NFL Week 5: Preview

Modified Oct 05, 2018 05:31 GMT

NFC Championship - Minnesota Vikings v Philadelphia Eagles

Potential Game Of The Week - Minnesota Vikings vs Philadelphia Eagles

Its the NFC Championship rematch, but both teams are reeling in the wrong directions. Minnesota Vikings head into week five 1-2-1 and the Philadelphia Eagles are also 2-2. This week becomes an essential week for these teams to get into the playoffs.

Minnesota Vikings need to rush the ball more with Dalvin Cook and Lativus Murray. The one reason the Vikings have been struggling is that they have the worst rushers in the game right now. With a complementary rushing tandem, the passing game should open up more and giving Kirk Cousins more time in the pocket. The defence needs to be better, with the secondary especially containing Alshon Jeffrey and Zack Ertz will be necessary for success. The front four need to pressure Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz. All of this will go in one game will guarantee the win.

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The Philadelphia Eagles look a little rusty in the offence with Carson Wentz coming back from a season-ending injury. It will take some time for Carson Wentz to get back to normal as you have seen Deshaun Watson do the same in Houston. The problem is once Carson Wentz is comfortable the Eagles might be outside of the playoffs. The defence has been playing good, and if they continue to apply the pressure on the quarterback, they will be efficient.

This game could be a barn burner, a tight close game that comes down to the defence.

Potential Upset Of The Week - Kansas City Chiefs vs Jacksonville Jaguars

Jacksonville Jaguars v Kansas City Chiefs

Who are the favourites herein this game, it is the Jacksonville Jaguars? Patrick Mahomes has been the early MVP favourite; he leads the Kansas City Chiefs at home against the number one defence in the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Jacksonville Jaguars defence has been steadfast in their first four weeks and only lost to the Tennessee Titans where the offence did not show up. The problem has not been the defence, and they should be robust against Patrick Mahomes. They will try to contain Mahomes inside the pocket and make him beat them inside there. Anytime Mahomes has gotten outside of the pocket he has shredded that defence.

The problem with Jacksonville is the offence. Every week we do not know what kind of attack is going to show up for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Blake Bortles has been average at best. Against the New England, Patriots Bortles looked tremendous and then against Titans he looked poor. Inconsistency has always been the problem with Blake Bortles, he needs to show up ready to go against the Kansas City Chiefs, or Mahomes will outscore the Jaguars. Leonard Fournette has been great when in, but his injuries have been taken the better of him, and it relies on TJ Yeldon to take over and perform like he did last week. If the offence comes to play then the Kansas City Chiefs defence which is last in the league will have a long night stopping the Jaguars offence.

Kansas City Chiefs are playing so good; some team has to bring them back to earth!

Key Battles

Tennessee Titans vÂ Jacksonville Jaguars — Tennessee Titans v Jacksonville Jaguars

Tyreek Hill vs Jalen Ramsey

This matchup will be the best of the week, the speed of Hill will be hard to contain. Jalen Ramsey has been vocal on who he thinks is a legit player and who is a fraud in the NFL. Jalen Ramsey already called Tyreek Hill a "Return Specialist", regarding Hill making it to the Pro Bowl as a returner and Ramsey as a Cornerback.

Aaron Donald/Ndamukong Suh vs Russell Wilson

Before the rise of Patrick Mahomes, there was another outside of the pocket passer, the one and only Russell Wilson. Usually, Russell Wilson had to run around because his offensive line was one of the weakest in the league. Nothing has changed, and it will be fun night seeing Aaron Donald and Ndamukong Suh chase Russell Wilson around. How many sacks will that front four get?

Jon Gruden vs his own team the Oakland Raiders

More and more I see the Oakland Raiders play, the more I knew I was right about the Raiders hiring of Jon Gruden. Gruden has been out of the game for too long, and the game has changed. Gruden old antics on the sideline won't work anymore, and we see it. The team started to fail right after his hire, the loss of Khalil Mack effected them, and the duo of Derek Carr and Amari Cooper don't look impressive anymore. How many more weeks till Jon Gruden is on the hot seat.