Week 4 NFL Game Predictions: Broncos Stay Perfect? Who Wins Brady's Return to Foxboro?

 We are almost a quarter of the way through the NFL season. Feels weird to say. It feels like just yesterday the Bucs and Cowboys were kicking off but at the same time it feels like that was ages ago. With this week, some big questions will be answered and some teams will take another step towards playoffs. It's early, but these games are massively important as always. 

Week 3 Predictions Record: 9-7
2021 Season Overall: 30-18

Thursday Night Football - Jacksonville Jaguars (0-3) at Cincinnati Bengals (2-1)

I actually think this game is going to be somewhat entertaining despite the Jags being bad. Trevor Lawrence vs Joe Burrow. The last two number 1 overall picks. They played in a National Championship. Burrow got the best of Lawrence then, and I think he will again on Thursday Night. The Bengals D is better than given credit for and I think they will shut down Trevor Lawrence and this banged up Jags offense. Look for some more Ja'Marr Chase magic as well. 

The Pick: Bengals 27, Jaguars 17

Tennessee Titans (2-1) at New York Jets (0-3)

Not a great game on paper, but it could be closer than some think. The Titans are without Julio Jones and AJ Brown as they were both ruled out with injuries. It will be Nick Westbrook-Ikhine as the WR1. Derrick Henry time. The Titans D has actually been a lot better than many expected them to be. I think they will continue it against the poor Jets offense and Zach Wilson. While with the Titans missing their WRs, the Jets still need to account for the King. It might start close, but the Titans should control this one.

The Pick: Titans 24, Jets 13

Detroit Lions (0-3) at Chicago Bears (1-2)

This one will be a doozy. The Lions have been better than people expected as they've had some close losses, but haven't been able to finish out a game. The Bears defense has been good but their offense has been terrible. This could be Matt Nagy's final game as the Bears coach, he is on a flaming hot seat. We do not know who the Bears are starting at QB, it could be Fields again, could be Dalton, could even be Nick Foles. It will be a gametime choice. I think the Bears win this if Fields is the guy, his mobility will be tough for Detroit's D to account for. If it's one of the other two, expect a Lions win. I'm gonna go out on a limb and say its Fields and the Bears winning.

The Pick: Bears 19, Lions 16

Indianapolis Colts (0-3) at Miami Dolphins (1-2)

A must win game for both playoff hopefuls. This one might be fun. I'm shocked the Colts are 0-3. While they've had a gauntlet of a first 3 games of their schedule, we expected them to find a way to win one of them. They just haven't as their redzone offense has been one of the worst in the league with a hobbled Carson Wentz. The Dolphins have been downright disappointing in every facet of the game. Jacoby Brissett will start for them again on Sunday. I think Wentz with the help of Jonathan Taylor and the Colts stout D gives them the edge and they don't drop to 0-4.

The Pick: Colts 25, Dolphins 23 (OT)

Cleveland Browns (2-1) at Minnesota Vikings (1-2)

Potentially one of the games of the week. The Browns have been one of the best teams in the league so far this season. Their defense and running game have respectively been some of the best units in the league. They head to Minnesota to face a team coming off a massive win vs Seattle. People forget the Vikings won that game without Dalvin Cook and the Vikings could also be 3-0 as they got pretty unlucky late in two games. I think this one will be a battle of the run games but I see the Browns as a bit more talented and they will find a way to win. For the Vikings, it could come down to some more late game bad luck.

The Pick: Browns 31, Vikings 30

Washington Football Team (1-2) at Atlanta Falcons (1-2)

A battle of one win teams in Atlanta, I don't think this game will be particularly close however. It's been a rough start for both teams and both teams have their single win against the Giants on game winning field goals. I think the Football Team is just playing under their potential. They are a good team. This defense which was elite last year has been disappointing to start the season, but I see them finding their groove vs this antiquated Falcon offense. Chase Young is gonna eat against this Falcon O-line. I also like Taylor Heinicke for a bounce-back game, especially with the debut of Curtis Samuel in the Washington offense.

The Pick: WFT 27, Falcons 14

Houston Texans (1-2) at Buffalo Bills (2-1)

This is not going to be good for the Texans. They are facing a Bills team that is peaking right as we speak. The Bills destroyed Washington last weekend and should have no problem doing it again vs a much worse Texans team. I am intrigued by rookie QB Davis Mills on the Texans but the Bills defense continues to prove it belongs in the elite tier of NFL defenses. We will likely see more of the same from these Bills this week.

The Pick: Bills 37, Texans 18

New York Giants (0-3) at New Orleans Saints (2-1)

If the Giants had shown life last week, this could have been an intriguing game. They didn't. The Saints won in a gritty, defensive game last week. This game against the Giants should be a nice refresher. Maybe we finally see Jameis Winston really let it fly here. The Saints should win with ease at home.

The Pick: Saints 26, Giants 14

Kansas City Chiefs (1-2) at Philadelphia Eagles (1-2)

This could be a fun one. Two exciting QBs going at it. While the Chiefs are by far the superior overall team, Jalen Hurts randomly has his games where he accounts for the terrible play of the rest of the Eagles' roster. I would give the Eagles a good chance of winning this one if they didn't play so awfully bad against the Cowboys last week. It gets no easier vs this Chiefs offense that has lost two in a row and can't drop a third straight.

The Pick: Chiefs 33, Eagles 24

Carolina Panthers (3-0) at Dallas Cowboys (2-1)

This is gonna be a fun one. Are the Panthers for real? We will get a good answer with this game. The Panthers are undefeated but haven't faced a ton of real competition outside of the up and down Saints. The Cowboys look for real and showed they are improved everywhere with their dominant MNF win this past week. Improved defenses vs stud filled offenses. This game is going to say a lot about either side.

The Pick: Cowboys 33, Panthers 30 (OT)

Seattle Seahawks (1-2) at San Fransisco 49ers (2-1)

NFC West games between these two squads are always fun, but who would have thought it would be such a dire match-up in just week 4? The Seahawks are reeling after losing 2 straight meanwhile the Niners barely won two easy games through the first two weeks and then lost a heartbreaker to Aaron Rodgers and the Packers last weekend. Both teams come in with a lot of urgency to win and a lot of critics. I like the Seahawks in a classic, Wilson has never lost 3 in a row and this team is too good to be out of the race this early. Jimmy Garopollo just hasn't done enough to inspire me lately that the Niners would be able to win a close one.

The Pick: Seahawks 30, 49ers 26

Arizona Cardinals (3-0) at Los Angeles Rams (3-0)

What a game this will be. Two of the last undefeated teams going at it for a chance to take the lead in the best division in football. We have seen such rapid improvement from both squads early in this season on both sides of the football. This is likely going to be a duel between Kyler Murray and Matthew Stafford from the beginning. This really could go either way, but with a decent edge on defense and home-field advantage, I can't see the Rams losing this one in the end.

The Pick: Rams 34, Cardinals 26

Pittsburgh Steelers (1-2) at Green Bay Packers (2-1)

Not a great match-up here between two legendary teams. The Packers are peaking right now while the Steelers are in the depths of despair. It's clear that Big Ben's time as a good QB in the league is over. He just can't get this offense on track. In the tough atmosphere that is Green Bay, the Steelers O should continue to struggle. The Packers on the other hand should take advantage of a Steeler D that has been disappointing for the most part to start this season. Aaron Rodgers will continue his hot streak that he has been on since the blowout week 1 loss.

The Pick: Packers 30, Steelers 17

Baltimore Ravens (2-1) at Denver Broncos (3-0)

Picking my 'upset' of the week here. The Broncos are 3-0 but have only played winless teams. This is their first true test against a contender...and I think they prove they are for real. It's a bad match for the Ravens. On the road in a tough place to play (the mile high altitude), the Ravens coming off of a miracle win won't be prepared. The Broncos are a conservative, run based offense that will keep the Ravens D guessing all day. This Broncos defense is for real too. Lamar Jackson might have a tough day. 

The Pick: Broncos 28, Ravens 20

Sunday Night Football - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1) at New England Patriots (1-2)

Sunday Night Football happens to double up as my game of the week this week. This might go down as one of the most memorable games in NFL history. The best player ever (Tom Brady, if you weren't aware), returning to the place he called home for decades. It is going to be a mix of emotions for everyone in that stadium. I think the game will not disappoint either. Both sides are going to be determined to prove they won the divorce. I think we see this game come down to the end with a classic Tom Brady game-winning drive, this time, in the place he used to do it all the time.

The Pick: Buccaneers 28, Patriots 27

Monday Night Football - Las Vegas Raiders (3-0) at Los Angeles Chargers (2-1)

Aside from TNF, the two other primetime games this week are going to be awesome. This is a very important AFC West showdown between two teams who hope to break back into the playoffs this season. The Raiders have started the year out as one of the most unlikely undefeated squads, meanwhile the Chargers just beat the Chiefs and look for real. There is going to be a lot of offense with two gunslingers on either side of the field. It will come down to which D can make more important late game stops, I trust Brandon Staley's D to get it done. This one goes to OT, but the Raiders can't get lucky for a third time in four games.

The Pick: Chargers 31, Raiders 28 (OT)

Predicted undefeated (4-0) teams after week 4:
Rams & Broncos
(2 teams, the Rams had many people see it coming, but how about the Broncos!!)