Schrock's Week 5 picks: Can Jimmy G push 49ers past Dolphins?
Josh Schrock makes his picks for every Week 5 NFL game.
Editor's note: All odds are provided by our partner, PointsBet.
We've reached the quarter-pole of the NFL and the contenders are starting to separate themselves from the pack. The Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks, Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans remain undefeated, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Los Angeles Rams, Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns also looking like viable playoff contenders.
The 49ers fell on their face in Week 4 (as I predicted) with Nick Mullens putting up the worst game of his career in a loss to the Eagles. With a horrific schedule starting in Week 6, the 49ers need Jimmy Garoppolo to come back now if they plan to stay in the hunt.
As for the Raiders, well, they now have lost two straight and have squandered their early-season momentum. Oh, and they get Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs this week. Chucky isn't going to have a good time at Arrowhead.
Let's get to the picks.
Record: 19-28 ATS (32-14-1 SU)
Line: Bucs -3.5
It's a short week and the Bucs are down a few playmakers on offense. That really shouldn't be that much of an issue against a fraudulent Bears team.
We know who Nick Foles is. He's no great savior. The Bears' offense won't get much going and it's a stress-free night for Tom Brady. Bucs cover with ease.
Pick: Bucs 31, Bears 17
Line: N/A
The Cardinals' defense has been offensive over the last two weeks. But they are heading to East Rutherford, New Jersey to find a cure.
They'll find one in the combination of Adam Gase and Joe Flacco on Sunday. The Jets are an affront to humanity and there are no signs of life in the Meadowlands.
There's no line at the moment, but I expect the Cardinals to get back on track and be able to cover anything up to seven with ease.
Pick: Cardinals, 31, Jets, 20
Line: Texas -6
Bill O'Brien got shown his walking papers. That has to give the Texans a boost, right?
Either way, the Jags' defense has been abysmal through four weeks and it's time for Deshaun Watson to get off the mat.
Texans in a romp.
Pick: Texans 34, Jags 16
Line: Steelers -7
Carson Wentz and the Eagles got in the win column against a 49ers team that has been ravaged by injuries.
The Steelers rested last week and have a defense that should terrorize a shaky Eagles' offensive line. Don't expect a lot of nice things to be said on the Philly sports pages come Monday.
Pick: Steelers 34, 21
Line: N/A
Cam Newton has been asymptomatic so there's a possibility he could play. Stephon Gilmore tested positive Monday. The Patriots' situation remains in flux which is why there is no line at the moment.
The Broncos got a win over the Jets behind Brett Rypien, but Bill Belichick's defense should be able to smother him if the NFL deems it safe for the Patriots to play.
Pick: Patriots 24, Broncos 13
Line: Rams -7
The Rams struggled on offense against a bad Giants team last week and get the 49ers next week. Trap game? Not against this football team.
Washington has benched Dwayne Haskins because their organization is inept and wants to tank their young quarterback's morale because they have "a shot" at a bad NFC East. Yeah, that sounds like a winning organization.
Rams will find little resistance against a team that can't score and is missing Chase Young.
Pick: Rams 28, Football Team 13
Line: Ravens -13
Joe Burrow is the real deal. But his line stinks and the Ravens' attacking defense is going to be flying at him all day come Sunday.
Lamar Jackson easily dices the Bengals up. This one is a snoozer.
Pick: Ravens 31, Bengals 17
Line: Bills -1
Given the Titans' continued issue with COVID-19, there's no telling whether or not this game will be played or who the Titans will have available.
Josh Allen is rolling, though, and the Titans' defense has been suspect. If the game is played, the Bills Mafia will have plenty to party about.
Pick: Bills 27, Titans 21
Line: Falcons -1
The Falcons are 0-4 and banged up just about everywhere. Matt Rhule's Panthers have surprised during the last two weeks but the defense won't be able to contain a desperate Falcons team.
Matty Ice keeps Dan Quinn employed a little while longer.
Pick: Falcons 27, Panthers 23
Line: Cowboys -9.5
Yeah, how about them Cowboys? Dak Prescott is throwing for 1 million yards but the defense is getting flayed week-in and week-out.
Enter: the winless Giants with no offensive firepower.
The Cowboys jump out to a big lead, but the Giants have just enough for a garbage-time cover.
Pick: Cowboys 30, Giants 21
Line: Colts -1.5
The change in head coach has helped the Browns mightily as they sit at 3-1 through four games. They'll be without Nick Chubb but Kareem Hunt should be able to carry the running game. Can Baker Mayfield make enough plays against a Colts defense that ranks first or second in almost every category?
I think Mayfield gets it done and Philip Rivers throws a back-breaking pick-six to seal the win for the Browns.
Pick: Browns 24, Colts 21
Line: Seahawks -7
Russell Wilson is cooking and the Seahawks are firing on all cylinders. He'll get his against a below-average Vikings defense, but Kirk Cousins, Dalvin Cook and Adam Thielen do enough to keep it close and make the Seahawks sweat.
'Hawks win, Vikings cover.
Pick: Seahawks 31, Vikings 28
Line: N/A
This game might have to be moved to the hurricane that is expected to his Louisiana. So there's no line although it has been sitting at around Saints -7.5.
Justin Herbert has dazzled through three NFL starts and he went throw-for-throw with Tom Brady last weekend. Unfortunately, Herbert's defense couldn't get off the field and the Chargers fell to 1-3.
The Saints' offense found a spark against the Lions last week, but I still have my doubts about the team that looked below average through the first three weeks.
Herbert makes the big throws and the Chargers pull off the upset.
Pick: Chargers, 31, Saints 28
Line: Chiefs -13.5
Derek Carr has never won at Arrowhead Stadium and I don't expect the first W to come Sunday. The Raiders' defense is one of the worst units in the NFL and now they face Patrick Mahomes.
Good luck, Raiders. This one is over early.
Pick: Chiefs 35, Raiders 17
Line: 49ers -8
We aren't sure who is going to play quarterback for the 49ers. If it's Jimmy Garoppolo, I expect there to be some rust. If it's C.J. Beathard or Nick Mullens, well, 2-3 might be on the table.
Garoppolo is enough to get the 49ers a victory but Ryan Fitzpatrick won't make it comfortable.
Pick: 49ers 27, Dolphins 20
