<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By Barry Wilner<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the injuries pile up throughout the NFL, not only does it make picking winners straight up and against the spread more difficult, it diminishes the quality of games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a perfect world, every team would have its best players available weekly. We\u2019re entering the fifth go-round on the schedule, with another 13 weekends beyond that, and the only thing perfect \u2013 for now \u2013 is the record of the Eagles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While the Philly Phans celebrate their quick start, there are tales of woe and doom being uttered nearly everywhere else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
T.J. Watt, Dak Prescott, Joey Bosa, Keenan Allen, Jonathan Taylor, Michael Thomas, Shaquille Leonard, Micah Hyde and Myles Garrett have been sidelined at various times. The Tua Tagovailoa situation is frightening, a dilemma the NFL and the players\u2019 union must solve immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So take any predictions in Week 5 \u2013 and beyond \u2013 with the necessary caution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Raiders at Chiefs (-7)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sure, this is one of the NFL\u2019s fiercest rivalries. But these teams are on two different planets right now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
BEST BET, CHIEFS, 33-17<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Bengals at Ravens (-3)<\/p>\n\n\n\n We clearly know nothing about upsets this season. Maybe we get out of the plummet here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n UPSET SPECIAL, BENGALS, 23-22<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Texans at Jaguars (-7)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thought about this for Best Best even with how poorly the Jags played after taking a 14-0 lead at Philly last week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n JAGUARS, 26-13<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Giants vs. Packers (-8) at London<\/p>\n\n\n\n New York\u2019s QB situation should have taken this off the board. Aaron Rodgers is ready to put lots of points on the board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PACKERS, 30-13<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Falcons at Buccaneers (-9)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Atlanta is playing everyone tougher than expected and is tied for the NFC North lead. Until Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BUCCANEERS, 27-20<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Eagles at Cardinals (+5)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Are the Eagles good enough to go 5-0? Might they be looking ahead to the Dallas prime-time game next week?<\/p>\n\n\n\n EAGLES, 26-20<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Cowboys at Rams (-5 \u00bd)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wouldn\u2019t worry about the Cowboys looking past the defending Super Bowl champs, who looked like chumps against San Francisco.<\/p>\n\n\n\n RAMS, 24-22<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 49ers at Panthers (+6 1\/2)<\/p>\n\n\n\n A cross-country trip after a Monday night game rarely is beneficial. It certainly helps the Niners that they match up so well with the Panthers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 49ERS, 20-10<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Steelers at Bills (-14)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nice place for the Steelers to throw rookie QB Kenny Pickett is as the starter. A lot of points to be spotting. We\u2019ll bite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BILLS, 31-15<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Bears at Vikings (-7)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Minnesota chose to play this week rather than take a bye after its London trip. Some people say playing the Chicago offense constitutes a bye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n VIKINGS, 27-12<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Dolphins at Jets (+3)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even without Tua, the Dolphins are superior to the gutsy but limited Jets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n DOLPHINS, 19-13<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Seahawks at Saints (-6)<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ve always ranked Pete Carroll among the elite NFL coaches. Seattle\u2019s 2-2 start confirms that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SEAHAWKS, 23-20<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Titans at Commanders (+2 1\/2)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Looks like Tennessee is getting itself straightened out. The best way: Run the ball straight ahead with Derrick Henry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n TITANS, 27-17<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Chargers at Browns (+2 1\/2)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Two very banged-up teams, but the Chargers are getting a bit healthier \u2013 and have Justin Herbert, bad ribs and all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n CHARGERS, 26-20<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Lions at Patriots (-3)<\/p>\n\n\n\n New England is a last-place team in the AFC East, if you can believe it. But the schedule gets a lot easier for the Patriots \u2013 unless they aren\u2019t good enough to win this one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PATRIOTS, 24-20<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Wilner\u2019s 2022 RECORD<\/p>\n\n\n\n Last Week \u2013 Straight up: 11-4. Against the spread: 8-7.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Season – Straight up: 35-24-1. Against the spread: 29-30-1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best Bet – Straight up: 2-2. Against the spread: 1-3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Upset Special – Straight up: 0-4. Against the spread: 0-4.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Barry Wilner As the injuries pile up throughout the NFL, not only does it make picking winners straight up…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":23577,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[129],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23576","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t