With week four getting underway, let’s take a look at how these matchups may pan out.
Conner’s Picks:
Seahawks vs Cardinals:
The Seahawks (2-1) have bounced back after their week one defeat against the 49ers, winning their last two games. The Cardinals (2-1), however, are coming off a crushing loss to the Niners in week three. Not only did they give up a 62-yard drive that led to the game-winning field goal in the last two minutes of the game, they lost James Conner to IR. Conner, other than McBride, is the main source of offense for the Cardinals.
The Seahawks are also on a seven-game win streak against the Cardinals and haven’t lost to them in Arizona since 2020. The Seahawks’ defense has been strong all season as well, allowing just under 16 points per game. Therefore, as long as Sam Darnold does not turn the ball over too much and they can be effective running the ball, the Seahawks should prevail.
Prediction: Seahawks 23-13
Vikings vs Steelers:
This is the first international game for the NFL this season. The game will be played in Dublin, Ireland. The Vikings (2-1) are undefeated in international games, standing at 4-0. The Steelers (2-1) are 0-1 all-time in international games. Aaron Rodgers has not played his best football this season, and the Steelers’ defense has been off and on, but was much better last week against the Patriots. The Vikings have been solid, but have a big question at quarterback. Carson Wentz played well last week against the Bengals, but the Bengals have an atrocious defense and Minnesota’s defense forced five turnovers.
Minnesota’s defense has been solid this season as well, allowing an average of 18.67 points per game. The game will be a defensive one and will come down to who can make more offensive plays when it matters most. Although Wentz played well last week, Rodgers is more experienced and I think will do just enough to give the Vikings their first international loss.
Prediction: Steelers 17-10
Commanders vs Falcons:
The Commanders (2-1) will likely be without Jayden Daniels again, but that likely won’t matter. The Falcons are coming off a 30-0 loss to the Panthers. Although the Falcons (1-2) have the No. 2 ranked defense in yards per game in the league (first for pass and 10th for rush yards allowed per game) (source), they have a terrible offense, averaging just 14 points per game (source). They did not score at all last week, with Michael Penix throwing two interceptions and completing just 50% of his passes.
The Commanders, however, had three rushing touchdowns against the Raiders and Marcus Mariota played solidly in Daniels’ absence. He threw for 201 yards, a touchdown and completed nearly 70% of his passes. Granted, he was going up against the Raiders, but I think that he can at least do enough to get the Commanders on the board a couple times to beat the Falcons. The Falcons have not really produced on offense all season and even though the Commanders have the No. 20 ranked defense in yards per game, the Panthers are ranked 21st and the Falcons made them look elite.
Prediction: Commanders 26-17
Chargers vs Giants:
The Chargers (3-0) are one of the top three teams in the NFL while the Giants (0-3) are not – they are arguably a bottom-three team. The Giants had one close game against the Cowboys, but that was about it. The one key difference from their first three games to now is that they will be starting Jaxson Dart. No one really knows how he will pan out, but he can’t do much worse than Wilson. Regardless, starting him this week is a bit of a surprise, considering the Chargers have the No. 8 ranked defense in terms of yards allowed per game and they face the Saints in week five.
Also, even if Dart shows up, the Chargers’ offense has been on fire. They are averaging 23.3 points per game, and Justin Herbert is in the MVP conversation. It does not help either that the Giants are averaging giving up 28 points and over 400 yards per game. The Giants will not be able to stop the Chargers’ offense and I think Dart will struggle in his NFL debut.
Prediction: Chargers 35-13
Titans vs Texans:
Both of these teams are winless through the first three weeks. For the Titans, Cam Ward has had a slow start to the season, but his receivers have not been helping him much. Their defense has also been bad, especially in the last six quarters. They have allowed 64 points in the last six quarters. As for the Texans, C.J. Stroud has also had a rough start to the campaign. He has thrown just two touchdowns, while throwing three interceptions. He also has failed to rally the team in the fourth quarter to win games. All of the Texans’ losses have been by one score.
This game will likely be an ugly one, but the Texans have the defensive advantage. They have only allowed 51 points all season – compared to the Titans’ 94. I also anticipate Stroud to have a bounce back game, and really his first game of the season against this struggling Titans’ defense. Ward will likely struggle against the Texans’ defense as well.
Prediction: Texans 26-13
Eagles vs Buccaneers:
For the early-morning slot, this is definitely the game of the week. Both teams are 3-0 and coming off last-second victories. All of the games these two teams have played have been one-score games.
The biggest difference between these two teams is how they have won games. Baker Mayfield has led the Bucs to three game-winning drives to start the season, while Jalen Hurts has only done it once (against the Rams).
Defensively, the Bucs have the better overall and rushing defense compared to the Eagles, ranking 11th and sixth respectively (in terms of yards allowed per game). However, they have allowed an average of 213 air yards per game, ranking 19th in the league. This benefits the Eagles as Saquon Barkley has had a slow start to the season and the Eagles have still found ways to win games. Barkley is averaging 3.3 yards per carry and only has two touchdowns. Through three games last year, he was averaging 5.6 yards per carry and had recorded four touchdowns.
The Eagles defense overall has been average, but they have done enough to win them games, especially when it matters most. The Eagles have also beaten more impressive teams than the Bucs, and Hurts has proven he can lead this team to victory.
The Bucs have won six out of the last seven matchups against the Eagles, and have the sixth highest rushing yards per game average. However, they also rank 19th in passing yards allowed per game. The Eagles will need to lean on Jalen Hurts, while the Bucs will need to lean on their running game.
Ultimately, it will be a close game but this time, I do not see Mayfield being able to squeak by again. Hurts is 17-0 in his last 17 games and he has found ways to get the job done. Hurts and the Eagles’ defense will come through at the end of the game and deliver the Bucs their first loss.
Score Prediction: Eagles 31-27
Panthers vs Patriots:
This is another battle between two terrible teams. Both teams have only one win on the season, which came for the Patriots against an atrocious Dolphins team. The Panthers’ sole win was in dominant fashion, 30-0, against the Falcons. Both teams have defenses that rank in the bottom half of the league in terms of yards allowed per game.
However, the Patriots, statistically, have the better offense. They have averaged more passing and rushing yards per game. But the Panthers have averaged 0.7 more points per game, although their game against the Falcons bolster their average points scored.
The Patriots did have five turnovers last week, but still found themselves in the game. This week, they will not struggle as much and Drake Maye should be able to find receivers open much more quickly to avoid being sacked – he was sacked five times last week.
Bryce Young has also only won one game on the road in his entire career and has been very inconsistent throughout his young career. The game will be close, but I think Maye performs better and the Patriots get back to .500 with a win at home.
Prediction: Patriots 20-14
Saints vs Bills:
The Bills are undefeated and the Saints are winless. That’s all you really need to know going into this one. The Saints have lost all three of their games to NFC West teams and were competitive in two of those games, but are undeniably one of the worst teams in the league.
They have been solid in terms of yards allowed defensively per game, ranking 15th. However, they are averaging 30 points per game defensively. The Bills are averaging scoring 34 points per game.
It does not matter how many points the Saints score if their defense is allowing 34 points a game, especially to teams that have worse offenses than the Bills – the 49ers, Seahawks and Cardinals.
The Bills are also allowing 23.7 points per game, which is a decent amount, but not enough for a team like the Saints to beat them. The Bills also have the ninth best defense in terms of yards allowed per game.
Barring any severe injuries, the Bills should take this game with ease.
Prediction: Bills 45-17
Abe’s Picks:
Cleveland Browns vs Detroit Lions
The Lions are coming off a win against the Ravens, in a game they caused 30 pressures and seven sacks on Lamar Jackson. They also forced a fumble on Derrick Henry to close the game. Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery dominated on the ground running for over 200 yards and four touchdowns between the two.
The Browns are coming off the most surprising game of the season so far, beating one of the best teams in the league, the Green Bay Packers. Rookie running back Quinshon Judkins led the Browns to the win with 94 rushing yards and one touchdown. The Browns defense locked down the explosive Packers offense containing star running back Josh Jacobs to 30 yards on 16 rush attempts and holding Jordan Love to under 200 passing yards and forcing an interception.
Prediction: Packers 27-13
Jacksonville Jaguars vs San Francisco 49ers
No George Kittle, Nick Bosa, Brandon Aiyuk and potentially no Brock Purdy. The 49ers have been hit with their yearly injury streak, they have been able to win three straight. Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh should get the most praise for getting the 49ers average defense to play at a top seven level.
The Jaguars on the other hand have not played their best game yet, Travis Hunter has not made an impact offensively, Brian Thomas Jr. has the Yips with catching and Travis Eitienne Jr. has not hit over 80 yards since week one. Despite all of that they are in a better spot with their team currently than the niners
Prediction: Jaguars 24-20
Indianapolis Colts vs Los Angeles Rams
Daniel Jones has been amazing thus far for the Colts, their the only team to punt the ball only once this season. Which means when they have the ball on offense they score at least three points 99% of the time. Jones has been able to resurrect his mediocre career from when he was with the Giants similar to Geno Smith and Sam Darnold.
The Rams are the most consistent team in the NFL, no matter what Sean McVay finds a way to make his team be in contention to win game in and game out. The Rams almost beat the Eagles last week and would have if not for two blocked field goals. I expect Puka Nacua and Davante Adams to combine for over 225 receiving yards combined.
Chicago Bears vs Las Vegas Raiders
The Bears picked up their first win of the season last week vs the Cowboys, a game where the offense looked more consistent and defense looked better. They have not been able to get the run offense going though, D’Andre Swift had 42 carries for 149 yards. Head Coach Ben Johnson was with the Detroit Lions as their offensive coordinator last year, his offensive scheme needs a run game as it sets up the passing offense and makes room for all the trick plays Johnson likes to run.
The Las Vegas Raiders are feeling what Seahawk fans felt for the past few years where Geno Smith is a turnover machine and Pete Carroll’s cover three defense gets shredded by opposing receivers. The Raiders sit at 1-2 coming into this game, no signs of improvement coming, college phenom and rookie Ashton Jeanty has not been able to get a decent workload from offensive coordinator Chip Kelly which is not letting him get in his groove.
Prediction: Bears 31-30
Baltimore Ravens vs Kansas City Chiefs
This game has the potential to be an instant classic. Patrick Mahomes has not looked like himself much this season, but there was a little momentum built in the second half of the Giants game where the Chiefs looked like the previous back to back Super Bowl champions. Travis Kelce will need to step up and be the playmaker Mahomes needs.
The Ravens did not rush for 100 yards in week two and week three for the first time in the Lamar Jackson era. The defense of the Ravens has regressed and not been able to rush the passer or stop the run consistently. The hotseat on head coach John Harbaugh seems to be heating up.
Green Bay Packers vs Dallas Cowboys
One team lost to a team that will have under five wins this season and the other cannot stop a 40 yard pass. The Packers addition of Micah Parsons has panned out for them thus far, however offensively they have not been able to run the ball and their receiving core is filled with wide receiver two caliber players with no real star offensive weapons.
The Cowboys will be without superstar wide out Ceedee Lamb who is considered to be week to week after injuring his ankle against the Bears in week three. Javonte Williams has been quite consistent for the Cowboys, Dak Prescott will need Williams and the offensive line to up their play against Micah Parsons. Who is out for revenge since Cowboys owner Jerry Jones did not want to pay him and then traded him to the Packers.
Prediction: Packers 34-17
New York Jets vs Miami Dolphins
Whether it is Tyrod Taylor or Justin Fields in at quarterback for the Jets, the Dolphins defense has not shown an ability to stop anybody. Even worse, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has been disappointing to say the least, not being able to get Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle the ball in space and let them play-make.
Head Coach Aaron Glenn has changed the Jets culture for the better and its evident, although they lost last week they almost beat the Buccaneers. If Fields is able to play I am confident they will be able to get a decent size win on the Dolphins.
Prediction: Jets 24-10
Cincinnati Bengals vs Denver Broncos
The Bengals lost to the Vikings by 38 points in week three, a complete and utterly embarrassing loss. Bo Nix and the Bronco offense have the second most amount of explosive plays. The Bengals biggest issue has been backup quarterback Jake Browning, second has been there defense which has not been able to get any stops at all allowing 30 points per game.
The Broncos are coming into this game 1-2 and have not played up to their 2024 status. The defense has allowed 21 points per game, this game has all the markings of a blowout win for the Broncos, Sean Payton and Bo Nix may be able to finally get the offense rolling like they did in 2024.
Prediction: Broncos 34-13
