NFL Picks - Week 5; Down and Dirty Edition

Folks - Vegas called and I answered. You have too, right? Before I leave my hotel room and let the weekend take me where it will, here are my picks. Good luck this weekend (that goes for all of us)...

Home Team in CAPS

Last week: Straight (9-5), Spread (7-7); Overall: Straight (38-24); Spread (32-28-2)

BUFFALO 27 (-1) Jacksonville 20 - Bills are desperate to get into the win column and they might not have a better chance all season

INDIANAPOLIS 31 (-7) Kansas City 20 - Unless Chiefs ground game controls the clock and the Colts' injuries are too much to overcome, I'll take the Mannings.

CINCINNATI 23 (-6.5) Tampa Bay 13 - Bengals defense gets it done.

Green Bay 30 (-2.5) WASHINGTON 24 - The injuries to the Packers defense are getting to be hard to dismiss, but Aaron Rodgers and crew work over Redskins secondary.

DETROIT 27 (-3) St. Louis 13 - Same as Bills, Lions dying for win. Plus Rams had three of first four at home. Let's see the rookie Bradford get it done away from the arch.

CAROLINA 16 (-1) Chicago 13 - This game has the making of an ugly one. Panthers will themselves to a win.

HOUSTON 28 (-3) NY Giants 23 - Spread is to low after Giants thumped the Bears. Schaub and Foster light up scoreboard more than Eli and Nicks.

BALTIMORE 27 (-7) Denver 16 - Broncos passing game is o0n fire, but no ground game and Orton's lack of a cannon will lead to field goals in the red zone. Ray Rice has his best game of the season.

Atlanta 20 (-3) CLEVELAND 14 - Roddy White will be off the hook.

New Orleans 24 ARIZONA 19 (+6.5) - Not sure what to make of Max Hall, but Cards keep it close against a Saints offense still trying to find their groove.

DALLAS 24 Tennessee 20 (+7) - Dez Bryant and Felix Jones score on big plays to overcome effective outing from Vince Young.

OAKLAND 24 (+6) San Diego 21 - Raiders always keep it close at home against the Bolts, who have lost both their road games this year. Michael Bush goes for 22-125-1 with DMac sidelined.

SAN FRANCISCO 27 (-3) Philadelphia 23 - I mean, the Niners have to win at some point, right?

NY JETS 21 (-3.5) Minnesota 17 - Moss this, Moss that, whatever. He'll make some noise, but Jets want revenge on him and Favre.

Survivor Picks: These are my personal picks each week for my various (cough, cough) pools
***The only rule that I follow almost religiously involves taking home teams. Most of the upsets occur when the favorite goes on the road, so other than in scenarios where I have no other options or say the Colts are at the Rams, I am taking home favs.

Week 5- Indianapolis - could go a few ways here, but Colts are coming off a loss and they don't have an ideal home get to use them on for some time. Also I'm not ready to believe the Chiefs go win a game like this on the road.

Week 4 – Green Bay, Week 3 - New England, Week 2 – Dallas, San Diego, Week 1 - Tennessee, NY Giants