It’s Week 4 already? Wow. Okay. The season is flying, and there are teams that continue to surprise and disappoint across the league. While it’s still early, we are starting to see teams’ true colors and have a fair idea of who could be Super Bowl contenders, and who could be first overall pick contenders (*cough cough* Jets *cough cough*). I promised I wouldn’t go 10-6 in Week 3, and I delivered. Barely. I went 11-5 and was extremely close to guessing the Packers and 49ers game score before they exchanged scores late and put my excitement on hold. We’ll get one before the year ends. Maybe even this week. The goal this week is to keep improving and go 12-4 on picks. Will this be easy? No. Let’s do it anyways. For the season as a whole, I’ve managed to go 31-17. That’s not too shabby, just over 64% accuracy. I want it to be close to 70% by the end of this season to consider it a resounding success. That should be very doable. Enough rambling, let’s get into it.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Cincinnati Bengals
Winner: Cincinnati Bengals
Score: 24-17
Summary: I continue to be impressed by the fight in this Bengals team. Joe Burrow looks great, aside from some costly interceptions. The defense continues to be above average and the team is coming off a great win against the Steelers. The Jaguars aren’t going to stop this team’s hot start to the season. Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase will continue to make me look like a genius for saying that he was a right pick on my post-draft analysis article, with 100 yards receiving and a touchdown for Chase. Joe Mixon will gash this defense for 100 rushing yards and a score of his own. Trevor Lawrence will continue to struggle with 2 interceptions, one for a pick-six. Bengals at 3-1? Yeah, that’s wild.
Tennessee Titans at New York Jets
Winner: Tennessee Titans
Score: 31-10
Summary: Do people now realize that Sam Darnold wasn’t a bust? Will they make the same mistake with Zach Wilson? These poor guys got no help from New York. None. Zach Wilson will struggle again here, and it won’t be fully his fault again. Derrick Henry will run for 200 yards in this one. Sounds crazy, but I’ll sound awful smart if it happens. They’ll feed him the rock after getting up early and it’ll pay off. Tannehill finds Julio Jones for a score and then Henry does the rest. Zach Wilson throws a lone touchdown to Corey Davis but they get smoked again. Jets gonna Jet.
Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears
Winner: Detroit Lions
Score: 20-17
Summary: I know what you’re thinking, but I promise I’m not crazy. The Lions could pull this game off. If Justin Tucker was human, they would’ve beaten Baltimore last week. The Bears are awful, and they don’t have a concrete plan at QB right now. Detroit can do this. Their poor fans deserve it. Jared Goff finds D’Andre Swift and T.J. Hockensen for scores in this one. David Montgomery reaches pay dirt twice, but more putrid QB play sinks Chicago again. How much longer will Matt Nagy last after a loss to Detroit will be an interesting conversation following this one.
Indianapolis Colts at Miami Dolphins
Winner: Indianapolis Colts
Score: 27-20
Summary: The Colts are the best 0-3 team that I’ve seen in quite a while. They have had horrible luck. A tough schedule and an injury plague have them in the doghouse. They’ll turn it around this week though. This Miami team is in panic mode, as they are playing very disappointing football and are down their starting quarterback. The Colts will take advantage and Jonathon Taylor will run for two scores in this one, along with a couple of Carson Wentz touchdowns. Jacoby Brissett will try and keep the Dolphins in this one with two touchdowns of his own, but it won’t be enough. The Colts finally get that first win and will look to build on it.
Cleveland Browns at Minnesota Vikings
Winner: Cleveland Browns
Score: 38-31
Summary: I continue to be impressed by this Vikings team. They would be 3-0 if it weren’t for two kicks. That’s how close football can be though. If you think Cleveland steamrolls them, you will be surprised. This will be a shootout. Kirk Cousins will find Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, and Tyler Conklin for scores, while Baker Mayfield matches it by finding Odell Beckham, Austin Hooper, and Kareem Hunt for scores of their own. The difference will be the ground game for Cleveland. Chubb and Hunt will barely outplay Dalvin Cook and set up a game-winning drive for the Browns to sneak away with a win over a Vikings team that is much better than their current 1-2 record.
Washington Football Team at Atlanta Falcons
Winner: Washington Football Team
Score: 28-23
Summary: What’s with the Taylor Heinicke slander I’m hearing? He didn’t have a great game last week, but he was still solid. He wasn’t lining up on the Washington defense that gave up 43 points. Use your heads people. Heinicke will feast on this defense with 3 scores, and Antonio Gibson will run for the other one. Kyle Pitts finally gets involved with a score of his own, and Calvin Ridley has a huge day as well, but Atlanta loses to the team with no name. Washington gets a much-needed win, and Atlanta gets another loss in a forgettable season for the Dirty Birds.
Houston Texans at Buffalo Bills
Winner: Buffalo Bills
Score: 34-17
Summary: How about those Bills? They looked amazing last week. Josh Allen looked like an MVP. That was against a good Washington defense. Why would they look any different against this Texans team? Granted, these Texans have played hard and impressed a lot of people, but they aren’t talented enough to compete with these Bills, especially without Tyrod Taylor. Josh Allen finds Stefon Diggs, Cole Beasley, and Dawson Knox for scores in this one. Davis Mills and Brandin Cooks play well together as Cooks goes for 100 yards and a score, and Mark Ingram runs for a score himself. Start your Bills in fantasy.
New York Giants at New Orleans Saints
Winner: New Orleans Saints
Score: 24-14
Summary: This Saints defense is electric. Demario Davis looks like a DPOY candidate, and they have kept this team afloat. As long as they feed Kamara and Jameis makes good decisions, this should be a win. Daniel Jones will have another solid game, finding Saquon Barkley and Kenny Golladay for scores in this one, but it won’t be nearly enough. Jameis finds Marquez Callaway for a score, and Alvin Kamara and Taysom Hill each run in for a touchdown as well. The Saints move to 3-1, and the Giants sink to 0-4.
Kansas City Chiefs at Philadelphia Eagles
Winner: Kansas City Chiefs
Score: 31-23
Summary: As of today, the Kansas City Chiefs are last in the AFC West. Crazy right? This defense is just bad, and Mahomes hasn’t been able to keep up. This is still a playoff team, but they need to fix some things. Mahomes will bring it this week with 4 passing scores, 2 to Tyreek Hill and 2 to Travis Kelce. Jalen Hurts will try and keep up with touchdown passes to Devonta Smith and Dallas Goedert, along with a Miles Sanders touchdown. The Chiefs will pull it off though and get back on track. The Eagles will lose again as they fall to 1-3.
Carolina Panthers at Dallas Cowboys
Winner: Dallas Cowboys
Score: 31-28
Summary: This will be a close game between two solid teams. The Dallas defense will end up making the difference here though, and not in a bad way this time. Christian McCaffrey being out will really hurt the Panthers, and they’ll have to play catch up from the start. Sam Darnold will go for 300 yards and 3 scores, but it won’t be enough. Dak Prescott goes for over 300 yards as well and finds Amari Cooper and Ceedee Lamb for scores. Zeke Elliott will also keep rolling with two more scores of his own as Dallas continues to impress early on this season with impressive wins against Dallas, Carolina, and Philadelphia.
Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers
Winner: Seattle Seahawks
Score: 31-21
Summary: I’d been saying that the 49ers were the league’s worst undefeated team left ahead of Week 3, and while they didn’t fully prove my point, I’m still not sold on them. Their running back room is in shambles and Jimmy Garappolo hasn’t proven himself to do anything more than manage a football. The Seahawks loud offense will be a thorn in their side on Sunday. Russell Wilson will get going early and find Tyler Lockett, D.K. Metcalf, and Gerald Everett for scores before the day is over. Jimmy Garappolo will throw to Deebo Samuel and George Kittle for scores while also getting one from Trey Sermon but it won’t be enough as they lose back-to-back games. The Seahawks get a much-needed bounceback against a division rival.
Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams
Winner: Los Angeles Rams
Score: 35-24
Summary: These two teams have played better than anyone in the league to start the season, and they’ll be locked in a thrilling interdivisional matchup on Sunday. Kyler Murray and Matt Stafford will both bring their best football, each scoring 3 times for their teams. The Rams defense will be the difference maker though, as it leads to the Rams pulling away late and having Darrell Henderson running for a score late to push the game out of reach. The Rams keep rolling, and the Cardinals will regroup after having to visit the league’s best team here in Week 4.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Green Bay Packers
Winner: Green Bay Packers
Score: 27-17
Summary: The Packers scared a lot of people after getting absolutely curb-stomped in Week 1 by New Orleans, but they have bounced back with two solid wins. This week shouldn’t be much different, as the Steelers were overrated coming into the season and haven’t looked hot. Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams keep rolling with 100 yards and a score for Davante, and 300 yards overall for Rodgers. Aaron Jones will keep up his hot streak with 100 all-purpose yards and a score of his own. Najee Harris will score once, and Ben Roethlisberger will find Diontae Johnson for a score as well, but the Steelers never really threaten the lead. The sink to 1-3 with another depressing loss and the Packers move to 3-1 and look to keep rolling on their Walmart version of “The Last Dance”.
Baltimore Ravens at Denver Broncos
Winner: Denver Broncos
Score: 24-21
Summary: This was the hardest game of the week for me to pick, but I ultimately went with the Broncos. The main reason for this is the numerous injuries that have plagued the Ravens, and the fact that only one kicker in the league could’ve done what Justin Tucker did last week to secure the win. That was against the Lions. If it wasn’t for Justin Tucker being superhuman, they would’ve lost to Detroit. I could sit here and say plenty about Tucker, but I’ll leave that to Stephen Heimers and his “Kicker’s Korner” segment on Sports Wave. The simple fact of the matter is that the Broncos have been more consistent, and they’ll use it to their advantage. Teddy Bridgewater finds Courtland Sutton and Noah Fant for scores, and Melvin Gordon runs for one as well. Lamar Jackson finds Marquise Brown for a score, which is surprising since apparently, Brown has hands made of butter. He’ll also run for one and Latavius Murray runs for the other. The Broncos hold on though, as McManus plays the hero with a game-winning field goal to move the Broncos to 4-0.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New England Patriots
Winner: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Score: 35-17
Summary: This will be the most fun game to watch this Sunday. Brady versus Belicheck for the first time. Brady will likely become the all-time passing yards leader in this one as well. I can’t wait to watch this game, and it will be likely remembered for decades, given the underlying themes surrounding the game. While I highly recommend that everyone watch this game, I don’t think it will be all that exciting. Tom Brady and the Bucs will handle the Patriots easily, with Brady throwing for 4 touchdowns and 400 yards against his old team. Mac Jones throws for 200 yards and 2 scores, but he will be overshadowed by the man he’s supposed to be replacing in New England. Anyone else get goosebumps?
Las Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers
Winner: Los Angeles Chargers
Score: 31-27
Summary: An AFC West matchup is on the slate for Monday night, and it’s a good one. The overperforming Raiders take on the scary-looking Chargers. Justin Herbert and Derek Carr duel it out, each throwing for 300 yards and 3 scores, but the Chargers pull off the win with a game-winning drive that ends with Justin Herbert finding Mike Williams in the end zone to end the undefeated season for the Raiders. This will be a great game and will have huge implications in the playoff race at the end of the season. Don’t sleep on these Bolts though, they are very good at football, and they’ll prove it on Monday night.