FRIDAY AFTERNOON QUARTERBACK: NFL WEEK 5

BY ADAM GREENE

It was a battle between quarterbacks with injured fingers Thursday night and Geno Smith nearly came off the bench and stole the show. Week Five opened with a game that could not only have playoff ramifications in January, but serious implications over the next month as Rams QB Matthew Stafford injured his index finger and Russell Wilson was knocked from the game with a middle finger injury in a 26-17 Los Angeles win.

That’s the big picture, but you can’t ignore Smith’s performance. The former second round pick played lights out in replacement of Wilson, only throwing a pick late in the game when wide receiver Tyler Lockett fell down on his route. The interception sealed with win for the Rams, but Smith made it interesting and, if Wilson has to miss any time, Seattle can’t be counted out with him at QB. Not after what he did coming in cold Thursday night.

Stafford bounced back from his finger snafu, stayed in the game and completed 25 of 37 for 365 yards, one touchdown and an interception. Darryl Henderson Jr. rushed 17 times for 82 yards and a score and Robert Woods, who had been the forgotten man in LA’s offensive attack, caught 12 passes for 150 yards. Rams head coach Sean McVay is now 7-3 against Seattle and Pete Carroll and LA, as a franchise, is 11-5 against Seattle since 2014.

Both teams have to be glad to get the extra time off after this one. Wilson has never missed a start in a decade, but Aaron Donald spiked his middle finger like it was a volleyball kill and turned it into the No. 7. It didn’t look good. Seattle hosts the Pittsburgh Steelers next week, then travels to the New Orleans Saints so Wilson’s health, and Smith’s possible performance, could make or break their season before the leaves change.

As for the Rams, their path clears considerably with a trip to New York to take on the Giants, before hosting the Detroit Lions and making the trek to Houston to face the hapless Texans.

And, hey, I opened the week 1-0 straight up and against the spread, so let’s see if I can keep it going.

NEW YORK JETS AT ATLANTA FALCONS (-2.5, O/U: 45)

The worst game of the week is the first game of the week as the NFL attempts to teach their London audience a serious lesson in why they should have no interest in American Football. Frankly, if Londoners show up to this one, it really exemplifies the power of the brand. Atlanta makes the trip without Calvin Ridley, so it would be a great time for Kyle Pitts to make an appearance. I don’t like Atlanta in the United States and don’t like them in the UK either. But I’m still taking them. Falcons 17, Jets 13

MIAMI DOLPHINS AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (-10, O/U: 48)

Jacoby Brissett is still running the show in Miami and playing at a Bucs team that’s covered one spread this entire season. It also happened to be the only double digit spread they faced, so I’m thinking that might be a trend. Bucs 27, Dolphins 16

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT CAROLINA PANTHERS (-3, O/U: 45)

The Eagles showed up on offense last week against the Chiefs, but every team has done that against Kansas City. Carolina might get Christian McCaffrey back, but I’m as shocked to write this as anyone, they might not need him for this game. Panthers 24, Eagles 17

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS AT WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM (+2, O/U: 43.5)

So far the Saints, with Jameis Winston at the helm, have shown up pretty solidly every other week. Unfortunately, last week was that week and Winston is now holding a two-game interception-less streak that’s just begging to be broken. Washington has found a way to pull a couple of games from their nether regions and I see no reason to bet against them at home when they’re facing a team reportedly in conversations with the Houston Texans to trade for Deshaun Watson. WFT 24, Saints 20

TENNESSEE TITANS AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (+4.5, O/U: 48.5)

Here it is, the game where Urban Meyer has the chance to shut up all the haters, all the naysayers and all the people that want him fired, and those are just the guys on his own team. Tennessee will probably be without Julio Jones in this one, but they need a serious bounce back after dropping an overtime game to the Jets a week ago. Meyer, producing the most hilarious distraction in the NFL in years, is here to save the day. Titans 35, Jags 10

DETROIT LIONS AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS (-10, O/U: 49.5)

That’s quite a spread for a team that’s won all of one game this season. Kirk Cousins, up until last week, was playing his unvaccinated ass off, but fell to Earth some and, as such, Minnesota took its third loss of the season. Jared Goff is finding brand new ways to fumble games away in Detroit, but he’s been good for some garbage time points and that’s what I think keeps Minny from covering in this one. Vikings 27, Lions 20

DENVER BRONCOS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (pk, O/U: 40)

Denver was knocked from the ranks of the unbeaten a week ago and quarterback Teddy Bridgewater ended up in the concussion protocol. Bridgewater practiced Thursday and will likely play, but here’s the problem. There’s just no way to tell which Pittsburgh team will show up. Everyone is writing the eulogies for Ben Roethlisberger’s career and he’s not looked good. That’s usually when the Steelers and Big Ben can make it happen. Steelers 23, Broncos 20

GREEN BAY PACKERS AT CINCINNATI BENGALS (+3, O/U: 50.5)

Joe Burrow was the top rated QB with a 132.8 in Week 4 thanks to a come from behind 24-21 win over the Jaguars that might turn out to be the high point of Urban Meyer’s coaching tenure. Normally, even with Cincinnati’s record, the Pack would be a touchdown favorite coming into a game like this. It shows the respect the books have for what Cincy is doing. I agree, but I also don’t think they can knock off Green Bay right now. Packers 27, Bengals 23

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS AT HOUSTON TEXANS (+9, O/U: 39.5)

The Patriots are nine point favorites over a Texans team that has scored a total of nine points over the last two weeks. Last week, against the Bills, Houston picked up only six first downs and gained a total of 109 yards on offense in a shutout. What I’m saying here, rookie QB in Mac Jones or not, I think this spread is safe. Patriots 17, Texans 3

CHICAGO BEARS AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (-5.5, O/U: 44)

Justin Fields is now been handed the keys to the Chicago offense for the rest of the season. He gets to face off against a Las Vegas team that’s finally developed a legit pass rush coming off its first loss of the season. Raiders 23, Bears 17

CLEVELAND BROWNS AT LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (-1, O/U: 47.5)

Cleveland is 3-1, but Baker Mayfield has yet to really show up past the opening week and make the franchise quarterback plays to win the game. If they have a chance against LA, he’ll have to. Meanwhile, Justin Herbert is tossing his helmet into the early MVP talk. Maybe the Chargers will actually have more fans at their own stadium this week than the opposing team. They should. They’re putting on a good show. Chargers 31, Browns 21

NEW YORK GIANTS AT DALLAS COWBOYS (-7.5, O/U: 52)

Here’s a couple of fun facts for you. Only two quarterbacks have posted QB ratings over 90 in their last five starts. One of them is Kyler Murray of the Arizona Cardinals. The other is Daniel Jones. Jones is quietly having a pretty good NFL season and holds an elite level 86.9 grade at Pro Football Focus. Will it be enough to beat the Cowboys and their offense led by Dak Prescott? No, but it might be enough to keep Dallas from covering. Cowboys 30, Giants 24

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS AT ARIZONA CARDINALS (-5, O/U: 49.5)

Will this be Trey Lance’s first start? Will Jimmy Garoppolo gut it out? The Niners are keeping it close to the vest, but I’m not sure it would matter here. Arizona was a tough match up for San Francisco at full strength last season before all their injuries hit. The Cards aren’t going undefeated, but I think they keep that goose egg on the end of their record for at least another week. Cardinals 23, 49ers 20

Last week

Straight up: 9-7

Against the spread: 7-9

Season

Straight up: 41-23

Against the spread: 33-31

The NFL season is underway and the Week 4 Schedule is up and taking bets at BetOnline.AG.

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