The Office Pool: Week Five

by Rick Rockwell

This blog column got off the .500 mat last week, just barely. Could Week Five of the schedule in the National Football League (NFL) mean a return to form? The topsy-turvy results this season tell us that route won't come without a few surprises.

Last Week: .571
This Season: .600

Game of the Week: Steelers at Chargers, Sunday Night

This could be a watershed game for the World Champs. Lose this one, and the Bengals and Ravens both start to get big leads in the division race. Both of these teams are among the best in the league. The hitting will be fierce. With two weeks to prepare for this match, the Steelers should have just enough to take the win on the road.

Raiders at 49ers

This week's Loser Bowl takes us to the cities by the bay, San Francisco and Oakland. The Raiders still haven't answered the bell and are playing far below their potential. The 49ers continue to struggle after a blow-out in Kansas City last week. Both teams are desperate which should make this interesting. The 49ers will take this, but by the slimmest of margins.


Bills at Bears

Everyone seemingly thinks the Bears are flawless. The Bills will give them a bigger tussle than the Bears expect in Chicago. The Bears will win, but they aren't as invincible as they seem. This may go down to the wire.

Cowboys at Eagles

The feud between superstar wideout Terrell Owens and quarterback Donovan McNabb will be on full display in Philadelphia this weekend. When the Cowboys win (which they will) there will be much silly talk about whether McNabb can't win the big game.

Washington at Giants

Inconsistent. Inconsistent. Inconsistent. Oh, that's not the pre-game chant of either of these clubs? Well, it should be. Even on the road, Washington should demonstrate the first two inconsistent weeks of the season are just a weak memory. The pick goes to Legendary Coach Joe and his crew.

Buccaneers at Saints

The Bucs are flailing, especially with the loss of their quarterback. The Saints are everyone's darlin' team (well, besides the over-rated Bears). Overconfidence and despair collide. The Saints come out the winners, but not by much.

Monday Night: Ravens at Broncos

If the Ravens win this game, they will truly have arrived at the pantheon of elite teams in the league. The Broncos are still too good to let them achieve that. Take the Broncos at home.

Rams at Packers

Will everyone just pack up all that talk about how Brett Favre should have retired?! Let the man have his fun. This should be an aerial circus, and the Rams should come out on top, which of course will just fuel more silly talk about benching Favre.

Jets at Jaguars

The Jets are proving they will stand toe-to-toe with any team. The Jaguars have something to prove though after two close losses. Look for a Jaguar revival at home as they take the win.

Lions at Vikings

The Lions keep proving they know how to lose football games. The Vikings should enjoy their time toying with these kitties. Even if it stays close, the Vikings come out on top.

Browns at Panthers

The Browns are another cellar-dwelling team that plays with heart all the way through the last whistle. But they are no match for the Panthers, a team on a mission to re-establish itself after some early problems in the National Football Conference (NFC) South.

Dolphins at Patriots

Warning: the Patriots finally found their 2006 rhythm last week. The Dolphins seem to be looking ahead to 2007 already. The Patriots will roll over Miami in a big way.

Chiefs at Cardinals

Coach Dennis Green is going to have to learn his problem is not at quarterback but instead it is with the offensive line. Kurt Warner was criticized because he fumbled too much. Put in rookie wunderkind Matt Leinart last week and what does he do almost on cue? Well, fumble, of course. The Chiefs will put the steamroller touch on the Cardinals. It won't be pretty.

Titans at Colts

The shame here is the Colts get this combination twice a year. The Titans have no answers, and may regret rushing Vince Young into the starting job at quarterback. The Colts should be on cruise control here with an easy win.

Watch for another crazy week! Will the crystal ball get hazier? Whatever the answer: Enjoy!

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