NFL Week 5: Upsets to watch
Which teams are going to be on upset alert this weekend across the NFL landscape, and which will get the unexpected wins? Let’s look at a few teams that could pull the surprise come Sunday.
- Los Angeles Chargers at New York Giants
Let’s be up front about this. I’m picking the Giants to win this game because the Chargers can never figure out how to finish anything. It’s truly remarkable. That said, the Giants are laying anywhere from three to three and a half points in this one, and that’s too much for a winless team. The Chargers are not great by any stretch — after all, they are also winless — but look for Philip Rivers to play well against a banged up defense, while Los Angeles racks up about a dozen sacks. This could absolutely be an upset.
- Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears
Technically this ins’t on Sunday, it’s on Monday, but we’ll let that slide. The Bears are going to have a very excited crowd in Solider Field for the debut of rookie quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. Add in that the game is on a Monday night, and that the Vikings aren’t sure whether Case Keenum or Sam Bradford will be under center, and there is a recipe for the favored Vikings to get caught napping. Trubisky doesn’t have much in the way of receivers, but he has Tarik Cohen and Jordan Howard behind him to help pave the way.
- Baltimore Ravens at Oakland Raiders
Both of thee teams started 2-0 before cratering to 2-2. Now, the Ravens go into Oakland to take on a Raiders team that could have Derek Carr under center, but likely starts EJ Manuel. If Carr does start, he’ll be playing only seven days after breaking a transverse process in his back, something. head coach Jack Del Rio stated would take 2-6 weeks for him to recover from. The Ravens have absolutely no offense to speak of, and the defense is injured with Brandon Williams out, but this is more about the Raiders. They seem a chaotic bunch at the moment.
- Green Bay Packers at Dallas Cowboys
Of all the upsets listed, this is the one I would bet the hardest on. Dallas has a potent offense when everything is clicking, but that hasn’t been the case consistently through four week of the season. Ezekiel Elliott is rushing for 3.6 yards per carry and Dez Bryant looks slow. Dak Prescott has been average, but nothing like Aaron Rodgers, the man he opposes on Sunday. Rodgers leads the 3-1 Packers into town with an array of offensive weapons and an underrated front seven. Look for Green Bay to get out of Dallas with a win, setting off sirens in Jerry World.
