Fire and Ice: Week Four

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Week Three made a few things clear to football fans across the country. New England can win with seemingly any quarterback under center, regardless of the opponent. Minnesota is arguably the top dog in the NFC, after completely shutting down the Carolina Panthers 22-10. Lastly, the Philadelphia Eagles are legit and a force to be reckoned with after annihilating the Pittsburgh Steelers, 34-3.

Week Four should serve as a test for most teams. Was firing their offensive coordinator all Buffalo needed to become a good team? Are the Panthers no longer a threat in the NFC South? Can the Ravens continue their undefeated streak with the Oakland Raiders blocking their path? With so many questions to be answered this week and a strong lineup of games, Week Four is stacking up to be an exciting one.

Last week:

Jake: 8-8

Grayson: 8-8

 

Overall:

Jake: 24-24

Grayson: 22-26

 

Bye weeks: Eagles, Packers

 

Thursday Night 8:25 pm ET

Dolphins (1-2) @ Bengals (1-2)

Jake:  Miami should have lost to the Browns last week. Luckily for them, they were playing the Browns who always find a way to lose no matter what. The Bengals, however, didn’t look too shabby against the Denver Broncos who are considered the best team in the NFL currently. Jarvis Landry has lived up to expectations as being a true number one receiver.  Ryan Tannehill, on the other hand, has not lived up to being a stud at quarterback. Miami has a barren secondary and AJ Green will expose that as the Bengals improve to (2-2). CIN:30 MIA:17

Grayson: The Dolphins squeaked out a home game against the Browns after having to go to overtime. I like Jarvis Landry and Devante Parker on the Dolphins offense and look for them to give the Miami offense a spark. Ultimately, I don’t think the Miami defense can keep up with Andy Dalton as he rips apart their secondary with the help of A.J. Green. The Bengals bounce back in a good offensive game. CIN:34 MIA:23

 

Sunday 9:30 am ET (game in London)

Colts (1-2) @  Jaguars (0-3)

Jake: The Jags have been a major disappointment. I was really expecting them to be a contender this year. That has not been the case so far, as they have shown the inability to finish games. The Colts picked up their first win of the season last week, so they’re riding high. Andrew Luck has picked up where he left off last season, that will continue this week as the Colts move to (2-2) IND:28 JAX:17

Grayson: I’m pretty disappointed in the Jaguars, a lot of people, including myself, had high ambitions for a team on the turn around. They have a solid young quarterback in Blake Bortles and a pair of fantastic receivers, Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns. The beginning of the year for Jacksonville, however, has been plagued with turnovers and defensive inability to prevent the opponent from scoring when the game is on the line. On the flip side, the Colts  just came off a big win against San Diego and Colts star wideout T.Y. Hilton looked fantastic. This should be a very similar game. I predict the Jaguars defense can’t hold during a late 4th quarter drive and Indianapolis will leave London sitting at 2-2. IND:45 JAX:37

 

Sunday 1:00 pm ET

Bills (1-2) @ Patriots (3-0)

Jake: The Patriots surprised a lot of people last week when they won despite starting Jacoby Brissett at quarterback. They proved they can win with anyone under center. The Bills, on the other hand, picked up their first win of the season, as they finally got Shady McCoy going. I expect he will ravage this Patriots front seven. But, in the end, the Patriots are the Patriots. Pats win. NE:35 BUF:31

Grayson: After firing their offensive coordinator last week Buffalo looked like a new team, running the ball hard and playing incredible defense last week against the Cardinals. This won’t be the case this week. I still think LeSean will get 20+ touches and run the ball hard, but ultimately I think it is the Bills’ defense that will come up short. Regardless of who starts at quarterback for the Patriots, they won’t make as many mistakes and careless errors as the Cardinals and should move to 4-0 without Tom Brady. NE:30 BUF:22

 

Browns (0-3) @  Redskins (1-2)

Jake: The bye-week Browns march into Washington after coming the closest they will come to a win all season, most likely. I seriously doubt the Browns will win a game this year. Washington got a big win on the road last week and have a golden opportunity to advance to (2-2). It won’t be pretty, but I think they will get it done. Look for DeSean Jackson so get behind and slow Browns secondary often. WAS:20 CLE:3

Grayson: The Browns came so close to a win last week, yet blew it on a missed field goal late in the game which forced them to go to overtime. Their defense couldn’t hold and after three plays Miami ran into the end zone and walked out of week three with a win. The Redskins picked up a huge win in New York and gained some much needed momentum.Washington did, however, suffer some offensive line injuries and lost safety Deangelo Hall for the year, subject to an ACL tear. Quinton Dunbar stepped up after multiple injuries within the Washington secondary and had a critical catch on a fourth down trick play along with an incredible one handed interception in the end zone. If the offensive line and secondary of the Redskins can get by with some backups, then the Redskins should have no problem securing their first home victory of the season. WAS:30 CLE: 17

 

Titans (1-2)  @  Texans (2-1)

Jake: Remember when the Texans paid Brock Osweiler $72 million to come be their starting quarterback? Three games into the season that is looking like a major mistake when they could have drafted somebody like Dak Prescott instead. The Texans lost J.J. Watt for likely the rest of the season. That hurts as Watt is arguably the best player in the NFL. Former number one overall pick Jadeveon Clowney will have to step up from here on out. The Titans come in following a game where the Raiders defense strapped them completely. I expect the Texans will win this game due to the firepower the have on offense from the likes of Lamar Miller, and DeAndre Hopkins. HOU:35 TEN:24

Grayson: The Texans looked pathetic against the Patriots last Thursday, but that should have given them ample time to iron out many mistakes and issues that lead to the blowout loss. The Titans had a shorter week to prepare and, even though Demarco Murray is running hard, Delanie Walker may not be back to 100% yet. With no J.J. Watt this week (who will more than likely be out for the rest of the season), the Texans’ defense will be substantially worse against the run and will force the Texans to lean on their offense to put up points. Fortunately, the Titans aren’t too special on either side of the ball with the exception of a few key players, and the Texans should edge out a win at home in Houston. HOU:31 TEN:24

 

Seahawks (2-1)  @ Jets (1-2)

Jake: Somehow, some way, Ryan Fitzpatrick managed to throw six interceptions last week. How that is humanly possible, I still don’t know. Things don’t get any easier with “The Legion of Boom” coming to town. Russell Wilson is battling multiple injuries. The Seahawks’ offense finally got going last week, but it was only against the 49ers. We may see Trevone Boykin lining up under center for the Hawks. Personally, I think Boykin is a stud. I think the Jets will be too much for Seattle this week. NYJ:25 SEA:14

Grayson: The Seahawks finally saw the version of Jimmy Graham they have been waiting for. Last week Jimmy G had a monster game, along with Doug Baldwin and helped out an injured and mostly stationary Russell Wilson. The Jets looked pitiful against the Chiefs and, if they want to win another game, Ryan Fitzpatrick needs to make better decisions with the ball. If Russell Wilson plays then the Seahawks will win, and fortunately for them I think he will. SEA:27 NYJ:23

 

Lions (1-2)  @ Bears (0-3)

Jake: “Oh no! Jay Cutler may miss another game; we may lose.” You will never hear anybody say these words. The Bears have been terrible this year. I don’t expect anything to change this week. The Lions have lost two close games. Matt Stafford has looked even better than he ever has without Calvin Johnson, mostly because he hasn’t been forcing the ball down the field. The Lions still lack a running game, but the Bears lack a team. Lions win. DET:30 CHI:10

Grayson: This is a must-win for the Bears, and with Jay Cutler possibly sitting out another week straight it will be a hard win to come by. The Lions have one of the best receivers on the come-up; Marvin Jones who exploded last week with six catches 205 yards and two touchdowns. Both teams have injured starting running backs, so this game should lean on air attacks and defenses, something that Detroit has the better of both teams. DET:34 CHI:23

 

Panthers (1-2) @  Falcons (2-1)

Jake: The Panthers already have more losses this year than they had all of last year. Granted, they have had a difficult first few weeks. Matt Ryan has looked like a completely different player this season. He will have his hands full this week with the Panthers in town. He will need Julio Jones to step up, as he was held to just one catch last week. In the end, the Falcons’ efforts won’t be enough. As Cam and the Panthers get to (2-2). CAR:27 AT:L:24

Grayson: The Panthers are not what they were last year in terms of dominance. With that being said, they still are probably the best two-loss team and have a great set of linebackers along with one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL. The Falcons looked explosive Monday night against the Saints and proved they don’t need Julio Jones to win. Ultimately, Atlanta’s defense won’t be enough to stop Cam Newton and Kelvin Benjamin, and Matt Ryan, along with the two headed monster that is the Atlanta backfield, should struggle against a good Carolina front 7. CAR:33 ATL:24

 

Raiders (2-1)  @ Ravens (3-0)

Jake: The Ravens are the most overrated team in the NFL. They have gotten to 3-0 by beating bottom-dweller teams. Last week the Raiders defense finally looked like the unit they spent millions of dollars on. I expect they will continue that momentum this week against a weak Ravens’ offense. Look for Derek Carr, Amari Cooper and an explosive Raiders offense to get them a W this week. OAK:34 BAL:20

Grayson: The Ravens have gone 3-0, but they have gotten to that point by beating teams with a combined record of 1-8. Baltimore has a pretty good defense, but they also carry a shaky run game with no clear cut dominant rusher, paired with a receiver corps that’s nothing too special. They are the worst of the best teams and even though the Oakland defense has some holes, Amari Cooper, Michael Crabtree, and Derek Carr should push the Raiders to 3-1. OAK:28 BAL:19

 

Sunday 4:05 pm ET

Broncos (3-0)  @  Buccaneers (1-2)

Jake: The Broncos are the best team in the NFL right now. Their defense has been insane. Tampa Bay has been average, and that just won’t be good enough. Look for Jameis Winston to struggle mightily, as the Broncos power to (4-0). DEN:24 TB:10

Grayson: The Broncos are the best team in the NFL. They have a good offensive line, good run game, a dynamic group of receivers, and the best defense in the whole league. Trevor Siemian got the job done last week against the Bengals, throwing for over 300 yards and four touchdowns. If Siemian can perform at this level or at least near it for the rest of the year, Denver will repeat last year’s success. On the other side, Tampa Bay still is without starting running back Doug Martin, and Charles Sims will continue to fill in for him during his absence. Last week Jameis Winston had a chance to win a tight game versus the Rams, but when it counted he had both mental and physical errors proving that he is still not an elite quarterback and, dare I say, not even in the top 20 QBs in the league. Denver moves to 4-0. DEN:38 TB:23

 

Sunday 4:25 pm ET

Cowboys (2-1) @ 49ers (1-2)

Jake:  The 9ers aren’t very good. Dallas is very overrated. Dez Bryant is hurt; it’s all going to be on Zeke Elliott. Lucky for him the 49ers don’t have an imposing front seven. Dallas is going to put their league’s best offensive line to work as they grind out a victory. DAL:20 SF:3

Grayson: These two teams are hard to read; I can’t tell if they have just beaten bad teams or are the real deal. Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott have been great and show promise for the future of the franchise. San Francisco has a group of sub-par receivers that have not been able to recreate their Week One success with the exception of Torrey Smith. The 49ers run defense has been atrocious and their pass defense has been average. Elliott should have a big game when the Cowboys lean on him due to Dez Bryant not being 100% (suffered a fracture in his leg this week). DAL:33 SF:20

 

Rams (2-1) @ Cardinals (1-2)

Jake: The Cardinals are coming off a game that they were expected to win by a landslide, and they ended up getting blown out themselves. The Rams are the worst 2-1 team in the NFL. I expect The Cards to completely shut down Todd Gurley since the Rams have no other form of offense. They won’t won’t win this one. ARI:27 LA:0

Grayson: The Cardinals were embarrassed last week by the Bills, and Carson Palmer threw four interceptions in the process. The Rams are not the real deal and even though Todd Gurley had a good game, it won’t carry over as he plays a much better defense this week. If Palmer can limit his turnovers and help their defense get off the field and recover, then Arizona should have no problem taking care of business at home. ARI:41 LA:27

 

Saints (0-3) @ Chargers (1-2)

Jake: The Saints have single handedly proven that just having an explosive offense isn’t enough to win games. The Chargers struggled to score without Danny Woodhead and Keenan Allen. The Saints defense is a joke. I think the Chargers will find ways to make enough plays as they rely on Melvin Gordon to power them to (2-2). SD:30 NO:28

Grayson: The Saints still somehow haven’t gotten a single win. Even with Drew Brees throwing for over 1,000 yards in just three games, the Saints continue to play catch-up throughout the whole second half and lose in the end. This is a good matchup for both quarterbacks and should be a high scoring game. If the Saints can utilize Mark Ingram and the run game early on, they might stand a chance but, if they fall behind and lean on their defense and wide receivers, the Chargers could run away with a win. Melvin Gordon should have a big day against the Saints’ porous run defense that let Tevin Coleman and Devonta Freeman run all over them last week. SD:37 NO:31

 

Sunday 8:30 pm ET

Chiefs (2-1) @  Steelers (2-1)

Jake: Le’Veon Bell is back for the Steelers. This a huge boost for them as they get the best running back in the NFL back. The Chiefs have a stout defense, coming off a game where they intercepted Ryan Fitzpatrick six times! I expect their defense will swarm Bell in his first game back. As the Chiefs’ offense will be just enough to power them to victory. KC:24 PIT:17

Grayson: The Chiefs defense made a statement last week and should not be taken lightly. The Steelers made the opposite statement after getting blown out 34-3 to the Eagles. The Steelers finally get Le’Veon Bell back from suspension, so look to see Deangelo Williams slowly fade away out of the spotlight. With Big Ben having his top two weapons back together again, he should put up a fight against this Kansas City defense, and, as long as the Steelers can limit the scoring of Alex Smith and the rest of the KC offense, then Pittsburgh should move to 3-1. PIT: 34 KC:27

 

Monday 8:30 pm ET

Giants (2-1) @  Vikings (3-0)

Jake: The Giants are coming off a heartbreaking loss last week on a game that they should have won. The Vikings proved that they are a force to be reckoned with in the NFC, but their offense lacks a go-to player other than Stefon Diggs. The Giants new-look defense has seemed solid throughout three games; it’s been the offense holding them back. Look for Odell Beckham Jr. to absolutely shred the Vikings defense (while also avoiding kicking nets) as the New York Giants shake up the league and knock off the Vikings. NYG:35 MIN:34

Grayson: The Vikings continue to perform well. Despite having a solid run game, they will lean on their defense and Sam Bradford to beat the Giants. Last week the Giants were beaten by defense acting upon mistakes by Eli Manning and his receivers, along with penalties and a solid Redskins pass attack. The Redskins rushing attack did not affect the outcome of the game nearly as much as the other aspects. If the Giants can minimize their number of penalties and if Eli makes better decisions while in the pocket, the Giants have a real shot to win. But after several injuries in their secondary, the Giants pass defense won’t be at 100% come game time. Look for Stefon Diggs to make a difference in the outcome of the game. MIN:34 NYG:28