The NEO Sports Insiders Staff Picks The Week Five NFL Games

Four exciting weeks of NFL football are in the books, and last week our staff had some tough games to pick from, with upsets from the New York Giants and Washington Redskins, which almost all our staff failed to pick right.

We are back this week, picking all the games on the slate with a little more on the Browns battle with the Ravens in Baltimore at 1pm Sunday.

Matt Williamson
Last Week 12-3
Season 41-22

Texans over Colts
Bills over Titans
Bears over Chiefs
Packers over Rams
Eagles over Saints
Cardinals over Lions
Broncos over Raiders
Seahawks over Bengals
Bucs over Jags
Falcons over Redskins
Patriots over Cowboys
Giants over 49ers
Steelers over Chargers

Browns over Ravens – McCown throws for 300 plus again, Browns win in a nail biter

Ryan Kaczmarski
Last Week 8-7/strong
Season 38-25

Indianapolis over Houston
Titans over Bills
Chiefs over Bears
Packers over Rams
Saints over Eagles
Cardinals over Lions
Raiders over Broncos
Bengals over Seahawks
Bucs over Jags
Falcons over Redskins
Patriots over Cowboys
Giants over 49ers
Steelers over Chargers

Ravens over Browns 30-17

Matt Loede
Last Week 9-6
Season 38-25/strong

Houston over Indy
Atlanta over Washington
Seattle over Cincinnati
Green Bay over St. Louis
Buffalo over Tennessee
Kansas City over Chicago
New Orleans over Philadelphia
Jacksonville over Tampa Bay
Arizona over Detroit
New England over Dallas
Denver over Oakland
Giants over 49ers
Pittsburgh over San Diego

Baltimore 26 Cleveland 14

The Browns continue to play hard, but the lack of talent continues to be a weekly issue. Joe Flacco will carve up the weak Browns defense, and while the offense will keep the game in it for about 3 quarters, Justin Forsett, Flacco and the Ravens offense will be too much and the Browns will fall to 1-3.

Scott Piker
Last week 8-7
Season 38-25

Indianapolis @ Houston – Houston
Chicago @ Kansas City – Kansas City
Seattle @ Cincinnati – Cincinnati
Washington @ Atlanta – Atlanta
Jacksonville @ Tampa Bay – Jacksonville
New Orleans @ Philadelphia – Philadelphia
St. Louis @ Green Bay – Green Bay
Buffalo @ Tennessee – Buffalo
Arizona @ Detroit – Arizona
New England @ Dallas – New England
Denver @ Oakland – Denver
San Francisco @ New York Giants – New York Giants
Pittsburgh @ San Diego – San Diego

Ravens 23 Browns 16

I expect to see a lot of field goals in this game as both offenses have not been very impressive this season. The 1-3 records of both teams support that. The line in Las Vegas is Ravens minus 6.5. Vegas sports books do a pretty good job with betting lines. The Browns beat the spread last week against San Diego, they don’t on Sunday and lose again in Baltimore.

Eddy Jensen
Last Week 13-2
Season 41-22

IND over HOU
KC over CHI
SEA over CIN
ATL over WSH
JAX over TB
NO Saints over PHI
GB over STL
BUFF over TEN
ARI over DET
NE over DAL
DEN over OAK
NYG over SF
SD over PIT

Ravens 29 Browns 10

These losses don’t hurt as much as ones like last week. At least it won’t be a let down

Steve Dimatteo
Last Week 11-4
Season 35-28

Houston over Indy
Atlanta over Washington
Cincy over Seattle
Green Bay over St. Louis
Tennessee over Buffalo
Kansas City over Chicago
Philly over New Orleans
Jacksonville over Tampa Bay
Arizona over Detroit
New England over Dallas
Denver over Oakland
Giants over 49ers
San Diego over Pittsburgh

Baltimore over Cleveland

The misery train just keeps rolling along for the Browns, who get gashed once again on the ground in a 24-10 loss.

Adrienne Goehler
Last Week 8-7
Season 39-24

HOU over IND
KC over CHI
SEA over CIN
ATL over WSH
TB over JAX
PHI over NO
GB over STL
TEN over BUF
ARI over DET
NE over DAL
DEN over OAK
NYG over SF
PIT over SD

BAL over CLE 24-10

Even though McCown was near perfect, it’s hard to win M&T Bank Stadium. I could see this being a close game but the Ravens running away with it in the end.

Spencer Davies
Last Week 8-7
Season 37-26

IND > HOU
ATL > WAS
CIN > SEA
GB > STL
KC > CHI
NO > PHI
JAX > TB
BUF > TEN
ARI > DET
DEN > OAK
DAL > NE
NYG > SF

Ravens 27 Browns 24

Cleveland’s offense has shown that it’s capable of putting points on the board in its last six quarters. Duke Johnson has been a big part of its success and will continue to be moving forward. Josh McCown and Gary Barnidge will continue to strengthen their rapport as well.

But you can’t win ball games with a putrid run defense. Justin Forsett’s most intimidating quality is breaking tackles and the yards he picks up after, so what better team to be up against than one that’s notorious for poor tackling?

Vince Miller
Last Week 9-6
Season 38-25

IND over HOU
ATL over WAS
SEA over CIN
GB over STL
BUF over TEN
CHI over KC
NO over PHI
JAC over TB
ARI over DET
NE over DAL
OAK over DEN
NYG over SF
PIT over SD

Browns 21 – Ravens 24

Harbough and Flacco are 13-1 against Cleveland and I would expect the Ravens to increase that win total to 14 this week. Justin Forsett proved AFC North worthy in the backfield last week totaling 27 carries for 150 yards and those numbers are not ideal for this Browns defense. If Cleveland were to find a way to win this one, stopping the run and enforcing their own run game on offense will be the keys to victory. Also, keep feeding Barnidge the ball!

Mike Perry
Last Week 12-3
Season 22-9

Colts at Texans – Texans
Bills at Titans – Bills
Bears at Chiefs – Chiefs
Seahwaks at Bengals – Bengals
Rams at Packers – Packers
Jaguars at Buccaneers – Buccaneers
Saints at Eagles – Eagles
Redskins at Falcons – Falcons
Cardinals at Lions – Cardinals
Patriots at Cowboys – Patriots
Broncos at Raiders – Broncos
49ers at Giants – Giants
Steelers at Chargers – Chargers

Ravens 28 Browns 13

Baltimore is coming off a thrilling last-second win over a division rival while the Browns are coming off a heartbreaking last-second loss to a bad football team. As I have stated previously, as long as Josh McCown is the starting quarterback there is no way I can pick them. In 52 career starts McCown has a record of 17-35. He has lost nine starts in a row, 18 of his last 20. I think we should start keeping track of McCown’s consecutive losses and tout that number for all to see. Maybe Mike Pettine will see it and it will actually sink in.

Brandon Urasek
Last Week 9-6
Season 22-9

IND over HOU
BUF over TEN
KC over CHI
GB over STL
PHI over NO
SEA over CIN
TB over JAC
ATL over WAS
ARI over DET
NE over DAL
DEN over OAK
NYG over SF
SD over PIT

Ravens 13 Browns 10

Battle for the bottom of the North. Both teams are banged up and unimpressive and I’m guessing that’s similar to how this game will go. Browns will find a way to lose this one as well.

Dan Gilles
Last Week 11-4
Season 22-9

Colts over Texans
Seahawks over Bengals
Bills over Titans
Chiefs over Bears
Saints over Eagles
Packers over Rams
Jaguars over Bucs
Falcons over Redskins
Cardinals over Lions
Broncos over Raiders
Patriots over Cowboys
Giants over 49ers
Chargers over Steelers

Ravens 24 Browns 17

Joe Flacco may be without his best receivers, but that certainly didn’t slow Phillip Rivers down last Sunday. The Ravens defense, even without Terrell Suggs, is still pretty formidable. And, the game is in Baltimore, which has always been a tough place to play for the Browns. Until the Browns can muster a win over Modell’s Thieves, you’ve got to go them.

Matt Medley
Last Week 8-7
Season 21-10

Colts over Texans
Chiefs over Bears
Seahawks over Bengals
Falcons over Redskins
Buccaneers over Jaguars
Saints over Eagles
Packers over Rams
Bills over Titans
Cardinals over Lions
Patriots over Cowboys
Broncos over Raiders
Giants over 49ers
Chargers over Steelers

Browns over Ravens

The two basement dwellers duel one another in a shootout. Ravens missing key wide receivers. Neither team has played well defensively up to this point. Browns win 38-31.