Week 4 NFL Predictions

By Jacob Sanders

Well. Coming into this week, it's only been 3 games, but we really know nothing outside of the Rams looking like one of the best teams. They actually took  care of business this last Thursday Night which ruined by upset pick of the Vikings. Thus, no Upset of the Week! pick because that was my upset of the week pick. Didn't workout.....Onward to the picks!

Sanders went 6-10 last week putting him to 22-24-2

As I said above, I lost my Upset of the Week prediction of Vikings over the Rams
Rams won 38-31


Miami Dolphins vs New England Patriots

Okay. I refuse to believe the Patriots lose 3 games in a row. This has nothing to do with the fact i don't believe in the Dolphins. In fact, if the Dolphins won this game here, I would firmly believe they are one of the sneakiest teams in the NFL. They play mistake free offense with a defense that keeps opposing offenses off the field. That's winning football. It's not flashy. It's not pretty. It's also not messy and we've seen plenty of teams win this way. Back to the Patriots though, they have an incredible track record in Foxborough and the Dolphins....well....don't. Keeping history in mind, the Patriots are my pick here.

Dolphins 17 Patriots 20


Philadelphia Eagles vs Tennessee Titans

This will be a tougher out than some may think. As much as it seems like the Eagles will just run through the Titans here, the Titans have a solid defense that can keep them in this game. The question to ask for this game is which offense will be able to score more. Now, that sounds trivial. But in this case, where both defenses don't like to give up points, it's a point that needs to be made. I'll take Carson Wentz's offense over whatever kind of circus show is happening in Tennessee right now.

Eagles 20 Titans 16


Cincinnati Bengals vs Atlanta Falcons

I still love this Bengals team. Andy Dalton throwing multiple picks in a game? That I don't love. In fact, during the second half of the Baltimore game and all of last week against the Panthers, this Bengals offense struggled without Mixon. Sounds like a problem to me. They'll continue against a young Atlanta defense without Mixon. I don't know about the rest of you, but I'll trust Ryan and Julio in a shoot out over Dalton and AJ.

Bengals 19 Falcons 24


Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Chicago Bears

Well. I really want to pick the Bucs here. They made Monday Night very interesting against the Steelers in the second half of the game. However, what made Fitzmagic(tragic?) struggle for much of the first half of the game was that the pass rush was in his face. Enter Khalil Mack, a man who is making the Raiders look more and more foolish every game for trading him away. He'll be in Fitzpatrick's face all game. This leads me to think we'll see more Fitztragic than Fitzmagic. However, Trubisky isn't something to be scared of either. The better defense will win this game. I'm picking the defense with Khalil Mack on it.

Bucs 16 Bears 17


Detroit Lions vs Dallas Cowboys

Look. This Cowboys offense is awful. Just awful. I can't say anything more about it. Moving on. The Detroit Lions offense? Not awful. In fact, a little birdie told me Kerryon Johnson looks pretty good. He should continue morphing into a start for the Lions this weekend. When the opponents offense can never stay on the field, it's easy to just feed your RB the ball to eat the game away. Lions will do just that.

Lions 21 Cowboys 10


Buffalo Bills vs Green Bay Packers

Is it possible for the Bills to win two games in a row? Of course it is. Is it probable? Not at all. Count me as one of the guys who thinks that the Vikings getting decimated was an anomaly. The Packers though, aren't necessarily shining stars themselves. The roughing the passer woes are rather ironic I must say. However, one or two of those penalties shouldn't make a team with playoff aspirations only have one win after 3 weeks. Yet here we are. There's more to Rodgers injury than we probably know as well. For now though, if I had to pick between Josh Allen and Rodgers? Well....I don't even need to justify who I'm picking.

Bills 13 Packers 24


Houston Texans vs Indianapolis Colts

My god. The Texans are 0-3. Something I didn't even think would happen. It kind of blows my mind with the talent that the Texans have, that they have an 0-3 record. Yet here we are. The Colts, on the other hand, are inferior in talent, and are 1-2 with a defense that has, surprisingly, kept them in games. At home, I expect the same, especially against a winless Texans team. The biggest question is how is Andrew Luck's arm doing. It's concerning that Brissett came out for the Hail Mary and not Andrew Luck.

Texans 14 Colts 17


New York Jets vs Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jets are in trouble and in danger of starting 1-3. Sam Darnold has not looked all that bad. However, he hasn't necessarily shined either with the Jets one win coming from a dominant defensive effort. Speaking of dominant defense effort, they play the Jaguars this weekend. Yikes. This is another game of inept offenses playing each other and you have to ask yourself "Well which defense is going to win?" Ummm. The Super Bowl contending defense.

Jets 10 Jaguars 14


Seattle Seahawks vs Arizona Cardinals

Josh Rosen time! About.....2 weeks late but better late than never I guess. We'll get a taste of seeing what the rookie can do with a full week's worth of practice reps on the team. However, it's going to come against a division rival. A division rival who's got a top 5 quarterback. Really though, it feels like that's all Seattle has. Just Russel Wilson. The Legion of Whom had a great game last week but can they keep it up all season? Well, this is a week-by-week League. And they should be able to take advantage of a rookie QB.
Fun fact: I'll be at this game. My first NFL game ever. I'm cheering for the home team even if I don't think they'll win.

Seahawks 24 Cardinals 14


Cleveland Browns vs Oakland Raiders

Oh boy oh boy oh boy. BAKER MAYFIIIIIIEEEEEEELLLLDDD. Well. That dude's gonna be under center. And he's got a great advantage in getting into a rhythm after a comeback win against the Jets. He gets to face the Raiders, a team who has downright looked really dumb for getting rid of their key players. It's only 3 weeks in, but it's very clear the Raiders are in rebuilding mode which is sad for the city of Oakland who wanted to see a championship before the team left for Vegas. But, this is what happens when you trade away a generational player for a POTENTIAL future. Notice how I haven't spoken anything about the Raiders. It's because I have no idea what to think right now. As far as I'm concerned, the Jon Gruden projects needs 3 years before we see it rolling. And it's year 1.....

Browns 23 Raiders 14


San Francisco 49ers vs Los Angeles Chargers

Keeping this one short. The 49ers lost their franchise QB. CJ Beathard is the backup. The Chargers have Philip Rivers, Melvin Gordon, Melvin Ingram, etc. That's literally enough to convince you the 49ers aren't winning this game.

49ers 10 Chargers 28


New Orleans Saints vs New York Giants

If there was ever a time for the Saints to get into a defensive groove, this is the game. The Giants offensive line is awful and one that NEEDS to be taken advantage of. If not though, you're looking at picking who wins the higher scoring affair. The Drew Brees led Saints or the Eli Manning led Giants. While the Giants can certainly close out the game with Saquon, it's hard to imagine Brees just letting the opposing offense keep a lead. Giving the edge to the Saints.

Saints 31 Giants 20


Baltimore Ravens vs Pittsburgh Steelers

This game is huge. Immensely. The Baltimore Ravens can make the NFL take notice that these aren't the same Ravens and are here to make some noise with a 3-1 one start. The flipside is that the Steelers need to win this game to show everyone they're still a serious team. Nevermind this is one of the greatest rivalries in the NFL or that it's a Sunday Night Divisional game. This is a statement game to be made by both teams. It's the test of Baltimore's second half shutout defense vs Steelers big play ability offense. History says Antonio Brown will burn the Baltimore secondary. I believe that will happen again. But, it's gonna be close, as usual.

Ravens 30 Steelers 31


Kansas City Chiefs vs Denver Broncos

The Chiefs are an unstoppable getaway freight train. Unbelievable what this offense has done so far. The Broncos, on the other hand, have been getting by with great defensive play. However, Denver has been winning with a mistake prone Keenum under center. If Keenum can just eliminate his mistakes, and the Broncos lean on Lindley, this can become a very interesting game. But if the Chiefs ever get ahead, I don't see them putting on any sort of brakes.

Chiefs 35 Broncos 20