Week four. Hard to believe we’ll be a quarter of the way through the year after this one is over. After this week, we should be starting to get a decent sense of who some of these teams are. But again, it’ll still only be September, so anything can happen the rest of the way.
Here are my picks.
GAME OF THE WEEK – THURSDAY NIGHT – Minnesota Vikings (1-1-1) at Los Angeles Rams (3-0), LAR by 6.5 – I have to believe the Vikings are a better team than what showed up against Buffalo. It was a classic trap game… coming off a long, overtime grinder against a division rival to play at home against what people thought to be the worst team in the league. Perhaps they were looking ahead four days. But regardless, it’s a tall task they have in Los Angeles on Thursday night. The Rams are looking like the class of the NFC at the moment, and are living up to every bit of hype there was for them this offseason. It’ll be interesting to see if the Vikings’ vaunted defense is capable of slowing down that offensive juggernaut. But as always, Thursday night game, always pick the home team. Rams 30, Vikings 20
Miami Dolphins (3-0) at New England Patriots (1-2), NE by 7 – The Patriots have had slow starts in September before, and every time they come back and contend at the end of the year. If they lose this game then maybe I’ll start to think this year is different… MAYBE. But right now, you’re foolish if you’re counting them out. The Dolphins have had an unexpected unblemished record to start the season, but going into New England against a Patriots team that’s lost two straight games is probably not going to turn out so well for them. Patriots 31, Dolphins 19
Houston Texans (0-3) at Indianapolis Colts (1-2), IND by 1 – JJ Watt and Deshaun Watson both had monster games against the Giants, but the Texans still found a way to lose. Playing on the road against Indianapolis, this one could be make or break for their season. Colts 23, Texans 17
Cincinnati Bengals (2-1) at Atlanta Falcons (1-2), ATL by 6 – Interesting matchup here. The Falcons finally got their offense off the ground against New Orleans, but it wasn’t enough, as their defense got torched. I’m going to take them just because they’re the home team, but it wouldn’t stun me to see the Bengals come in and snag an upset. Falcons 27, Bengals 24
Buffalo Bills (1-2) at Green Bay Packers (1-1-1), GB by 10 – I don’t think the Bills will catch the Packers by surprise like they did with Minnesota last week. That being said, while I think the Packers will win, I don’t think it’s going to be a very convincing outing for them. They’ll get off to another slow start, and Aaron Rodgers will get just enough done to propel them to victory, giving them a 2-1-1 record, but not giving the fans any reason to relax quite yet. Packers 33, Bills 17
Detroit Lions (1-2) at Dallas Cowboys (1-2), DAL by 3 – It’s almost like Matt Patricia skipped game planning for the first two weeks to give the Patriots everything he had. That being said, coming into this year I’d have picked the Lions to go farther/do better than the Cowboys, and I’m sticking to that. UPSET! – Lions 23, Cowboys 14
New York Jets (1-2) at Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1), JAX by 7.5 – It was an ugly loss for the Jaguars against Tennessee, but the Titans have really had Jacksonville’s number lately, winning what I believe is five out of the last six against them. They’ll pick things up this week with a Jets team that has been unraveling since its surprising week one stomping of Detroit. Jaguars 27, Jets 10
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1) at Chicago Bears (2-1), CHI by 3 – Going to be interesting to see what happens in Tampa this week. Jameis Winston is eligible to return, but Ryan Fitzpatrick has become the first QB in NFL history to have three consecutive 400+ yard games. I gotta think Tampa rides the hot hand one more week, considering they have a bye in week five. Delay that decision one more week. Meanwhile, the Bears have a top 5 defense in the league, but a piss poor offense. The Bears truly are back. UPSET! – Bucs 19, Bears 13
Philadelphia Eagles (3-0) at Tennessee Titans (2-1), PHI by 3.5 – This could be a tough matchup for both teams, but I just trust what the Eagles have much more than what the Titans have. Tennessee’s still adjusting to a new head coach, is down a starting QB and pro bowl TE and doesn’t have nearly the weapons that Philly does. Eagles 24, Titans 20
Seattle Seahawks (1-2) at Arizona Cardinals (0-3), SEA by 3 – Josh Rosen gets his first NFL start this week, but I have a hard time believing he’ll manage to pull it off. This Cardinals team is looking flat out bad. Seahawks 20, Cardinals 16
Cleveland Browns (1-1-1) at Oakland Raiders (0-3), OAK by 2.5 – The Browns also have a top five defense so far this year, and Baker Mayfield has injected some life into this team. Call me a fool for buying into the hype, but with as lifeless as the Raiders look at the moment, FUCK IT LEGGO BROWNIES UPSET! – Browns 23, Raiders 16
San Francisco 49ers (1-2) at Los Angeles Chargers (1-2), LAC by 10.5 – Jimmy G out for the year with a torn ACL. RIP 49ers’ season. Chargers 27, 49ers 12
New Orleans Saints (2-1) at New York Giants (1-2), NO by 3.5 – Good news Giants fans, your team has almost equaled its win total from last year! Bad news… you’re taking on a red-hot Drew Brees, and this Saints team hasn’t had the same struggles it used to have on the road for a couple years now. Saints 33, Giants 20
Baltimore Ravens (2-1) at Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1-1), PIT by 3 – The Steelers came to life in week three, but still almost gave up the game to the Buccaneers. The Ravens, meanwhile, are playing some gritty football. These matchups between the two always come down to the wire, and the Steelers definitely have the homefield advantage. But my gut is telling me the Ravens are made of tougher stuff than the Steelers are this year. UPSET! – Ravens 20, Steelers 17
Kansas City Chiefs (3-0) at Denver Broncos (1-2), KC by 5 – There are only three undefeated teams left after week three, and the Chiefs might be the best looking team of them all. Patrick Mahomes is having an incomprehensibly good start to his career as a starter in the NFL. Denver will certainly put up a fight in prime time, at least for some of the game, but so far this Chiefs offense has showed no signs of slowing down. Chiefs 34, Broncos 17
BYES: Carolina Panthers, Washington