Welcome back to Sunday football! Week 5 of the 2015 NFL season is back, following the Indianapolis Colts eking out a big road on Thursday Night Football thanks to Matt Hasselbeck, Frank Gore and Andre Johnson. The old dudes did some quality work as the Colts improved to 3-2. They have work to do to compete in the playoffs, but I don't see how they don't win the AFC South at this point.
Four teams are on bye this week, so we return today with 12 different games. We've got another viewing guide. I've decided to split it into two separating rooting interests. For each game, we look at a more general reason to root for or against a team (we almost always root against the Cowboys). Then, I've got draft viewing interest comment for the applicable games. The 49ers are 1-3, and face a huge road game against the New York Giants. A win on Sunday Night Football could get them at least competitive again in the NFC. A loss puts them further on the fast track to a high draft pick. The draft rooting guide is based on that latter idea. I'm sure we have people rooting for a variety of reasons today.
Down below is everything you need to know about how to watch the various games. Click here to see which game is broadcasted in your region. The Bay Area gets Seahawks-Bengals on FOX at 10 a.m. PT. On CBS, it gets Rams-Packers at 10 a.m., and then Broncos-Raiders at 1:25 p.m. The 49ers kick off at 5:30 p.m. PT on NBC.
Online Streaming
NFL Sunday Ticket | NFL Game Pass | Sunday Night Football on NBCSports.com's Live Extra
Sunday, Oct. 11
Chicago Bears at Kansas City Chiefs
Start time: 10 AM PT
TV channel: FOX
Announcers: Sam Rosen, John Lynch
ROOTING INTEREST: Chiefs - Can always root for Alex Smith and company.
DRAFT ROOTING INTEREST: Bears - Both teams are 1-3. I think the Chiefs are more likely to win more games moving forward, while the Bears could sink further into the abyss.
Seattle Seahawks at Cincinnati Bengals
Start time: 10 AM PT
TV channel: FOX
Announcers: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman
ROOTING INTEREST: Bengals - Pretty much always root against Seattle.
DRAFT ROOTING INTEREST: Bengals - Seattle has a worse record, but they're going to win enough games to remain behind the 49ers for draft positioning. Why not just enjoy a Cincy win?
Washington at Atlanta Falcons
Start time: 10 AM PT
TV channel: FOX
Announcers: Chris Myers, Ronde Barber
ROOTING INTEREST: Falcons - I am a fan of watching the fighting Dan Snyders take one on the chin. If you are thinking the 49ers can somehow finish in the mix for a playoff spot, you could conceivably root for Washington since Atlanta and Carolina's co-undefeated runs mean both are already in the mix for a wild card berth.
DRAFT ROOTING INTEREST: Washington - The Falcons are going to win more games than Washington this year, so might as well have Washington win this one.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Start time: 10 AM PT
TV channel: CBS
Announcers: Spero Dedes, Solomon Wilcots
ROOTING INTEREST: Jaguars - I wouldn't mind seeing the Jaguars get things going in the right direction. That was a tough road loss to the Colts, but they could bounce back this week.
DRAFT ROOTING INTEREST: Buccaneers - I think Jacksonville will win more games than the Bucs this year, so I'll root for Bucs in this regard.
New Orleans Saints at Philadelphia Eagles
Start time: 10 AM PT
TV channel: FOX
Announcers: Thom Brennaman, Charles Davis, Tony Siragusa
ROOTING INTEREST: Eagles - Philly seems to be in a bit of turmoil, but I wouldn't mind seeing them beat the Saints. The Saints are not quite at Cowboys/Seahawks level in terms of always rooting against them, but they're pretty high.
DRAFT ROOTING INTEREST: Toss-up - Both teams are 1-3, and neither team seems particular good. I'm not entirely sure what to make of this matchup.
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens
Start time: 10 AM PT
TV channel: CBS
Announcers: Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon
ROOTING INTEREST: Browns - I always like seeing Cleveland win against their former team.
DRAFT ROOTING INTEREST: Browns - They're both 1-3, but I still see the Ravens winning more games this season.
St. Louis Rams at Green Bay Packers
Start time: 10 AM PT
TV channel: CBS
Announcers: Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts
ROOTING INTEREST: Rams - On the one hand, it's a divisional team just barely ahead of the 49ers. On the other hand, Green Bay is near Cowboys/Seahawks level for always root against. I don't mind seeing the Rams win just enough games to keep Jeff Fisher around, but not so many games that they make the playoffs.
DRAFT ROOTING INTEREST: Rams - The Rams are off to a decent start, but I think they eventually fade, so might as well get this win (not happening on the road, but still).
Buffalo Bills at Tennessee Titans
Start time: 10 AM PT
TV channel: CBS
Announcers: Andrew Catalon, Steve Beuerlein, Steve Tasker
ROOTING INTEREST: Bills - I'm rooting for some Rex Ryan AFC chaos.
DRAFT ROOTING INTEREST: Titans - The Titans are 1-2, and the Bills are 2-2. I think the Bills win more games this year, so go Titans.
Arizona Cardinals at Detroit Lions
Start time: 1:05 PM PT
TV channel: FOX
Announcers: Jason Kutcher, Daryl Johnston
ROOTING INTEREST: Lions - Rooting for more divisional losses.
DRAFT ROOTING INTEREST: Lions - Need to see the Lions get that first W.
New England Patriots at Dallas Cowboys
Start time: 1:25 PM PT
TV channel: CBS
Announcers: Jim Nantz, Phil Simms
ROOTING INTEREST: Patriots - The only time I will root for the Cowboys might be against the Seahawks, and even that will depend on the circumstances.
DRAFT ROOTING INTEREST: Patriots - I think the 2-2 Cowboys still end up with more wins than the 49ers, as getting Tony Romo and Dez Bryant back will be a big lift. So I can get by rooting against them again.
Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders
Start time: 1:25 PM PT
TV channel: CBS
Announcers: Greg Gumbel, Trent Green
ROOTING INTEREST: Raiders - I wouldn't mind seeing the Raiders take the next step forward. I know some 49ers fans hate the Raiders, but I like seeing them have some success when it's not happening against the 49ers. And it makes Jed York look a little worse, amirite?
DRAFT ROOTING INTEREST: Raiders - For draft purposes, I'll generally root for the 2-2 team against the 4-0 team (see notable exception directly above)
San Francisco 49ers at New York Giants
Start time: 5:30 PM PT
TV channel: NBC
Announcers: Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya
ROOTING INTEREST: Always 49ers.
DRAFT ROOTING INTEREST: Doesn't matter. 1) This team might naturally tank, and 2) Might as well avoid the tanking karma.
Monday, Oct. 12
Pittsburgh Steelers at San Diego Chargers
Start time: 5:30 PM PT
TV channel: ESPN
Announcers: Jon Gruden, Mike Tirico
ROOTING INTEREST: Steelers - A Michael Vick-led road win can piss off the Steelers fans who think he's awful and Ben Roethlisberger is some bastion of perfection.
DRAFT ROOTING INTEREST: Chargers - Once Roethlisberger gets back, this Steelers team will be in solid shape. So, might as well root for the Chargers.