The NFL Lockness Monsters continue to stay above the .500 mark each week after showcasing another 3-2 performance last week.

We didn’t give up on the Chicago Bears last week after everyone else had left them for dead, and this week, we’re not shying away from the downtrodden again.

Here’s our five best bets for week 5 of the NFL season.

Last week: 3-2 ATS

Season: 13-7 ATS

The Washington Redskins should compete against the Atlanta Falcons. Flickr/http://bit.ly/1OOVyhz/Keith Allison
The Washington Redskins should compete against the Atlanta Falcons. Flickr/http://bit.ly/1OOVyhz/Keith Allison

Washington (+7.5) at Atlanta

We know that everyone thinks Atlanta will be 9-0 based on its easy schedule through nine weeks.

And maybe the Falcons will get there. But to be more than a touchdown favorite against Washington is too much to ask from a team that only three weeks ago trailed by 10 points against the New York Giants in the fourth quarter.

The Redskins can stop the the run and they can run the football. Those are good things to own when going on the road against a good team. The last time we saw the Falcons not able to run the ball, the Giants had the game won until they couldn’t close out the game late in the fourth quarter.

The Falcons haven’t necessarily been tested yet this season. We do believe the Giants are good, but that game was in New York’s hands throughout the game until a late long touchdown pass to Julio Jones, allowing Atlanta to win. The Falcons’ other wins came against Philadelphia, Houston and Dallas (without its starting quarterback and wide receiver).

Let’s not ride the overreaction train too much with the Falcons. The Redskins will challenge the Falcons and this game will be within a touchdown. — Go against the chalk with Washington

Carson Palmer should get back on track this week. Flickr/http://bit.ly/1LFpzex
Carson Palmer should get back on track this week. Flickr/http://bit.ly/1LFpzex

Arizona (-3) at Detroit

And we’re back on the Arizona bandwagon.

We hopped off last week for a brief moment when we picked the St. Louis Rams to cover. We were surprised the Rams won, but we figured that would be much closer than experts were expecting.

And it’s not as if Detroit has been that bad. The defense and offense are middle-of-the-road units, but the Lions have faced an unfortunate schedule so far.

The Lions are 0-4 and have played three teams, Minnesota, Seattle and San Diego, that are 2-2, and one team that’s still undefeated in Denver. We like all those teams this year, and none of those games were blowouts.

The bad luck will continue this week against the Cardinals. Don’t be fooled by last week. The game against St. Louis was one of those unexplainable NFL games, and we wouldn’t take too much stock in it. The offense isn’t what it showed in the first three weeks, but it’s still good. And that defense is better than what it looked like last week.

Had the Cardinals won that game last week, this spread would have been much higher. Don’t be blinded by last week. — Go chalk with Arizona

The Chicago Bears should cover again this week. Flickr/http://bit.ly/1h1u2Q5
The Chicago Bears should cover again this week. Flickr/http://bit.ly/1h1u2Q5

Chicago (+9.5) at Kansas City

We’re riding the Chicago Bears train.

The Bears were dismissed so much last week that the opening line that listed the Oakland Raiders as favorites on the road actually moved in Oakland’s direction during the week.

But this game is once again less about Chicago and more about Kansas City. What have the Chiefs done this season to deserve to be almost double-digit favorites in any NFL game?

Kansas City played a really good half against the Houston Texans in week 1 and then played a competitive game against the Denver Broncos in week 2 before letting that game slip through their fingers. In weeks 3 and 4, the Chiefs haven’t put up any fight against the Green Bay Packers and Cincinnati Bengals.

This spread is more about what the Chiefs did last season than what’s happening currently. Kansas City is fifth from the bottom in total defense, while the Bears have surprisingly not been that bad at defense, ranking in the top-10 in total defense.

We’re not sold on what the Chiefs are doing so far this season, so we’re staying away from the Chiefs as that big of a favorite. — Go against the chalk with Chicago

Joe Flacco is a good start for this week's daily fantasy roster. Flickr/http://bit.ly/1hvmOnE/Keith Allison
Joe Flacco is a good start for this week’s daily fantasy roster. Flickr/http://bit.ly/1hvmOnE/Keith Allison

Cleveland at Baltimore (-7)

We’re attempting to bet against the Browns as a touchdown underdog again. Maybe we’re slow learners since Cleveland covered last week against San Diego.

In this situation, though, we’re feeling good about the Ravens’ chances.

This will be back-to-back road games for the Browns, and Cleveland will have to tackle that feat by going from the West Coast to the East Coast in a week’s time.

The Ravens also are coming into this game after making a dramatic comeback last Thursday against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The schedule so far for Baltimore has featured two undefeated teams and two teams that are currently 2-2.

The Browns own the worst total defense in the NFL and that’s not a good sign on back-to-back road games. Cleveland won’t have the focus necessary to compete in this game and we like the Ravens to start getting on a roll at this moment. — Go chalk with Baltimore

Buffalo (-3) at Tennessee

We understand that Tennessee is coming off a bye week, but those early byes aren’t really worth it for NFL teams.

The betting public is having a difficult time figuring out the Bills this year. In games as a favorite this season, the Bills are 0-2. As an underdog, Buffalo has steamrolled its opponents.

This week will be different, though. Buffalo’s defense will cook up a quality scheme against rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota. The Titans can’t threaten much of a run game, allowing the Bills to focus more on the pass. Against teams unable to run the football, like the Colts and the Dolphins, the Bills have dominated.

Without a threat to run, the Bills should be able to confuse Mariota and dominate the passing game. The Bills will bounce back in this game. — Go chalk with Buffalo

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