Preview: NFL Week 5

With the quarter-point of the season in the rear view mirror and week 5 looming, things are starting to come into focus in the 2012 season.

I have always thought that you can't truly judge a team until 6 games have been played. 4 wins looks great after four games, but no so hot after 16. The Saints are 0-4 right now, but they can still go 10-2 - a not unimaginable feat for a team of this talent - and make the playoffs as a Wild Card (probably)> If they slip to 0-6, rattling off 10 wins down the stretch would be an ask too far.

So who are looking like the Conference Game contenders right now? In the NFC you still can't look past the 49ers, despite their division rivals, the Cardinals, remaining undefeated through 4 weeks, and the Atlanta Falcons, who are undefeated and deserve to be so.

Remember, though, the Falcons and the playoffs do not mix well. They have been the Number 1 seed before (2010) in Matt Ryan's career and found themselves soundly beaten by the streaking Packers. This year, however, things look to be different. The Falcons are not just winning as the Cardinals are, they are dismantling opponents. Matt Ryan has blossomed and this could FINALLY be the georgia boys' year.

In the AFC, the Houston Texans and the Baltimore Ravens stand head and one shoulder above the Bengals and two shoulders and most of a torso above every other team. The Patriots should figure in the playoffs and may have something to say about these two dancing their way to the conference championship, but time will tell.

Could this be the year of the Harbaugh Bowl? Man, that would be a great story!

So Week 5. What does it have in store? Arizona have a divisional match-up against the Rams and should move to 5-0, while San Francisco have to travel to buffalo. The Bills are an up and down team and COULD cause the 49ers some problems, but given the way the niners dealt with the Bills' division buddies, the Jets, last week, I doubt they will.

Atlanta will remain undefeated with a win over Washington, while Houston visit th banged up Jets in their pursuit of perfection: a pursuit that should remain on course for this week at least.

Other intriguing contests:
Philadelphia Vs Pittsburgh. The Eagles got away with it against the Giants last week. For my money they are lucky - REALLY lucky - to be 3-0. I think the Steelers find them out this week and right their roiling ship at michael Vick's expense.

Tennessee Vs Minnesota. Ponder has been playing like a journeyman vet. His style reminds me of Hasselback or Collins for the Titans, or Testaverde for the Panthers. Solid, mistake-free football with the occasional wow thrown in for fun. People may rightly draw comparisons with the role he is being asked to play with that of Alex Smith. If it works for the Vikes then keep it going. Against an inconsistent Tennessee they have the chance to go 4-1 and remain top of the highly competitive NFC North. Honourable mention:
Denver Vs New England. two old foes meet, with one in a different jersey for the first time. Look for Brady and the Pats to come out on top, but don't expect manning to make it easy for them.