Week 5 NFL Projections

Last week: 13-3
Season: 36-12

Buffalo Bills 34, Philadelphia Eagles 31

The Eagles have only played Nnamdi Asomugha in man coverage on around 40% of plays this year, rather than the 95% of man he played in Oakland. The results haven't been pretty: Asomugha has showed his lack of tacking ability. As a result of Nnamdi, Asante Samuel, and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie playing so much zone, opposing receivers haven't been shut down nearly as much as they should be. And the lack of solid linebacking has turned the Birds into one of the league's worst run defenses, despite the all-star defensive line. Expect Buffalo to carve up this once intimidating-looking defense.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24, San Francisco 49ers 20

Both of these teams are 3-1, but neither has many believers yet. The pressure is on Josh Freeman, as the 49ers have stymied the run the far, but are susceptible to the pass. San Francisco also possesses a below average offense, and if Freeman can lead his team to a few scores, a 4-1 start should be in store for Tampa Bay.

Oakland Raiders 23, Houston Texans 22

The Raiders might come out with a little more fight following a loss to New England and the passing of legendary owner Al Davis. Houston has cleaned up their pass defense a bit this year, but their rush defense is just average, and Run DMC should have another field day. He'll need to carry this Oakland offense, as Jason Campbell has pretty much just played the role of manager thus far.

New England Patriots 31, New York Jets 21

The rivalry will be renewed tomorrow, at the expense of the Jets. Rex Ryan won't like the look of a 2-3 record once after the Patriots are through with them. New England's pass D is dead last in the league, so Mark Sanchez will certainly outdo last week's abysmal performance, but it won't matter.

Kansas City Chiefs 20, Indianapolis Colts 17
Arizona Cardinals 24, Minnesota Vikings 13
New York Giants 31, Seattle Seahawks 12
Pittsburgh Steelers 17, Tennessee Titans 14
New Orleans Saints 34, Carolina Panthers 27
Cincinnati Bengals 17, Jacksonville Jaguars 13
San Diego Chargers 30, Denver Broncos 10
Green Bay Packers 28, Atlanta Falcons 24
Detroit Lions 27, Chicago Bears 17

Is This the Year for the Eagles?

The fans in Philly have been waiting forever. The Andy Reid era has consisted of perennial winning seasons with numerous playoff and NFC Championship appearances. Of the five NFC Championship appearances, the Birds have only gone to the Super Bowl once, in which they lost by a field goal to New England.

Every year, when it looks like the Eagles have another strong team, fans in the City of Brotherly Love get their hopes up for a Super Bowl run. Every September, as the NFL season comes around, people ask "Is this the year?" But it never has been. They've always found a way to come up short in the end. There's always been some fatal flaw. Every year, the season ends a failure.

Fans continue to flock to the Linc, selling out game after game, in hope of a Eagles victory. More times then not, they deliver. But not in the end. Someone always gets the best of them, whether it be the Cowboys like last year, or any other team.

The failure to go all the way brings change. The former faces of the team, Donovan McNabb, Brian Westbrook, and Brian Dawkins are all somewhere else. New, young talent has taken their place, with the likes of DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, and LeSean McCoy, as well as numerous other changes. Trent Cole remains a game-changer on the defensive side of the ball, and corner Asante Samuel, who has been in Philly a couple years now, jumps routes with the best of them.

And then there's Michael Vick. No one could have mapped out his path back, as Kevin Kolb was the presumed starter. Vick's game is better than ever, and he's taken this offense places McNabb never had.

So as a Birds fan, I have my hopes up once again, while expecting them to be deflated, but always knowing there's a chance, that this could finally be the year.