NFL Week 4 Preview/Predictions

 

 

Hello, all. It's picking time again. As you can see, I am way ahead with my win/loss record. Will it continue in Week 4? Yes. Again, the Steelers will be talked about in a separate preview. 

England deserves better

9:30

Colts (1-2) at Jags (0-3)

Joe: Has the NFL's experiment of trying to grow their game in England worked? Maybe. But even if it has, don't you think the whole idea of expanding the game beyond the United States would have more substance if they had teams that were, you know, good, playing overseas? Just a thought. Andrew Luck is starting to hit his stride, and the Jaguars are god awful, so I'm taking Indy.

Jeff: Indy is clearly the better team

Colts 31, Jags 20

1:00

The Oiler Bowl
Titans (1-2) at Texans (2-1) 

Joe: The Houston Oilers should still be here, dammit. Tennessee has the look of an inconsistent team that is on the rise, but I think the wrong side of the Titans will show today. Even without JJ Watt, Houston is a solid football team, and Brock Osweiler will make the big plays when he has to. I'm gonna have to disagree with Denzel Washington and say that the Titans are not greater than the gods

Texans 24, Texans 14

Will the Browns win

No

Upset of the week 

Seahawks (2-1) at Jets (1-2) 

Joe: On paper, Seattle is the better team here. But I have a feeling that the Harvard man, Ryan Fitzpatrick, is going to pull one out. Fitzpatrick had his worst game of the season last Sunday, throwing six interceptions. But I think that;

1. The Jets have nowhere to go but up

2. Seattle tends to start off the year slow

That combination, as well as the Hawks being away from '"The 12th Man'', makes me compelled to fly high with the Jets.

Jets 17, Seahawks 10

Jeff: Good defenses shut down the jets, and that Seattle d is why they're so good. Expect a blowout

I'm not picking against the Patriots because...

Why the hell would I? 

Pats 24, Bills 10

Most Intriguing game of the week

Panthers (1-2) at Falcons (2-1) 

Joe: This is a very intriguing contest to me. The Falcons offense is as good as any in the game right now, but the Panthers are still a more well-rounded team in my opinion, despite a disappointing 1-2 start. It's a coin flip, but I think that Cam Newton responds well after a tough loss, and the Falcons defense will be exposed further than it already has been. Super Cam will show up to the Georiga Dome on Sunday, it what will probably prove to be the de-facto NFC South title game. 

Panthers 37, Falcons 24

Jeff: Atlanta dominated the Saints, and Carolina haven't been too impressive

It's a long way to the top if you're the Oakland Raiders

Raiders (2-1) at Ravens (3-0)

Joe: Any game that involves the combination of Derek Carr and Amari Cooper is one worth watching. I'm high on the Raiders and do not like the Ravens, so I know who I want to win this one. But that's not the only reason I'm going with Oakland. For one, I can't see the Ravens starting out 4-0, no matter how much of a fluke that 5-11 season last year was. I also think Oakland has a fair chance to sneak into the AFC playoffs as a wildcard and, just maybe, give Denver a run in the AFC West. Carr to Cooper. Back in (Silver) and Black.

Raiders 30, Ravens 27

Jeff: The Raiders haven't been as good as many expected and this will continue

Who the hell cares

Lions (1-2) at Bears (0-3) 

Joe: Ah, yes. George Halas vs. Buddy Parker. Gale Sayres vs Alex Karas. George Blanda vs. Bobby Lane and, wait, it's 2016? Oh, my bad. Yes, both of these teams are quite pathetic, and Chicago is worse than pathetic. I'm taking the Bears to get their first win because I can and for no other reason. I don't care about this game, and neither should you. 

4:05
Trap game?

Broncos (3-0) at Bucs (1-2) 

Joe: Denver should be on upset alert. Tampa is a tricky team that can be good when they are on, but that is a big if. I think that Jameis Winston will play well enough to give the vaunted Broncos defense a scare, but that's all it will be. Denver will escape in the end, courtesy of a killer INT by Winston in the game's dying minutes.

Jeff: Trevor Seiman reminds me of Peyton Manning

Broncos 24, Bucs 17

4:25 
Don't kid yourselves 

Rams (1-2) at Cardinals (2-1) 

Carson Palmer accepting his 2002 Heisman 

Joe: If you recall, last week, I gave LA the ''don't kid yourselves'' label, and ended up being wrong. Well, that's not going to happen again. The Rams aren't good enough to be 2-1, and the Cards are too good to be 1-2. Carson Palmer will find himself, and the Cards will get back on track

Jeff: Palmer won't have 2 bad games in a row

Cardinals 31, Rams 19

Surprisingly Exciting game of the week

Saints (0-3) at Chargers (1-2) 

Joe: It happens every week. Two Bad teams go against each other and have a game that is entertaining as hell. It happened with the Colts and the Lions in week 1. It happened with the Titans and the Lions in week 2. It happened with the Rams and the Bucs last week, and this week, I think Saints-Chargers is perfect. This game features two high powered offense with two fantastic quarterbacks and two suspect defenses. The Saints are due for a win, and I think they will get it. But it will not be easy.

Jeff: The Saints gotta come around some time, right?

Saints 38, Chargers 35

This would have been awesome in the 90s

Cowboys (2-1) at 49ers (1-2) 

Joe: The team of the 80s vs. The team of the 90s. Unfortunately, both the 49ers and Cowboys lost a step in the 2000s. Dallas is going in the right direction with Dak Prescott and Zeke Elliot leading a youth movement on offense, while the 49ers just aren't very good. Look for Dak and Zeke to shine brighter than the Golden Gate Bridge on Sunday.

Cowboys 24, 49ers 13

Jeff:  Americas team will beat Kapernick

Monday Night 
The Fran Tarkenton Bowl

Giants (2-1) at Vikings (3-0)

Hall of Fame QB Fran Tarkenton played for both the Vikings and Giants

Joe: The Vikings have potential. They do. But I have a feeling that the 3-0 purple people eaters will get a reality check on Monday Night. As much as I dislike him, Odell Beckham Jr. always knows when the lights are shining, and I think he will be pumped up and ready to torch the Vikings D on Monday Night. Sam Bradford will make a few mistakes along the way, and the Giants will get a big victory to keep pace with Philly and Dallas in the NFC East race. The Vikings are flying high after an unexpected win at Carolina, while the Giants are feeling down after an unexpected loss at home to Washington. Football has a funny way of evening itself out.

Giants 27, Vikings 14

Jeff: Somehow Minnesota has played well without Teddy Bridgewater, and this will continue