NFL Week 5 – The power is in the South…..
0By Hamish Girvan
Jacoby Brissett, Deshaun Watson, Matt Cassel and Blake Bortles are quarterbacks who do not really strike a lot of fear into opposing defence’s however they are the four starters in the AFC South this weekend. Injuries, rookies and no other choice basically sums up these four.
San Francisco 49ers at Indianapolis Colts – 6am Monday NZ time
The Colts have on their roster a quarterback who has the potential to be the best in the NFL – only thing his last game was January 1st .Andrew Luck is still injured so they decided to take a punt on the third string New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett. It’s hardly been a roaring success and coach Chuck Pagino is now on the hot seat. The 49ers will have no fear heading to the Midwest for this one and even though their season is hardly a success they are showing potential under new head coach and offensive mastermind Kyle Shanahan. The Colts are favorites by 1.5 points but the 49ers could easily take this one
Jacksonville Jaguars at Pittsburgh Steelers – 6am Monday NZ time
Blake Bortles has been at the helm of the Jacksonville Jaguars since 2014 and has won a total of 13 games for the struggling franchise. Seen as the next big surprise the Jags always seem to let themselves down. “If” the season finished today they would snag a wildcard playoff berth however that’s only hypothetical. They travel to Pittsburgh which is a struggle for form teams however the Steelers are not quite the force they were. There is something not quite clicking offensively and when one of your team members publicly calls you out for not throwing him the ball there are obviously issues.
Not the usual Gatorade shower
Given an 8.5 point start here the Jaguars will struggle – something might click for the Steelers. Take the home team
Tennessee Titans at Miami Dolphins – 6 am Monday NZ time
Just when the Titans looked like there was some promise for the season quarterback Marcus Mariota goes down with a hamstring and divisional rivals the Houston Texans put a 57 point beat down on them. Journeyman Matt Cassel looks like the starter for them this week in what would on paper two weeks ago look like a relatively easy game for the Titans however the Dolphins are coming of their own shutout last week. “Smokin” Jay Cutler still looks like the same old Jay he was for the Chicago Bears in terms of effort. The Dolphins have been to London and back in the last week so may be feeling the effects of travel. The Titans go in as 2.5 point favorites however with Cassel under center they could struggle big time. Take the start the Dolphins are getting.
Jay Cutler giving it all – bottom left
Kansas City Chiefs the Houston Texans – 1.30pm Monday NZ time
Game of the week hence its Primetime status. The only undefeated team in the NFL – The Kansas City Chiefs – head to Houston to face a red hot Texans team run by rookie Deshaun Watson. Watson had a coming out game last week and looks like the player the Texans knew they were getting from the Championship winning college team, Clemson. The Chiefs have a short turnaround having played out a grueling Monday night Football fixture so this will be a real test. The Texans look like the division favorites – and with a punishing defence they could make a good run in the playoffs. Expect an offensive show here with both team willing to throw the ball. The Texans are 1.5 point favorite’s however this is too close to call. Heart says Chiefs – head says Texans.
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