Everything’s bigger in Texas, which means nothing is bigger than a showdown of two Lone Star State squads with 3-1 records.
In a somewhat unusual twist to this inter-conference rivalry, both the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans head into this week’s matchup looking like pretty good football teams. The last time these teams met, they each went 6-10 on the season, so this is an improvement.
Just how good are they, though, and the better question: Who will be better this weekend? Our panel of “experts” tackles that question and more in our Week 5 NFL picks.
Ben Watanabe: 6-7Â (24-21 on season). Yup, it was ugly. But he totally called the Steve Smith thing.
Darren Hartwell: 9-4 (28-17). Nobody needs a bad week to knock him off his high horse more than this guy.
Mike Cole: 8-5 (27-18). So far, so good. Just not as good as Darren.
Minnesota Vikings (2-2) at Green Bay Packers (2-2), Thursday, 8:25 p.m.
Ben’s pick:Â Packers. I don’t like the Packers’ defense, but I also don’t like a banged-up rookie quarterback’s odds at Lambeau Field in October.
Darren’s pick: Packers. Both teams looked impressive last week, but “Thursday Night Football” tends to favor the home team, especially when the away team’s quarterback — Teddy Bridgewater — isn’t 100 percent.
Mike’s pick: Packers. The weather in Green Bay is calling for rain, which could make this a ground battle. That’s potentially bad news for the Packers (ranked last in the league run defense), but I’m still not betting against Aaron Rodgers after last week’s performance.
Chicago Bears (2-2) at Carolina Panthers (2-2), Sunday, 1 p.m.
Ben’s pick: Bears. Both of these teams put up a shocking lack of fight last week, but I like Chicago’s offense against what passes for a defense in Carolina.
Darren’s pick: Bears. The Panthers are in a downward spiral, and not even Chicago’s terrible defense can save them. Besides, Darrin Reaves is their starting running back.
Mike’s pick: Panthers. Chicago’s pass defense is putrid, and while Cam Newton isn’t getting it done on the ground, he’s doing a good job of protecting the football in the passing game. That, paired with it being a home game, is good enough for me.
Cleveland Browns (1-2) at Tennessee Titans (1-3), Sunday, 1 p.m.
Ben’s pick:Â Browns. I watched “Draft Day” last week and I have renewed confidence in what fictitious general manager Sonny Weaver Jr. is building down there in Cleveland with his fictitious dad’s franchise. #VontaeMackNoMatterWhat
Darren’s pick: Browns. The Browns have been in a lot of close games, so they might be better than their record implies. At the very least, they’re good enough to beat the Titans.
Mike’s pick: Browns. The lesser of two evils, I guess.
St. Louis Rams (1-2) at Philadelphia Eagles (3-1), Sunday, 1 p.m.
Ben’s pick: Eagles. Chip Kelly can have trouble with elite defenses, but he can also have field days against a mid-tier defense like the Rams’.
Darren’s pick: Eagles. The Eagles are still salty about last week’s loss, and they get starting right tackle Lane Johnson back after a four-game suspension. They’re also at home. Look out.
Mike’s pick: Eagles. If the Rams had any sort of a pass rush — they have one sack this season — I might be tempted into taking them after watching Philly’s offensive line stink it up last week. But, you know, they don’t have a pass rush.
Atlanta Falcons (2-2) at New York Giants (2-2), Sunday, 1 p.m.
Ben’s pick: Giants. Who knows? It’s all a matter of whether Matt Ryan and Eli Manning decide to suck or be good, which so far this season has been 50-50.
Darren’s pick: Giants. I really want to take the Falcons here, but they just stink on the road. The Giants took care of an improved Texans team at home two weeks ago. They should be able to handle Atlanta.
Mike’s pick: Giants. The Falcons gave up 41 points to the Vikings last week and now they have go to Jersey and slow an offense that hung 45 on the Redskins? Nah.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-3) at New Orleans Saints (1-3), Sunday, 1 p.m.
Ben’s pick: Saints. Because they’re better. I think.
Darren’s pick: Saints. If this were in Tampa Bay, I might actually take the Bucs. The Saints have won nine straight at the Superdome, though, and if they can’t win this one, they should just call it a season.
Mike’s pick: Saints. Maybe it’s time to really start wondering if the Saints are really any good. They didn’t look it Sunday night against the Cowboys, but you have to think they can find a way to beat Tampa Bay at home.
Houston Texans (3-1) at Dallas Cowboys (3-1), Sunday, 1 p.m.
Ben’s pick:Â Cowboys. Last week, I wrote that almost picking the Cowboys over the Saints would have been the worst decision I made all season. (Dallas won 38-17.) Conclusion: I need to make more bad decisions. So, go Cowboys!
Darren’s pick: Texans. I refuse to believe Dallas can consistently win games. They also love choking on the big stage. Therefore, I am taking the Texans.
Mike’s pick: Cowboys. Whereas the Saints actually might not be very good, the Cowboys might be good. As long as they can keep their running success going (and keep the play away from J.J. Watt), they’ll continue this little run they’re on.
Buffalo Bills (2-2) at Detroit Lions (3-1), Sunday, 1 p.m.
Ben’s pick:Â Lions. I sort of feel bad for the Bills. For one thing, they’re not very good. For another thing, they’re starting Kyle Orton at quarterback this week. It all just feels like piling on.
Darren’s pick: Lions. The Lions beat the Jets on the road using Calvin Johnson as a glorified decoy. They’ll have no problem with Kyle Orton and the Bills at home.
Mike’s pick: Lions. There’s not a whole lot to say here other than the better football team will win the football game.
Baltimore Ravens (3-1) at Indianapolis Colts (2-2), Sunday, 1 p.m.
Ben’s pick:Â Colts. The loss of two top defenders to PED suspensions might suggest that Indy’s defense is handicapped. To me, it suggests there are a lot more players on that defense who take PEDs and just haven’t been caught yet.
Darren’s pick: Ravens. This will probably come back to bite me, but it’s tough playing a team like the Ravens after beating up on the Jaguars and Titans. The Ravens make a statement and win a tight one on the road.
Mike’s pick: Colts. Andrew Luck quietly is having a tremendous season and should have a real nice day against a Baltimore defense that’s allowing eight yards per attempt.
Pittsburgh Steelers (2-2) at Jacksonville Jaguars (0-4), Sunday, 1 p.m.
Ben’s pick: Steelers. I want so badly to take the Jags just once this season. I don’t think it’s going to happen, though.
Darren’s pick: Steelers. Hey, the Steelers lost to 0-3 Tampa Bay last weekend! That doesn’t mean they’ll lose to the Jags, who somehow are worse than the Bucs.
Mike’s pick: Steelers. Neither of these teams are very good.
Arizona Cardinals (3-0) at Denver Broncos (2-1), Sunday, 4:05 p.m.
Ben’s pick: Broncos. The Cardinals are much better than the Broncos defensively, and these teams are surprisingly even offensively. If this game weren’t at Mile High, I’d probably take the Cards.
Darren’s pick: Broncos. It’d make my day if the Cardinals won this game, so I’ll just go ahead and hedge my bets here.
Mike’s pick: Broncos. It’s incredible that the Arizona Cardinals could be playing in a potential Super Bowl preview, but here we are. OK, so maybe that’s a stretch. Give me the home team.
Kansas City Chiefs (2-2) at San Francisco 49ers (2-2), Sunday, 4:25 p.m.
Ben’s pick: Niners. Any player in Alex Smith’s position would really want to win this game, except Smith is actually a robot, so I have no idea what his feelings are, if he has any at all.
Darren’s pick: Niners. I’m guessing San Fran’s defense plays a little better than the Patriots’ D did on Monday. If they do, they’ll be fine.
Mike’s pick: Niners. Both teams were real impressive last week, but you wonder how spent the Chiefs will be coming off an emotional win, on a short week and traveling to the West Coast.
New York Jets (1-3) at San Diego Chargers (3-1), Sunday, 4:25 p.m.
Ben’s pick: Chargers. If I could do it all over again, I’d go back and become a lifelong backup quarterback for the Jets. Then I could be the most popular person in New York for a solid decade.
Darren’s pick: Chargers. Geno Smith is bad, Philip Rivers is good. Advantage Philip Rivers.
Mike’s pick: Chargers. The Jets are wasting a pretty solid defense with an abysmal offense. I’m not expecting Geno Smith and Co. to figure things out by kickoff on Sunday.
Cincinnati Bengals (3-0) at New England Patriots (2-2), Sunday, 8:25 p.m.
Ben’s pick: Patriots. Everything points toward the Patriots dropping this game, and all things football in New England imploding under the condensed mass of media and fan panic. But I’m taking the Pats. Go figure.
Darren’s pick: Bengals. Whatever problems the Patriots have, it’s not a one-week fix. Getting Brandon Browner back should help, but the Chiefs’ defense is nothing compared to Cincinnati’s.
Mike’s pick: Bengals. Hopefully for Tom Brady and his family’s sake, he’s able to walk off the field when this one’s all said and done. New England can’t move the ball through the air, and Cincinnati has the league’s top passing defense.
Seattle Seahawks (2-1) at Washington Redskins (1-3), Monday, 8:30 p.m.
Ben’s pick: Seahawks. Haha, funny joke, Roger Goodell. C’mon, who’s really playing the Monday night game this week?
Darren’s pick: Seahawks. Kirk Cousins might throw more interceptions than his team scores points.
Mike’s pick: Seahawks. Blowout city. At least we’ll all be rested on Tuesday morning.
Photo via Tim Heitman/USA TODAY Sports Images
