NFL Sunday Predictions Week 5

Vikings vs Browns: The Vikings have the better starting lineup but it is astonishing what has happened to the Vikings offensive line. They are missing Donavon Jackson at left guard, Ryan Kelly and Michael Jurgens at Center, and Brian O’Neil at right tackle. With how good the Browns defense is it will be impossible for the Vikings to drive down the field. The Browns defense is 1st in the league in yards allowed and the 4th least passing yards per game and the least rushing yards a game. But even yet with all of that the Browns are 24th in points allowed this year, and Minnesota is 10th in points scored so this is up in the air for both teams.

Prediction: Vikings 17, Browns 14 (yes I am a Vikings fan)

Cowboys vs Jets: Last week the Cowboys proved they could score points without Ceedee Lamb, and Dak Prescott had been good this year leading the leauge in passing yards but he does have a bit of help playing 2 extra quarters this year. Dallas allows the most yards per game in the league which is 420 and for a struggling jets offense this is some fresh air. The Cowboys average the most yards in the league averaging 400+ yards per game, and for a Jets defense that has struggled this is another struggle for them. The Jets have the most turnovers in the league so far, so if the Cowboys can stay consistent and limit turnovers then this should be a win for Dallas.

Prediction: Jets 27, Cowboys 37

Giants vs Saints: Jaxson Dart took over last week for the Giants as they beat the undefeated Chargers but without Malik Nabers for the season how will they do? Jaxson only had 111 passing yards last week but he did add 54 yards on the ground. The Saints last week kept it closer than expected vs the Bills but still lost. The Giants defense did great last week but this year they are bottom 5 in total yards allowed but the Saints offense is nothing right now, while New Orleans is 22nd in yards per game.

Prediction: Giants 24, Saints 20

Colts vs Raiders: Both teams are coming off really tough losses last week but the difference is the Colts are 3-1 and the Raiders are 1-3. Last week Ashton Jeanty had his breakout game with 137 rushing yards and a score but how will he play against a Colts defense? The Colts are 8th in rushing yards allowed per game and that includes facing RBs like Devon Achane and Kyren Williams, so Jeanty may have a tough day on Sunday. Daniel Jones has had an amazing season being 3rd in passing yards, and he is coming off a 262 yard game vs a tough Rams defense. The Raiders defense is 23rd in passing yards allowed per game and for this game they may be too focused on a great Jonathon Taylor which will lead to more opportunities for Jones.

Prediction: Colts 30, Raiders 21

Dolphins vs Panthers: Devon Achane has led a bad Dolphins offense this year with 246 rushing yards and now he will go up against a Panthers defense who allows 129 rushing yards a game and is 23rd in the league in that category. Devon Achane looks to have a good game against the Panthers. On the other side of the ball the Dolphins defense has been horrible this year allowing the 8th most points per game, and the 6th most yards per game. Bryce ,Young and the Panthers offense are coming off two very different games one of them a 30-0 win, and the other was a 30 point loss. This is the defense that Bryce Young will have to go up against. This year the Panthers offense is 6th worst in points per game and Bryce this year is 24th in passing yards and 26th in QBR so this is a good matchup between the Panthers and Dolphins

Prediction: Panthers 20, Dolphins 23

Eagles vs Broncos: The Eagles defense doesn’t look as unstoppable as last year. This year they allow the 11th most rushing yards per game and going against RJ Harvey who just had his breakout game and JK Dobbins who hasn’t been bad this year so the Broncos will have a chance in this game. This game will probably be the best of the week with an Eagles offense vs a Broncos defense who has allowed the 2nd least points per game. As I mentioned earlier the Eagles rush defense isn’t as good as last year but their defense in general is still awesome being 2nd in redzone defense, while the Broncos are 8th in the NFL in redzone offense. It will be a close one on that side of the ball but on the other the Eagles will blow them out and the Eagles are 100% this year when it comes to redzone percentage.

Prediction: Eagles 28, Broncos 20

Ravens vs Texans: It’s crazy that both of these teams are 2-6 combined but for the Ravens it has been loads of injuries and the Texans have had a tough schedule. The Ravens are the betting favorites in this game but the Ravens have so many injuries on both sides of the ball and the Ravens are without their best player Lamar Jackson. The Ravens defense this year has allowed 33.3 points per game which is the most in the NFL but they had to play teams like the Chiefs, Bills, and Lions during this stretch so it isn’t all there fault. Houston has the 4th least points per game this year so the Ravens get an easier matchup, so this will be a test if the Ravens defense is just plain bad or it has been tough games.

Prediction: Texans 24, Ravens 22

Titans vs Cardinals: The Titans and Cam Ward have had a rocky start going 0-4 so far this year, and the Titans offense is horrible averaging only 13 points per game. The Titans last game was the worst of the season losing 26-0. Now they face the Cardinals who are 2-2 but both of their loses 100% could have been wins only losing by 4 points combined. The Cardinals offense has had a rocky start though having the 5th least yards per game. But now they go on to face the Titans who allow the 8th most yards per game. I feel like this could be close when the Cardinals are on offense but they had to Titans offense is so bad this will be a blowout.

Prediction: Cardinals 27, Titans 10

Buccaneers vs Seahawks: Last week the Buccaneers took their first loss, while the Seahawks beat the Cardinals by 3. It’s crazy to think a couple of years ago Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield were both lower rated quarterbacks on the Panthers but they both have come a long way and Baker Mayfield has become a top 10 and maybe even top 5 QB. Both quarterbacks have been good this year, with Sam Darnold being 13th in passing yards and Baker being 15th in passing yards but this week Baker Mayfield is without his right guard and right tackle so this could be a great game for Seahawks right edge rusher Demarcus Lawrence and the Seahawks overall are 6th in sacks per game. Mayfield will be pressured heavily and Bucky Irving may not be able to get going. On the other side of the ball Jaxson Smith Njigba has been awesome this year but last game he struggled to get going until as of late. This week may be the same outcome because the Buccaneers have held Drake London to only 55 yards, Nico Collin’s to 52 yards and they shutdown the Eagles receiver duo.

Prediction: Seahawks 24, Buccaneers 23

Lions vs Bengals: This matchup is probably blowout of the week after the Lions absolutely destroyed a great Browns defense who is 1st in the leauge in many defensive categories. Now they face a Joe Burrow-less Bengals who let up 48 to the Vikings and lost by 20 to the Broncos. The Cincinnati defense allows the 3rd most yards per game and for a Lions offense that averages the 6th most yards per game and most points per game this should be a blowout for the Lions. The Lions haven’t been sacked in two straight games and the Bengals average 1.5 sacks per game but that is mainly because they went up against a Vikings offensive line that had many injuries. I haven’t even spoke about the Bengals offense but recent performances already do for themselves.

Prediction: Lions 45, Bengals 7

Commanders vs Chargers: Jayden Daniels is returning and it’s at a good time against a great Chargers team. This could be a tough matchup for Daniels because the Chargers allow the 5th least passing yards per game so if Terry Mclaurin is out then this could be a tough return for Daniels. On the other side of the ball Ladd McConkey has not played well at all this year. This game could be a breakout game because the Commanders allow the 8th most yards per game but that doesn’t mean that it has to be Ladd that plays well it could also be Quentin Johnston or Keenan Allen. The commanders are 2nd in the NFL in rushing yards per game and with a loaded backfield it’s hard to predict who plays well out of the bunch of Chris Rodriguez, Bill Croskey, or Jeremy McNichols.

Prediction: Commanders 23, Chargers 31

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