Welcome to Hagan’s Haus, where football is the only thing that matters. You won’t find me in a church on Sunday because football is my religion and the number one priority in my life. I am so excited that the NFL season is finally back in action! I pride myself in studying the game of football. We can’t get all our picks or predictions right, but I am going to leave it here in the open every week for everyone to see. In Hagan’s Haus, it’s all about bragging rights.
Who is the best? Because winning is the only thing that matters. We don’t get points for second place. I challenge you to post comments on your weekly picks and compare them to mine. This isn’t about point spreads. I will give a score prediction, but winning is winning. Doesn’t matter if it’s by an inch or a mile. So try and beat me in picking NFL games. I promise you it won’t be easy, but it will be fun. Here are Hagan’s Haus 2017 week 5 NFL picks.
Last week: 8-8
Overall: 32-31
Teams on byes: Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, Washington Redskins
Sunday Morning
Buffalo Bills (3-1) 23 @ Cincinnati Bengals (1-3) 21: This game is a trap game for the Bills. After a horrendous start to the season for the Bengals, they have looked much better over the last two weeks. Andy Dalton has been playing better and the defense is still really good. They could pull off this upset at home. Even though it is on the road the Bills are expected to win. They are a good rushing team averaging 112.8 yards per game. If they can impose their will on the ground in this game they will win.
New York Jets (2-2) 24 @ Cleveland Browns (0-4) 27: The Jets are 2-2 and it is absolutely shocking. New York is one of the best ground teams in the NFL averaging 130.8 yards per game. Cleveland, on the other hand, has a top 10 rush defense. This is a clash of strengths and with Cleveland at home, and searching for its first win, they should win this game. It will be close and back and forth but DeShone Kizer will make a few plays to get the Browns their first win.
Carolina Panthers (3-1) 24 @ Detroit Lions (3-1) 20: Carolina versus Detroit is one of the best games in the NFL this week. Both teams are 3-1 and coming off of huge wins. The Lions only scored 14 points last week but held the Vikings to just seven. Detroit is only giving up 17.5 points per game which have helped them jump to 3-1. The Panthers are also giving up 17.5 points per game. Even though this game is in Detroit, Cam Newton finally got rolling last week and will be too much to handle in the Motor City.
San Francisco 49ers (0-4) 21 @ Indianapolis Colts (1-3) 27: There won’t be many viewers tuning into this matchup as the 49ers and Colts are a combined 1-7. This is one of the few games the 49ers have a true shot to win. For the 49ers to win this game, they will have to score more than the 16.5 they average on the season. San Francisco will also have to shut down the threat of Jacoby Brissett’s feet. That will be a tall task and the 49ers will fall short.
Tennessee Titans (2-2) 30 @ Miami Dolphins (1-2) 17: Tennessee must bounce back from a true spanking at the hands of Deshaun Watson and the Houston Texans. It is still up in the air if Marcus Mariota will be ready for this game. If he can’t go, the Dolphins will likely win this game despite their lackluster offense. Jay Cutler is proving what he has proven over his entire career. He is not a guy that will lead a team to the promised land. Mariota will find a way to play and get a big road win to keep pace with the Texans.
Los Angeles Chargers (0-4) 19 @ New York Giants (0-4) 24: Unless they find a way to tie, the Chargers or Giants will finally get in the win column. Los Angeles has fallen short in their games due to special teams and an inability to protect the ball. The Giants are one-dimensional offensively and are not as stout as they were last season defensively. New York almost upset the Bucs last week and that momentum will help them get a win in this one.
Arizona Cardinals (2-2) 21 @ Philadelphia Eagles (3-1) 31: Arizona has been an average team at best this season and is not going to be a playoff team. Carson Palmer is having a solid year but the offense is only averaging 18.5 points per game while the defense is giving up 22.8 per game. The Cardinals do a good job defensively against the run and the Eagles’ strength offensively is running the ball. The Eagles are going to win this battle and therefore the game.
Jacksonville Jaguars (2-2) 17 @ Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1) 21: The Jaguars are a team still learning how to win. They are young and still have to fight through games with Blake Bortles under center. Jacksonville’s defense is balling, allowing the 10th fewest yards per game. It will be a good defensive matchup as the Steelers rank second in fewest yards allowed at 267 per game. With two top 10 defenses, winning this game will come down to who can make the big plays offensively. Pittsburgh has better playmakers and will pull out a win.
Sunday Afternoon
Baltimore Ravens (2-2) 13 @ Oakland Raiders (2-2) 17: The Raiders are going to struggle while Derek Carr sits with a back injury. Oakland must rely on their run game and defense to win them games. That doesn’t bode well for them because they don’t have a defense capable of locking down offenses in such a way that will win games. Fortunately for them, they play the Ravens this week who are a trashy offensive team. Baltimore only averages 15 points and 269.8 yards per game. They struggle against everyone and will have even more trouble flying across the country. The Raiders will win this game and keep their season alive despite losing Carr.
Seattle Seahawks (2-2) 21 @ Los Angeles Rams (3-1) 31: The Rams are a legitimate contender in the NFC. Los Angeles has the highest scoring offense in the NFL averaging 35 points per game. They also have done well against the Seahawks in recent history winning four of the last six against Seattle. The Rams front seven is going to dominate the Seahawks offensive line to become the kings of the west.
Green Bay Packers (3-1) 31 @ Dallas Cowboys (2-2) 34: Two of the NFL’s most storied franchises clash in Dallas. These two met in the playoffs and Aaron Rodgers made one of the greatest throws ever to help the Packers get the win. Dallas is going to get some payback for that game. Look for Ezekiel Elliott to rush for over 150 and lead the Cowboys to a big home win.
Sunday Night
Kansas City Chiefs (4-0) 37 @ Houston Texans (2-2) 32: Kansas City is the only undefeated team remaining in the NFL. They have a difficult game this week in Houston. Deshaun Watson is the real deal and will be a tough gameplan. The key in this game is can the Texans shut down the Chiefs high powered offense. The answer to that is no. Houston gave up 36 to New England and the Chiefs offense is better. Kansas City will win this game and it will be a shootout.
Monday Night
Minnesota Vikings (2-2) 23 @ Chicago Bears (1-3) 17: Last season the Vikings went into Soldier Field on Halloween in another Monday Night game and got spanked. This will be the first start in the young career of Mitchell Trubisky. Facing a Mike Zimmer defense in your first start puts you behind the eight ball. The Bears are a much-improved team but won’t be ready for the Vikings. The Minnesota defense will dominate to lead the Vikings to a win.
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