Arizona Cardinals and NFC West with another challenging week
By Scott Allen
The Arizona Cardinals and the entire NFC West on the road in Week 5
The predictions for how the Arizona Cardinals and the NFC West may fare this weekend in week five of the 2015 NFL Season may be a little tougher. All four teams take to the road this week.
The Arizona Cardinals, who lead the NFC West by one game, will go to face the Detroit Lions. That game starts at 1:05 p.m. and they will be looking to get back in the win column after last week’s loss to the St. Louis Rams. Here are this week’s predictions.
Arizona Cardinals at Detroit Lions
The Cardinals are coming off a tough loss at home to the Rams 24-22. The good news is the Cardinals didn’t play very well and still had a shot to win at the end. Last week the Lions could say the same thing in their 13-10 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
The Cardinals are riding a six-game win streak over the Lions but unlike the last three games, this one is being played at Ford Field in Detroit. Detroit is 0-4 but they are definitely not an 0-4 team. Their defense has been playing well for the most part. Their offense has struggled. They scored 10 points last week, the lone touchdown on defense. They scored 12 points the week before.
This is no cake walk and I think the Cards have learned their lesson not to take anyone lightly. Arizona will win in a close one.
Cardinals 27 Lions 23
Seattle Seahawks at Cinncinati Bengals
I want to believe in a 4-0 Bengals team. I want to believe they are good enough to send the Seahawks to their third loss of the season. I know they are good enough, especially at home, to get it done. Can they avoid mistakes though?
The Seahawks coming off a struggle win over the Lions on Monday night will be without running back Marshawn Lynch again due to a hamstring. On the road that might be the biggest reason why I give the Bengals a shot at going 5-0.
Bengals 20 Seahawks 17
St. Louis Rams at Green Bay Packers
I told you this would be a tough week for the NFC West on the road. No test may be tougher than what the Rams face at Lambeau Field on Sunday. The Rams were impressive and took advantage of Cardinals mistakes last week in Arizona. Their defense is playing pretty well right now in the red zone. They sacked Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer four times last week and could, and probably should have, had more.
The Packers struggled a bit at the San Francisco 49ers last week but still came away with a 17-3 victory. If this game was in St. Louis I probably would give them the slight edge. Todd Gurley is the real deal at running back. He had 146 yards last week on the ground against the Cards.
He won’t do that this week though. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Packers will prevail at home.
Packers 23 Rams 7
San Francisco 49ers at New York Giants
My first question is, how did this game make it to Sunday Night Football? Yes, I realize the markets but this game might be as unwatchable as any you see this year, especially on Sunday night. The Giants, coming off a 6-10 season and starting 2-2 have been inconsistent.
As for the 49ers, they’ve just been bad. I’m still trying to figure out how they beat the Minnesota Vikings in week one? 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has been anything but good this season. They’ve been outscored 110-48 this season. Take away week one and they’ve been outscored 107-28.
With the game in New York, I don’t see much luck changing for the 49ers. The Giants aren’t that good but they are better than the 49ers.
Giants 38 49ers 22