Baltimore Ravens (3-2) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-4) 1 PM
The Ravens look to get back on track as they try to rebound after there loss to the Indianapolis Colts last week. It was a good game but in competition there’s always a winner and a loser. This week they face a struggling Tampa Bay squad that ranks in the bottom half of the league in offense and the only defense worse is Jacksonville.
The Ravens need to take advantage of this and get back in the win column. In last weeks game the offense struggled in the passing game and they had a couple silly turnovers. What l did like from them was the aggressiveness of their group of running backs. Bernard Pierce had a couple of really nice runs in his first game action after being injured. Pierce should get some extra carries this week as he fights back to becoming the number one guy.
I also want to see Joe Flacco and the passing game do a little better. Last week they struggled a little bit and it took a while for them to find the rhythm. What I’d like to see this week is Torrey Smith really get going. Most of the attention will be on Steve Smith and Torrey has had a pretty disappointing year so far. He needs to take advantage of the single man coverage he gets to help this team win.
Predictions: Baltimore 31 - Buccaneers 7
Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2) @ Cleveland Browns (2-2) 1 PM
The two winners from week 5 meet in Cleveland this week and this may be more interesting than we thought at the beginning of the season. Cleveland has been able to hang around at 2-2 and that defense is a big part of them being at .500. Last week they made a remarkable come back to top the Tennessee Titans. With that win the AFC North doesn’t have a single team with a losing record.
This game should be fun matching one of the top offenses in the league against a very talented defense. One of the best match ups to watch will be Antonio Brown one of the leagues top receivers, vs Joe Haden one of the NFL’s young shut down corners. Earlier this year Brown and the Steelers got the best of Haden. But in a game last season Haden shut Brown down virtually removing him from the game.
Unfortunately for the Browns I don’t see them stopping Leveon Bell one of the top running backs in the NFL. Bell has been playing so well in the first couple games of the season and with the Pittsburgh offense able to hurt you through the air and on the ground makes it that much harder to stop this running game. Bell holds the key to the Steelers success in this game.
Prediction: Pittsburgh 20 - Cleveland 14
Carolina Panthers (3-2) @ Cincinnati Bengals (3-1) 1 PM
The Bengals enter week six as the number one team in the AFC north standings after losing to the New England Patriots. This will be a good game as the Bengals explosive offense meet the Panthers tough defense. The Bengals have the opportunity to pick themselves up and get a win against a good team. But there will be a big hiccup in the game plan this week.
Star receiver A.J. Green will be out this week due to the foot injury that has hampered him all season. Green aggravated the injury in warmups at practice on wednesday and was seen in a walking boot at practice on friday. Green is definitely the best player on this Bengals squad and a key part to this offense. The story line for the Bengals will no doubt be who in the receiving core can step up for Green this week.
Mohamed Sanu will step into the number one receiver spot but the team will look to running back Giovani Bernard to step up and carry this team offensively. Bernard has become one of the top dual threat runners in the league. It won’t be out of the question for Bernard to go over 100 yards receiving with his talent out of the backfield.
Andy Dalton will need to step up his play this week and lead his team past a very VERY talented Carolina defense.
Predictions: Panthers 17 - Bengals 14