Week 5 NFL Preview plus LDS Previews

In my featured games, all four were big games and crucial wins for the victors. The Ravens played extremely hard against a very good Patriots team, but were unable to win at the end. There were definitely a couple calls that may have been questionable in favor of the Patriots, but WR Mark Clayton getting the job done late in the 4th quarter truly decided this one. QB Mark Sanchez had his first big road test in New Orleans and he looked overmatched as the Saints' defense ended up being too much for the Jets. As picked it was the turnovers and defense that ultimately decided this one. The Steelers were able to get back to winning, but thankfully for them they had such a big lead otherwise they may have fell to the Chargers, who mounted a strong comeback effort in the second half. The Chargers seem to struggle in the first half and the Steelers in the second half. Brett Favre usually brings his A game in big games and boy did he look good on Monday night when he defeated his 32nd team; the only QB to do so. The Vikings' defense kept QB Aaron Rodgers contained and punished him. Despite all that, he had a pretty good game.

All and all, I went 11-3 last week and brings my total to 48-14 after four weeks.

Now for Week 5:

Games of the Week:

Bengals at Ravens: The Ravens let a win against the Patriots slip away last week while the Bengals continue to shock the NFL with close win after close win. They may have barely beat the lowly Browns, but the Bengals have been gathering steam. The Ravens are still playing really well and this game will be for supremacy in the tough AFC North. I'm not completely sold that the Bengals can keep winning they way they have. Pick: Ravens

Falcons at 49ers: The Falcons return from a bye and look to get back on track after a tough loss at New England. The 49ers have been playing very hard for new coach Mike Singletary and look to challenge for the NFC West. They have a bit of what the Falcons had a year ago and this year look to be closely matched. The 49ers look to be without HB Frank Gore while the Falcons' HB, Michael Turner, has started slow and could be due for a breakout game. Pick: Falcons

Patriots at Broncos: This is one of those games that feature two teams with something to prove. The Patriots came into the year with a lot of expectations as did their QB, Tom Brady. They are playing average at best at times and could use one of their multi-TD games to boast their confidence. The Broncos entered the year near the bottom of the rankings and many were not expecting much out of them after their tumultuous offseason. However, there is a reason why they say that they don't play the games on paper. The big difference has been a much improved defense under the guidance of former 49ers coach, Mike Nolan, and the addition of a playmaker like Brian Dawkins. Not sure if the Broncos are for real yet, but if they get a win here then many doubters will have to take this team seriously. Pick: Patriots

Sunday Night: Colts at Titans: These two were projected to battle for the division crown this year. They finished 1st and 2nd a year ago, but have started very differently. The Colts are 4-0 while the Titans are 0-4. The Colts' offense seems to be as fast-striking as ever and Peyton Manning as looked like an early MVP candidate. The Titans' defense seems to be lacking many intangibles and pieces that made them strong the last few years. The passing defense will be tormented all game and Manning should fine the holes he needs to get the ball to a receiver. Pick: Colts

Monday Night: Jets at Dolphins: The Jets and rookie QB Mark Sanchez were cruising along at 3-0 and ran into a tough Saints team on the road. The Dolphins came out strong last week and if they get a good balance with the wildcat and passing game, they could put enough points on the board. Sanchez and the Jets' defense wants to prove that they are more like their first 3 games and not their last. This one could be a back and forth battle featuring two young QBs. Pick: Jets

Rest of the pack:

Browns at Bills: This one is not going to bring many viewers to the table. Both teams have struggling offenses and haven't been able to display much hope for the year ahead. It will probably be a low scoring game decided by a field goal. Pick: Bills

Steelers at Lions: The Steelers have been struggling in recent weeks since SS Troy Polamulu has been out of commission. This week should be a good way for them to work out their kinks. The Lions are playing harder this year, but still have question marks and might be without rookie QB Matthew Stafford. Pick: Steelers

Cowboys at Chiefs: The Cowboys have been playing up and down this year and the Chiefs haven't been very good and are winless. This could be a trip up for the Cowboys especially after that late loss to the Broncos last week. QB Tony Romo needs to step up and show he can be a top QB. Pick: Cowboys

Vikings at Rams: This looks like a total mismatch on paper. The Vikings looked very good on Monday Night against the Packers. The passing and running game are both on fire and the defense is scoring points themselves. The Rams are very sluggish and have a running game that gets stopped because of their horrible passing game. Pick: Vikings

Raiders at Giants: The Raiders are playing about as bad as they have during this terrible skid they have been in. QB JaMarcus Russell has been playing a lot of error plagued ball. The Giants should have a healthy enough Eli Manning at QB and will probably only need to play a little more than a half. Pick: Giants

Buccaneers at Eagles: The Eagles will have Donovan McNabb back at QB this week and they should be able then to go to work on a weak Buccaneers team. The Bucs came close to a win against the Redskins, but things will be a lot tougher this week against a possible top contender in the NFC. Pick: Eagles

Redskins at Panthers: The Redskins have struggled to 2-2 and could easily be where the Panthers are...winless. The Panthers had a bye to regroup after their rough start. This is a good game for them and should be able to fix that donut in the win column. Pick: Panthers

Jaguars at Seahawks: The Jaguars have been surging recently and the Seahawks have been limping along. This matchup seems to be between two teams going in two different directions. QB Matt Hasselbeck may be back for the Seahawks, but I think they are a little too banged up regardless. Pick: Jaguars

Texans at Cardinals: The Texans are looking for big win to give themselves some confidence and beating the Cardinals could do that. The Cardinals had a week off to soak in that Colts' beat down and should come out firing on all cylinders. QB Kurt Warner is due for a breakout came and will move the ball around. Pick: Cardinals

I'm looking forward to some football and big battles this weekend.

BONUS!! BONUS!! BONUS!!

MLB LDS PREVIEWS

The calendar turned to October last Thursday, but it took nearly a week for this day to arrive. This day being the beginning of a new postseason. The Phillies enter as the defending champions and are looking to bring another title back to the city of Philadelphia. Their opponents, the Colorado Rockies, have entered their second postseason in the last three years and are a dangerous group again. The Dodgers came out the gate fast and lost Manny Ramirez for part of the season yet despite all their struggles in the second half they managed to still finish with the best record in the National League. The Cardinals made very smart moves around the half way point of the year and if Albert Pujols is locked in this team could make a big run. In the American League, it looks like the Yankees are back to their dominant selves. They enter with homefield throughout the postseason as long as they are still playing and have a "murders row" lineup where all nine in their lineup can hit. They have an ace in C.C. Sabathia that they haven't had in some time. The Minnesota Twins may be the hottest team entering the postseason as they entered ala the Rockies of two years ago. They spent the last week of the year in must win games and caught and passed the Detriot Tigers for the AL Central crown in Game 163. Not sure how much gas is left in their tank. The Boston Red Sox and Anaheim Angels enter what seems to be a yearly series for the two as they are meeting for the fourth time in the last six years. The Angels have been playing this year for pitcher Nick Adenhart, who tragically died early in the season. The Red Sox seem to be limping in and not as strong as past years, but are still not to be overlooked.

ALDS Yankees vs Twins: The Yankees have returned to promience and seem to have too much in their favor against a Twins team that barely got into the postseason. The hitting and pitching both favor the Yankees and everything seems to be going right for Alex Rodriquez this season and should reverse his postseason woes. PICK: Yankees, in 3
ALDS Angels vs Red Sox: The Angels have confidence that despite the past failures in the postseason to the Red Sox, they will rid those demons and move on. The Red Sox to me just don't seem to have much in their favor. Josh Beckett their best pitcher is banged up and their offense has gotten cold a little too much this year. Timely hitting and baserunning by the Angels will be the difference. PICK: Angels, in 4

NLDS Dodgers vs Cardinals: These two teams seem to be going different directions. The Dodgers stumbled down the stretch and nearly lost the NL West while the Cardinals cruised to the NL Central crown. The series could revolve around the big bats from both teams. It won't come down to whether Manny Ramirez or Albert Pujols has a better series, but the one with better numbers at the plate will facilate the rest of the team. It's also hard to go against two legitimate Cy Young candidates...who both pitch for the Cardinals. PICK: Cardinals, in 4

NLDS Phillies vs Rockies: The Phillies enter this postseason with an opponent that swept them two years ago. This Phillies' team has a dangerous hitting lineup and two quality starters at the front end of their rotation when they are on. The Rockies have a never surrender attitude and always play to the last out. I think that Rockies will give the Phillies a good fight and games should be close, but the Phillies to me have a little too much pop at the plate. PICK: Phillies, in 4

With the MLB postseason in the fold to go along with another great weekend of NFL action, I pretty damn excited. It's October!