The 2021 NFL season is off to a roaring start. Three NFL experts from the Prime Time Sports Talk staff came together to share their picks for Week 5.
These three writers will make their picks for the entire season, earning two points for any correct win-loss outcome and an additional three points for correctly predicting the exact score. (Failure to accurately predict a tie will be treated as a loss.) A cumulative points total and record will be listed at the bottom of every article. An archive of all 18 regular-season and four playoff editions can be found here.
Sam Schneider, Joe Heller, and Andersen Pickard contributed to this article.
Los Angeles Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks
Sam: Seahawks 31, Rams 27
Let’s kick off Week 5 with an upset. Seattle was scrambling after coughing up back-to-back 30-plus-point games to Tennessee and Minnesota. They turned the ship around and got right on the road against San Francisco last Sunday. The narrow loss to the Titans in Week 2 represented their lone home game this season. In this divisional matchup, they put the naysayers back in their place. Running the ball rapidly becomes an afterthought as the home team has a convincing win (backed by the 12s) through the air in the Pacific Northwest.
Joe: Seahawks 34, Rams 24
The Rams are coming off of their first loss of the season. Meanwhile, the Seahawks defeated the 49ers and have seemed to right the ship. This will be a back-and-forth game but Russell Wilson and company will pull away for good early in the fourth quarter.
Andersen: Rams 31, Seahawks 27
Outside of a Week 4 loss to the Cardinals, the Rams have prevailed against some really good teams. This Thursday will feature one of the most exciting divisional games of the year between Los Angeles and Seattle. In the end, D.K. Metcalf, who has struggled against Jalen Ramsey in the past, will be shut down once again. Darrell Henderson could rush for more than 150 yards in this one.
New York Jets vs. Atlanta Falcons
Sam: Jets 24, Falcons 20
Atlanta completely blew an easy win against Washington in Week 4, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. They get a Jets team that is a little full of themselves after beating the A.J. Brown– and Julio Jones-less Titans last week when Randy Bullock predictably blew an overtime field goal that would have ended the game in a tie. However, the Falcons roll into London still missing Russel Gage and (surprisingly) now Calvin Ridley, as well. Cordarrelle Patterson can’t do everything. This might be the Jets’ last win of the season.
Joe: Jets 27, Falcons 20
In the NFL’s return to London, Zach Wilson and the Jets will build off of last week’s victory with another impressive win over Matt Ryan and the Falcons. Once again, the losses will pile up for Atlanta.
Andersen: Jets 17, Falcons 16
The Jets might be a bit too overconfident after beating the injured Titans on a missed field goal last week. With that said, Atlanta poses a very fair matchup for New York. In the end, a rare miss from Younghoe Koo will seal a Jets victory at the buzzer.
New England Patriots vs. Houston Texans
Sam: Patriots 24, Texans 11
We’ve been looking and looking for the Mac Jones game to circle and we’ve found it. After all the hubbub surrounding Tom Brady’s return to Foxborough and beating the Pats, 19-17, Bill Belichick opens up the playbook. Jones has his best game so far in the NFL and Damien Harris finally gets some room to run after several games against tough fronts. Despite enormous offensive line woes, the Patriots roll and the defense eats Davis Mills alive. The spread of New England laying just eight-plus points is wrong. Jump on it, as this is an easy two-touchdown victory.
Joe: Patriots 27, Texans 10
The best remedy for coach Bill Belichick after losing his first matchup against Tom Brady is a team that’s reeling to put drives together with any consistency. The Texans are a prime example of just that and will be little more than the Patriots’ punching bag this week. Rookie quarterback Mac Jones will have his best game of the season in this one.
Andersen: Patriots 28, Texans 10
After losing to one of the NFL’s best teams by mere inches last week, the Patriots will handily defeat one of the worst teams on Sunday afternoon. Mac Jones will toss for three touchdowns while spreading the ball out. Look for a beautiful balance of tight end, wide receiver, and running back involvement from the Patriots in this one.
Denver Broncos vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Sam: Steelers 20, Broncos 14
There is no “standing eight count” in the National Football League. If there were, the Black-and-Yellow would already have been sent home by now. Say what you like about Pittsburgh, but after playing at home and leaning on the ropes due to back-to-back knockouts from Cincinnati and Green Bay, they’ll fight back. Their challenger is the Broncos, who boast one of the best defenses in the league but have many questions on offense. Teddy Bridgewater is in concussion protocol, and Pittsburgh would love nothing more than to get their hands on Drew Lock in a “get-right” game. T.J. Watt records a trio of sacks and the Steelers are right back to .500.
Joe: Steelers 24, Broncos 20
The Steelers will get a much-needed win at home. Meanwhile, the Broncos will lose for the second consecutive week. Drew Lock will make his first start of the season against Pittsburgh’s defense, which is a tough task.
Andersen: Steelers 21, Broncos 13
The outcome of this game largely depends on the status of the quarterback room. With Teddy Bridgewater (concussion) unlikely to suit up, Drew Lock will be thrust into the starting role. That should make T.J. Watt absolutely salivate. The Pittsburgh defense will play ferociously, making up for some flaws on offense.
Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings
Sam: Vikings 27, Lions 20
The Vikings have one of the best offenses in the National Football League, regardless of their total flop at the hands of the Cleveland Browns last weekend. Even in a rivalry game, they’ll get right at the expense of Detroit. D’Andre Swift has a big game for the Lions but the contest is way out of hand by then. There is no chance that Detroit holds Kirk Cousins to 200 yards passing and Adam Thielen to three catches like Cleveland did. A garbage-time touchdown (heretofore known as a “Detroit Special”) won’t close the gap enough as the Vikings roll at home.
Joe: Lions 34, Vikings 30
Dan Campbell will finally get his first victory as head coach in an upset win over the Vikings. It will be an ugly, high-scoring affair. With the loss, the Vikings will drop to 1-4 and head coach Mike Zimmer’s seat will begin to get a little warm.
Andersen: Vikings 34, Lions 13
Entering this season, I was excited to see what Dan Campbell and the Lions had in them. I strongly opposed theories that suggested they could finish as the worst team in football and even saw a path in which they would finish third in the NFC North. With that said, they’re going to drop to 0-5 as the Vikings absolutely obliterate them on offense. After putting up just seven points last week, don’t be surprised if Dalvin Cook, Justin Jefferson, and Adam Thielen each put up at least one score. This has a chance to be a get-right game and Minnesota will wholeheartedly take advantage of that. Campbell’s quest for his first win is postponed another week.
New Orleans Saints vs. Washington Football Team
Sam: Saints 20, Football Team 17
Washington had a heck of a comeback on Sunday, scoring 12 points in a decisive fourth quarter, highlighted by J.D. McKissic’s 30-yard touchdown reception. While Atlanta looked to be the better team on the day, the response from Washington certainly raised eyebrows. They’ll need to figure out their defensive woes to compete down the stretch, though. This stands to be an ugly game, and New Orleans is sticking to the big win following a big loss theme. After defeat at the hands of the Giants, I see no reason for that not to be the case this week in the nation’s capital as New Orleans gets it right.
Joe: Saints 24, Football Team 20
The Saints will bounce back from last week’s overtime loss to the Giants, which yours truly predicted. Washington will have a chance to win late but come up just short. Ron Rivera‘s team will drop to 2-3 with the loss. Jameis Winston will have one of his better showings.
Andersen: Football Team 21, Saints 20
Seriously, how much longer can I convince myself that Washington’s defense will eventually click? Nobody expected the Football Team to boast a strong offense and week defense, yet here we are. Their true colors will be exposed this week against a Saints team that has dealt with plenty of its own inconsistencies. Cody Parkey will miss a kick at the buzzer to give Washington its second consecutive victory.
Miami Dolphins vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sam: Buccaneers 41, Dolphins 13
Vegas got it wrong again. Tampa Bay is laying a 10 spot in this matchup (which is sizable for NFL standards), but not nearly large enough. After having a messy game in New England with all the media attention and less-than-desirable weather conditions, Tom Brady and his receivers are ready to assert dominance in the next matchup. Unfortunately for the Dolphins, they’re up. Miami ranks 28th in rushing, 29th in passing, and 30th overall on offense. That’s not going to cut it. They get the tar beat out of them in Tampa.
Joe: Buccaneers 37, Dolphins 20
This game has the feel of a blowout in favor of the Buccaneers. Tom Brady will throw four touchdown passes and sit for most of the fourth quarter while a garbage-time touchdown for the Dolphins makes the score a little more respectable. The loss will give legs to trade rumors surrounding Deshaun Watson in South Beach.
Andersen: Buccaneers 31, Dolphins 17
After failing to throw for a touchdown last week, Tom Brady will bounce back by completing three passes to the end zone this coming Sunday. Miami will play respectable, relying on a steady dose of Jaylen Waddle, DeVante Parker, and Mike Gesicki. Still, the Dolphins should lose by at least two scores.
Green Bay Packers vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Sam: Packers 31, Bengals 20
As a Cincinnati homer, I really want to pick this game closer, but I simply cannot. The Bengals have a great thing going and have shown that they can play with anyone. With that said, the fourth-youngest team in the NFL is not ready for the fire that Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams will bring against Trae Waynes and Chidobe Awuzie in the Cincy secondary. Green Bay has been on a mission since their season-opening loss to New Orleans. Two 3-1 teams will make for a fun game to watch, but the veteran squad wins the day this time, regardless of second-half heroics from Joe Burrow.
Joe: Packers 31, Bengals 30
This will be surprising to many, but a back-and-forth, high-scoring game seems quite likely. In the end, though, Aaron Rodgers will once again formulate a late-game drive to lead the Packers to the win. The Bengals will continue to look impressive in the loss.
Andersen: Bengals 28, Packers 24
I want to preface this by saying that losing Joe Mixon absolutely does not make the Bengals a better team. With that said, his absence will force Joe Burrow to pass more, which can be a thing of beauty. Jaire Alexander‘s shoulder can only make things easier on the second-year quarterback out of LSU. The Packers’ offense will look great, but Cincinnati will play half a notch better.
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Carolina Panthers
Sam: Panthers 24, Eagles 17
The previously unbeaten Panthers are coming off a loss to the Dallas Cowboys and face another NFC East opponent in Philadelphia, this time at home. Jalen Hurts and the Eagles’ offense has been better than you’d think, ranking in the top 10 of nearly every yardage category. However, their ability to find paydirt has been lacking as they rank 17th in points per game. Meanwhile, the Carolina defense has been a machine. The Dallas loss notwithstanding, the Panthers are near the top of every defensive yardage category. Christian McCaffery might miss this game, but enter Chuba Hubbard against Philadelphia’s absolutely terrible (150-plus yards per game allowed) rush defense.
Joe: Panthers 31, Eagles 20
The Panthers, who are coming off a borderline embarrassing loss to the Cowboys, will take their frustrations out on the Eagles. Philadelphia drops its third straight double-digit loss. Look for Robby Anderson to go crazy in this one.
Andersen: Panthers 27, Eagles 24
This game is going to be super close, but a late strike from Sam Darnold to D.J. Moore will propel Carolina over Philadelphia. With that said, the Panthers’ defense will underperform for the second consecutive week, allowing the Eagles to rack up three touchdowns and a field goal.
Tennessee Titans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Sam: Jaguars 24, Titans 20
Upset city. I’ll qualify this by saying that at the time of this writing, there have been a precious few updates on the hamstrings of A.J. Brown and Julio Jones. If they both sit out for a second week in a row (last week being a defeat in overtime at the hands of the Jets), Tennessee will lose again. You can Urban Meyer me all day, but on a 10-day layoff and seeing the things that worked against a solid defense in Cincinnati, the Jaguars are coming to play. Expect more option plays from Trevor Lawrence and a huge game of play action by Laviska Shenault Jr. The Titans will be fine when they get their playmakers back, but they have to weather this stretch first.
Joe: Titans 27, Jaguars 17
Both teams lost games they had the opportunity to win (or tie, in the Titans’ case) last week. Ryan Tannehill will likely have at least one of his top two receivers back, which is enough to propel the Titans over the Jaguars. Expect yet another explosive day on the ground for Derrick Henry.
Andersen: Titans 28, Jaguars 17
Derrick Henry is a beast. Urban Meyer is, uh, something. D.J. Chark is hurt. Tennessee might be welcoming A.J. Brown or Julio Jones (or both) back to its lineup. I have little doubt that the Titans will bounce back after falling to the Jets last week.
Cleveland Browns vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Sam: Chargers 24, Browns 23
This could be a really fun game. Both teams are coming off of wins, but neither one really lived up to expectations in their respective matches. Mike Williams bounces back after a subpar effort for Los Angeles against Las Vegas while Baker Mayfield and Odell Beckham Jr. find the same page of the playbook and hook up for two touchdowns. In the end, this will actually turn out to be a defensive affair, regardless of what the score indicates. Chargers get the nod in Los Angeles, which has proven to be more like home than San Diego was for years.
Joe: Browns 24, Chargers 20
The Browns, led by an elite running back duo, will edge out the victory. On the other side, Justin Herbert will have a tough game against a Cleveland front seven that has recorded 11 sacks over its last two games, all while allowing just 13 combined points.
Andersen: Chargers 24, Browns 21
Sam already alluded to this, but Chargers-Browns could the game of the week. Yes, when all is said and done, this game could be more thrilling than Bills-Chiefs. Justin Herbert’s offense has been absolutely cruising while the Los Angeles secondary looks very strong. On the other side, while Baker Mayfield has underperformed, Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt have proved that Cleveland has the best backfield in the entire NFL. Don’t forget about Myles Garrett, who is a freak of nature. To be honest, I would be astonished if this game ends with a margin greater than three points.
Chicago Bears vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Sam: Raiders 26, Bears 18
After looking flat against division rival Los Angeles on Monday Night Football, the Raiders are back home at Allegiant Stadium. They’ll welcome complete pretenders in the Chicago Bears. The Raiders’ defense has been nothing to write home about in 2021, but neither has the Bears’ offense, who now finds themselves in the midst of life without David Montgomery. Damien Williams is a capable back, but he’s not Monty. Plus, Vegas will stack the box and win a matchup of one-dimensional gameplans.
Joe: Raiders 27, Bears 17
Jon Gruden’s team will bounce back from their first loss of the season with a convincing victory against the Bears. Chicago has finally committed to Justin Fields as its starter, but the rookie will drop to 0-3.
Andersen: Raiders 24, Bears 13
The Raiders will cruise to their fourth victory while Justin Fields remains winless through three starts. Damien Williams and Darnell Mooney will both look solid, but the Raiders are simply several tiers superior.
New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys
Sam: Cowboys 38, Giants 18
After what the Cowboys did to Carolina’s defense last week, you cannot pay me enough to say the G-Men will slow them down. The defensive woes in Dallas are well documented, but there is no reason to expect New York to have the wherewithal to pounce. Dak Prescott goes nuts, the Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard train rolls for over 150 yards rushing (with a little help from Dak), and the Cowboys absolutely steamroll Daniel Jones (sans multiple weapons) in Texas. Gamblers take note: the 51.5 total is low.
Joe: Giants 30, Cowboys 27
For the second time in as many weeks, the Giants will pull out an upset over a superior opponent. The Cowboys will be on the losing end of not only the game, but also one of those odd divisional rivalry occurrences that always seems to take place. Perhaps this time it will be a bad call in the Giants’ favor or a remarkable interception.
Andersen: Cowboys 28, Giants 21
Saquon Barkley helped lift the Giants to victory over the Saints last week while Daniel Jones didn’t look too shabby, either. However, the Cowboys are a whole different beast. Dallas should be able to defeat New York, fueled by an explosive offense and up-and-coming defense.
San Francisco 49ers vs. Arizona Cardinals
Sam: Cardinals 30, 49ers 20
Were this game in San Francisco, I’d be really tempted to take the upset. Remaining undefeated in the NFL is no small task. Skepticism reigned after a 3-0 start for Arizona, but after they laid a beatdown on the Los Angeles Rams last week, all doubts have quelled for now. Kyler Murray has the offense humming to the tune of first place in offensive yards per game (third in passing, sixth in rushing) and they are scoring over 34 points per game. Sorry, Trey Lance, your goose is cooked no matter what.
Joe: Cardinals 24, 49ers 17
Kyler Murray and the Cardinals remain unbeaten with a victory against the 49ers despite scoring less points than they’ve grown accustomed to this season. Rookie Trey Lance will have a tough day against Arizona’s defense.
Andersen: Cardinals 28, 49ers 23
The Cardinals cruised to victory over the undefeated Rams last week, giving themselves sole possession of first place in the NFL. Arizona will win again on Sunday, though it won’t be easy. Expect Trey Lance to have a big day, throwing for two touchdowns and rushing for one more in a narrow loss to the Cardinals.
Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Sam: Chiefs 29, Bills 24
The Chiefs need this game. Kansas City got a big win over Philadelphia in Week 4, but the Eagles are not the Bills. Buffalo comes off their second-straight 40-point game and find themselves atop power rankings galore. Believe it or not, that narrative absolutely falls in line with what Kansas City would like. Arrowhead will be rocking, and even though fans cannot will the defense to make plays, they’ll come up with a couple against Josh Allen to turn the tide and remind everyone of the 38-24 butt-kicking Buffalo took in January.
Joe: Bills 27, Chiefs 14
Josh Allen and the Bills will finally get the monkey off their back. That is, the monkey being the Chiefs, who have been Allen’s Achilles’ heel. The game will be a back-and-forth matchup with Buffalo getting the last laugh on the road. Embattled receiver Josh Gordon will make his return to the league, nabbing a touchdown in the loss.
Andersen: Chiefs 31, Bills 28
We’re due for a thriller when the Chiefs host the Bills on Sunday night. While the Chiefs enter with the inferior record, they are the better team, composed of the best offense in football and a defense that is more than serviceable. The Bills are similarly dominant, but they lack a capable backfield and will be playing on the road in this one. Kansas City will win, getting back on track and improving to above .500 for the first time since Week 1.
Indianapolis Colts vs. Baltimore Ravens
Sam: Ravens 34, Colts 13
We close the slate with a Monday Night Football yawner for everyone but fans in Baltimore. The Colts showed signs of life in beating up on the hapless Dolphins last week, but sometimes that’s all a team needs to gain a little momentum. Unfortunately for the Indianapolis faithful, they head to Maryland to face a team that dominated a solid Denver Broncos defense on Sunday. Lamar Jackson and Latavius Murray are going to run up and down the field while Marquise Brown gets into the act as the Ravens put on a Monday night clinic. Even Carson Wentz can’t bear to watch and gets yanked in the fourth quarter.
Joe: Ravens 34, Colts 17
The Ravens are a tough matchup regardless of opponent, place, and time. Putting them at home on Monday night only adds to the dilemma for Indianapolis. The Colts will drop to 1-4 with Carson Wentz and the offense playing from behind all game.
Andersen: Ravens 27, Colts 13
The Ravens laid punches on the Broncos last week, ending Denver’s undefeated bid. Now, they’ll journey to Indianapolis and drop the Colts to a miserable 1-4 state. Lamar Jackson rushes for 100 yards and throws for another 250 while Marquise Brown and Mark Andrews each find the end zone. Things continue to go downhill in Indy.
Point Totals
Sam: 72
Joe: 84
Andersen: 84
Records
Sam: 36-28
Joe: 42-22
Andersen: 42-22
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