Alex Frank | Sports Director Zach Fries | Staff Reporter Joe Petrosino | Staff Reporter
Ethan Bastian | Staff Reporter Sean McMahon | Staff Reporter
Last week was one of the most entertaining weeks in the NFL in recent memory.
Six teams came from behind in the fourth quarter to win, highlighted by Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes II leading them out of a 10-point fourth quarter deficit at Denver on Monday Night Football.
Here are the updated standings in the #BattlefortheBoathouse after week four and our week five predictions.
1. Alex and Zach: 13-10 Joe and Sean: 12-11 3. Ethan: 10-13
Thursday
Indianapolis Colts @ New England Patriots – 8:20 E.T. on FOX and NFL Network (Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews, Kristina Pink)
Alex: Patriots 38 Colts 27 Zach: Patriots 31 Colts 14 Joe: Patriots 35 Colts 14
Ethan: Patriots 27 Colts 20 Sean: Patriots 24 Colts 16
Zach: The Patriots got back on the right track in week four throttling the Dolphins 38-7. Also, Julian Edelman will return from his four-game suspension. Meanwhile, the Colts lost after head coach Frank Reich went for it on fourth down late in overtime against the Texans, Andrew Luck is playing well, but the Colts are banged up. The Patriots will win big.
Joe: The Patriots are looking to build off a great defensive week last week after struggling in prior games. With both Gronk and Julian Edelman finally healthy for the first time in over 30 games, I think Brady and their offense will be efficient, and considering the Colts defense is allowing over 400 yards per game I think the Patriots control this one from the kickoff.
Sunday
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Kansas City Chiefs – 1 p.m. on CBS (Jim Nantz, Tony Romo, Tracy Wolfson)
Alex: Chiefs 38 Jaguars 34 Zach: Chiefs 24 Jaguars 19 Joe: Jaguars 21 Chiefs 14
Ethan: Chiefs 31 Jaguars 23 Sean: Chiefs 35 Jaguars 24
Ethan: The Chiefs are coming into this game hot at 4-0 for the second straight year. Although they have a great home crowd, they have no defense whatsoever, so this game will tighter than it should be. The Jags have only given up 14 points per game but sometimes great offenses beat great defenses and I think that will be one of those cases this Sunday.
Minnesota Vikings @ Philadelphia Eagles – 4:25 p.m. on FOX (Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews)
Alex: Eagles 24 Vikings 21 Zach: Eagles 23 Vikings 21 Joe: Vikings 28 Eagles 21
Ethan: Eagles 27 Vikings 24 Sean: Eagles 34 Vikings 30
Zach: In a battle between two teams that have underpefromed, this is a critical game for both teams. The Vikings, 1-2-1, have been surprisingly terrible on defense. On the other side, Philadelphia’s offense has struggled through the first four weeks. Carson Wentz will expose a struggling Minnesota defense and Philly’s defense will hold off quarterback Kirk Cousins. Running back Dalvin Cook is inactive so that will hurt the Vikings run game. Philadelphia wins a close one.
Dallas Cowboys @ Houston Texans – 8:20 p.m. on NBC (Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya)
Alex: Texans 31 Cowboys 20 Zach: Texans 27 Cowboys 21 Joe: Texans 21 Cowboys 17
Ethan: Cowboys 24 Texans 21 Sean: Cowboys 38 Texans 17
Alex: America’s Game of the Week for week five features a Lone Star State battle that is crucial for both teams, especially for the Texans. They can’t afford to fall to 1-4 and still expect to compete with the Tennessee Titans and the Jacksonville Jaguars for the AFC South title. I think, though, quarterback Deshaun Watson and the offense are starting to get hot, and it’s worth noting three of their first four games were on the road. Their next two are both at home and winnable before a matchup at Jacksonville in week seven. That’s why this game is crucial and I think they will get the job done at home.
Monday
Washington Redskins @ New Orleans Saints – 8:15 p.m. on ESPN (Joe Tessitore, Jason Witten, Booger McFarland, Lisa Salters)
Alex: Saints 42 Redskins 17 Zach: Saints 30 Redskins 14 Joe: Saints 34 Redskins 24
Ethan: Saints 38 Redskins 31 Sean: Redskins 28 Saints 22
Sean: Both the Redskins and the Saints have been exceptional in their performances thus far, especially the Saints being led by Drew Brees. Breees is on course to break the all-time passing yards record for the NFL to surpass Peyton Manning as the leader. While this will probably true, I have a funny feeling the Redskins will edge out Brees and the Saints.