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Week 5

Philadelphia at New York Jets 1:00 pm Fox October 14, 2007
Why to Watch: The Eagles are coming off a much needed bye week, one week after getting sacked by the New York Giants over and over and over again.  The Jets are coming off of a Giants loss, and while they handled the pass rush well, they collapsed late. Maybe Andy Reid and Eric Mangini can commiserate at midfield.  Or, maybe not.  The two teams have combined for two wins on the season and the loser of this one will have some seriously distraught fans/media on its back for the rest of the season.
Why Philadelphia Might Win:  The Eagles can’t give up 12 sacks in a game for the second consecutive game, can they?  You wouldn’t think so.  With the bye week, running back Brian Westbrook had some additional time to get healthy and it’s a good thing, too.  Westbrook is fifth in the league in rushing yards per game (97 YPG) and is tied for the team lead with 19 receptions for 223 yards.  Quite frankly, Westbrook is as valuable to the Eagle offense as any other offensive player in the league.  He needs to be in the lineup if the Eagles hope to win. Correll Buckhalter isn’t a long-term answer.
Why the Jets Might Win:  The Eagle defense is stout against the run but is 21^st against the pass, yielding 224.5 yards per game.  The Jets aren’t lighting up the airways, ranked 20^th, racking up 202.2 yards per game, but last week against the Giants, Chad Pennington threw for 229 yards and a touchdown.  Lavernues Coles and Jerricho Cotchery form a lethal pair, combining for 62 catches on the season and each receiver should have a tremendous game against the Eagle secondary. This is crunch-time for Pennington, who’s battling for his job. That’s a plus right now. Expect a good game out of the beleaguered starter.
Who to Watch: It’s no coincidence that the only game that the Eagles won this season wide receiver Kevin Curtis had his best game as a professional.    With or without Westbrook, quarterback Donovan McNabb has to pick on the Jets corners early with a significant dose of Curtis downfield.
What Will Happen: The Jets are one-dimensional on offense, focused on moving the ball through the air, and the Eagles will come after Pennington from the first snap to the last.  He’ll turn the ball over as he did last weekend (three interceptions) and it’ll lead to points for the rejuvenated Eagles, but he’ll also come up with three big drives to stun the Eagles and take the heat off for another week.
CFN Prediction Jets 24 … Eagles 20 ... Line: Philadelphia -3
Must See Rating: (5 Hideki Matsui's "collection" - 1 The Heartbreak Kid) ... 2.5

Washington at Green Bay 1:00 pm Fox October 14, 2007
Why to Watch: Brett Favre might be an MVP candidate, but he may be the second best quarterback in this game.  Well, if last week were any indication, that is.  Redskin quarterback Jason Campbell appears to be on his way to stardom, but he’s facing an embarrassed Packer defense on Sunday.  The Redskins hammered the Lions 34-3 to move to 3-1, as the Packers lost 27-20 to division rival Chicago to fall to 4-1.  Both of these teams are pleasant surprises, each team with only one loss, but a second loss could start each team on a downward spiral, especially for the Packers with two L’s in a row at home.
Why Washington Might Win:  Campbell was nothing short of sensational in his last outing – a 23 for 29, 248-yard and two touchdown performance against the Lions.  And, he did that without the services of Santana Moss.  The Packers gave up 214 yards passing and two touchdowns to Brian Griese last week, so Campbell should have a field day against the Packers’ 23^rd ranked pass defense (yielding 226.4 yards per game).
Why Green Bay Might Win:  Favre won’t have a second bad game in a row, especially at Lambeau Field.  The best thing to come out of the loss to the Bears was running back DeShawn Wynn’s 78 yards rushing on 13 carries.  The Packers still haven’t found the right balance of run/pass (22 runs, 40 passes against Chicago), but the utilization of the quick passing game is a de facto running game anyway.  However, the emergence of Wynn and Vernand Morency should take some pressure off of Favre and put it squarely on the Redskins’ 8^th ranked rush defense (86 yards per game).
Who to Watch: The Redskins secondary.  Last week, the Redskins back four held the high powered Lions air attack to 106 yards passing and two interceptions (one by Sean Taylor and Shawn Springs).  The Packers are first in the league in passing yards per game, partly because of what the Redskins did to the Lions.  Favre and the Packers can’t afford to fall to fifth in passing after a meeting with Taylor, Springs and company.
What Will Happen: The Packers will get another solid performance from Wynn (80 yards+) and Favre will keep the mistakes to a minimum.  He’ll be the one giving the Redskins secondary the lesson this weekend, throwing for 275+ yards and a couple of touchdowns.  Repeat after me, Packers 5-1.  Believe it.
CFN Prediction Packers 28 … Redskins 21 ... Line: Green Bay -3
Must See Rating: (5 Hideki Matsui's "collection" - 1 The Heartbreak Kid) ... 3

St. Louis at Baltimore 1:00 pm Fox October 14, 2007
Why to Watch: Okay, let’s get the bad news out of the way.  The Rams are last in the league in scoring, averaging a paltry 14 points per game.  The Ravens scored nine in a win last week out at San Francisco.  The good news?  Not one NFL game has gone according to plan this year, so this one will probably be 48-45.  The Rams haven’t won a game yet this year; losing last week to the Cardinals even after scoring 31 points.  The Ravens are chasing the Steelers in the standings, but the win over the 49ers has the Ravens at 3-2 and a game behind the Pittsburghers.
Why St. Louis Might Win:  Did anyone notice what this offense did without Marc Bulger under center?  The ageless Gus Frerotte completed 24 of 43 passes for 262 yards and three touchdowns against the Cardinals.  His completed passes to nine different receivers, including five to running back Brian Leonard.  The rookie running back had his first 100 yard game, rushing for 102 yards on Sunday.  If Steven Jackson is healthy enough to get back in the lineup to provide the explosiveness in addition to Leonard’s production, the Rams could be a tough out, even for the Ravens fourth ranked defense.
Why Baltimore Might Win:  Frerotte also threw three interceptions to the Cardinals.  He’s not sharp enough at this time in his career and with limited playing time to avoid the turnovers.  The Ravens are giving up just over 200 yards passing per game and are first in the league in rush defense (yielding a pedestrian 66.6 yards on the ground), so the Rams offense will struggle mightily moving the football this week.
Who to Watch: Raven wide receiver Derrick Mason had eleven receptions last week against the 49ers but couldn’t expose them deep, averaging less than eight yards per catch.  The Ravens need to attack the Rams secondary with Mason to replicate what Cardinal receiver Larry Fitzgerald did to them last weekend (nine catches for 15.1 yard average).  Any deep plays to Mason will keep the heat off of Willis McGahee in the running game and make it tough for the Rams to stop this offense.
What Will Happen: The Ravens will be offensive at home (and that’s a good thing) and give the Rams fits on both sides of the ball.  The Rams are on the ropes and quarterback Steve McNair and company are ready to deliver the knockout blow.  It should come from McGahee, who had 88 yards rushing last week in San Francisco, and should hit the century mark this weekend.  The Ravens will move to 4-2 on the season.
CFN Prediction Ravens 24 … Rams 13 ... Line: Baltimore -9.5
Must See Rating: (5 Hideki Matsui's "collection" - 1 The Heartbreak Kid) ... 2

Miami at Cleveland 1:00 pm CBS October 14, 2007
Why to Watch: It’s difficult to have real conviction in the following statement, given an 0-5 record, but the Dolphins are a much better team than their record indicates.  They’re not New England Patriots good, but they’re not winless bad either, especially with linebacker Zach Thomas back on defense and running back Ronnie Brown pounding the rock.  The Dolphins latest loss was a crushing 22-19 loss to the Texans on Kris Brown’s 57 yard game winning field goal.  The Browns fell to 2-3 last week after losing to the aforementioned Patriots 34-17, losing running back Jamal Lewis in the process.  But, the Dawg Pound has been good to the Browns this season, so a return home to face a winless Dolphin squad is the perfect tonic.  Well, may be the perfect tonic.
Why Miami Might Win:  This just in…Ronnie Brown is a man.  A real man.  He’s carrying this offense on his back like a seventh grader carrying his 50 pound backpack through his junior high hallways.  He had 28 touches (23 rushes, 5 receptions) on Sunday against Houston, piling up 153 yards total offense – over 50% of the Dolphins total offensive output.  Considering the fact that Cleveland’s defense is ranked 32^nd in the NFL in total defense, Brown should have a banner day, along with the entire Miami offense.
Why Cleveland Might Win:  Moral victories are what they are, moral, uh, victories, but the Browns stayed competitive into the fourth quarter against the Patriots before losing.  The Browns offense is eighth in the NFL in total offense, averaging 348.6 yards per game, leaning heavily on the passing game to produce significant numbers.  They’re ninth in the NFL, averaging 238.4 yards per game through the air and with the inexperience in the Dolphins secondary, receiver Braylon Edwards and crew should play well.
Who to Watch: The Browns defensive front/pass rush.  Last week against the Patriots, the defense barely breathed on quarterback Tom Brady.  They had zero sacks and only two quarterback hurries.  Consequently, pressure is going to be vital against quarterback Cleo Lemon this week.
What Will Happen: Even with Lewis on the shelf, the Browns play well at home and will do so again.  The Dolphins took a gut punch last week in Houston and confidence is lacking.  As such, the Browns ride Anderson, Edwards and Kellen Winslow (275+ yards passing) to another win.
CFN Prediction Browns 27 … Dolphins 17 ... Line: Cleveland -4.5
Must See Rating: (5 Hideki Matsui's "collection" - 1 The Heartbreak Kid) ... 2

Tennessee at Tampa Bay 1:00 pm CBS October 14, 2007
Why to Watch: There weren’t many in the preseason who expected this matchup to include two teams with winning records, but behind solid quarterback play (excluding last week’s performances), these two are 3-1 and 3-2, respectively.  The Titans beat the Falcons 20-13 behind a strong day from the defense, including a 76-yard pick six by defensive back Vincent Fuller.  The win moved the Titans to 3-1, while the Bucs suffered loss number two in Indianapolis, dropping a 33-14 decision to Peyton Manning and the Colts.
Why Tennessee Might Win:  Although VY is the Titans’ focal point, the defense has done its share after getting hammered in the opening game at Jacksonville.  Well, more than its share, really.  Last week, the Titans held the Falcons to under 200 yards (198 total yards) and eroded the confidence of Falcon quarterback Joey Harrington.  The defense is ranked 5^th in the league in scoring defense (14.8 points per game) and total defense (275.8 yards per game) and might be more valuable to this team’s success than a man named VY.  Wait, is it possible to be more valuable than Superman?
Why Tampa Bay Might Win:  The Bucs aren’t facing Manning for a second consecutive week, so that’s good news.  The quarterback they are facing is still going through some growing pains.  Young threw three picks last week against the Falcons and the Tampa Bay defense is good enough to take advantage of VY’s poor play.  Linebacker Barrett Ruud is one of the most underrated players in the league, leading the NFL with 51 tackles and he should shadow Mr. Young throughout Sunday’s contest.
Who to Watch: The Tampa Bay running backs.  Last week at Indianapolis, the Buccaneer running backs combined for 17 total rushing yards.  To put that number in perspective, Dolphin quarterback Trent Green had 23 rushing yards against Houston and left the game in the first quarter.  Suffice it to say, the Bucs’ runners need better production on Sunday.  The Falcons ran for 99 yards against Tennessee, but 49 of those yards came on one carry.  As such, Ernest Graham has his work cut out for him against Tennessee.
What Will Happen: The Titans overcame three Young turnovers to beat Atlanta, so when Young plays well this weekend, they’ll take win number four.  The Titans will harass quarterback Jeff Garcia throughout the day, while Young throws for 200+ yards and a couple of touchdowns in a Titans victory.
CFN Prediction Titans 23 … Buccaneers 14 ... Line: Tampa Bay -3
Must See Rating: (5 Hideki Matsui's "collection" - 1 The Heartbreak Kid) ... 3.5

Houston at Jacksonville 1:00 pm CBS October 14, 2007
Why to Watch: The Texans might be the most improved team in the NFL at 3-2, while the Jaguars bounced back after a woodshed beating in week one with three wins in a row.  Texans kicker Kris Brown saved Houston on Sunday with one of the greatest kicking performances in NFL history – three 50+ yard field goals, including a 57 yard field goal on the last play of the game to give Houston a much-needed 22-19 victory.  The Jaguars didn’t need any such drama in a 17-7 win over the Chiefs that wasn’t nearly as close as the score indicated.  In the toughest division in the NFL, a loss can kill playoff hopes for either team.
Why Houston Might Win:  How is it possible for a team to lose four offensive starters, including a Pro Bowl receiver and star running back, and still generate 352 yards total offense?  That’s what the Texans did last week against the Miami defense.  Quarterback Matt Schaub continues to carry this offense with Andre Johnson and Ahman Green injured, throwing for 294 yards in the win, including 56 on the game winning drive.  Green should return to assist Schaub and the passing game this week.
Why Jacksonville Might Win:  The Jaguars got lit up by Tennessee’s running game in the opening game of the season (272 yards rushing), but since then, it’s been ultra-tough for opposing offenses to move the ball on the ground against Jacksonville.  The Jaguar defense is giving up 53 yards per game in the last three, including a paltry ten yards to Larry Johnson and the Chiefs last weekend.
Who to Watch: The Texans defensive front seven.  The Texans are ninth in the league against the run, but last week, Dolphin running back Ronnie Brown ate them alive – 114 yards on 23 carries.  The bad news for the Texans is that the Jaguars have two backs that can do similar damage – Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor.  If this duo is running free in the Texan secondary, the Texans have no shot at winning a third straight game against the Jaguars.
What Will Happen: The bye week before the Chiefs game seemed to be the magic potion for Jack Del Rio’s Jaguars.  They were as impressive in that game as they’ve been all year and it’ll be much of the same on Sunday at home against Houston.  Although the running backs pounded out 156 yards last week against Kansas City, quarterback David Garrard was just as good (20-27 for 218 and a touchdown) and will be so again.  The Texans will play valiantly, but the Jags are better than last year, so the streak ends here.
CFN Prediction Jaguars 21 … Texans 17 ... Line: Jacksonville -6.5
Must See Rating: (5 Hideki Matsui's "collection" - 1 The Heartbreak Kid) ... 4

Cincinnati at Kansas City 1:00 pm CBS October 14, 2007
Why to Watch: Perhaps no team in the league needed a bye week more than the Bengals, and Marvin Lewis’ 1-3 ball club got its annual reprieve right on time.  The Chiefs could probably use a bye week after what Jacksonville did to them in a 17-7 loss.  With a chance to take over first place in the AFC West, the Chiefs had it all go wrong last weekend.  Well, if any team knows about things going wrong, it’s the Bengals. 
Why Cincinnati Might Win:  Cincinnati can score points.  A lot of points.  The Bengal offense is fourth in the NFL scoring (26.5 PPG) and total offense (365.5 yards per game), and they’ve done that against some of the best defenses in the NFL.  The Jaguars rolled up 357 yards on the Chiefs in Arrowhead last weekend and the Bengals are as explosive as any offense in the league.  If Jacksonville moved the ball as well as it did, there’s no telling what the Bengals can, and will, do.
Why Kansas City Might Win:  Chief running back Larry Johnson had 12 touches against Jacksonville and registered 15 total yards, but the Jags have one of the best defenses in the league.  Cincinnati’s defense is another story altogether.  The Bengals are last in the league in scoring defense (32.3 points per game), 30^th in the league in total defense (403.0 yards per game) and 29^th in the NFL in rush defense (152.0 yards per game).  As such, expect Johnson to get ‘healthy’ this week against this porous defense.
Who to Watch: When Rudi Johnson rushes for 100 yard or more, the Bengals are 15-4, but Johnson might not be able to go on Sunday.  He sat out practice on Wednesday, so the running game burden may fall on the shoulders of Kenny Watson.  The Chiefs are solid against the run, but the Bengals need good value to come out of the running game, even if Johnson is unable to play.
What Will Happen: The Bengals will get back on track with a decisive victory on the road.  Quarterback Carson Palmer will torch the Chiefs secondary with a 300+ yard, 3 touchdown performance with the Benglas moving to 2-3.
CFN Prediction Bengals 31 … Chiefs 17 ... Line: Cincinnati -3
Must See Rating: (5 Hideki Matsui's "collection" - 1 The Heartbreak Kid) ... 2

Minnesota at Chicago 1:00 pm CBS October 14, 2007
Why to Watch: To say that the Bears’ win over the Packers was vital might be the understatement of the weekend.  The 27-20 win over the Pack could be the spark that the Bears needed to get their season back on track.  It was a great win, but the way the Bears did it, coming back to win after trailing 17-7, might mean more than the win itself.  The Vikings had the week off to rest ailing bodies after three straight losses.  The loser of this one will be the NFC North’s cellar dweller.
Why Minnesota Might Win:  If the Vikings could get anything out of their passing game, man, they’d be real good.  The defense is tied for fifth in the NFL in scoring defense (14.8 PPG) and first in the league against the run (62 yards per game).  On offense, rookie stud running back Adrian Peterson is sixth in the league in rushing, averaging 95.8 yards per game.  So, if the 27^th ranked passing game could do anything at all, the Vikes could be dangerous.

Why Chicago Might Win:  Well, for once, unlike the Vikes, the Bears got significant production from its passing game and its quarterback against the Packers.  Bears quarterback Brian Griese kept the interceptions to a minimum (one) and the efficiency at a premium.  He completed 15 of 25 passes for 214 yards and two touchdowns, including the game winning 34 yard touchdown throw to tight end Desmond Clark.  Continued improvement and production from Griese will be the key for the Bears against the Vikes (and the remaining Bears opponents).
Who to Watch: Bears linebacker Lance Briggs may not be able to drive 55, but he sure can play (and now he wants to play in Chicago longer than just this year – wow, talking about flip-flop).  He registered 16 tackles against the Packers and will be the key to stopping Peterson this weekend.  Briggs and All-Pro Brian Urlacher will have to hold the kid under 75 yards rushing to win this game convincingly.
What Will Happen: The Bears will dominate from snap one to the final gun.  Griese will be even better in his third start and the Bear offense will be a smooth running machine, if that’s possible.  Briggs and company will shut down Peterson and put the game on quarterback Kelly Holcomb’s shoulders.  Not good for Minnesota.
CFN Prediction Bears 24 … Vikings 10 ... Line: Chicago -5.5
Must See Rating: (5 Hideki Matsui's "collection" - 1 The Heartbreak Kid) ... 2.5

Carolina at Arizona 4:05 pm CBS October 14, 2007
Why to Watch: Is it actually possible that we could see 1986 Heisman Trophy winner Vinny Testaverde in this game?  Well, probably not, but just seeing Vinny T. sign with the Panthers shows you how bad the quarterback situation is in Carolina.  Even with a mash unit at the quarterback position, the Panthers pulled out a 16-13 win over winless New Orleans to take the lead in the NFC South.  Arizona has its own quarterback injury situation, but rode the Kurt Warner train to a third victory on the season, a 34-31 win over the winless Rams.  The Cardinals win over St. Louis put them in the catbird’s seat in the NFC West, tied with Seattle.
Why Carolina Might Win:  Is it possible that quarterback David Carr is Carolina’s best offensive asset?  Well, uh, not really, but he’s the only option at the quarterback position right now.  The Panthers aren’t a juggernaut on offense, but they’re not completely inept either.  The Cardinals are 20^th in the NFL in scoring defense, yielding 22.2 points per game, so expect the Panthers to put some points on the board.
Why Arizona Might Win:  Warner takes over full time for injured Matt Leinart and that’s the best thing to happen to this offense this season.  Now, the quick release chucking Warner of 1999 isn’t the same guy in 2007, but as long as he doesn’t hold the ball too long as he did late in his Rams career, the Cardinal offense should move the ball effectively.  Warner should get a strong performance from the Edge, who had 88 yards rushing and is eighth in the NFL in rushing, averaging 88.4 yards per game.
Who to Watch: Carolina defensive end Julius Peppers.  The Panthers have played five games this season and Pep is still looking for his first sack.  Yes, that’s right, one of the best pass rushers in the league has ZERO sacks on the season.  He did have six tackles last week against the Saints, but his success is not measured in tackles.  He’d better get pressure on Old Man Warner or else.  The Panthers have no chance to win this game if Warner can stand in the pocket with no pressure from Peppers and his defensive line.
What Will Happen: The Cardinals are the better team at this point in the season and it’ll show.  Warner will be even better as a full-time starter, cranking up the offensive machine against the inconsistent Panthers.  The Cardinal quarterback will outshine his younger counterpart (well, as long as Vinny T doesn’t come into the game), throwing for 275+ yards and a couple of touchdowns to lead the Cards to win number four.
CFN Prediction Cardinals 27 … Panthers 17 ... Line: Arizona -4
Must See Rating: (5 Hideki Matsui's "collection" - 1 The Heartbreak Kid) ... 2

Oakland at San Diego 4:15 pm CBS October 14, 2007
Why to Watch: It’s week six and the San Diego Chargers are looking up at the Oakland Raiders in the AFC West standings.  It may not have seemed possible, even after week one of this season, but the Raiders are playing well, even if they’re only 2-2.  Well, relative to last season, 2-2 approaches miracle status.  The Raiders had a bye week to get some rest before heading to San Diego, while the Chargers were changing the face of their season with a dominating 41-3 win over Denver.  The AFC West won’t be decided after this one is over, but the winner will move to the top of the AFC West standings.
Why Oakland Might Win:  Although quarterback Daunte Culpepper gives the Raiders experience at that key position, the Raiders success on offense is due in large part to power running of LaMont Jordan, the leading rusher in the league.  He’s averaging 106 yards per game on the ground, giving Culpepper a huge boost in his first start of the season.
Why San Diego Might Win:  The offensive formula finally worked for the Chargers.  Mix the pass and the run and play defense.  Quarterback Philip Rivers completed 13 of 18 passes for 270 yards and two touchdowns (no picks), while the running game piled up 214 yards on 37 carries – 484 yards of total offense.  The defense held the Broncos to 72 rushing yards and picked off one Jay Cutler pass.  That formula worked 14 times last season and worked again last Sunday.
Who to Watch: Charger tight end Antonio Gates is the best pass catching tight end in the league and has been the one consistent weapon throughout this season.  He’s second in the league with 40 receptions and third in yards per game.  With the running game finally getting it together last week, Gates was the recipient of that success, catching seven passes for 113 yards and a touchdown.
What Will Happen: The Chargers now return home, rejuvenated after a tough start and ready to roll.  This will be the second win in a row for the Chargers and it won’t be the last.  Behind a much more efficient Rivers and the combination of LaDainian Tomlinson and Michael Turner, the Raiders don’t have the defensive firepower to stop them.
CFN Prediction Chargers 38 … Raiders 17 ... Line: San Diego -10
Must See Rating: (5 Hideki Matsui's "collection" - 1 The Heartbreak Kid) ... 3.5

New England at Dallas 4:15 pm CBS October 14, 2007
Why to Watch: How much better does it get?  5-0 on one side, 5-0 on the other.  The best team in the AFC.  The best team in the NFC.  Getting.  It.  On.  The Cowboys had a little divine intervention on their side last Monday at Buffalo and quite honestly, didn’t deserve to win the game.  But, the great teams find a way to win, even with five Tony Romo interceptions.  Dallas left Buffalo having stolen a 25-24 win to remain undefeated, while the Patriots did away with the Browns 34-17 as they scored 34 points or more for the fifth straight game.  It’s not a must win game for either team, but the winner gives its conference some bragging rights, well, at least until the Super Bowl.  Maybe we’ll see these two again.
Why New England Might Win:  Well, someone found a way to stop Randy Moss, the second leading receiver in the league.  The Browns held Moss to three catches, however, tight end Ben Watson and Donte Stallworth combined for ten catches and three touchdowns.  Running back Sammy Morris continues to play well in Laurence Maroney’s stead, rushing for 102 yards on 21 carries.  The offense has so many weapons for the Cowboys to stop and if Romo throws five picks to the Patriots, they might score half a hundred or more.
Why Dallas Might Win:  Romo can’t have another game like the one that he did on Monday, right?  Don’t think so.  Romo’s passer rating took a plunge after his trip to Buffalo, but the Cowboys signal caller has thrown for over 1,500 yards in only five games.  The Patriots are seventh in the league against the pass, giving up 177.2 yards per game, but Brown QB Derek Anderson lit them up for 287 yards and two touchdowns.  So, Romo should find similar success.
Who to Watch: Cowboy cornerback Terence Newman had a pick against the Bills and his ability to single cover Moss will be a major key for this defense.  He can’t survive all game long, but if he can be effective and keep Moss in front of him, the rest of the defenders can focus on not letting Watson, Stallworth and Wes Welker beat them.
What Will Happen: The Patriots are the more complete team.  Romo will play much better, but Tom Brady will slice up the Cowboys secondary (12^th in the league in pass defense) with 275+ yards and three touchdowns.  Whether it’s Morris or Maroney or both, the Patriot running game will provide the perfect balance to Brady’s acumen in the passing game.  Patriots make a statement as the best team in the league and leave little question about this team going forward.
CFN Prediction Patriots 34 … Cowboys 24 ... Line: New England -6
Must See Rating: (5 Hideki Matsui's "collection" - 1 The Heartbreak Kid) ... 5

New Orleans at Seattle 8:15 pm NBC October 14, 2007
Why to Watch: When did the Saints morph into the league’s worst team after being one of the best in 2006?  The components are nearly all the same and yet, the Saints can’t win a game.  Last week, the Saints got beat by the Panthers and quarterback David Carr.  Are you kidding me?  Mr. White Gloves beat them???  Even with a week off, the Saints came out flat and got flattened.  Seattle?  Well, at least they got beat by one of the best teams in the league on the road, a 21-0 shutout at Pittsburgh.
Why New Orleans Might Win:  The Saints have to win sometime, right?  In today’s NFL, it won’t be a surprise if the 0-4 Saints travel clear across country to beat the NFC West leading Seahawks.  There’s no conceivable reason why the Saints might win, but the fact that there’s no conceivable reason why the Saints might win might end up being the only reason they might win.  Follow that logic?  Sure, you do.
Why Seattle Might Win:  The Seahawks have every distinct advantage in this game.  It’s a home game.  The Saints are on the proverbial ropes.  The Seahawks are confident, or should be.  Saints QB Drew Brees is one of the worst quarterbacks in the NFL, 32^nd in passer rating, just below Marc Bulger and Matt Leinart.  The Saints are 30^th in the league in scoring, averaging 12.8 points per game.
Who to Watch: The running backs.  Seattle running back Shaun Alexander had 25 yards on eleven carries against Pittsburgh, while New Orleans running back Reggie Bush had 67 yards on 21 carries, 3.2 yards per carry.  The back with the better output on Sunday will lead his team to a victory.
What Will Happen: Games never go the way you’d expect and this one will follow that script to a T.  Well, for three quarters anyway.  The Saints will get a better game from Brees and 75+ yards from Bush as the bye week allows everyone to take a deep breath and finally get on track with a big road upset.
CFN Prediction Saints 20 … Seahawks 17 ... Line: Seattle -7
Must See Rating: (5 Hideki Matsui's "collection" - 1 The Heartbreak Kid) ... 2

New York Giants at Atlanta 8:30 pm ESPN October 15, 2007
Why to Watch: So, how does this game look now?  If you’re not a proponent for the NFL’s flex scheduling concept, just remember how you feel at 8:30 EST when you could be watching New England-Dallas, Brady-Romo and Moss-TO.  Instead, you get a team in turmoil (the Falcons) and, well, a team that understands turmoil (the Giants).  But, on the positive side, there’ll be plenty of side stories to discuss in all of the dead time on Monday night.  Who plays quarterback for the Falcons?  Or, who’s better?  Is Alge Crumpler going to be happy with the play calling?
Why the Giants Might Win:  You wouldn’t have thought that “good” and “hot” would define this Giants team when they were 0-2 and looking at a 17-3 deficit at halftime of the Washington game, but Tom Coughlin’s bunch pulled together and has won three straight.  Running back Brandon Jacobs returned last week, registering 100 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries, in addition to Derrick Ward’s 56 yards and a touchdown.  These two will put a significant amount of pressure on the Falcons defensive front seven.
Why Atlanta Might Win:  Against the Titans, the Atlanta defense forced five turnovers, three interceptions by Vince Young and two fumbles, and held Young and the Titans to 249 total offensive yards.  With the poor play from the quarterback position last week, the Falcon defense kept Atlanta in the ball game (only to have Joey Heisman give it away). 
Who to Watch: Atlanta defensive end John Abraham has stayed healthy this season and it shows in his production and harassment of the quarterback.  Abraham forced a pick with his ‘hurry’ of Young last week and has been difficult to block this season.  Don’t believe me? Just ask Texan offensive tackle Ephraim Salaam, who Abraham has his way with earlier this season.  He’s got four sacks on the year and loves a stationary, statuesque quarterback in the pocket…just like Eli.
What Will Happen: The Falcon defense won get shredded by the Giants, but the inability to effectively move the ball and the chains will give the Giants plenty of possessions and opportunities to put the ball in the end zone.  The Jacobs/Ward tandem will combine for 150+ yards on the ground and be the key in a Giants’ win.
CFN Prediction Giants 24 … Falcons 17 ... Line: NY Giants -3.5
Must See Rating: (5 Hideki Matsui's "collection" - 1 The Heartbreak Kid) ... 2