2015 NFL Week 8 Preview

Let's see if the Dolphins are for real in this Thursday night matchup
against the defending champions.

Miami Dolphins vs. New England Patriots
Thursday October 29, 2015 8:25pm
CBS, NFL Network -- Jim Nantz, Phil Simms
Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, MA

This game will certainly determine whether or not the Dolphins have really righted the ship. They don't even have to win to prove that. If they can be fairly competitive, then whatever new head coach Dan Campbell is doing is working. The Dolphins have had two straight blowout victories, but they have come against the Titans and the Texans, two teams who reside in the horrible AFC South division. Those wins were impressive, but since those teams aren't good at all, playing against the defending champions is a much better way to determine where this team is at.

Miami Dolphins 13 New England Patriots 27

Detroit Lions vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Sunday November 1, 2015 9:30am
FOX -- Sam Rosen, John Lynch
Wembley Stadium, London, United Kingdom

The Chiefs were expected to play well this season, especially after acquiring Jeremy Maclin to help the offense play better. However, a difficult schedule and then a torn ACL on their best offensive player has made things much more rough for the Chiefs. They did get a win last week against the Steelers at home, but they were playing against the backup quarterback in Landry Jones. The Lions are coming off firing multiple coaches, so the Chiefs should be able to get a win out of the country.

Detroit Lions 14 Kansas City Chiefs 21

New York Giants vs. New Orleans Saints
Sunday November 1, 2015 1:00pm
FOX -- Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston
Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, LA

The Giants have consecutive games against the bottom of the NFC South, so they should use these next two games to get quality wins. The Saints have not played well this season, but are 3-4 with a chance to get to .500 with a home win. They're also coming off a road victory against the Colts, so they're riding into a home game with confidence. While the Giants sit at 4-3, they didn't exactly look impressive offensively in their win against the Cowboys. This is a good opportunity for the Giants offense to put some points on the board, but the Saints will most likely ride last game's road victory, in addition to the victory before this game against the then undefeated Falcons, into this one and get a win.

New York Giants 23 New Orleans Saints 27

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Atlanta Falcons
Sunday November 1, 2015 1:00pm
FOX -- Justin Kutcher, Charles Davis
Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA

The Falcons are sitting pretty at 6-1, but they didn't exactly look great in their narrow victory against the Titans. Still, a win is a win, and the Buccaneers are reeling a bit after blowing a huge lead on the road. The last time the Buccaneers played the Falcons in the Georgia Dome, the Falcons led 56-0 in the third quarter before finally winning 56-14 on Thursday Night Football. They have a different quarterback now, but he hasn't exactly looked good. Expect another blowout from the Falcons.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 17 Atlanta Falcons 34

Arizona Cardinals vs. Cleveland Browns
Sunday November 1, 2015 1:00pm
FOX -- Matt Smith, Chris Cooley
FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, OH

Before last week's blowout at the hands of the Rams, the Browns actually looked solid in those three games, but still only came away 1-2 in those games. This game has the makings of an upset because the Cardinals simply aren't as good as analysts may believe they are. They lost on the road to the Steelers to a third string quarterback, which shows us they're still a team that can't always go on the road and get the wins they need to get. This is a 1 o'clock game for a team on the West Coast, so that can prove to be problematic as well. I think the Browns can squeak this one out.

Arizona Cardinals 17 Cleveland Browns 20

San Francisco 49ers vs. St. Louis Rams
Sunday November 1, 2015 1:00pm
FOX -- Dick Stockton, David Diehl
Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, MO

There are reports surfacing about the discord between players in the 49ers' locker room, specifically quarterback Colin Kaepernick. The team lost a lot of players this offseason, including three to retirement. They were expected to struggle, and Kaepernick is struggling as well. Do the 49ers part ways with Kaepernick in the offseason and look for a permanent fixture at the position in the draft? Who knows, but this much we know about right now. The 49ers aren't winning this game.

San Francisco 49ers 10 St. Louis Rams 23

Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears
Sunday November 1, 2015 1:00pm
FOX -- Chris Myers, Ronde Barber
Soldier Field, Chicago, IL

The Vikings are playing good football, and they're sitting pretty at 4-2 behind the Packers in the NFC North. This was a team some expected to improve and possibly be a playoff team. They now have Adrian Peterson, who missed most of last season due to his child abuse arrest and subsequent placement on the commissioner exempt list. The Bears, on the other hand, are not a good team but can use their home field to try and rattle young quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. Even though Bridgewater is young, there isn't necessarily a need to rely on him for this win. Just feed Peterson the ball, and the Vikings should get this victory.

Minnesota Vikings 23 Chicago Bears 17

San Diego Chargers vs. Baltimore Ravens
Sunday November 1, 2015 1:00pm
CBS -- Greg Gumbel, Trent Green
M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD

The surprise of this season so far have been these two teams, who are mightily struggling to get wins. For the Chargers, it's puzzling they gave the Packers fits in Lambeau Field, almost beating a team in a place where it has been near impossible to win in as a road team, then lose badly to the Raiders at home. Who knows where the Chargers are as a team, but they struggled against the Browns at home as well. This shows they're now a very good football team. The Ravens' lone win came against the Steelers, and the case can be made the Steelers handed the game to them with a lot of miscues. The Ravens should get this win at home against a struggling team.

San Diego Chargers 20 Baltimore Ravens 23

You will most likely no longer see Ben Roethlisberger in a headset,
as it is believed he will be ready to play this Sunday.

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Sunday November 1, 2015 1:00pm
CBS -- Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts
Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA

The Bengals are looking to keep their winning streak going and remain undefeated. The Steelers may get Ben Roethlisberger back. If the Steelers get Roethlisberger back, then the Bengals should prepare to take their first loss of the season. Roethlisberger is a vet who makes sound decisions with the football, and will keep the offense moving along. The Bengals have a strong defensive unit, but they're not exactly dominant. Furthermore, the Bengals haven't necessarily been dominant in these wins either. My prediction is based solely on Roethlisberger suiting up and playing this game.

Cincinnati Bengals 20 Pittsburgh Steelers 28

Tennessee Titans vs. Houston Texans
Sunday November 1, 2015 1:00pm
CBS -- Spero Dedes, Solomon Wilcots
NRG Stadium, Houston, TX

This is a game no one cares to watch, but someone will have to watch it anyway. The Texans have gone through a quarterback carousel for the most part, but they've gotten rid of Ryan Mallett after being late for practice, and then missing the team flight to Miami. It appeared most of the players didn't show up in Miami at all the way they performed, but Mallett was the only one literally missing on that flight. They've signed T.J. Yates, who played some for the team back when they were making the playoffs in 2011 and 2012. Let's see how much patience Bill O'Brien has with Brian Hoyer. We might see Yates right away.

Tennessee Titans 16 Houston Texans 24

New York Jets vs. Oakland Raiders
Sunday November 1, 2015 4:05pm
CBS -- Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon
O.co Coliseum, Oakland, CA

The Jets battled hard with the defending champions, even leading in the fourth quarter before succumbing to the Patriots in Foxboro. The Jets have operated with a gameplan of running the football with Chris Ivory, and playing sound defense. Ivory has dealt with hamstring issues in recent games, but the Jets have a very competent backup in Zac Stacy so they should be able to utilize their game plan to a win here.

New York Jets 20 Oakland Raiders 10

DeMarco Murray, who had a huge game for the Cowboys against the Seahawks
last year, is no longer here. Tony Romo won't be here for this one either.

Seattle Seahawks vs. Dallas Cowboys
Sunday November 1, 2015 4:25pm
FOX -- Thom Brennaman, Troy Aikman
AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX

The Seahawks are in need of a win, even after their dominating win against the 49ers last week. The Seahawks are in luck because they play a team who's missing their franchise quarterback. Last year, Romo led the Cowboys into Seattle and gave the Seahawks their only home loss of the season. Romo and DeMarco Murray were the major guys responsible for the win, and those two will not be a part of the game in this one. That means the Seahawks shouldn't just win, but should be able to shut their offense down.

Seattle Seahawks 23 Dallas Cowboys 6

Peyton Manning has struggled, but his team remains undefeated as they
battle another undefeated team in the Packers on Sunday night.

Green Bay Packers vs. Denver Broncos
Sunday November 1, 2015 8:30pm
NBC -- Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth
Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver, CO

Both teams are undefeated, but that isn't much of a surprise considering both teams were expected to be this good at this point. However, the Broncos haven't necessarily looked good at all, but remain undefeated. The Broncos have been able to get away with a lot of events that have turned in their favor, and they're at home. Couple that with the fact that the Packers offense isn't necessarily playing well right now, despite having the best quarterback in the league.

Green Bay Packers 20 Denver Broncos 23

Indianapolis Colts vs. Carolina Panthers
Monday November 2, 2015 8:30pm
ESPN -- Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC

The Colts are reeling, so this is about the worst game they would want to play at this point. The Colts should still win the AFC South and get to the playoffs since that division seems to be incompetent. Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis are just playing great defense individually, and the rest of the defense have followed suit. Kawann Short is emerging as a pretty solid defensive player as well, and will look to make life miserable for Andrew Luck in the pocket. I think he'll be successful.

Indianapolis Colts 13 Carolina Panthers 21

2015 NFL Week 7 Preview

There is never any love lost between Colin Kaepernick and
Richard Sherman.

Seattle Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers
Thursday October 22, 2015 8:25pm
CBS, NFL Network -- Jim Nantz, Phil Simms
Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, CA

Both teams are coming in struggling, so what was once a game people may have given the 49ers no chance of winning, it now seems reasonable for them to get this win against the defending NFC champions. Something about playing the 49ers, however, seems to bring emotion out of the Seahawks, particularly Richard Sherman. Look for the Seahawks to be motivated defensively and come out with one of their better defensive performances of the season.

Seattle Seahawks 23 San Francisco 49ers 13

Buffalo Bills vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Sunday October 25, 2015 9:30am
CBS, Yahoo -- Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon
Wembley Stadium, London, United Kingdom

The Bills were expected to be a much better team, and started off impressive with a win against the Colts in the season opener. However, the Bills haven't looked all that impressive overall, having already lost three home games and already going through issues at the quarterback position. Furthermore, their defense hasn't necessarily been as dominant as maybe Rex Ryan would like. In all, they're relieved to be playing a team like the Jaguars, even if they have to travel out of the country to do so. It sucks the people in England have to see these two teams go at it.

Buffalo Bills 20 Jacksonville Jaguars 10

Sheldon Richardson and the Jets' defensive line must get pressure
on Brady if they expect to win in Foxboro.

New York Jets vs. New England Patriots
Sunday October 25, 2015 1:00pm
CBS -- Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts
Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, MA

The Jets are riding high with a 4-1 record, and the Patriots own a 5-0 record for the first time since they won all 16 games in 2007. The Jets come into this game with a decent chance of actually winning this game. Their defense is solid, even though they have a weakness the Patriots would absolutely look to exploit. In the Jets' only loss of the season against the Eagles, the Eagles employed a strategy in which they featured their running backs as pass catchers out of the backfield. The Redskins had a little success as well last week, but the Patriots will look to ambush that plan and go to it often. Dion Lewis is such a quick and shifty back, expect him to catch at least five passes. The Patriots always have the answers.

New York Jets 17 New England Patriots 27

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Washington Redskins
Sunday October 25, 2015 1:00pm
FOX -- Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston
FedEx Field, Landover, MD

The Redskins are coming off a bad loss, but they haven't looked completely terrible so far this season. They could be 3-3 had they beat the Falcons two games ago. The Falcons were undefeated at the time and had ran roughshod through the NFC East, playing excellent football at the moments where it mattered most. This means the Redskins are completely capable of dominating the Buccaneers at home in this one. It would be a very disappointing loss if the Redskins lose.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 13 Washington Redskins 28

Atlanta Falcons vs. Tennessee Titans
Sunday October 25, 2015 1:00pm
FOX -- Justin Kutcher, Charles Davis
LP Field, Nashville, TN

Marcus Mariota hopes to play on Sunday, but he's been missing practice time this week due to a MCL sprain he suffered in last week's loss to the Dolphins. The Falcons are much improved from last season, but I'm still not a believer in them despite a 5-1 record. They lost to the division rival Saints last week as well, a team that isn't playing good football right now. If the Dolphins were able to put a hurt on the Titans, the Falcons should be able to win this game.

Atlanta Falcons 28 Tennessee Titans 17

New Orleans Saints vs. Indianapolis Colts
Sunday October 25, 2015 1:00pm
FOX -- Sam Rosen, John Lynch
Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN

The last time the Saints played the Colts, it was the first time the two teams were playing since the Colts' victory in Super Bowl XLIV. The Saints won that game 62-7, in what was an embarrassing season for the Colts in which their Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning missed due to multiple neck surgeries. The Colts have since moved on and have a new franchise quarterback in Andrew Luck. Luck has been an anchor for the Colts' offense in the years he's been there, while the Saints have been trending downhill over the years. The Colts are at home so they should be able to get the win.

New Orleans Saints 10 Indianapolis Colts 27

Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions
Sunday October 25, 2015 1:00pm
FOX -- Chris Myers, Ronde Barber
Ford Field, Detroit, MI

The Vikings got their first win of the season against the Lions, and will look to make it a season sweep in Detroit on Sunday. The Lions finally got their first win last week, but it came in overtime against the Bears at home. The Lions clearly are not a good football team, but getting two consecutive wins in the division will be good for their psyche. I like what the Vikings have been able to do so far, but I don't think they're mentally tough to get this road win just yet.

Minnesota Vikings 20 Detroit Lions 23

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Sunday October 25, 2015 1:00pm
CBS -- Greg Gumbel, Trent Green
Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO

The failures of the Chiefs so far is really the biggest surprise of the season. The Chiefs were expected to bounce back from a season in which they missed the playoffs with a 9-7 record. They failed to get production out of the wide receiver position, so they went out and signed Jeremy Maclin. With a quality defense intact, the Chiefs were expected to get back to the level they were at in the 2013 season, when they went 11-5 and held what looked like an insurmountable lead in the Wild Card playoff game against the Colts before blowing it. The Chiefs should beat a backup quarterback at home though. If they don't, they can tank the rest of the season.

Pittsburgh Steelers 17 Kansas City Chiefs 20

Cleveland Browns vs. St. Louis Rams
Sunday October 25, 2015 1:00pm
CBS -- Brian Anderson, Adam Archuleta
Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, MO

The Browns let yet another potential win slip away, when they were in position to beat the undefeated Broncos in overtime. It'll be hard for the Browns to get a win in St. Louis, but I like what I've seen from them so far. They're a team that appears to be a better quarterback away from actually competing and winning. Josh McCown also must go against the defensive line for the Rams that are very hard to block up.

Cleveland Browns 16 St. Louis Rams 21

Houston Texans vs. Miami Dolphins
Sunday October 25, 2015 1:00pm
CBS -- Spero Dedes, Solomon Wilcots
Sun Life Stadium, Miami, FL

The Dolphins appear to have gotten on track with their dominating victory of the Titans last week under new head coach Dan Campbell. It's debatable whether the Titans are better than the Texans, but the Dolphins will be playing this contest at home. I'll be surprised if the Dolphins do not take advantage of this situation and produce another blowout victory.

Houston Texans 13 Miami Dolphins 31

Oakland Raiders vs. San Diego Chargers
Sunday October 25, 2015 4:05pm
CBS -- Andrew Catalon, Steve Tasker, Steve Beuerlein
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, CA

Philip Rivers is the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for over 500 yards and not throw an interception in a game, and lose. The run game was producing nothing against the Packers, so they went all out with the passing game, and they were very productive. Keenan Allen was very productive individually, but he did get hurt in that game. Allen did not practice, so it remains up in the air whether or not he plays in this game. However, Allen would most likely want to play in this game because he'd be going up against the Raiders' David Amerson, who grew up with Allen in North Carolina. Look for Allen to will himself into playing, and for the Chargers to get a win.

Oakland Raiders 14 San Diego Chargers 20

Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants
Sunday October 25, 2015 4:25pm
FOX -- Joe Buck, Troy Aikman
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ

The Giants are catching the Cowboys at a time when Tony Romo won't be playing. This means the Giants should be able to get this victory. Don't speak too fast. The Giants have a tendency to let you down when you expect they'll produce wins. The Cowboys have also gone away from Brandon Weeden since he simply seems unable to win a game. In comes Matt Cassel, who's had varying degrees of success throughout his career. The Giants' defense has been banged up too, with arguably their best defensive player in Devon Kennard missing the last couple of games. They need him if they're get back to being successful in stopping the run. The Giants should squeak this one out.

Dallas Cowboys 23 New York Giants 26

Cam Newton celebrates after throwing the game winning touchdown
last week in Seattle to stay undefeated.

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Carolina Panthers
Sunday October 25, 2015 8:30pm
NBC -- Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC

The Eagles are coming off a dominant win, but now they run into the Panthers. The Panthers have found their stride and seem to be getting back to the level they were at when they won the NFC South with a 12-4 record in 2013. The Panthers seem to have proven they are for real by going into Seattle and getting a victory there. The Seahawks are certainly better than the other opponents the Panthers have faced, so that gives the Panthers confidence at home on Sunday night.

Philadelphia Eagles 17 Carolina Panthers 24

Baltimore Ravens vs. Arizona Cardinals
Monday October 26, 2015 8:30pm
ESPN -- Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden
University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, AZ

The Ravens are in free fall mode, and it'll be interesting to see if John Harbaugh's job is in jeopardy at some point. Despite the failures this season, I believe he has done a very good job in his tenure and deserves at least another more season before a change is considered. It's hard to imagine them getting a win against the Cardinals in Arizona. However, the Cardinals were thought of as a dominant team after everyone witnessed their strong start to the season. They lost last week to a third-string quarterback though, which means they aren't as good as their start suggested. They are good enough for a win here on Monday night.

Baltimore Ravens 14 Arizona Cardinals 27

2015 NFL Week 6 Preview

Atlanta Falcons vs. New Orleans Saints
Thursday October 15, 2015 8:25pm
CBS, NFL Network -- Jim Nantz, Phil Simms
Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, LA

It is looking like a long season for the Saints, as they continue to lose and look terrible doing so. Rumors have started to fly about Sean Payton's future with the team, so there is a possibility he may have mentally checked out already. Drew Brees continues to suffer from a lack of playmakers around him as well. The Falcons are 5-0, but I'm not convinced they're a legit team. They've only been convincing in one of their wins, but wins are wins. They should get another one here.

Atlanta Falcons 24 New Orleans Saints 17

Washington Redskins vs. New York Jets
Sunday October 18, 2015 1:00pm
FOX -- Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ

The Redskins had an opportunity at a very good and surprising road win, but it was yet another Kirk Cousins' interception in overtime that cost the Redskins the game. Playing against a more stout defense on the road, the Redskins will find it very difficult to move the football. The Redskins' defense also isn't solid, so the Jets should be able to control the ball with a physical run game led by Chris Ivory.

Washington Redskins 10 New York Jets 24

Arizona Cardinals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Sunday October 18, 2015 1:00pm
FOX -- Thom Brennaman, Troy Aikman
Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA

The Steelers were very fortunate to acquire Michael Vick as a backup. He's certainly a lot better than a lot of backup options for teams across the league. This gives the Steelers a chance to win this game and future games while Ben Roethlisberger returns from his MCL injury. The Cardinals should make things very hard on the Steelers' offense, and if Carson Palmer is able to avoid turning the ball over, the Cardinals should be able to squeak by.

Arizona Cardinals 24 Pittsburgh Steelers 20

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Minnesota Vikings
Sunday October 18, 2015 1:00pm
CBS -- Greg Gumbel, Trent Green
TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN

It's time to start worrying about the Chiefs now for two reasons. One, they couldn't keep a lead against Jay Cutler and the Bears at home. Secondly, and most importantly, they've lost Jamaal Charles for the rest of the season with another torn ACL. The Vikings are 2-0 at home, and have given me no reason to believe they will lose their first home game here. As long as the Vikings continue to feed Adrian Peterson more than 20 times a game, the Vikings will probably win.

Kansas City Chiefs 16 Minnesota Vikings 20

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Buffalo Bills
Sunday October 18, 2015 1:00pm
CBS -- Spero Dedes, Solomon Wilcots
Ralph Wilson Stadium, Buffalo, NY

This should be an interesting game because Rex Ryan will be motivated and fired up to give the Bengals their first loss of the season. The Bengals are playing confident football right now, but the issue will not be how they start the season. Andy Dalton always seems to impress early in the season, and then disappoint a little late in the season and then the playoffs. The Bills haven't been playing as well since routing the Dolphins in Week 3. Tyrod Taylor will have problems against the Bengals' defensive line.

Cincinnati Bengals 20 Buffalo Bills 17

Chicago Bears vs. Detroit Lions
Sunday October 18, 2015 1:00pm
FOX -- Chris Myers, Ronde Barber
Ford Field, Detroit, MI

This is the perfect game for the Lions to get their first win. They've been riddled with difficult games in their first five games, and have come away winless. If they are unable to beat the Bears at home, I think it may be time to speculate on Matthew Stafford and whether he should keep his job as the starting quarterback. Simply put, there should be no reason the Lions lose to the Bears here.

Chicago Bears 23 Detroit Lions 27

Denver Broncos vs. Cleveland Browns
Sunday October 18, 2015 1:00pm
CBS -- Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts
FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, OH

I think the Broncos will be upsetted here, as they haven't look good at all despite owning a 5-0 record. Peyton Manning has more interceptions than touchdowns so far. I am not sure if he's ever done that other than his rookie season, so the writing is certainly on the wall for Manning to call it a career after this season probably. The Browns surprised people with their performance in the past two weeks, almost beating the Chargers in San Diego and then beating the Ravens in Baltimore. The Browns will get the upset victory here.

Denver Broncos 17 Cleveland Browns 24

Houston Texans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Sunday October 18, 2015 1:00pm
CBS -- Tom McCarthy, Adam Archuleta
EverBank Field, Jacksonville, FL

This is easily the least interesting game of Week 6. Both teams are 1-4, and simply don't look good. You have to go with the home team in this once, simply because you know the road team isn't good enough to win on the road. The Texans may come up with a surprise win, and if there is a road win to get, it'll be here against an opponent that isn't very good and in the division. You have to feel for Bill O'Brien though. The look on his face when Brian Hoyer threw the interception to lose the game was one of anger and frustration. He simply doesn't have good quarterbacks right now.

Houston Texans 27 Jacksonville Jaguars 30

New head coach Dan Campbell gets his first crack at solving the issues
of the Dolphins in Tennessee.

Miami Dolphins vs. Tennessee Titans
Sunday October 18, 2015 1:00pm
CBS -- Andrew Catalon, Steve Beuerlein, Steve Tasker
LP Field, Nashville, TN

The Dolphins are coming off a bye and have a brand new head coach in Dan Campbell. Campbell isn't that far removed from his playing days in the NFL, so let's see if he can be a nice change of pace from Joe Philbin. The Dolphins have looked like a mess, and they gave huge contracts in the offseason to Ryan Tannehill and Ndamukong Suh. Neither have produced yet, but it's just a matter of time before Suh starts to produce. Tannehill, on the other hand, hadn't shown much to justify the long term extension he received in the first place. He'll continue to justify not being deserving of it, when they lose here.

Miami Dolphins 14 Tennessee Titans 24

Kam Chancellor had a long interception return for a touchdown in last season's
divisional round playoff game against the Panthers.

Carolina Panthers vs. Seattle Seahawks
Sunday October 18, 2015 4:05pm
FOX -- Sam Rosen, John Lynch
CenturyLink Field, Seattle, WA

This is a rematch of the divisional round playoff game in which the Seahawks won en route to their second consecutive Super Bowl appearance. The Seahawks are not playing good football these days, and their defense doesn't look great like in years past. The Panthers are undefeated, but they haven't had quality opponents yet. I'll be impressed if they can go into Seattle and come away with a win. They will not, however.

Carolina Panthers 13 Seattle Seahawks 16

This could've been the Harbaugh brothers before this game...but the 49ers
fired Jim this past offseason. 

Baltimore Ravens vs. San Francisco 49ers
Sunday October 18, 2015 4:25pm
CBS -- Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon
Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, CA

If Jim Harbaugh were still head coach of the 49ers, as he should be, it would be the Harbaughs coaching against each other for the first time since Super Bowl XLVII. Instead, it's a game more known for Torrey Smith playing against his former team for the first time. It doesn't matter because the game isn't in Baltimore. Both teams are struggling a lot, but the 49ers should be able to use their home crowd and a weak Ravens' defense to pull out the victory.

Baltimore Ravens 21 San Francisco 49ers 27

San Diego Chargers vs. Green Bay Packers
Sunday October 18, 2015 4:25pm
CBS -- Jim Nantz, Phil Simms
Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI

The Chargers haven't been sharp, losing a game at home to the Steelers on Monday night in which they should've won. They also almost lost to the Browns a couple of weeks ago at home as well, so things aren't exactly clicking for them. I never discount Philip Rivers because he's so mentally and physically tough, but trying to win in Lambeau Field is like trying to win in the Superdome a couple of years ago. It's just close to impossible.

San Diego Chargers 17 Green Bay Packers 30

Tom Brady's numerous appearance to court in New York City may have
him fired up to destroy the Colts.

New England Patriots vs. Indianapolis Colts
Sunday October 18, 2015 8:30pm
NBC -- Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth
Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN

This is the game everyone has been waiting for since the schedule came out. It isn't necessarily because it's expected to be competitive. Both teams faced off in the AFC Championship Game last year, and the Patriots demolished them 45-7. However, "Deflategate" was born when it was determined numerous footballs belonging to the Patriots were under inflated below the legal limit. Commissioner Roger Goodell would have "independent investigator" Ted Wells investigate, and then levied a four-game suspension on Tom Brady for his alleged role in the incident. That suspension has since been lifted, but Brady has had to go to court numerous times, and it made him angry and frustrated. The Colts are the cause of all of this. The final score will reflect that.

New England Patriots 52 Indianapolis Colts 17

Eli Manning was mauled last year in a 27-0 shutout to the Eagles.
The Giants look to change that script on Monday night.

New York Giants vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Monday October 19, 2015 8:30pm
ESPN -- Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA

The Giants were 3-2 last year heading into the Linc, and then were promptly destroyed by the Eagles 27-0 en route to a seven-game losing streak. This year is different, however. Sam Bradford isn't Nick Foles, even though many may dispute that. Also, DeMarco Murray and Ryan Mathews are not LeSean McCoy. The Giants, on the other hand, are playing much better run defense than they were playing last year. The offensive line is playing slightly better as well, and terrors like Trent Cole are no longer there. The Eagles' defense is stronger than last year, but can still be exposed by a quality offense like the Giants. I'm going with the upset here.

New York Giants 27 Philadelphia Eagles 24

2015 NFL Week 5 Preview

Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans
Thursday October 8, 2015 8:25pm
NFL Network -- Jim Nantz, Phil Simms
NRG Stadium, Houston, TX

This is another opportunity for the Colts to win games after their 0-2 start. They need to win this game because the next opponent they have has every reason to be very angry with them. The Colts host the defending Patriots in Week 6, and the Patriots have had to endure an offseason full of controversy that was all started by the Colts. Last year, the Colts were able to hold on late on Thursday Night Football in Houston to win as well. Matt Hasselbeck will start, so there is reason to believe the Texans can win this game. I'll stick with the Colts anyway.

Indianapolis Colts 24 Houston Texans 17

Chicago Bears vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Sunday October 11, 2015 1:00pm
FOX -- Sam Rosen, John Lynch
Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO

The Bears got their first win out of the way, and Jay Cutler showed people he isn't as bad as people make him out to be. However, the Chiefs are an angry football team right now. After an easy season opener against the Texans, the Chiefs have had to face the Broncos, Packers and Bengals in consecutive week. The Chiefs lost all three of them and now they are sitting at 1-3. However, they should start to turn things around here. This should be an easy win for Andy Reid and company.

Chicago Bears 13 Kansas City Chiefs 24

Richard Sherman made his first career NFL start against A.J. Green
back in 2011. He then proceeded to call him overrated.

Seattle Seahawks vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Sunday October 11, 2015 1:00pm
FOX -- Joe Buck, Troy Aikman
Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, OH

This is easily the best game of Week 6, as the defending two-time NFC champions take on the undefeated Bengals. Through four games, we have seen that the Seahawks' offense simply isn't that good, and going into Cincinnati, they will almost certainly struggle. Look for Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap to apply pressure to Russell Wilson and use the crowd's energy for another solid defensive effort. The Seahawks are looking better now, but they played two lousy NFC North teams at home to get their two wins. Furthermore, they almost lost to the Lions a couple of days ago. The Seahawks will lose a tight one.

Seattle Seahawks 13 Cincinnati Bengals 16

Washington Redskins vs. Atlanta Falcons
Sunday October 11, 2015 1:00pm
FOX -- Chris Myers, Ronde Barber
Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA

The Falcons will finish off their NFC East dominance with a victory here. They should've lost their first three games against NFC East opponents, but the inability of the Eagles, Giants and Cowboys to finish football games doomed them against the Falcons. That won't happen here. The Falcons will make it a track meet against the Redskins, and the Falcons' much improved pass rush will get after Kirk Cousins, rattle him in the dome, and force him into numerous mistakes

Washington Redskins 20 Atlanta Falcons 38

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sunday October 11, 2015 1:00pm
CBS -- Spero Dedes, Solomon Wilcots
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL

The teams in the state of Florida suck right now, so this will be brutal to watch. The Buccaneers should win because they're at home, but Jameis Winston hasn't looked good so far at all. Look for Blake Bortles to have a better game, and a good road win. More questions will arise from Winston's ability to be a quarterback in this league. This is his rookie season. He should use this season to struggle and figure out NFL defenses. That should make him a better quarterback in years to come. The Buccaneers are hoping so.

Jacksonville Jaguars 20 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10

New Orleans Saints vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Sunday October 11, 2015 1:00pm
FOX -- Thom Brennaman, Charles Davis, Tony Siragusa
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA

The Saints finally got their win in overtime against the Cowboys, but they still don't look that good. Gone are the days where Drew Brees slinged the ball all over the field and hurt opposing defenses by racking up 30 plus points. The Eagles haven't looked good either at 1-3, but at least they have a decent defense and are at home. Sam Bradford is overhyped and simply a mediocre quarterback at best, definitely not what many people thought he'd be in this offense. The Eagles should win this game because the Saints simply aren't that good. They lost to the Buccaneers at home.

New Orleans Saints 17 Philadelphia Eagles 27

Cleveland Browns vs. Baltimore Ravens
Sunday October 11, 2015 1:00pm
CBS -- Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon
M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD

The Ravens are very fortunate to have their first win. It appeared as if the Steelers were daring the Ravens to take the game from them, and the Ravens did just that. The Ravens should be able to win this game at home and improve to 2-3, so they are trending upwards after their 0-3 start. There's still cause for concern, as they didn't look good at all in their win against the Steelers. The Browns just don't look good at all this season, so if the Ravens lose this one, they can forget about being in the playoffs.

Cleveland Browns 14 Baltimore Ravens 24

Aaron Donald is being labeled as one of the best defensive tackles in football
in only his second year. He'll need a monster performance if the Rams are to win.

St. Louis Rams vs. Green Bay Packers
Sunday October 11, 2015 1:00pm
CBS -- Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts
Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI

The Rams got an impressive road win last weekend against the division rival Cardinals. Another impressive road win is not in the cards here, as Aaron Rodgers is unstoppable in Lambeau Field. The Packers' offense wasn't as explosive as many thought they would be last week in beating the 49ers. Still, the comfort zone at home is too much to overcome for the visiting Rams.

St. Louis Rams 17 Green Bay Packers 31

Buffalo Bills vs. Tennessee Titans
Sunday October 11, 2015 1:00pm
CBS -- Andrew Catalon, Steve Beuerlein, Steve Tasker
LP Field, Nashville, TN

Rex Ryan has to focus on getting his team to be more disciplined, as they unraveled against the Giants last week in a home loss in which many expected them to win. Ryan believes he'll get it cleaned up, and then pointed to the fact that the Seahawks have been one of the most heavily penalized teams in the past couple of seasons, while still making it to the Super Bowl the past two years. This should be an interesting matchup, and the Titans can certainly pull off the upset here. I'll go with the Bills, but will not be surprised if Marcus Mariota and company pulls off the win.

Buffalo Bills 24 Tennessee Titans 21

Arizona Cardinals vs. Detroit Lions
Sunday October 11, 2015 4:05pm
FOX -- Justin Kutcher, Daryl Johnston
Ford Field, Detroit, MI

The Lions are mired in a slump, mainly because of the poor play of Matthew Stafford and the offensive line. Calvin Johnson's fumble at the goal line in Monday night's game against the Seahawks was very costly, as the Lions blew a golden opportunity to get their first win. Their defense was solid, so they should be able to play well at home. There's a lot of hype with Carson Palmer nowadays. He's simply still an average quarterback with his best days behind him, but he is surrounding by a talented supporting cast. This is a toss up, but the Lions should be desperate at 0-4.

Arizona Cardinals 23 Detroit Lions 24

Denver Broncos vs. Oakland Raiders
Sunday October 11, 2015 4:25pm
CBS -- Greg Gumbel, Trent Green
O.co Coliseum, Oakland, CA

The Broncos are 4-0, but they're barely 4-0. Three of those wins were very close wins and could have gone either way. There is a game always ripe for a surprising upset, and I'll tab this game. This isn't because I believe Derek Carr is much improved from Year 1. He still has a lot of work to do to become a reliable quarterback, and it helps by having Amari Cooper as your main target. It'll just be one of those days where Peyton Manning will turn the ball over and things will click for the home team.

Denver Broncos 17 Oakland Raiders 21

Greg Hardy will be making his Cowboys' debut against the defending champions.
He already has some choice words before this game as well.

New England Patriots vs. Dallas Cowboys
Sunday October 11, 2015 4:25pm
CBS -- Jim Nantz, Phil Simms
AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX

This would've been a superb game if Tony Romo were healthy and ready to go. The Patriots' defense isn't intimidating at all, so Romo would've been able to carve up that defense like Brady would've done to the Cowboys' defense. The Cowboys' defense is better, but there isn't much getting in the way of Brady at this point. With Brandon Weeden as the starter, look for the victory from the Patriots.

New England Patriots 34 Dallas Cowboys 24

San Francisco 49ers vs. New York Giants
Sunday October 11, 2015 8:30pm
NBC -- Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ

The Giants are riding high now after an impressive road win against the Bills. They should've had an impressive road win against a healthy Cowboys team as well in Week 1 until they found a way to blow that. The Giants are a good team and people are still skeptical about them. Their schedule isn't as difficult as it was last year. This is a nice game for the Giants to click offensively and keep things rolling along as they look to bounce back from a 6-10 season. The 49ers keep losing and Colin Kaepernick continues to look bad. Jim Harbaugh really does work miracles with quarterbacks.

San Francisco 49ers 13 New York Giants 31

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. San Diego Chargers
Monday October 12, 2015 8:30pm
ESPN -- Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, CA

This would've been an excellent game between two quarterbacks from the 2004 draft class if Ben Roethlisberger were healthy. Instead, Michael Vick is tasked with trying to get the Steelers a win across the country. The playcalling towards the end of their last game, combined with the missed field goals, lost the game for the Steelers and they'll try to recover. They simply want to tread water until Roethlisberger returns. They won't win here, but the Steelers should be able to hang around until Big Ben comes back.

Pittsburgh Steelers 20 San Diego Chargers 23

2015 NFL Week 4 Preview

Michael Vick will get his first career start for the Steelers, which
should be a good opportunity for the Ravens to get their first win.

Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Thursday October 1, 2015 8:25pm
NFL Network -- Jim Nantz, Phil Simms
Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA

Both teams are dealing with adversity, and the games between these two teams are normally close. Mike Tomlin did say they would design some of their offense to help things work out as Michael Vick takes over for the injured Ben Roethlisberger. The Ravens are sitting at 0-3, and things look bad for them right now. However, they weren't exactly blown out in any of the three losses, and with a backup quarterback suiting up on a short week, Joe Flacco and company should be able to scratch out their first win.

Baltimore Ravens 13 Pittsburgh Steelers 9

New York Jets vs. Miami Dolphins
Sunday October 4, 2015 9:30am
CBS -- Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts
Wembley Stadium, London, United Kingdom

It's too bad for the Dolphins that one of their home games are being taken away to play in London against a division rival. After two consecutive losses, and a bad loss last week in their home opener and first divisional game, the Dolphins should be desperate for a win. However, they don't have the makeup or players of a team that can play desperately and get a win. The Jets have a lot of veterans, and should be able to bounce back after losing at home to an Eagles' team that still had their struggles on offense.

New York Jets 24 Miami Dolphins 14

Victor Cruz was just ruled out for Sunday's game, making it more
difficult for the Giants to be productive against the Bills.

New York Giants vs. Buffalo Bills
Sunday October 4, 2015 1:00pm
FOX -- Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston
Ralph Wilson Stadium, Buffalo, NY

This should be an interesting game. When the Giants' offense quicken the tempo, they're able to get a lot of yards and throw effectively. Victor Cruz reportedly suffered a setback in practice early Wednesday, and thus will not be making his first start of the season. The Giants can definitely use him against this stout Bills' defense. LeSean McCoy also has a ton of experience torturing the Giants over the years, and should do so against this Giants' weak defense if his hamstring doesn't give him any problems.

New York Giants 20 Buffalo Bills 24

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts
Sunday October 4, 2015 1:00pm
CBS -- Tom McCarthy, Adam Archuleta
Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN

Now this should be the easiest game so far for the Colts in this young season. The Colts are 1-2, but have struggled mightily in every game, and Andrew Luck is among the worst quarterbacks in the league so far. Many expect that to change as the games go by, but Luck has always been turnover-prone, and there isn't much reason to believe that won't continue. Luck isn't surrounded by a bevy of offensive weapons, so he finds himself shouldering the load most times. Luck should look to avoid turnovers in this game, and give himself confidence going forward.

Jacksonville Jaguars 13 Indianapolis Colts 24

Carolina Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sunday October 4, 2015 1:00pm
FOX -- Chris Myers, Ronde Barber
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL

The Panthers are off to a 3-0 start, and their defense has been the main reason why. Their defense has reverted back to the defense we saw in the 2013 season when they went 12-4 and won the NFC South. This should be a game where the Panthers handle business easily, as Jameis Winston is still learning the nuances of the position at the pro level. Also, I think Cam Newton wants to show the rookie how to do things.

Carolina Panthers 27 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins
Sunday October 4, 2015 1:00pm
FOX -- Dick Stockton, David Diehl
FedEx Field, Landover, MD

It was the Redskins' win over the Eagles at FedEx Field late last season that effectively eliminated the Eagles from playoff contention despite finishing with a 10-6 record. The Eagles will be looking for payback, but Sam Bradford wasn't on that team last year. DeMarco Murray and Ryan Mathews weren't on that team either, so that payback talk actually may be irrelevant. The Eagles have found their running game, which bodes well for them in this game.

Philadelphia Eagles 27 Washington Redskins 20

John Fox and Jack Del Rio were together in Denver. Now they
coach opposite each other this Sunday.

Oakland Raiders vs. Chicago Bears
Sunday October 4, 2015 1:00pm
CBS -- Greg Gumbel, Trent Green
Soldier Field, Chicago, IL

Three of the Bears first four games are at home, but they may very well walk away from this game at 0-4. Many people may be picking the Raiders because of their 2-1 start, but if the Bears have Jay Cutler back for this one, the Bears should be able to win this game. I'll pick the Bears here to get their first win.

Oakland Raiders 17 Chicago Bears 23

Houston Texans vs. Atlanta Falcons
Sunday October 4, 2015 1:00pm
CBS -- Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon
Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA

When people looked at the first four games of the season for the Falcons, many people probably saw a 1-3 start. They had to play the high-powered Eagles' offense, followed by road tilts against the Giants and Cowboys. However, the Falcons have walked away from those first three games undefeated, most likely thanks to Tony Romo's injury and the Giants inability to close out games. The Falcons should be able to get this win, and continue to ride high and match wins with the Panthers in the division.

Houston Texans 17 Atlanta Falcons 27

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Sunday October 4, 2015 1:00pm
CBS -- Spero Dedes, Solomon Wilcots
Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, OH

The Chiefs are a good football team, but their early season schedule has done them no favors at all. This will most likely be a loss as well, as it's very difficult to go into Cincinnati and get a win. Andy Dalton is usually playing well early in the season as well, so this is the time where Dalton plays with confidence before things start to get rocky later in the season. This will be a tough and physical game, but the home team should come out on top.

Kansas City Chiefs 23 Cincinnati Bengals 24

Cleveland Browns vs. San Diego Chargers
Sunday October 4, 2015 4:05pm
CBS -- Andrew Catalon, Steve Tasker, Steve Beuerlein
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, CA

It'll be interesting to see if Mike Pettine goes with Johnny Manziel instead of Josh McCown. McCown came back to replace Manziel, who got the Browns a win in their home opener two weeks ago. However, McCown's return resulted in a disappointing home loss to the Raiders, which prompted reports to suggest players wanted Manziel in there playing. Numerous players have denied those rumors, but it doesn't even matter who's playing here. The Browns don't have a shot against Philip Rivers and the Chargers.

Cleveland Browns 14 San Diego Chargers 31

St. Louis Rams vs. Arizona Cardinals
Sunday October 4, 2015 4:25pm
FOX -- Thom Brennaman, Charles Davis, Tony Siragusa
University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, AZ

Tyrann Mathieu had some interesting comments about the abundance of talent on the Rams, essentially calling them a team who should be and should have been Super Bowl contenders. I think Mathieu is taking that too far, but the Rams certainly do have a number of playmakers on defense, and a little energy on offense. They have never been able to maintain consistency at the quarterback position, so they're hoping that's something Nick Foles can do. He probably can, but he won't in this game. The Cardinals are simply rolling right now, and should roll in this one.

St. Louis Rams 17 Arizona Cardinals 31

Minnesota Vikings vs. Denver Broncos
Sunday October 4, 2015 4:25pm
FOX -- Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch
Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver, CO

Even though Gary Kubiak has shown a willingness to put Peyton Manning in shotgun and pistol formations a lot more, the offense still hasn't exactly clicked the way they would like for it to click. The Vikings sit at 2-1, but those two wins were at home. Their lone loss came on the road to a lowly 49ers team, meaning Teddy Bridgewater hasn't yet figured out how to adapt to playing in pressure situations away from home. Look for the Broncos' offense to show life.

Minnesota Vikings 10 Denver Broncos 27

Green Bay Packers vs. San Francisco 49ers
Sunday October 4, 2015 4:25pm
FOX -- Joe Buck, Troy Aikman
Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, CA

If the 49ers didn't lose numerous players to retirement, off-field issues and free agency, this would certainly be a game worth watching. It is surprising to see FOX stick their top announcing team on this assignment still. The 49ers' defense has looked embarrassing the past two weeks, and now they have to face the best quarterback in the league. Colin Kaepernick should look to use the home field energy to put up a better performance than last week, but it won't be nearly enough.

Green Bay Packers 31 San Francisco 49ers 14

Dallas Cowboys vs. New Orleans Saints
Sunday October 4, 2015 8:30pm
NBC -- Al Micheals, Cris Collinsworth
Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, LA

The last time the Cowboys played in the Superdome, they were steamrolled two years ago. The Saints, surprisingly don't look as invincible as they once did at home, losing to the Buccaneers in their home opener. That, combined with their poor effort in some games last season, means this building isn't the home field advantage it once was. When a team is playing well, of course they can get the crowd pumped. The Saints aren't a good football team, but should get their first win as the Cowboys simply won't win a lot with Brandon Weeden.

Dallas Cowboys 20 New Orleans Saints 23

Golden Tate believes the offense has been predictable. It doesn't get
any easier against his former team on the Monday night stage.

Detroit Lions vs. Seattle Seahawks
Monday October 5, 2015 8:30pm
ESPN -- Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden
CenturyLink Field, Seattle, WA

When Matthew Stafford looks good, he's usually getting Calvin Johnson involved a lot. When Stafford looks bad, he really looks to be in a funk that takes numerous games to get out of. The Lions simply can't keep defenders away from Stafford, and it'll get much tougher in this environment. I expect the Lions to only get a touchdown defensively or on special teams. They will certainly hit some lows on this national stage.

Detroit Lions 7 Seattle Seahawks 27