NFL Week Five preview: the clock strikes midnight on Bengals, Broncos

Last week’s picks: 8-6

Season total: 42-20

 

Cleveland at Buffalo

Fred Jackson gets his, but the Browns defense keeps Buffalo from giving any reason to have our popcorn ready, notching their first win of the year.

Browns 20, Bills 19

 

Pittsburgh at Detroit

The Lions make a showing in this one, but the Steelers are able to establish pressure on Matthew Stafford and force him into some costly errors.

Steelers 27, Lions 23

 

Dallas at Kansas City

Minus Roy Williams and Felix Jones, the Cowboys lean on MB3 and Jason Witten, and they don’t disappoint.

Cowboys 24, Chiefs 16

 

Minnesota at St. Louis

Letdown game? Not against the hapless Rams.

Vikings 31, Rams 0

 

Oakland at New York Giants

Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw go wild, combining for 300 yards and three scores.

Giants 41, Raiders 9

 

Tampa Bay at Philadelphia

This is not a good time to be playing against Donovan McNabb, who will be out to remind everyone why he, not Kevin Kolb or Michel Vick, is the guy in Philly.

Eagles 34, Bucs 14

 

Washington at Carolina

In a showdown of embattled quarterbacks, Jason Campbell prevails. By default.

Redskins 20, Panthers 17

 

Cincinnati at Baltimore

And the fluke ends.

Ravens 30, Bengals 17

 

New England at Denver

And another fluke ends.

Patriots 17, Broncos 9

 

Houston at Arizona

The Texans’ front seven get to Kurt Warner early and often.

Texans 27, Cardinals 23

 

Atlanta at San Francisco

The only thing that seems certain about this one is that it will come down to wire and be hard fought.

Falcons 20, 49ers 17

 

Jacksonville at Seattle

It pays to have Matt Hasselbeck back in the lineup.

Seahawks 30, Jags 24

 

Indianapolis at Tennessee

Peyton Manning has another MVP-type game. Another best-quarterback-of-all-time-type game.

Colts 31, Titans 27

 

New York Jets at Miami

Jerricho Cotchery is listed as questionable for this game. His presence, and health, will be a huge factor in the outcome. With an extra day-plus of rest for the Monday night game, I’ll assume he toughs it out.

Jets 27, Dolphins 20