NFC West Week 5 Preview & Picks

NFL NFC West Week 5 Preview

There are just three games on the NFC West schedule as we head into Week 5 of the 2010 NFL season. The NFC West went 1-3 last week with the Rams being the only team to notch a win, moving them into a three-way tie with the Seahawks and Cardinals for first place.  San Francisco is still winless and is at the bottom of the standings.

There are a few things that stand out when looking at where NFC West teams rank in the NFL, so let’s take a peak before we jump into this week’s 2010 NFC West matchup predictions.

The St. Louis Rams have overtaken the San Francisco 49ers as the team in the division averaging the most yards per game, but the defense ranks among the NFL’s top five in third-down conversion percentage, red zone conversion percentage, and points allowed per game. The 49ers continue to rank 31st in points per game while Seattle ranks third in rushing yards allowed.

SUN, OCT 10 TIME (ET)

vs.

St. Louis Rams at Detroit Lions 1:00 PM FOX – If the season ended today the Rams would finish better than they did last year, but they won’t miss this opportunity to notch their third straight win for the first time in four years. Odds makers are predicting the Lions will get their first win of the season. I disagree. The Lions are 28th in the league in scoring defense. The Rams are 4th. Plus, the Lions still do not have Matthew Stafford back yet. I expect Rams’ QB Sam Bradford to have a field day with this defense. While both teams have showed improvement, Detroit has committed eight turnovers while committing a league-worst 30 penalties over the past three weeks. Those types of mistakes against a Rams team that has forced 10 turnovers could be their demise. If the Rams return RB Stephen Jackson, this one could be over by the half.

The odds makers have the Detroit as a -3 point favorite with an over/under of 42.5.

PREDICTION: Rams

vs.

New Orleans Saints at Arizona Cardinals 4:05 PM FOX – The  Cardinals better hope they find their running game soon as rookie QB Max Hall gets the start this Sunday against the defending champions Saints. Arizona has done a decent job running the football as of late and I’d give them the edge in this one on special teams. WR Larry Fitzgerald is due for a breakout game, and could see that through with the recent change under center. Meanwhile, the Saints can’t be happy with its offensive production. They have had trouble running the ball and scoring points. Only Chicago and Denver are worse running the ball so far. Through four games, it’s pretty evident this isn’t the same team as last year’s, but they will get a chance to get back on the rails against a struggling Cardinals defense that is surrendering 29.5 points and 388 yards per game .It may just be what New Orleans needs to lift its average 19.8 points and 344.0 yards per game back to the numbers it was a year ago today. QB Drew Brees did manage completing 33 of 48 passes for 275 yards and a touchdown in last Sunday’s 16-14 win over Carolina. He should have a big day in the desert, as Brees, who has the league’s fourth-most passing yards with 1,131, faces a Cardinals team is ranked 30^th in passing yards allowed.

The odds makers have the Saints as a -7 point favorite with an over/under of 44.5.

PREDICTION: Arizona

vs.

Philadelphia Eagles  at San Francisco 49ers 8:20 PM NBC – Just when things were looking good for Philly, QB Michael Vick goes down with a as a rib cartilage injury in last week’s 17-12 loss to Washington. Once starter Kevin Kolb is expected to make his first start since Week 1 as the Eagles try to send San Francisco to its first 0-5 start in 31 years. But which 49’ers team will Philly get? The team that was blown out two weeks ago by the Chiefs? Or, the team that was a muffed fumble away from beating Atlanta? The 49ers play at home, so the effort will be there, but it’s going to take a mass amount of improvement and quickly. It has to begin with starting  QB Alex Smith who has had a miserable start to the 2010 campaign, tying for the league lead in interceptions with seven, and is ranked near the bottom among all NFL quarterbacks in passer rating. In spite of the 49ers’ problems with its passing attack, running back Frank Gore has been exceptional, leading the NFC in yards and ranking second in the conference with 29 receptions. Likewise, Philadelphia’ s LeSean McCoy, is having a breakout year with a team-high 273 rushing yards and four TDs. McCoy, though, is questionable after suffering a broken rib in the first half of last Sunday’s loss. I’d like to think we’ll see a revamped San Francisco, but bad habits will be hard to break.

The odds makers have the 49ers as a -3 point favorite with an over/under of 38.

PREDICTION: Eagles

Click Here for more  Free Expert NFL Football Picks