The NFL schedule can be so unforgiving! In my last post, I listed my Weak Five — cellar-dwellers without a win.  But here in the National Parity League, the rest of the 32 teams are quite balanced. Even after rocky starts in 2019, some teams are starting to surprise people.  Suddenly, the Titans are terrifying, the Browns are brawny, and the Buccaneers are acting downright boisterous.  No team — and no lead — appears to be safe.  How fun is that?
 
After a bye, the 49ers (3-0) are back in action this Sunday and likely to get a stiff test from a swaggering Browns team.  The NFC West division lead is 100% up for grabs, because the Rams face their first real divisional test — the Seahawks — on Thursday Night Football.  Both teams are 3-1. 
 
The Rams were probably thrilled that they were able to best the tough Saints and the feisty Browns, back to back and in prime time.  But, just when the schedule looked a little bit easier, they succumbed last Sunday to a blitzing, high-scoring bunch from Tampa.  On Sunday, those triumphant Bucs head to New Orleans for what now has become a key NFC South showdown. 
 
However, my NFC headliner is the Packers visiting the Cowboys.  Both teams badly need a win to keep their slim division leads over the Eagles and Bears, who are surging.  Also on Sunday, the Giants will get to test their brand new winning streak in New York against a Vikings team that has so far failed to produce much offense on the road.
 
In the AFC’s biggest match, the Bills visit the tough Titans.  Another crucial AFC match is the Colts — desperate to rebound from an unexpected loss to the Raiders — visiting the unbeaten Chiefs. 
 
If you're a fan of just one team, get the antacids ready, because all this uncertainty makes for high drama. Here are the Week Five matchups – and my picks:
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Home              Away               My Pick
Rams               Seahawks       Rams
Jets                  Eagles             Eagles
Jaguars           Panthers        Jaguars
Vikings            Giants             Vikings
Falcons           Texans            Texans
Buccaneers    Saints              Saints
Bills                 Titans             Titans
Cardinals        Bengals           Bengals
Patriots           Redskins         Patriots
Ravens            Steelers          Ravens
Bears              Raiders           Bears
Broncos          Chargers        Chargers
Packers           Cowboys         Cowboys
Colts                Chiefs             Chiefs
Browns           49ers              49ers
 
Enjoy!