Week Four is the start of the bye weeks, as the Colts and Steelers take the week off.\u00a0 The rest of the league is back at it here in the early stages of another fascinating NFL season.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Cleveland (1-2) at BALTIMORE (1-2)<\/span> – Vegas: Ravens -1 Carolina (1-2) at ATLANTA (1-2)<\/span> – Vegas: Falcons -4.5 New England (3-0) at BUFFALO (2-1)<\/span> – Vegas: Patriots -5.5 Minnesota (2-1) at DETROIT (1-2)<\/span> – Vegas: Lions -9 San Diego (3-0) at KANSAS CITY (1-2)<\/span> – Vegas: Chargers -1 Seattle (1-2) at ST LOUIS (1-2)<\/span> – Vegas: Seahawks -1 San Francisco (2-1) at N.Y. JETS (0-3)<\/span> – Vegas: Jets -1 Tennessee (1-2) at HOUSTON (3-0)<\/span> – Vegas: Texans -7.5 Cincinnati (2-1) at JACKSONVILLE (1-2)<\/span> – Vegas: Bengals -2.5 Miami (2-1) at ARIZONA (1-2)<\/span> – Vegas: Cardinals -2.5 Oakland (0-3) at DENVER (0-3)<\/span> – Vegas: Broncos -7 New Orleans (3-0) at GREEN BAY (3-0)<\/span> – Vegas: Packers -7 Washington (0-3) at TAMPA BAY (1-2)<\/span> – Vegas: Bucs -1 N.Y. Giants (2-1) at PHILADELPHIA (3-0)<\/span> – Vegas: Eagles -4.5 Chicago (2-1) at DALLAS (1-2)<\/span> – Vegas: Cowboys -3 NFC EAST:<\/span> NFC NORTH:<\/span> NFC SOUTH:<\/span> NFC WEST: AFC EAST:<\/span> AFC NORTH:<\/span> AFC SOUTH:<\/span> AFC WEST: Week Four is the start of the bye weeks, as the Colts and Steelers take the week off.\u00a0 The rest of the league is back at it here in the early stages of another fascinating NFL season. Thursday Night \u00a0Cleveland … Continue reading
\nThis is the fourth game in an absolutely brutal<\/em> stretch to start the season for the Ravens.\u00a0 They just hosted New England on Sunday night, after getting Cincy and Philly in 6 days to start the year.\u00a0 But,\u00a0it is the Browns at home on a Thursday night.\u00a0 If the game was on the road or against someone better, I would think they could be pretty vulnerable here, but they should beat the Browns at home.\u00a0 Ravens (moderate)<\/strong><\/p>\nSunday, Early Afternoon<\/h1>\n
\nThe Falcons are just coming back from a trip out West last week, while the Panthers have 10 days to prepare for this one.\u00a0 I might take Carolina and the points, but, as for the game, I think the Falcons are just the better team.\u00a0 Falcons (close)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nThis could be one of the biggest games in Ralph Wilson Stadium in a decade, especially if the Bills could enter this game at 3-0.\u00a0 We have them at 2-1, but still immensely fired up for this one.\u00a0 The Pats are coming off a physical Sunday Night game in Baltimore and are awaiting the return of Peyton Manning next week.\u00a0 I think this is a trap game for the Pats and will take a big upset here.\u00a0 Bills (close)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nRecords aside, the Lions are the better team and are at home.\u00a0 Lions (easy)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nWe all know how tough it is to win a game in Arrowhead.\u00a0 Add on the West Coast team at 1:00 factor, and I like the Chiefs to get a big win here.\u00a0 Chiefs (moderate)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nAnother West Coast team at 1:00 coupled with the fact that the Seahawks are on a short week, after playing the Monday Night game.\u00a0 This is one of those “schedule wins” for the Rams.\u00a0 Rams (moderate)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nA third straight game with a West Coast team coming east for the early game.\u00a0 I don’t mean to overrate this phenomenon, it just so happens that I think all three road teams here are vulnerable.\u00a0 The Jets come into this game 0-3 and desperate.\u00a0 Plus, the big problem for the Jets this year is going to be their offense, so they will be used to play 13-9 kind of games.\u00a0 Whether it’s Sanchez or Tebow, by this point, the Jets should get on the board here.\u00a0 Jets (close)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nIt’s always hard for teams after a trip to Denver the week prior, but the Texans are just\u00a0a far better team than Tennessee and should beat them at home.\u00a0 Texans (easy)<\/strong><\/p>\nSunday, Late Afternoon<\/h1>\n
\nThe Jags are one of the hardest teams to figure out before the season starts because (a) we don’t know if MJD is even going to play and (b) we don’t know if Blaine Gabbert is even competent at QB.\u00a0 And, this is one of those games that could be swung by a full, healthy Jax team.\u00a0 But, in the end, I just don’t see it turning out all that well, so I am going to go with the Bengals here, with full caveats…\u00a0 Bengals (close)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nI actually think that the Dolphins are the better team on a neutral field, and, while the Cardinals home games are the closest thing in the NFL to “neutral,” there still is a homefield advantage, especially when a team travels 3,000 miles to get there.\u00a0 Cardinals (close)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nFinally.\u00a0 It looks like Peyton Manning will be able to get his first win…just in time for a trip to Foxborough.\u00a0 Broncos (easy)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nOne of the best games of the early season so far could be as entertaining as football can be.\u00a0 I like the Saints a lot more than many people this year, and they are getting the Pack at just the right time – coming off of a Monday Night game in Seattle.\u00a0 BUT…I still think that the Packers can eek this one out at home.\u00a0 That being said, I would definitely<\/em> take the Saints and the touchdown.\u00a0 Packers (close)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nAm I crazy to think that the Bucs aren’t going to be that bad this year?\u00a0 I actually think they might be\u00a0the better team in this game, so there is no reason not to pick them to win at home.\u00a0 Bucs (close)<\/strong><\/p>\nSunday Night<\/h1>\n
\nAbsolultely HUGE early season game in the NFC East here in prime time.\u00a0 The schedule-makers did the Giants are really nice favor here, giving them 10 days to prepare for this game, while sending the Birds out to the West Coast the week before.\u00a0 As good as Michael Vick and company play in prime time, I am going to disappoint some of the BSB supporters (and myself) and pick the road ‘dog in this one.\u00a0 Giants (close)<\/strong><\/p>\nMonday Night<\/h1>\n
\nI think the Cowboys might struggle this year.\u00a0 Their o-line is awful, and their weapons are fragile.\u00a0 And, I like the Bears this year.\u00a0 I think Cutler is due for a big year, and he has his safety blanket back.\u00a0 But, with all that said, the Cowboys, at home on Monday Night, with the bye week upcoming (favor from the schedule-makers there), I think they can pull this one out in a really tough spot.\u00a0 Cowboys (close)<\/strong><\/p>\nStandings After Week Four<\/h1>\n
\nA HUGE win for the New York Football Giants over the Eagles, giving them the first head-to-head matchup and the outright lead in the division<\/em>
\n3-1 Giants
\n3-1 Eagles
\n2-2 Cowboys
\n0-4 Redskins<\/p>\n
\nGreen Bay continues to roll, beating a good Saints team, while the rest of the division is all 2 games back
\n<\/em>4-0 Packers
\n2-2 Bears
\n2-2 Lions
\n2-2 Vikings<\/p>\n
\nThe Saints lose and drop a game to both Atlanta and Tampa
\n<\/em>3-1 Saints
\n2-2 Bucs
\n2-2 Falcons
\n1-3 Panthers<\/p>\n
\n<\/span>The Niners come back to the pack in a three-way tie, though none of the three leaders have played each other yet
\n<\/em>2-2 49ers
\n2-2 Cardinals
\n2-2 Rams
\n1-3 Seahawks<\/p>\n
\nA gigantic win for the Bills over New England puts them in first place; the Jets are off the schneid
\n<\/em>3-1 Bills
\n3-1 Patriots
\n2-2 Dolphins
\n1-3 Jets<\/p>\n
\nPittsburgh enjoys their early bye week and remains undefeated, though they do lose a half-game to both Cincy and Baltimore
\n<\/em>3-0 Steelers
\n3-1 Bengals
\n2-2 Ravens
\n1-3 Browns<\/p>\n
\nHouston gets the only win in the division and now has a 3-game lead
\n<\/em>4-0 Texans
\n1-3 Jaguars
\n1-3 Titans
\n0-3 Colts<\/p>\n
\n<\/span>And, just like that, the Chargers big lead in the division gets a lot smaller, as the Chiefs get a big win in Arrowhead; the Broncos also win a division game
\n<\/em>3-1 Chargers
\n2-2 Chiefs
\n1-3 Broncos
\n0-4 Raiders<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"