NFL: Week Five

first quarter of the season is gone already. i almost can't believe it. normally by now i have at least half the week's picks marked off immediately under the "easy" category. there just don't seem to be many truly dominant teams yet this year though. or maybe it's just my typical ambivalence spilling over into my weekly picks. like this football season appears to show so far though, anything is possible. needless to say: i struggled yet again.

we'll just go right down the list with some things that have surprised me about Week 5:

1. out of the 14 games, i have picked 12. of the 12, only TWO are home teams. since when does the home team not appear to be the consistent favorite? when did home field advantage become a non-factor??
2. not surprising is that i have opted to stick with the Patriots as my pick for this week. surprising is that i make this pick feeling very uncertain. i have a hard time believing that the Patriots can't make it happen so i am backing them & having faith that my team will find a way to win. but they have no defense left playing & they need to start getting something out of Corey Dillon--which of course means they have to start giving him the ball--because they aren't defeating anyone by trying to play without a running game. they have the tools. now they need to be the creative Patriots i am familiar with & start making wins happen using the tools they have left. c'mon boys...i know you have heart...
3. while i'm not a Dolphins fan by *any* means, i was startled to see that the "experts" (whose picks i check out each week when i'm having a hard time coming to a decision in a particular match-up) have split 5-3 in favor of the Bills?! i am not too sure how to take that since i thought the Bills were a-hurtin' on defense & i am suddenly left feeling uneasy about my Miami pick but i'm sticking with it...
4. something that struck me is that the Lions have been written off so quickly & the Ravens been given so much attention. i thought the Lions showed a lot of promise & they seem to have the ability to really take off on their opponent. the Ravens didn't really impress me other than last week--against a team with no quarterback. so what is the deal with the Ravens suddenly being the favorite & the Lions on the outside looking in? and WHY am i picking the Lions to lose at home?? (not changing the pick though lol)
5. biggest surprise of the week: i am going with the Packers. i *know* they're 0-4. i just can't believe that they don't have a chance playing at home against the Saints who haven't looked that great to me either. even if they lose, i won't regret picking my favorite NFC team to break their losing streak.
6. the Bucs *gag* are undefeated. i'd be impressed except that they have had such a cakewalk of a schedule for their first 4 weeks (Vikings, Bills, Packers & Jets) that anyone could come out on top with a few good calls & some luck. i want to see them play a REAL team. then talk to me about undefeated. *rolling my eyes*
7. i am finally picking the Titans to win. which means they will probably lose.
8. i'm going with the Bengals over the Jaguars on Sunday night. the aforementioned experts are favoring the Jags in that game. i wonder what they know that i don't because i thought that Carson Palmer & the Bengals have been pretty hot this first quarter of the season--also undefeated--to Jacksonville's 2-2 record, losing to the tougher teams. Leftwich doesn't impress me THAT much even though the Jags have a solid defense...but in Cincinatti *everything* seems to have come together in the perfect winning combination. so i have to wonder why the Bengals aren't the experts' pick in that game...?
9. something that dropped my jaw: 8 experts. only ONE picked the Steelers over the Chargers on Monday night. WHAT?! i know the Chargers have been hot but this is the STEELERS they are playing...not the Patriots...

Indecision: Week 5
Seahawks or Rams? esperts say Seahawks 6-2. but the Rams are the home team. and they are a high scoring offense. the Seahawks are NOT impressive on the road. what to do...what to do...?

Bears or Browns? one of the best defenses in the NFL or Romeo Crennel who has already managed to turn the Browns around from at least not being a given win for their opponent? who wins the shoot-out: the strong Chicago defense or the consistent QB for Cleveland? the experts are giving the edge to the Browns but so far in the pool everyone is picking the Bears...not sure what the right answer is here either...