NFL Week 5 Preview & CSC Pick 'Em League Recap

A quarter of the season is in the books. The Saints are currently a very respectable 3-1 as joint NFC South leader with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They would currently have the No. 2 seed in the NFC if the playoffs started today so they would get a bye, but would have to hope the Packers lose to make sure the road to the Super Bowl goes through New Orleans.

Still, we can worry about the seeding business later in the season, when the Saints are 15-1. So make the jump to check out the NFL Week 5 preview as well as a look at the CSC Pick 'Em League!

New Orleans Saints (3-1) @ Carolina Panthers (1-3) 12:00 PM CST

It's a trap! That seems to be everyone's motto going into this game. The Panthers hung around with the Packers and gave the Bears trouble. Clearly this is a good team that just can't close it. You want my player of the game? Malcolm Jenkins. When it comes to Cam Newton, he likes throwing it up for Steve Smith to just grab it and run. If I'm Gregg Williams, I'm double covering Smith on every play, even if it leads to other guys being open. In a pinch, Newton is going to want to throw to him, and he's going to be deep. With Jenkins as a second coverage man or even as the deep safety, it's going to be on him to keep Smith from being a factor, or even making those interceptions. On a side note, I'm currently 4-0 when it comes to picking the Saints wins and losses correctly.

WINNER- Saints

 

Kansas City Chiefs (1-3) @ Indianapolis Colts (0-4) 12:00 PM CST

#suckforluckbowl! I have no idea about this game. The Chiefs should lose because the Colts have more talent, and have actually been staying in games where Curtis Painter is the starter. Still, these are two teams that suck and I'm clueless.

WINNER- Colts

 

Philadelphia Eagles (1-3) @ Buffalo Bills (3-1) 12:00 PM CST

There's no way in hell it happens, but I'd love to see Buffalo win. The dream team's season coming to a likely end at the hands of Buffalo? Delicious sorrow would pour from Philadelphia.

WINNER- Eagles (Reverse Psychology)

 

Seattle Seahawks (1-3) @ New York Giants (3-1) 12:00 PM CST

The Giants and the Redskins are tied for the division. Which is funny, because everyone saw the Eagles and Cowboys competing for that division. Regardless, the Seahawks suck bad. They aren't good at home, and that's the only place they win now. On the road...?

WINNER- Giants

 

Cincinnati Bengals (2-2) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (1-3) 12:00 PM CST

It's the Bengals. Which means that they are likely to follow up a nice upset over Buffalo with a loss to one of the worst teams in the NFL. Proving that the world is still in balance.

WINNER- Jaguars

 

Tennesse Titans (3-1) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (2-2) 12:00 PM CST

I wish I wrote it down somewhere, but I predicted this exact scenario happening to the Steelers. Old defense, poor offensive line and a liability at wide receiver now, this is a team in decline. On the flip side, the Titans 3-1 record is the most shocking thing in football to me. Considering I saw a six win season as their ceiling, a 3-1 start is phenomenal. Still, the Steelers are at home and the loss of Kenny Britt has to be hurting the Titans.

WINNER- Steelers

 

Oakland Raiders (2-2) @ Houston Texans (3-1) 12:00 PM CST

This has all the makings of a trap game for Houston. An underrated team coming to their stadium with strengths that match up well with the Texans weaknesses, the loss of Andre Johnson and new found optimism for the Texans fanbase. Still, the Raiders are the worst run defense team in the league and Arian Foster just ran for 150 yards against the Steelers. Expect the Texans to try and force Jason Campbell to be good...and then expect the Raiders to lose because of that.

WINNER- Texans

 

Arizona Cardinals (1-3) @ Minnesota Vikings (0-4) 12:00 PM CST

Ugh. Why can't I get another easy Packers/Broncos game to decide? So many sucky games that could go either way. Still, the Vikings suck bad and are headed downward. #suckforluck? #suckforluck

WINNER- Cardinals

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1) @ San Francisco 49ers (3-1) 3:00 PM CST

Well how about this. The 49ers are winning again. Amazing what happens when good coaching happens. I'm probably being a bit homerish about this, but I really like the 49ers chances here. Frank Gore against a soft run defense will lead to good things for the Saints.

WINNER- 49ers

 

New York Jets (2-2) @ New England (3-1) 3:15 PM CST

Only the Jets can make me root for New England. Mark Sanchez is Jason David bad and Tom Brady is still Tom Brady.

WINNER- Patriots

San Diego Chargers (3-1) @ Denver Broncos (1-3) 3:15 PM CST

Interesting thing about the Chargers, they have a good record but they look like crap compared to last year. Philip Rivers looks a step behind what he did, and the Chargers keep shooting themselves in the foot. I wouldn't normally consider the Broncos to win, but this being a division game and given the Chargers propensity to hurt themselves, I'm going to have to go against them here.

WINNER-Broncos

 

Green Bay Packers (4-0) @ Atlanta Falcons (2-2) 7:20 PM CST

I have two questions: 1) How do the Falcons get to host the Packers two years in a row? I thought they flip flop? 2) Who should Saints fans root for? I mean, yeah, the Falcons need to lose. But the Falcons look weak this year, whereas the Packers look invincible and have a built in two game lead over the Saints.The Saints also control their own destiny versus the Falcons. It's very complicated if you ask me.

Anyway, the Packers are going to win. Shocking I know, but as a Falcons fan told me, "Aaron Rodgers is going to throw for 7,200 yards this weekend, and I’m only mostly joking…"

WINNER- Packers

 

Chicago Bears (2-2) @ Detroit Lions (4-0) 7:30 PM CST

FINALLY! A good MNF game! Enjoy it CSC, it's the last one you're going to get until Week 16. And boy does this one make up for the past couple of weeks.

Let me set this game up for you: the Lions are one of the most pathetic franchises in NFL history. They've never been to a Super Bowl and haven't had a winning season since the last millennium. They get to come home for the first time since their 48-3 smackdown on the Chiefs. They get to walk into their stadium as the division leading 4-0 Lions with a young quarterback, a scary defensive line and a very competent coaching staff who will face off against one of their biggest rivals in their history. Yeah, on pure adrenaline alone, they are going to beat the Bears.

WINNER- Lions

 

CSC Pick 'Em League Recap

So, do you guys remember when I made that impassioned plea to get you more active? Apparently, no one read it seeing as how 20+ people didn't pick this week. Get Yahoo! to send you an email reminder if you forget! That's what I do. Anyway, I'm going to put as much effort as you guys did into getting you to enter your picks.

Well, we had a couple of people tie for best record this past week, so the winner of the Drew Brees Award for Pinpoint Accuracy is also the winner of the Super Bowl Swagger award. So who is the winner of both of these awards? Why, it's AbitaSaint (128 points)! Congrats Abita!

Should've put money on it Award: Every picker in the CSC Pick 'Em League correctly predicted the New Orleans Saints beating the Jaguars. So many homers...

The "We're dumb" Award: All but four pickers incorrectly predicted the Buffalo Bills beating the Bengals.

Sippin' on the purple drank: AbitaSaint, canu2u, Stilljreming, cajuncommando58, Valmo, St. PJ's Two Dats, sea.of.white, thisiscnn22000, 9th Ward Boyz, Gridiron Nostradamus, jhenn2004, Alcoholic_Insight, WhoDat!WeDat!BelieveDat!, AZ Refugee, TEAM DEATH, Jimbo, LSU Saint, ingramania, Gomillion, jonny, Ingramania!, Hellspawn, Big Eazy, Saint4Life, PanheadCatahoula, GEO Ballers, Sean Payton's Brass Balls, KilnBill all put down the maximum 16 confidence points on the Saints beating the Jaguars. JaMarcus Russell is proud of all of you.

"Should be Ashamed of Yourselves" Award: Goes to no one! Everyone thought the Saints would win this past week!

Sean Payton's Brass Balls Award: Goes to Stilljreming for not only betting on the Bengals, but putting down 11 confidence points as well. That took balls.

Sean Payton "Obvious Playcall is Obvious" Award: Goes to GWUColonial for placing a bet on the Miami Dolphins. They're sucking for Luck, that's so obvious.

The "1970's New Orleans Saints" Award: Sorry to pick on you twice, but GWUColonial was the picker who scored the least this week. If it makes you feel better, I suck too.

 

Top 5 CSC Pick 'Em League

Rank	Pick Set Name	Total Pts	W-L
1	cowboys	433	46-18
2	Dan39465...	422	46-18
3	Gridiron Nostradamus	415	46-18
4	Valmo	414	44-20
5	northfan	414	44-20