The NFL Roundup 2022: Week 5 Preview

Written by John Edward Betancourt

It’s that time again football fans. For we are mere hours away from Week 5 in the NFL getting underway and once again, are we looking at an exciting weekend of football. For not only are there some games on the schedule that could turn out to be some hard fought, epic battles, but we are about to watch another rookie take the reins of a historic franchise and watch juggernauts try to keep their standings against teams that are desperate for win. Not to mention, there are juicy storylines brewing as well and with that in mind, let’s dive right in and preview Week 5 in the NFL and all the epic games and headlines it is going to send our way. 
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Don’t expect the official start of the Kenny Pickett era to feature a big win.
There’s no more hopeful moment in football, than when a drafted rookie QB takes the field for his new team for his first start. For it is the beginning of a new era, a new chapter in the franchise and Super Bowl hopes and dreams are riding on their shoulders. Which is funny, since their first start tends to go poorly and while everyone is hoping and praying for a big win over Buffalo with Kenny at the helm, history is not on Kenny’s side. So, while we will likely see some flashes of brilliance and some cool plays from Kenny, don’t expect him to win, not against the vaunted Buffalo defense. But on the plus side, he will get some much-needed experience against a great defense, and that’s never a bad thing by any means.
 
Is this the weekend Detroit finally puts it all together?
2021 was definitely a frustrating time for Detroit Lions fans, since Jared Goff was hot and cold, and the team continued to lose. And that frustration has to be amplified this year, since the Lions have been competitive and have been so close to winning several epic games this season. However, they are facing the lowly and awful Patriots this week, leaving one to wonder if at long last… they’ll be able to finally lock up a win and well… maybe? Because the Pats do stink something awful, and they can’t close out games either. So, if Detroit can play a complete, mistake free and aggressive game, they’ll finally nab that morale building win. But if not, they’ll give the irrelevant Pats some agency, and that will sting. 
 
Will the Dolphins win without Tua this weekend?
Thankfully, Tua is finally in concussion protocol and will miss the game this weekend to heal. Something that should have happened last week, but here we are. But he has been the cornerstone of this offense and has been a big reason as to why the Dolphins are 3-1 and his appropriate absence does beg the question… in that, can Miami win without him? I’d say the odds are 50/50. For Mike McDaniel’s offense is designed for Tua and Teddy Bridgewater in this phase of his career has been… meh. But… on the flip side, they’re playing the Jets who are… mediocre on a good day. So, if they can keep mistake free ball going on offense, they got this. But if Teddy falters, so does the team and well… if they lose, hopefully it’s a fine wakeup call regarding how they need to take better care of their franchise QB and their players in general.

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The Most Exciting Games to Watch This Weekend

Thursday Night Football
Indianapolis Colts (2-2) at Denver Broncos (2-2)
Empower Field at Mile High – Denver, Colorado
8:15 p.m. EST – Prime Video

​This is a game that definitely has a lot riding for both of the teams involved. Because neither squad is dominant right now and they badly want to be, especially since they have both shown flashes of brilliance. For instance… both offenses have put up decent numbers and big plays at times, but not the amount of points indicative of the investments they’ve made in their new quarterbacks. And both defenses have weaknesses that teams have exposed and of course… they’re both in competitive divisions and fighting for their playoff lives because… it’s like that. Which means that both teams are going to bring the thunder tonight and do their best to right the ship and click and that means, we should be in for a wild game. One that I think Denver is going to win if they keep the turnovers down, just because they have the edge on defense and that will play an important part in this game.

NFL International Series Game
New York Giants (3-1) at Green Bay Packers (3-1)
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – London, England
Sunday, October 9, 2022 – 9:30 a.m. EST – NFL Network

Normally any game involving the New York Giants would be of little concern. But this year, the Giants are a team reformed. They’re aggressive, they run the ball well and they play solid defense. To the point where they are now 3-1 and in charge of their own destiny, and they’re taking on one heck of a challenge. For they face the Packers and the always wily Aaron Rodgers, who is eager to pad his team’s record in the NFC with another big win and well… the fact that the G-men are playing so well, doesn’t make a Green Bay victory a guarantee. In fact, this might be a hard fought. battle royale. One that could go either way, and honestly… it is impossible to declare a winner outright. Just because these teams are playing so well right now. So, it’s the fans that win here, since they’ll be treated to a great game, in London no less and that makes this one a must see for certain, just to find out if the Giants can pull off the upset or to see if the Pack can dominate across the pond. 

Sunday Night Football
Cincinnati Bengals (2-2) at Baltimore Ravens (2-2)
M&T Bank Stadium – Baltimore, Maryland
8:20 p.m. EST – NBC

​This is another game where both teams have something important to prove. For instance, the Bengals are now supremely determined to remind everyone that they are the defending AFC Champions and that they are still a force to be reckoned with. And the Ravens… well they want everyone to believe they are a tough team, especially after suffering through a couple of devastating losses, including one that involved an epic comeback from the Dolphins. Which means, both teams will come out swinging and they will undoubtedly put up some major points as this game rolls along. As for who wins, well… my guess is it will be the Bengals. Just because they’re hungry again and they are eager to stack up the wins and also because, the Ravens just aren’t themselves right now, and being off in that manner with their confidence dinged… tends to cause more harm than good.