October 3, 2008
Jason and Rob Thompson

Welcome to week 5 of the NFL season and another installment of the EA SPORTS World predictions.  Last week was a tough one as our predictions only finished 5-8 on the week.  But, our overall record is still better than .500 at 33-26.

As you check out the predictions below, don't forget to take the time to listen to our podcast.  We break down a select few of these games and give you our own thoughts.
There's also an archive page of our podcasts that you can find, CLICK HERE.



SPOILER ALERT - If you plan on actually watching any of the Week 5 NFL Games do not read any further because we are about to tell you what happens.  We hope.

PREDICTION:  Titans 20 v. Ravens 14

These two teams have such good defenses that the first three sims of this game resulted in negative scores. (Willis McGahee had a -7 carries in one game). When we realized it wasn't the defense but a remnant Y2K bug we fixed it and got this result. We did get a chance to answer that age old NFL question. Not the "Who is the best running back of all-time" question (BTW- It's Walter Peyton). No, the "Who is better- Kerry Collins or Joe Flacco?" one. (Collins is slightly better). We had McGahee playing and his 114 yards and two TDs kept it close.

PREDICTION: Chargers 24 v. Dolphins 21

Not including a February game in Hawaii, you will not see four better running backs in one game: Ronnie Brown, Rickie Williams, LaDainian Tomlinson and Darren Sproles. The Chargers clearly have the better o-line and earned 97 total yards rushing (compared to Miami's 52). Nate Kaeding boots a 53 yard field goal to win the game late in the 4th.

PREDICTION: Chiefs 12 v. Panthers 14

The Chiefs are just going to have to be happy with a one-game winning streak because the Panthers are moving on to a 4-1 record. That's not all bad for the Chiefs who have to know that next year's starting QB (and head coach?) are probably in college right now. Larry Johnson's 120 total yards was a nice follow-up to last week's 200. Steve Smith punched the Chiefs in the mouth with two TDs.

PREDICTION: Bears 14 v. Lions 20

Lions fans finally get the two things they wanted most: 1) the firing of Matt Millen; and 2) a win. John Kitna played a typical John PICK-na game with three INTs but rookie RB Kevin Smith erased those mistakes with 111 yards rushing. Roy Williams had just four receptions for 33 yards... and immediately demanded a trade (despite the win). It would not surprise me if at the end of the year opposing defensive backs have more receptions for touchdowns than Pick-na's receivers do.

PREDICTION: Colts 23 v. Texans 10

Yes sir. The Texans remain winless after they let the Colts' offense out of the barn in this one. Joe Addai and Dominic Rhodes stampeded their way to 104 yards rushing. Peyton Manning lassoed 251 yards and two TD's while Texan WR Andre Johnson was branded with a "0" for the total number of TD's he has caught through five weeks of the NFL. Reggie Wayne rustled 90 yards and a TD. Yee-Haw!

PREDICTION: Redskins 17 v. Eagles 20

We predicted that the Eagles would go without Bryan Westbrook. The Eagles won by getting just enough from Correll Buckhalter (8-62, 1 TD) and DeSean Jackson (6-91, 1TD) and locking down Clinton Portis who totaled just 34 yards. If Westbrook goes, this one should be even more fun for Eagles fans. (Andy Reed gained 22 more lbs on Cheese-Steaks in our sim. His end-game weight? 496 lbs.)

PREDICTION: Seahawks 23 v. Giants 35

Plaxico was absent-o in our sim-o. Did Eli-o need him-o? No-o. This was a great game. Something happened in the fourth quarter that really motivated the Giants. The Giants were down 16-10 and then the G-Men reeled-off 25 points. (I think the Seahawks were making fun of Eli for never kissing a girl). We are predicting that the game's leading receiver will be Seattle's back-up tight end John Carlson with 98 yards and two touchdowns. Of course, the only way John Carlson will be able to do this is if he can get off work to play for the Seahawks this Sunday. (It occurs to me that we may want to check our sim-team for relatives of this Carlson guy.)

PREDICTION: Falcons 20 v. Packers 19

This game basically comes down to the play of the two first-year starting QB's: Atlanta's rookie Matt Ryan and Green Bay's Aaron Rogers. As the score shows Ryan was slightly better going 21/31 for 197 and a TD. Rogers was 22/30 for 203 yards and two INTs. Rogers' last pick came with just 1:05 left and was returned 57 yards for the go-ahead touchdown.

PREDICTION: Buccaneers 17 v. Broncos 15

This was a very boring game to watch in the sim. The Broncos kicker (oddly not named Jason Elam who we are told is playing in Atlanta now) Matt Prater booted five field goals and that was all the scoring the Broncos could generate. It is hard to see how the Buccaneers can win on the road if the rush for 51 total yards we are predicting but they do. Ike Hilliard and Earnest Graham have the TDs for Tampa.

PREDICTION: Bengals 17 v. Cowboys 24

Did you know that Bengal Tigers of India can weigh over 500 lbs and routinely kill people in India even today? Did you know the Bengals of Cincinnati stink out loud? It's true. Even in our sim which predicts that the Bengals will fall to 0-5. The Cowboys run Marion Barber III more than eight times (21) for 109 and a TD for the win.

PREDICTION: Patriots 21 v. 49ers 27

It is hard to write this without laughing. We are predicting that the 49ers of San Francisco will be the New England Patriots. The 49ers will then be 3-2 and will be at least tied for their Division lead. Meanwhile the Patriots will be .500 and looking up at the undefeated Bills in the AFC East. Frank Gore and DeShaun Foster rack up 131 rushing yards to New England's 54 total yards rushing. The New England Bradys may want to give up after this one.

PREDICTION: Bills 24 v. Cardinals 28

There was no way in the world the Bills would remain undefeated through five weeks. We tried to force the sim to pick the Bills but we got the blue-screen-of-death. We then sent an error report to Bill Gates and he replied that the MS systems could not be forced to predict a 5-0 Bills record. How did they lose? Edgerrin James rushed for 159 yards and a TD while Kurt Warner threw for 301 and three TDs.

Sunday Night Football
PREDICTION: Steelers 20 v. Jaguars 33

By my count the Steelers lost between 12-27 players to season ending injuries last week. The sim-team is assuring me that I am WAY off though. Presuming they are right and the Steelers dress a and full team we are still predicting defeat. How do the Jags win this one? Fred Taylor (17-145, 1 TD) and Maurice Jones-Drew (-Decker-Tabb-Slaney-Everrett-Lloyd) befuddle the Steelers' defense. Willie Parker did not play in our sim but Mewelde Moore did just fine as his replacement (20-121, 1 TD).

Monday Night Football
PREDICTION: Vikings 28 v. Saints 35

The Deuce (McAllister) was loose at the Super Dome in New Orleans in our Monday Night Football sim scoring two rushing TDs. Adrian Peterson ran for 112 and had his own two rushing TDs but the best QB in this game by far was Drew Brees. His 319 and three TDs, including the game winner to Billy Miller, was the difference.