Here we go for my Week 5 pickkks:

Buffalo at Chicago (7.5)

After their thrashing of the Seahawks, many have now labeled the Bears as the NFL’s team to beat. With that distinction now given to the Monsters of the Midway, I’m taking Buffalo.

Cleveland at Carolina (8.5)

I’m trying to decide which Cleveland Browns team will show up. Will it be the one that snatched victory from the jaws of defeat at Oakland, or the one that snatched defeat from the jaws of victory versus Baltimore? Well, they lose by a touchdown or less in this contest, so I’ll side with snatching defeat from the jaws of a really bad defeat.

Detroit at Minnesota (6.5)

Minnesota will probably win, but can Detroit keep it close? I didn’t hear any Roy Williams guarantee anything this week, so I’ll hope for a close Vikings win or Detroit upset. I also want to see if my theory of “even bad teams have to win sometime” gets proven true in this case.

Miami at New England (10.5)

That’s an awfully big spread, but if I was on the Patriots team, I’d want to beat down the Dolphins as bad as I could, considering many predicted them to be AFC East champs this year.

(3.5) St. Louis at Green Bay

Oh what the hey, I’ll take the Rams in this one.

Tampa Bay at New Orleans (6.5)

I think the Saints will win this game, but will it by six-and-a-half points? The Bucs’ starting quarterback is out, and Gruden does have a complicated offense. I’ll take the Saints on this one.

Tennessee at Indianapolis (18.5)

Eighteen-and-a-half points? Christ. I don’t know what’s funnier: that a point spread is that high for an NFL game, or that I’m still considering taking Indianapolis? I don’t this will be an “upset special,” but I’ll take the Titans. Actually, I’m taking that point spread; I have no faith in Tennessee to win.

Washington at N.Y. Giants (4.5)

I don’t know which way to go in this one – take the team with an extra week to prepare, or go with the team who is coming off an emotional victory? Although there may be a “letdown” effect, I’ll take the Redskins because the Giants are favored.

(3.5) Kansas City at Arizona

The last time the Chiefs played a crappy NFC West team, I thought the 49ers would make a game out of it. They didn’t. I don’t have that same faith in the Cardinals, even though they’re playing in that ultra-fancy new stadium.

N.Y. Jets at Jacksonville (7.5)

I don’t know which way to go in this game. Normally I’d go with Jacksonville, but that point spread has me thinking J-E-T-S. Well, the Jets lost by three at home to Indianapolis last week, I’ll go with them this week to lose by less than a touchdown. But wait a second. Coles is hurt, and Pennington will probably get hurt. I'm calling an audible on this one.

Oakland at San Francisco (3.5)

A real Game of the Week contender if ever there was one. I’ll take the Raiders just because the 49ers are favored.

Dallas at Philadelphia (2.5)

Did you all know T.O. is coming back to Philly this week? If anything, it’ll be amusing to see the Eagles fans react to Owens. I’ll take the Cowboys in this one, if only to see what Owens does after he scores a touchdown or two.

Pittsburgh at San Diego (3.5)

I’m curious to see how the Steelers rebound after losing two consecutive games. I don’t think they’ll win, but they could. Plus the Chargers are giving up three-and-a-half points.

Baltimore at Denver (4.5)

If this were a straight-up pick ‘em contest I’d take Denver. Because of the point spread, I’ll side with Baltimore, even though I think this is the week where they get one in the loss column.