC South, entered 2014 will high expectations after having a down 2013 season. The 2013 Falcons were impacted by key injuries and the inability to come up big in the crucial spots. It led to a 4-12 record in 2013 and lots of lowlights to go along with it.

This season the Falcons started 2-1 and appeared to be a team on a mission. That has been anything but the case and now the Falcons sit at 2-6 and losers of five straight games. This season appears to be a lost cause, but their saving grace is the fact they play in an NFC South division that no one seems to be pulling away from the pack.

The Falcons blew a double digit lead in their game this past Sunday against the Detroit Lions. The Lions came out victorious 22-21 and this has left the Atlanta Falcons searching for answers. As I just mentioned, their only saving grace is that the NFC South is still winnable for Atlanta despite only having two wins to this point.

The big question will now be how long until the Falcons make a change at head coach? Falcons’ Head Coach Mike Smith has had a great run of success since becoming the head guy in 2008. After this 2-6 start his time in Atlanta may be coming to an end sooner rather than later.

If Smith was to be let go as Head Coach of the Atlanta Falcons, who would be the best fit to take over in Atlanta? I have thought about this issue and one surprise name that I keep thinking of resides in Texas.

That surprise head coach that I feel would be a great match for the Falcons is Baylor Head Coach Art Briles. Yes, I know he is not a name that many people know a lot about, but he is a guy that could be a sleeper hire this coming offseason for a big time college team or even an NFL team as I have suggested here.

Briles is currently in his 7^th season with the Baylor Bears and has done one of the best jobs in college football history in the way he has put Baylor on the map. Before Briles arrival at Baylor they were a rundown program that had no publicity, significant honors or even a thought in the landscape of big time college football.

Since he took over at Baylor the Bears have had the honor of having a Heisman Trophy winner, a Fiesta Bowl appearance and won a share of the Big 12 title in 2013.

Briles was a very successful high school coach in Texas before making the jump to the college game and it has been an instant success ever since he made that decision. Briles has brought a “cool factor” to Baylor with new uniforms, a new multimillion dollar stadium and most importantly, huge success in the win column.

Briles has mentioned how he is intrigued with trying his air attack type offense at the NFL level. Briles has an offensive system that allows the quarterback and receivers to air it out early and often.

The offense that Briles runs at Baylor offers more attempts of passes 20 or more yards than basically any other team in football and that goes for both college and the NFL. I believe his interest level in coaching at the NFL level is real and if the right team offers he will likely take the job.

He was rumored to be up for the Texas Longhorns’ opening this past offseason, but he turned down any serious talks to remain at Baylor. He might have made this decision to continue building his legacy at Baylor in hopes that it would eventually lead to an offer in the NFL.

The Atlanta Falcons, I feel, is the perfect spot for him. The Falcons have a big time quarterback in Matt Ryan surrounded by big time receivers, such as Roddy White and Julio Jones, which would fit perfectly into what Briles wants to do offensively.

The pieces are in place with the Falcons to run Briles' air raid offense right away. It would be a nice match for both parties. Briles would get the opportunity to try his offense at the NFL level and the Falcons would get an innovative offensive coach that is becoming a hot commodity in today’s NFL.

The success that Chip Kelly is having with the Philadelphia Eagles has opened the door for coaches like Briles. Kelly’s success at Oregon with an explosive offense landed him the job in Philadelphia and it has been instant success ever since.

Briles is in the same situation and the Falcons should make a call to Briles when they decide to let Mike Smith go. It would be fun to watch how Briles’ offense does in the NFL, especially with the explosive pieces the Falcons have.

This is something that is interesting to think about and may very well become a discussion that is had by both Briles and the Falcons down the road. The Falcons are on a road to nowhere, but a breath of fresh air like Briles would certainly rejuvenate the fans in Atlanta. It may be a long shot this ever actually happens, but the idea of the two parties combining is exciting for football fans everywhere.

The New York Jets have been a circus this season. Today, the Jets fell to the Buffalo Bills 43-23 at Metlife Stadium, falling to 1-7 on the season. New York has lost seven in a row for the first time since 2005.

Geno Smith was pulled in favor of Michael Vick late in the first quarter after throwing his third interception of the game. New addition Percy Harvin, who was acquired from the Seattle Seahawks for a 2015 conditional draft pick,had three receptions for 23 yards while adding 28 yards on the ground. The game was close at halftime as Nick Folk kicked a 55 yard field goal as time expired in the first half. But the Jets were outscored 20-6 in the second half with the game pretty much over going into the fourth quarter.

So where do the Jets go from here? In the difficult AFC East division that is clearly out of reach and a season that is by all means over, many questions still loom.

1. Will Rex Ryan be fired?

After reaching back-to-back AFC Champiomship games in 2009 and 2010, the Jets have failed to get back to the playoffs since. In his sixth season as the head coach, Rex Ryan has a record of 43-44. Just two weeks ago, Ryan admitted that if his team doesn't right the ship he believes he will be fired. "You're right, if that's the case and we don't get this thing on the right track, I don't think for a minute I'll be here. I know I won't, but I believe this team will right itself and we'll find a way." Well now that the team has fallen to 1-7, Rex Ryan's job is quickly slipping from his grasp.

2. Is Geno Smith a NFL starting quarterback?

Coming out of training camp, the Jets organization was very pleased with the development of Geno Smith. After showing promising signs at the end of last season, Geno Smith looked poised to take the reigns for the Jets in his second season in the NFL. The team brought in Michael Vick to contend for the starting job, but it was evident early in camp that it was Smith's job to lose. But after just eight games, Geno Smith has thrown 10 interceptions while only throwing seven touchdown passes in that same span. Smith looks extremely uncomfortable in the spotlight of New York. With a high draft pick looming, Geno Smith's days as the quarterback for the New York Jets are numbered.

3. Can Percy Harvin be an every down wide receiver?

Percy Harvin was dealt to the Jets from the Seattle Seahawks just a day after the Jets fell to the Patriots on Thursday Night Football two weeks ago. The speedy wideout is a great addition to the Jets who lack explosiveness on the offensive side of the ball. But can he really be expected to be an every down receiver? Seattle used Harvin mostly in the screen game, a little out of the backfield and had him on special teams returning kicks. Harvin says that he wants to be defined strictly as a wide receiver and not a player that did a little bit of everything else. Percy Harvin unquestionably brings intrigue to this lackluster offense but without a quality quarterback to get him the ball, the addition of Harvin might go rather unnoticed in the short run.

The New York Jets generated plenty of excitement coming into this year. A team that was expected to compete for a playoff spot in the AFC, the Jets are now inevitably looking ahead to the offseason where a complete overhaul is expected for Gang Green. For all the Jets fans out there, just remember, it can only get better from here. 

This season the Atlanta Falcons, from the NFC South, entered 2014 will high expectations after having a down 2013 season. The 2013 Falcons were impacted by key injuries and the inability to come up big in the crucial spots. It led to a 4-12 record in 2013 and lots of lowlights to go along with it.

This season the Falcons started 2-1 and appeared to be a team on a mission. That has been anything but the case and now the Falcons sit at 2-6 and losers of five straight games. This season appears to be a lost cause, but their saving grace is the fact they play in an NFC South division that no one seems to be pulling away from the pack.

The Falcons blew a double digit lead in their game this past Sunday against the Detroit Lions. The Lions came out victorious 22-21 and this has left the Atlanta Falcons searching for answers. As I just mentioned, their only saving grace is that the NFC South is still winnable for Atlanta despite only having two wins to this point.

The big question will now be how long until the Falcons make a change at head coach? Falcons’ Head Coach Mike Smith has had a great run of success since becoming the head guy in 2008. After this 2-6 start his time in Atlanta may be coming to an end sooner rather than later.

If Smith was to be let go as Head Coach of the Atlanta Falcons, who would be the best fit to take over in Atlanta? I have thought about this issue and one surprise name that I keep thinking of resides in Texas.

That surprise head coach that I feel would be a great match for the Falcons is Baylor Head Coach Art Briles. Yes, I know he is not a name that many people know a lot about, but he is a guy that could be a sleeper hire this coming offseason for a big time college team or even an NFL team as I have suggested here.

Briles is currently in his 7^th season with the Baylor Bears and has done one of the best jobs in college football history in the way he has put Baylor on the map. Before Briles arrival at Baylor they were a rundown program that had no publicity, significant honors or even a thought in the landscape of big time college football.

Since he took over at Baylor the Bears have had the honor of having a Heisman Trophy winner, a Fiesta Bowl appearance and won a share of the Big 12 title in 2013.

Briles was a very successful high school coach in Texas before making the jump to the college game and it has been an instant success ever since he made that decision. Briles has brought a “cool factor” to Baylor with new uniforms, a new multimillion dollar stadium and most importantly, huge success in the win column.

Briles has mentioned how he is intrigued with trying his air attack type offense at the NFL level. Briles has an offensive system that allows the quarterback and receivers to air it out early and often.

The offense that Briles runs at Baylor offers more attempts of passes 20 or more yards than basically any other team in football and that goes for both college and the NFL. I believe his interest level in coaching at the NFL level is real and if the right team offers he will likely take the job.

He was rumored to be up for the Texas Longhorns’ opening this past offseason, but he turned down any serious talks to remain at Baylor. He might have made this decision to continue building his legacy at Baylor in hopes that it would eventually lead to an offer in the NFL.

The Atlanta Falcons, I feel, is the perfect spot for him. The Falcons have a big time quarterback in Matt Ryan surrounded by big time receivers, such as Roddy White and Julio Jones, which would fit perfectly into what Briles wants to do offensively.

The pieces are in place with the Falcons to run Briles' air raid offense right away. It would be a nice match for both parties. Briles would get the opportunity to try his offense at the NFL level and the Falcons would get an innovative offensive coach that is becoming a hot commodity in today’s NFL.

The success that Chip Kelly is having with the Philadelphia Eagles has opened the door for coaches like Briles. Kelly’s success at Oregon with an explosive offense landed him the job in Philadelphia and it has been instant success ever since.

Briles is in the same situation and the Falcons should make a call to Briles when they decide to let Mike Smith go. It would be fun to watch how Briles’ offense does in the NFL, especially with the explosive pieces the Falcons have.

This is something that is interesting to think about and may very well become a discussion that is had by both Briles and the Falcons down the road. The Falcons are on a road to nowhere, but a breath of fresh air like Briles would certainly rejuvenate the fans in Atlanta. It may be a long shot this ever actually happens, but the idea of the two parties combining is exciting for football fans everywhere.

Bye teams: Miami Dolphins, Oakland Raiders

Thursday, Oct. 2

Minnesota Vikings (2-2) @ Green Bay Packers (2-2), 8:25 p.m.

The Vikings' running game took off against the Falcons, but that defense has been porous all year. The Packers, who have allowed two backs to top 100 yards, are not much better, so look for Matt Asiata and Jerick McKinnon to impress once again. The Packers' pass defense, though, has done well this year, so how well the Vikings' offense moves down the field will certainly depend on whether Teddy Bridgewater plays or sits out.

The Vikings' secondary has held up well, holding Drew Brees and Matt Ryan under 300 yards and Tom Brady under 150, while Aaron Rodgers has surprisingly struggled to move his team down the field, excluding his four touchdown performance in Chicago. Eddie Lacy scored his first touchdown in Week 4, but it still looks bad for the second-year back, who is averaging three yards a carry. The offense will have to rely on Rodgers, who will have to play up to his MVP-level expectations.

Green Bay Packers Win, 35-27

Sunday, Oct. 5

Chicago Bears (2-2) @ Carolina Panthers (2-2), 1 p.m.

After a disappointing loss to their divisional rivals, the Bears will look to return to their Week 2 shape. Jay Cutler has been impressive in his team's wins, while he has thrown two picks in each of his team's losses. The Panthers have failed to contain Joe Flacco and Ben Roethlisberger, so Cutler will fare well. Matt Forte, though, will have a tough game, as the Panthers' front seven, even with missing players, is one of the best in the league.

Losing two straight, Cam Newton has failed to move his offense down the field. The Bears, meanwhile allowed two Packer receivers to top 100 yards, while allowing Aaron Rodgers to top 400 yards. Newton and his surprisingly productive receiving corps match up favorably against an inconsistent Chicago secondary. The Panthers are thin at running back, so do not expect them to run the ball too often, even against an weak Chicago front seven.

Chicago Bears Win, 37-31

Cleveland Browns (1-2) @ Tennessee Titans (1-3), 1 p.m.

All of the Browns' games have been within a field goal, while the Titans have dropped three straight by a combined score of 66. Brian Hoyer, who has thrown three touchdowns to zero picks, will look to lead his offense down the field against a suspect defense. The Titans' defense has done well against the run, excluding the game against DeMarco Murray, so do not expect Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell to do as well as they did in their first three games.

Jake Locker will be back on the field, but up against a stout secondary, he will struggle. The Titans have not run the ball too often, but the Browns have one of the worst run defenses in the league. If the Titans' defense does not hold up, then they will likely abandon the run game, as they did in their past three games, and will be forced to rely on an unsteady passing attack.

Cleveland Browns Win, 24-20

St. Louis Rams (1-2) @ Philadelphia Eagles (3-1), 1 p.m.

The Rams shocked everyone by winning in Tampa Bay - not much of a surprise now - and had a 21-10 lead on the Cowboys at halftime. The Rams will look for Shaun Hill, who is expected to start, to expose the Eagles' suspect secondary. They will likely end up relying on their running game, with Zac Stacy and their line matching up favorable against the Eagles' front seven.

Nick Foles and the Eagles' offense was shut down last week, but the Rams defense, who allowed the Vikings and Cowboys to score a combined 68 points, is not on the same level as the 49ers'. LeSean McCoy should have his best game yet, as the Rams have allowed backs like Bobby Rainey to run free.

Philadelphia Eagles Win, 30-20

Atlanta Falcons (2-2) @ New York Giants (2-2), 1 p.m.

The Falcons have one of the league's best passing attacks, but the Giants have one of the few secondaries that are capable of containing them. Steven Jackson and Jacquizz Rodgers will look to make an impact against a below average run defense, but as always, the Falcons will turn to their passing game once the other team starts putting up points.

The Falcons may have one of the league's worst defenses, so look for the Giants to attack them both through the air and on the ground. Eli Manning has had two nice outings in a row, after two uneven showings in the beginning of the year. The Giants will look to run the ball, but if Ryan continuously beats the Giants' secondary, they will quickly turn to Manning.

New York Giants Win, 31-28

Pittsburgh Steelers (2-2) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (0-4), 1 p.m.

After a depressing loss to the Buccaneers, the Steelers will look to rebound against the winless Jaguars. The Jaguars have allowed opposing quarterbacks to throw for an average of 330 yards, so look for Ben Roethlisberger to have a nice rebounding game. Le'Veon Bell will also have a nice game, as the Steelers will likely go up early, allowing Bell to run down the clock.

The Steelers do not have the best run defense, but the Jaguars' offensive line has struggled mightily to open up lanes for Toby Gerhart. With their defense likely to give up a lot of points, look for the Jaguars to lean on Blake Bortles early.

Pittsburgh Steelers Win, 42-21

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-3) @ New Orleans Saints (1-3), 1 p.m.

The Buccaneers won their first game last week, while the Saints' only win came against the Vikings. Look for Mike Glennon and Bobby Rainey to dominate a defense that has failed to stop opposing offenses. Even without Mike Evans in the lineup, Glennon has enough receivers to beat the Saints' suspect secondary.

Drew Brees has not played like himself this year, but he will do very well against the Buccaneers, who were torched by the Falcons for 56 points. Khiry Robinson and Pierre Thomas have done well in relief of Mark Ingram, and the Buccaneers' run defense is average at best, so look for them to make an impact.

New Orleans Saints Win, 30-28

Houston Texans (3-1) @ Dallas Cowboys (3-1), 1 p.m.

Ryan Fitzpatrick is still prone to turnovers, and the Cowboys' defense is playing much better than expected. The Texans will have to rely on a running attack lead by a worn-out Arian Foster and their sixth-round pick, Alfred Blue. The Cowboys' run defense is slightly above average, so do not expect the Texans to find much success on offense.

Tony Romo, like Fitzpatrick, is prone to turnovers, but the Cowboys have a nice offensive line to go with one of the league's most productive backs, DeMarco Murray. Murray should be able to top 100 once again and keep Romo from throwing the game away.

Dallas Cowboys Win, 27-17

Buffalo Bills (2-2) @ Detroit Lions (3-1), 1 p.m.

With E.J. Manuel benched and Kyle Orton in, there is little hope for the Bills' passing attack. The Lions' pass rush has done a good job masking their secondary's flaws, and look for them to do the same against the Bills. C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson will look to continue their strong starts, but the Lions' run defense will look to contain them.

The Bills will most definitely shut down the Lions running game, so Matthew Stafford will have to play his best. Inconsistent so far this season, Stafford will be relied on to keep the Lions atop the Bills in what looks to be a low-scoring game.

Detroit Lions Win, 20-13

Baltimore Ravens (3-1) @ Indianapolis Colts (2-2), 1 p.m.

Outside of the match-up against the Eagles, the Colts have yet to face a productive running back, so it is not accurate to say that they have a stout run defense. Lorenzo Taliaferro may have had a nice game in Cleveland, but every back does; the Ravens will rely on Joe Flacco to lead the offense down the field.

Andrew Luck has had trouble keeping up with the league's better offenses, but Flacco will not put up 30 points on the Colts' defense. The Ravens have a decent run defense, but look for Ahmad Bradshaw and Trent Richardson to have nice outings as they attempt to prove that they are a top-tier backfield tandem.

Baltimore Ravens Win, 28-24

Arizona Cardinals (3-0) @ Denver Broncos (2-1), 4:05 p.m.

Both teams have started off the season strong and have played extremely well in all three of their games. The Broncos, though, have allowing opposing teams to run all over them, so look for Andre Ellington to have a nice game. Drew Stanton is likely to start for the Cardinals, so they will likely rely on Ellington and a conservative passing game.

The Cardinals have done fairly well against the pass, but have been much better against the run. Expect Peyton Manning to air it out, as Montee Ball will not be able to find running room against the surprisingly stout Arizona front.

Denver Broncos Win, 31-24

Kansas City Chiefs (2-2) @ San Francisco 49ers (2-2), 4:25 p.m.

Coming off an impressive victory over the Patriots, the Chiefs looked strong in every phase. Meanwhile, the 49ers put up one of the best defensive performances of the season, holding the Eagles' offense to zero points. The Chiefs will likely struggle to run the ball, but Alex Smith should be able to move the ball with consistency against what is still a suspect secondary.

Colin Kaepernick will have to avoid mistakes against the Chiefs' ballhawking defense. The 49ers will lean on a running attack early, as the Chiefs' run defense is nothing special with multiple contributors out with injuries. Frank Gore and Carlos Hyde should be able to power their way through the Chiefs' defensive front.

San Francisco 49ers Win, 27-23

New York Jets (1-3) @ San Diego Chargers (3-1), 4:25 p.m.

Geno Smith has yet to play well this year, and going up against a surprisingly stingy defense, he will not do much better. The Jets will want to hand the ball off to Chris Ivory, but the Chargers have yet to allow any back to top 53 yards.

Philip Rivers has played like an MVP so far, and he certainly matches up favorably against a weak secondary. With a lacking run game and going up against one of the league's best run defenses, Rivers will get the ball a lot. Expect Rivers to top 300 yards and score at least three touchdowns in what will look to be a blowout from the start. If the Jets are to have a chance, they must find a way to contain Rivers.

San Diego Chargers Win, 35-20

Cincinnati Bengals (3-0) @ New England Patriots (2-2), 8:30 p.m.

Coming off of a bye week, the Bengals will look to continue from where they left off. The Patriots' defense has been exposed left and right, so expect Andy Dalton and A.J. Green to do just that. Jeremy Hill will likely have the game of his life, as the Bengals are expected to get ahead early.

The Patriots are coming off of two disappointing games, one of which was a 41-14 loss to the Chiefs. The Bengals are a much better team than the Chiefs, so the Patriots are definitely in trouble. Tom Brady will likely throw for a lot of yards, but will ultimately come up short on the scoreboard.

Cincinnati Bengals Win, 30-21

Monday, Oct. 6

Seattle Seahawks (2-1) @ Washington Redskins (1-3), 8:30 p.m.

The Redskins have had plenty of defensive troubles this season, both in pass and run containment. Going up aganist a strong duo in Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch, the Redskins' defense will certainly struggle.

Alfred Morris will struggle to get yardage not only because the Seahawks have a good defense, but because the Redskins will likely abandon the running game when they fall behind. Kirk Cousins will be leaned on heavily early, as the Seahawks will be able to put points on the board early. If the Redskins are to have a chance, they will have to shut down Marshawn Lynch.

Seattle Seahawks Win, 38-28

I used the following websites for information:

https://linkonym.appspot.com/?http://http://www.footballnation.com/content/2014-nfl-week-5-predictions-alex-smith-back-san-francisco/31282/www.cbssports.com/nfl/injuries

https://linkonym.appspot.com/?http://http://www.footballnation.com/content/2014-nfl-week-5-predictions-alex-smith-back-san-francisco/31282/www.nfl.com/stats/player

https://linkonym.appspot.com/?http://http://www.footballnation.com/content/2014-nfl-week-5-predictions-alex-smith-back-san-francisco/31282/www.nfl.com/draft/2014/tracker

https://linkonym.appspot.com/?http://http://www.footballnation.com/content/2014-nfl-week-5-predictions-alex-smith-back-san-francisco/31282/www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/depthcharts.aspx

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2014/05/12/2014-depth-charts/

Bye teams: Miami Dolphins, Oakland Raiders

Thursday, Oct. 2

Minnesota Vikings (2-2) @ Green Bay Packers (2-2), 8:25 p.m.

The Vikings' running game took off against the Falcons, but that defense has been porous all year. The Packers, who have allowed two backs to top 100 yards, are not much better, so look for Matt Asiata and Jerick McKinnon to impress once again. The Packers' pass defense, though, has done well this year, so how well the Vikings' offense moves down the field will certainly depend on whether Teddy Bridgewater plays or sits out.

The Vikings' secondary has held up well, holding Drew Brees and Matt Ryan under 300 yards and Tom Brady under 150, while Aaron Rodgers has surprisingly struggled to move his team down the field, excluding his four touchdown performance in Chicago. Eddie Lacy scored his first touchdown in Week 4, but it still looks bad for the second-year back, who is averaging three yards a carry. The offense will have to rely on Rodgers, who will have to play up to his MVP-level expectations.

Green Bay Packers Win, 35-27

Sunday, Oct. 5

Chicago Bears (2-2) @ Carolina Panthers (2-2), 1 p.m.

After a disappointing loss to their divisional rivals, the Bears will look to return to their Week 2 shape. Jay Cutler has been impressive in his team's wins, while he has thrown two picks in each of his team's losses. The Panthers have failed to contain Joe Flacco and Ben Roethlisberger, so Cutler will fare well. Matt Forte, though, will have a tough game, as the Panthers' front seven, even with missing players, is one of the best in the league.

Losing two straight, Cam Newton has failed to move his offense down the field. The Bears, meanwhile allowed two Packer receivers to top 100 yards, while allowing Aaron Rodgers to top 400 yards. Newton and his surprisingly productive receiving corps match up favorably against an inconsistent Chicago secondary. The Panthers are thin at running back, so do not expect them to run the ball too often, even against an weak Chicago front seven.

Chicago Bears Win, 37-31

Cleveland Browns (1-2) @ Tennessee Titans (1-3), 1 p.m.

All of the Browns' games have been within a field goal, while the Titans have dropped three straight by a combined score of 66. Brian Hoyer, who has thrown three touchdowns to zero picks, will look to lead his offense down the field against a suspect defense. The Titans' defense has done well against the run, excluding the game against DeMarco Murray, so do not expect Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell to do as well as they did in their first three games.

Jake Locker will be back on the field, but up against a stout secondary, he will struggle. The Titans have not run the ball too often, but the Browns have one of the worst run defenses in the league. If the Titans' defense does not hold up, then they will likely abandon the run game, as they did in their past three games, and will be forced to rely on an unsteady passing attack.

Cleveland Browns Win, 24-20

St. Louis Rams (1-2) @ Philadelphia Eagles (3-1), 1 p.m.

The Rams shocked everyone by winning in Tampa Bay - not much of a surprise now - and had a 21-10 lead on the Cowboys at halftime. The Rams will look for Shaun Hill, who is expected to start, to expose the Eagles' suspect secondary. They will likely end up relying on their running game, with Zac Stacy and their line matching up favorable against the Eagles' front seven.

Nick Foles and the Eagles' offense was shut down last week, but the Rams defense, who allowed the Vikings and Cowboys to score a combined 68 points, is not on the same level as the 49ers'. LeSean McCoy should have his best game yet, as the Rams have allowed backs like Bobby Rainey to run free.

Philadelphia Eagles Win, 30-20

Atlanta Falcons (2-2) @ New York Giants (2-2), 1 p.m.

The Falcons have one of the league's best passing attacks, but the Giants have one of the few secondaries that are capable of containing them. Steven Jackson and Jacquizz Rodgers will look to make an impact against a below average run defense, but as always, the Falcons will turn to their passing game once the other team starts putting up points.

The Falcons may have one of the league's worst defenses, so look for the Giants to attack them both through the air and on the ground. Eli Manning has had two nice outings in a row, after two uneven showings in the beginning of the year. The Giants will look to run the ball, but if Ryan continuously beats the Giants' secondary, they will quickly turn to Manning.

New York Giants Win, 31-28

Pittsburgh Steelers (2-2) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (0-4), 1 p.m.

After a depressing loss to the Buccaneers, the Steelers will look to rebound against the winless Jaguars. The Jaguars have allowed opposing quarterbacks to throw for an average of 330 yards, so look for Ben Roethlisberger to have a nice rebounding game. Le'Veon Bell will also have a nice game, as the Steelers will likely go up early, allowing Bell to run down the clock.

The Steelers do not have the best run defense, but the Jaguars' offensive line has struggled mightily to open up lanes for Toby Gerhart. With their defense likely to give up a lot of points, look for the Jaguars to lean on Blake Bortles early.

Pittsburgh Steelers Win, 42-21

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-3) @ New Orleans Saints (1-3), 1 p.m.

The Buccaneers won their first game last week, while the Saints' only win came against the Vikings. Look for Mike Glennon and Bobby Rainey to dominate a defense that has failed to stop opposing offenses. Even without Mike Evans in the lineup, Glennon has enough receivers to beat the Saints' suspect secondary.

Drew Brees has not played like himself this year, but he will do very well against the Buccaneers, who were torched by the Falcons for 56 points. Khiry Robinson and Pierre Thomas have done well in relief of Mark Ingram, and the Buccaneers' run defense is average at best, so look for them to make an impact.

New Orleans Saints Win, 30-28

Houston Texans (3-1) @ Dallas Cowboys (3-1), 1 p.m.

Ryan Fitzpatrick is still prone to turnovers, and the Cowboys' defense is playing much better than expected. The Texans will have to rely on a running attack lead by a worn-out Arian Foster and their sixth-round pick, Alfred Blue. The Cowboys' run defense is slightly above average, so do not expect the Texans to find much success on offense.

Tony Romo, like Fitzpatrick, is prone to turnovers, but the Cowboys have a nice offensive line to go with one of the league's most productive backs, DeMarco Murray. Murray should be able to top 100 once again and keep Romo from throwing the game away.

Dallas Cowboys Win, 27-17

Buffalo Bills (2-2) @ Detroit Lions (3-1), 1 p.m.

With E.J. Manuel benched and Kyle Orton in, there is little hope for the Bills' passing attack. The Lions' pass rush has done a good job masking their secondary's flaws, and look for them to do the same against the Bills. C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson will look to continue their strong starts, but the Lions' run defense will look to contain them.

The Bills will most definitely shut down the Lions running game, so Matthew Stafford will have to play his best. Inconsistent so far this season, Stafford will be relied on to keep the Lions atop the Bills in what looks to be a low-scoring game.

Detroit Lions Win, 20-13

Baltimore Ravens (3-1) @ Indianapolis Colts (2-2), 1 p.m.

Outside of the match-up against the Eagles, the Colts have yet to face a productive running back, so it is not accurate to say that they have a stout run defense. Lorenzo Taliaferro may have had a nice game in Cleveland, but every back does; the Ravens will rely on Joe Flacco to lead the offense down the field.

Andrew Luck has had trouble keeping up with the league's better offenses, but Flacco will not put up 30 points on the Colts' defense. The Ravens have a decent run defense, but look for Ahmad Bradshaw and Trent Richardson to have nice outings as they attempt to prove that they are a top-tier backfield tandem.

Baltimore Ravens Win, 28-24

Arizona Cardinals (3-0) @ Denver Broncos (2-1), 4:05 p.m.

Both teams have started off the season strong and have played extremely well in all three of their games. The Broncos, though, have allowing opposing teams to run all over them, so look for Andre Ellington to have a nice game. Drew Stanton is likely to start for the Cardinals, so they will likely rely on Ellington and a conservative passing game.

The Cardinals have done fairly well against the pass, but have been much better against the run. Expect Peyton Manning to air it out, as Montee Ball will not be able to find running room against the surprisingly stout Arizona front.

Denver Broncos Win, 31-24

Kansas City Chiefs (2-2) @ San Francisco 49ers (2-2), 4:25 p.m.

Coming off an impressive victory over the Patriots, the Chiefs looked strong in every phase. Meanwhile, the 49ers put up one of the best defensive performances of the season, holding the Eagles' offense to zero points. The Chiefs will likely struggle to run the ball, but Alex Smith should be able to move the ball with consistency against what is still a suspect secondary.

Colin Kaepernick will have to avoid mistakes against the Chiefs' ballhawking defense. The 49ers will lean on a running attack early, as the Chiefs' run defense is nothing special with multiple contributors out with injuries. Frank Gore and Carlos Hyde should be able to power their way through the Chiefs' defensive front.

San Francisco 49ers Win, 27-23

New York Jets (1-3) @ San Diego Chargers (3-1), 4:25 p.m.

Geno Smith has yet to play well this year, and going up against a surprisingly stingy defense, he will not do much better. The Jets will want to hand the ball off to Chris Ivory, but the Chargers have yet to allow any back to top 53 yards.

Philip Rivers has played like an MVP so far, and he certainly matches up favorably against a weak secondary. With a lacking run game and going up against one of the league's best run defenses, Rivers will get the ball a lot. Expect Rivers to top 300 yards and score at least three touchdowns in what will look to be a blowout from the start. If the Jets are to have a chance, they must find a way to contain Rivers.

San Diego Chargers Win, 35-20

Cincinnati Bengals (3-0) @ New England Patriots (2-2), 8:30 p.m.

Coming off of a bye week, the Bengals will look to continue from where they left off. The Patriots' defense has been exposed left and right, so expect Andy Dalton and A.J. Green to do just that. Jeremy Hill will likely have the game of his life, as the Bengals are expected to get ahead early.

The Patriots are coming off of two disappointing games, one of which was a 41-14 loss to the Chiefs. The Bengals are a much better team than the Chiefs, so the Patriots are definitely in trouble. Tom Brady will likely throw for a lot of yards, but will ultimately come up short on the scoreboard.

Cincinnati Bengals Win, 30-21

Monday, Oct. 6

Seattle Seahawks (2-1) @ Washington Redskins (1-3), 8:30 p.m.

The Redskins have had plenty of defensive troubles this season, both in pass and run containment. Going up aganist a strong duo in Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch, the Redskins' defense will certainly struggle.

Alfred Morris will struggle to get yardage not only because the Seahawks have a good defense, but because the Redskins will likely abandon the running game when they fall behind. Kirk Cousins will be leaned on heavily early, as the Seahawks will be able to put points on the board early. If the Redskins are to have a chance, they will have to shut down Marshawn Lynch.

Seattle Seahawks Win, 38-28

I used the following websites for information:

https://linkonym.appspot.com/?http://http://www.footballnation.com/content/2014-nfl-week-5-predictions-alex-smith-back-san-francisco/31282/www.cbssports.com/nfl/injuries

https://linkonym.appspot.com/?http://http://www.footballnation.com/content/2014-nfl-week-5-predictions-alex-smith-back-san-francisco/31282/www.nfl.com/stats/player

https://linkonym.appspot.com/?http://http://www.footballnation.com/content/2014-nfl-week-5-predictions-alex-smith-back-san-francisco/31282/www.nfl.com/draft/2014/tracker

https://linkonym.appspot.com/?http://http://www.footballnation.com/content/2014-nfl-week-5-predictions-alex-smith-back-san-francisco/31282/www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/depthcharts.aspx

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2014/05/12/2014-depth-charts/

Bye teams: Miami Dolphins, Oakland Raiders

Thursday, Oct. 2

Minnesota Vikings (2-2) @ Green Bay Packers (2-2), 8:25 p.m.

The Vikings' running game took off against the Falcons, but that defense has been porous all year. The Packers, who have allowed two backs to top 100 yards, are not much better, so look for Matt Asiata and Jerick McKinnon to impress once again. The Packers' pass defense, though, has done well this year, so how well the Vikings' offense moves down the field will certainly depend on whether Teddy Bridgewater plays or sits out.

The Vikings' secondary has held up well, holding Drew Brees and Matt Ryan under 300 yards and Tom Brady under 150, while Aaron Rodgers has surprisingly struggled to move his team down the field, excluding his four touchdown performance in Chicago. Eddie Lacy scored his first touchdown in Week 4, but it still looks bad for the second-year back, who is averaging three yards a carry. The offense will have to rely on Rodgers, who will have to play up to his MVP-level expectations.

Green Bay Packers Win, 35-27

Sunday, Oct. 5

Chicago Bears (2-2) @ Carolina Panthers (2-2), 1 p.m.

After a disappointing loss to their divisional rivals, the Bears will look to return to their Week 2 shape. Jay Cutler has been impressive in his team's wins, while he has thrown two picks in each of his team's losses. The Panthers have failed to contain Joe Flacco and Ben Roethlisberger, so Cutler will fare well. Matt Forte, though, will have a tough game, as the Panthers' front seven, even with missing players, is one of the best in the league.

Losing two straight, Cam Newton has failed to move his offense down the field. The Bears, meanwhile allowed two Packer receivers to top 100 yards, while allowing Aaron Rodgers to top 400 yards. Newton and his surprisingly productive receiving corps match up favorably against an inconsistent Chicago secondary. The Panthers are thin at running back, so do not expect them to run the ball too often, even against an weak Chicago front seven.

Chicago Bears Win, 37-31

Cleveland Browns (1-2) @ Tennessee Titans (1-3), 1 p.m.

All of the Browns' games have been within a field goal, while the Titans have dropped three straight by a combined score of 66. Brian Hoyer, who has thrown three touchdowns to zero picks, will look to lead his offense down the field against a suspect defense. The Titans' defense has done well against the run, excluding the game against DeMarco Murray, so do not expect Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell to do as well as they did in their first three games.

Jake Locker will be back on the field, but up against a stout secondary, he will struggle. The Titans have not run the ball too often, but the Browns have one of the worst run defenses in the league. If the Titans' defense does not hold up, then they will likely abandon the run game, as they did in their past three games, and will be forced to rely on an unsteady passing attack.

Cleveland Browns Win, 24-20

St. Louis Rams (1-2) @ Philadelphia Eagles (3-1), 1 p.m.

The Rams shocked everyone by winning in Tampa Bay - not much of a surprise now - and had a 21-10 lead on the Cowboys at halftime. The Rams will look for Shaun Hill, who is expected to start, to expose the Eagles' suspect secondary. They will likely end up relying on their running game, with Zac Stacy and their line matching up favorable against the Eagles' front seven.

Nick Foles and the Eagles' offense was shut down last week, but the Rams defense, who allowed the Vikings and Cowboys to score a combined 68 points, is not on the same level as the 49ers'. LeSean McCoy should have his best game yet, as the Rams have allowed backs like Bobby Rainey to run free.

Philadelphia Eagles Win, 30-20

Atlanta Falcons (2-2) @ New York Giants (2-2), 1 p.m.

The Falcons have one of the league's best passing attacks, but the Giants have one of the few secondaries that are capable of containing them. Steven Jackson and Jacquizz Rodgers will look to make an impact against a below average run defense, but as always, the Falcons will turn to their passing game once the other team starts putting up points.

The Falcons may have one of the league's worst defenses, so look for the Giants to attack them both through the air and on the ground. Eli Manning has had two nice outings in a row, after two uneven showings in the beginning of the year. The Giants will look to run the ball, but if Ryan continuously beats the Giants' secondary, they will quickly turn to Manning.

New York Giants Win, 31-28

Pittsburgh Steelers (2-2) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (0-4), 1 p.m.

After a depressing loss to the Buccaneers, the Steelers will look to rebound against the winless Jaguars. The Jaguars have allowed opposing quarterbacks to throw for an average of 330 yards, so look for Ben Roethlisberger to have a nice rebounding game. Le'Veon Bell will also have a nice game, as the Steelers will likely go up early, allowing Bell to run down the clock.

The Steelers do not have the best run defense, but the Jaguars' offensive line has struggled mightily to open up lanes for Toby Gerhart. With their defense likely to give up a lot of points, look for the Jaguars to lean on Blake Bortles early.

Pittsburgh Steelers Win, 42-21

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-3) @ New Orleans Saints (1-3), 1 p.m.

The Buccaneers won their first game last week, while the Saints' only win came against the Vikings. Look for Mike Glennon and Bobby Rainey to dominate a defense that has failed to stop opposing offenses. Even without Mike Evans in the lineup, Glennon has enough receivers to beat the Saints' suspect secondary.

Drew Brees has not played like himself this year, but he will do very well against the Buccaneers, who were torched by the Falcons for 56 points. Khiry Robinson and Pierre Thomas have done well in relief of Mark Ingram, and the Buccaneers' run defense is average at best, so look for them to make an impact.

New Orleans Saints Win, 30-28

Houston Texans (3-1) @ Dallas Cowboys (3-1), 1 p.m.

Ryan Fitzpatrick is still prone to turnovers, and the Cowboys' defense is playing much better than expected. The Texans will have to rely on a running attack lead by a worn-out Arian Foster and their sixth-round pick, Alfred Blue. The Cowboys' run defense is slightly above average, so do not expect the Texans to find much success on offense.

Tony Romo, like Fitzpatrick, is prone to turnovers, but the Cowboys have a nice offensive line to go with one of the league's most productive backs, DeMarco Murray. Murray should be able to top 100 once again and keep Romo from throwing the game away.

Dallas Cowboys Win, 27-17

Buffalo Bills (2-2) @ Detroit Lions (3-1), 1 p.m.

With E.J. Manuel benched and Kyle Orton in, there is little hope for the Bills' passing attack. The Lions' pass rush has done a good job masking their secondary's flaws, and look for them to do the same against the Bills. C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson will look to continue their strong starts, but the Lions' run defense will look to contain them.

The Bills will most definitely shut down the Lions running game, so Matthew Stafford will have to play his best. Inconsistent so far this season, Stafford will be relied on to keep the Lions atop the Bills in what looks to be a low-scoring game.

Detroit Lions Win, 20-13

Baltimore Ravens (3-1) @ Indianapolis Colts (2-2), 1 p.m.

Outside of the match-up against the Eagles, the Colts have yet to face a productive running back, so it is not accurate to say that they have a stout run defense. Lorenzo Taliaferro may have had a nice game in Cleveland, but every back does; the Ravens will rely on Joe Flacco to lead the offense down the field.

Andrew Luck has had trouble keeping up with the league's better offenses, but Flacco will not put up 30 points on the Colts' defense. The Ravens have a decent run defense, but look for Ahmad Bradshaw and Trent Richardson to have nice outings as they attempt to prove that they are a top-tier backfield tandem.

Baltimore Ravens Win, 28-24

Arizona Cardinals (3-0) @ Denver Broncos (2-1), 4:05 p.m.

Both teams have started off the season strong and have played extremely well in all three of their games. The Broncos, though, have allowing opposing teams to run all over them, so look for Andre Ellington to have a nice game. Drew Stanton is likely to start for the Cardinals, so they will likely rely on Ellington and a conservative passing game.

The Cardinals have done fairly well against the pass, but have been much better against the run. Expect Peyton Manning to air it out, as Montee Ball will not be able to find running room against the surprisingly stout Arizona front.

Denver Broncos Win, 31-24

Kansas City Chiefs (2-2) @ San Francisco 49ers (2-2), 4:25 p.m.

Coming off an impressive victory over the Patriots, the Chiefs looked strong in every phase. Meanwhile, the 49ers put up one of the best defensive performances of the season, holding the Eagles' offense to zero points. The Chiefs will likely struggle to run the ball, but Alex Smith should be able to move the ball with consistency against what is still a suspect secondary.

Colin Kaepernick will have to avoid mistakes against the Chiefs' ballhawking defense. The 49ers will lean on a running attack early, as the Chiefs' run defense is nothing special with multiple contributors out with injuries. Frank Gore and Carlos Hyde should be able to power their way through the Chiefs' defensive front.

San Francisco 49ers Win, 27-23

New York Jets (1-3) @ San Diego Chargers (3-1), 4:25 p.m.

Geno Smith has yet to play well this year, and going up against a surprisingly stingy defense, he will not do much better. The Jets will want to hand the ball off to Chris Ivory, but the Chargers have yet to allow any back to top 53 yards.

Philip Rivers has played like an MVP so far, and he certainly matches up favorably against a weak secondary. With a lacking run game and going up against one of the league's best run defenses, Rivers will get the ball a lot. Expect Rivers to top 300 yards and score at least three touchdowns in what will look to be a blowout from the start. If the Jets are to have a chance, they must find a way to contain Rivers.

San Diego Chargers Win, 35-20

Cincinnati Bengals (3-0) @ New England Patriots (2-2), 8:30 p.m.

Coming off of a bye week, the Bengals will look to continue from where they left off. The Patriots' defense has been exposed left and right, so expect Andy Dalton and A.J. Green to do just that. Jeremy Hill will likely have the game of his life, as the Bengals are expected to get ahead early.

The Patriots are coming off of two disappointing games, one of which was a 41-14 loss to the Chiefs. The Bengals are a much better team than the Chiefs, so the Patriots are definitely in trouble. Tom Brady will likely throw for a lot of yards, but will ultimately come up short on the scoreboard.

Cincinnati Bengals Win, 30-21

Monday, Oct. 6

Seattle Seahawks (2-1) @ Washington Redskins (1-3), 8:30 p.m.

The Redskins have had plenty of defensive troubles this season, both in pass and run containment. Going up aganist a strong duo in Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch, the Redskins' defense will certainly struggle.

Alfred Morris will struggle to get yardage not only because the Seahawks have a good defense, but because the Redskins will likely abandon the running game when they fall behind. Kirk Cousins will be leaned on heavily early, as the Seahawks will be able to put points on the board early. If the Redskins are to have a chance, they will have to shut down Marshawn Lynch.

Seattle Seahawks Win, 38-28

I used the following websites for information:

https://linkonym.appspot.com/?http://http://www.footballnation.com/content/2014-nfl-week-5-predictions-alex-smith-back-san-francisco/31282/www.cbssports.com/nfl/injuries

https://linkonym.appspot.com/?http://http://www.footballnation.com/content/2014-nfl-week-5-predictions-alex-smith-back-san-francisco/31282/www.nfl.com/stats/player

https://linkonym.appspot.com/?http://http://www.footballnation.com/content/2014-nfl-week-5-predictions-alex-smith-back-san-francisco/31282/www.nfl.com/draft/2014/tracker

https://linkonym.appspot.com/?http://http://www.footballnation.com/content/2014-nfl-week-5-predictions-alex-smith-back-san-francisco/31282/www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/depthcharts.aspx

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2014/05/12/2014-depth-charts/