Week four, and things are starting to take shape in the NFL. There are a few really good teams… and a whole lot of mediocre jumbles and dumpster fires. Yikes.
Once again, not a whole lot of particularly attractive matchups this week, but that likely has a lot to do with the fact that so many teams are playing below their ability level.
But anyway, here we go with week four:
GAME OF THE WEEK – Minnesota Vikings (2-1) at Denver Broncos (3-0), DEN by 6.5 – These two teams resemble each other in a sense. Solid defense, struggling yet capable offense. It’s really going to be interesting to see if the Vikings are able to run on the Broncos’ defense… that’s basically their only chance to take this thing on the road. But you can expect this game to be like every other Broncos game this year… a low-scoring slugfest. This will really test Minnesota’s mettle. Broncos 17, Vikings 13
THURSDAY NIGHT – Baltimore Ravens (0-3) at Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1), BAL by 2.5 – This would be the game of the week if the Steelers were playing with Ben Roethlisberger. But with a 2015 Mike Vick at quarterback, this is likely to turn into quite a shit show for the Steelers against a Ravens team that is essentially already playing an elimination game here. Ravens 24, Steelers 13
LONDON GAME – New York Jets (2-1) vs. Miami Dolphins (1-2), NYJ by 1.5 – Rather shocking that they’d put a divisional game in Europe, but whatever. I’m still not a believer in the Jets, but the Dolphins look like an absolute mess. Still, call me crazy, but this is the Dolphins’ chance to prove people’s hopes for them before the season started weren’t misplaced. Can they come back from an embarrassing ass whooping against the Bills? If not, then their season is fucked. UPSET! – Dolphins 20, Jets 17
Jacksonville Jaguars (1-2) at Indianapolis Colts (1-2), IND by 9.5 – Gotta be nice for the Colts to come back to playing divisional games in the cushy AFC South after getting shut down by actual competition their first couple weeks. EDIT: Andrew Luck is apparently out, so I'm going with a Jags upset if that is the case Jags over Colts [assuming luck is out]
Houston Texans (1-2) at Atlanta Falcons (3-0), ATL by 6.5 – Remember in 2013 when these two were the sexy Super Bowl picks then proceeded to bif it the entire season? Heh. Anyway, the Texans are clearly hampered by a lack of QB play, and playing on the road against the high-powered Falcons’ passing attack, they don’t stand much of a chance to keep up. Falcons 33, Texans 13
Carolina Panthers (3-0) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-2), CAR by 3 – The first Cam vs. Jameis NFL matchup will probably go pretty poorly for Tampa. If the Panthers start off at 4-0 with the ridiculous lack of offensive help they’ve got for Cam, that’s gonna be quite impressive. Panthers 24, Bucs 14
New York Giants (1-2) at Buffalo Bills (2-1), BUF by 5.5 – I think the Giants are starting to put it together a bit and you can’t rule them out in the NFC East, but this Bills team is on a quest this year and I don’t think they’re going to let the Giants slow them down. Bills 27, Giants 20
Oakland Raiders (2-1) at Chicago Bears (0-3), OAK by 3 – The Raiders hadn’t won a road game in two years, and now they could very well do it back-to-back. The Bears may be the league’s worst team right now. The Raiders have had a soft schedule to start the year, but a 3-1 start will feel good no matter who you played to get there. Raiders 23, Bears 13
Philadelphia Eagles (1-2) at Washington Redskins (1-2), PHI by 3 – You never can be completely certain what will happen in an NFC East divisional battle, but I have a hard time believing the Redskins are beating anyone with the kind of offensive performance they had against the Giants. Eagles 27, Redskins 16
Kansas City Chiefs (1-2) at Cincinnati Bengals (3-0), CIN by 3.5 – It’s starting to get to do or die time for the Chiefs, who definitely haven’t lived up to their offseason hype. They may have played two tough teams in a row, but they looked completely out of their league in Green Bay before garbage time and absolutely blew it at home against the Broncos. They get a third top-five team in a row, on the road once again, and it’s not looking good for them. Bengals 35, Chiefs 17
Cleveland Browns (1-2) at San Diego Chargers (1-2), SD by 7.5 – The Chargers have been a disappointment so far to be sure, but a date with any team quarterbacked by Josh McCown should always be enough to cure what ails you. Chargers 26, Browns 12
Green Bay Packers (3-0) at San Francisco 49ers (1-2), GB by 8.5 – The revenge tour continues for the Packers. Finally getting over the hump against the Seahawks, finally beating the Chiefs for the first time in Rodgers’ career and getting revenge for the ruined perfect season, and now finally taking down the 49ers for the first time since Kaep started playing. It’s not going to be nearly as fulfilling as it would have been with Harbaugh and the rest of the team still around, but it’ll still be fun watching the Niners get embarrassed. Packers 37, 49ers 20
St. Louis Rams (1-2) at Arizona Cardinals (3-0), ARZ by 6.5 – You can’t underestimate the Rams in divisional games, that is for sure. But with as well-coached as the Cardinals are and as good as they’ve looked, I can’t pick against them. Cardinals 24, Rams 20
Dallas Cowboys (2-1) at New Orleans Saints (0-3), NO by 4 – The Cowboys started off looking better than expected with Brandon Weeden at the helm, but things blew up pretty quickly. The Saints started looking better than expected with Luke McCown at the helm, but things blew up pretty quickly. I guess I’ll take the Saints at home. Saints 20, Cowboys 14
Detroit Lions (0-3) at Seattle Seahawks (1-2), SEA by 9.5 – The Lions have forgotten how to play offense. It’s sad to watch. The Seahawks didn’t look particularly great on offense either, but playing at home in primetime against a Lions team that has lost its claws, you gotta think they take this one. Seahawks 30, Lions 10
Only one upset pick for me this week. Is it really going to be this predictable?
BYES: Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots
