Week 5 NFL picks straight up: Bengals earn big win in Big D (2024)

Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS

One slight problem for the Patriots to worry about with Brady back: They weren’t great at protecting his quarterback replacements, and it can’t all be chalked up to their inexperience.The Browns are now unlucky along with being unable to get out of their own way. This really should be more of a coronation than a game. Patriots, 31-17

Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS

One defense that’s holding up pretty well without J.J. Watt, and another that’s looking Super Bowl-level dominant. Roll with the dominant one, especially against Brock Osweiler (74.8 rating, six interceptions, more than everybody except Ryan Fitzpatrick and Jameis Winston). Sam Bradford has never had this much help, and he’s taking advantage of it. Vikings, 24-10

Sunday, 1 p.m., Fox

Carson Wentz and the Eagles come off of an early bye week, so it’s another challenge for a rookie starter, keeping the momentum. Once again, Matthew Stafford is throwing for a lot of yards and not getting a lot of results for it. Wentz doesn’t have to outplay him, even though in his last game, he outplayed Ben Roethlisberger. Eagles, 19-17

Sunday, 1 p.m., Fox

John Fox’s dilemma — play Jay Cutler when he’s healthy, or keep Brian Hoyer in — isn’t a very pleasant one. Beating the Lions doesn’t mean the Bears are OK, or that their defense is respectable. This would all work in the Colts’ favor if they hadn’t just lost to the underachieving Jaguars. Colts, 27-13

Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS

The Dolphins have had since the previous Thursday to think about why they’re so bad at moving the ball, as they showed against the Bengals. It’s the kind of offense the Titans’ defense needs to see, because their own offense (No. 4 in the NFL in rushing, plus Marcus Mariota) needs to get on the field more. Titans, 22-16

Sunday, 1 p.m., Fox

Local supremacy is at stake and, for both, legitimacy. The Ravens lost at home last week to the best team they’ve faced so far, the Raiders. Washington’s two straight wins haven’t exactly been against heavyweights (Giants, Browns). The most fun individual matchup of the weekend should be Steve Smith Sr. vs. Josh Norman. Ravens, 24-20

Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS

Time for the Steelers to prove for good that the egg they laid at home against the Eagles was an aberration. Also time for the Jets to prove that all the confidence they’ve shown in Ryan Fitzpatrick is justified — as well as time for him to prove it, too. This is not a good combination for the Jets. Steelers, 26-19

Sunday, 4:05 p.m., Fox

More questions about the health of key players: Trevor Siemien’s shoulder may or may not be ready for this game, and Paxton Lynch may or may not be ready to start now. Their defense will be ready for Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, Devonte Freeman and everybody else piling up points and yards for the Falcons lately. Broncos, 23-20

Sunday, 4:25 p.m., CBS

The Cowboys can’t pretend they’re just fine without Dez Bryant. The momentum Ezekiel Elliott is building helps a lot, but they need that to continue. Asking their defense to contain A.J. Green and Co. is a tall order. The Cowboys’ home field skid is over, but that doesn’t make them a lock there yet. Bengals, 30-26

Sunday, 4:25 p.m., CBS

Good luck guessing what either team will do from week to week. The Rams still don’t seem that far removed from that disappearing act they pulled in San Francisco on the first Monday night. The same for the Bills team that was in such disarray after the Thursday loss to the Jets. The more stable team is … the Rams, which tells you something about Rex Ryan's team. Rams, 23-21

Sunday, 4:25 p.m., CBS

The Chargers are getting set up for another deja vu, more late heartbreak. Against a still-struggling Raiders defense, they’re very capable of taking a lead, then being unable to protect it. This will be a welcome home win for a Raiders team hungry for one, and for more validation. Raiders, 31-28

Sunday, 8:30 p.m., NBC

Hooray, more of the Giants, Eli Manning’s Eli-ness, and Odell Beckham Jr.’s internal struggles, in prime time. Like the Eagles, the Packers really didn’t need an early bye week, as they try to get consistent again. Lighting up the Lions doesn’t really put minds at ease about how Aaron Rodgers and the offense are playing. Packers, 30-17

Monday, 8:30 p.m., ESPN

One team’s season will be in extra-super-ultra-deep trouble by losing this game. The Panthers had better figure out how to protect Cam Newton better, or Newton had better start becoming the biggest pain in the rear to officials the league has ever seen. There’s no reason to think the Bucs can’t beat up on him the way everyone else has so far. Panthers, 18-16

Thursday, 8:30 p.m., CBS/NFL Network/Twitter

These Cardinals are hardly recognizable right now, and they know it. Turning around and doing something about it is another story, though, especially on short rest and on the road. It’s still hard to tell whether they were bad or if the Rams are that good. That’s a big distinction for this game, because the 49ers, despite themselves, have been occasionally competitive. Pick: Cardinals, 30-24