Advertisement

NFL picks Week 5: Our Bucs coverage team's predictions

 
Julio Jones and the Atlanta Falcons could use a pat on the back these days. Jones got one from Bengals cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick after the final play of the Falcons' 37-36 loss to the Bengals on Sunday, Sept. 30 in Atlanta. The loss dropped the Falcons to 1-3. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS) 1241596
Julio Jones and the Atlanta Falcons could use a pat on the back these days. Jones got one from Bengals cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick after the final play of the Falcons' 37-36 loss to the Bengals on Sunday, Sept. 30 in Atlanta. The loss dropped the Falcons to 1-3. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS) 1241596
Published Oct. 5, 2018

Here's an alternative to spending your Bucs-less weekend fretting over Tampa Bay's problems:

Keep an eye on the Falcons, scout and compare defensive woes.

The Falcons travel to Pittsburgh Sunday as 3.5-point underdogs to a Steelers team whose only victory this season is via a 30-27 stiff-arming of the Bucs on Monday night. Atlanta gave up 407 yards and 37 points to Andy Dalton and the Bengals -- the Bucs' Oct. 21 opponent in Cincinnati -- last week.

At the moment, Atlanta is keeping the Bucs out of the NFC South basement.

Other games ripe for the picking: Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit and Seattle are home underdogs.

Here's a look at the picks:

(!-indicates Lock of the Week, *-indicated Upset Special).

(Pickers arranged, from left, in order of record against the spread).