2014 Week 4 NFL Recap

Despite six teams on a bye week, week 4 of the 2014 NFL season featured a decent amount of entertaining games, and one quarter of the year has already concluded for most squads.

The Cowboys are currently leading the Saints 31-3 in the fourth quarter. Assuming New Orleans does not get any miracle comeback, I will start the week 7-5 in my predictions with the last game to go tomorrow night. This would put me at 34-26 (56.67%) on the season, and though I am not at all satifisfied with that percentage, it will go up as NFL team consistency improves.

Right now, let’s prepare for the next week of picks. Here are some things we learned in week 4:

• The Panthers are looking bad. Blowout losses to the Steelers and Ravens have the defending NFC South championships concerned.

• Relax, Packers fans. As predicted, Aaron Rodgers and the crew got right back on track with a rather comfortable road win over the rival Bears.

• The Buccaneers vs. Steelers game is a prime example of how we cannot figure this league out. One week Tampa Bay gets blown out by the Falcons and Pittsburgh blows out the Panthers. Then, with the game in Pennsylvania, the Buccaneers get the win. How?

• Teddy Bridgewater may just be the Vikings quarterback of the future. The Vikings got a big upset win over the Falcons (just like I predicted). Too bad Bridgewater left the game late with an injury.

• The Raiders may just be the worst team in the NFL. A blowout loss to the Dolphins on an international stage? Ouch.

 

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2014 Week 4 NFL Picks

 Three of the 17 2014 NFL regular season weeks have been completed, and this season has not failed to give us its share of surprises.

Some teams who we thought would contend for the Super Bowl (Packers, Patriots, Saints, 49ers), have gotten off to slow starts, while others have surprised in a more positive manner.

The surprises do show a little bit in my weekly predictions, as a 10-6 week 3 record and a 27-21 (56.25%) 2014 record are both rather mediocre.

However, surprises are typical in the first few weeks of the season. As consistency blankets the NFL, that percentage will increase and the analysis will become more accurate.

Before we get rolling with the week 4 picks, I would like to remind all of my readers about the weekly contests I run.

On Thursday at 4:00 PM ET, I will release this week’s trivia question right here on this blog. Be the first to tweet me the correct answer @jacobs_sports, and you will be automatically entered to win a $10 Amazon gift card at the end of the season.

We do this every Thursday, all regular season long, and if you would like more information, please refer to the following link or the one at the bottom of this blog post: https://jacobssportstalk.wordpress.com/2014/09/01/annoucing-jacobs-sports-talk-nfl-twitter-trivia-contest

Only time will tell what will really happen on the field, but for now, I can give it my best, researched guess. Here are the predictions for week 4:

New York Giants (1-2) vs. Washington Redskins (1-2) (Thursday at 8:25 PM ET)-

Both of these NFC East teams are rather mediocre, and in all honesty, I do not expect either to make the playoffs.

However, under quarterback Kirk Cousins, I believe that it is the Redskins running a more organized and explosive offense. They have more offensive weapons, they create fewer turnovers, they kept things close against the undefeated Eagles last week, and at home, I think they will have enough to beat a weak Giants club.

Winner: Redskins

The following games are on Sunday at 1:00 PM ET:

Green Bay Packers (1-2) vs. Chicago Bears (2-1)-

Despite me picking the Packers to advance to the Super Bowl in the preseason, they have not gotten off to a very good start.

Aaron Rodgers’s offense is not clicking like it was last year, and with losses to the Seahawks and Lions and only a tight win over the Jets, I would be lying if I said I was not a little bit concerned. However, we must remember that Rodgers, one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, has a variety of solid weapons available, and the running game with the young and also talented Eddie Lacy is another reason why we should not underestimate this team.

After a tight upset loss to the Bills in week 1, the Bears have bounced right back, going on the road and beating both the 49ers and the Jets. This team has looked solid over the past couple of weeks, and as I said in the preseason, they have the talent to contend for a Super Bowl. Quarterback Jay Cutler, running back Matt Forte, and wide receivers Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery are all great talents, and if Chicago can just put it all together like they have been doing recently, they can definitely win the NFC North and potentially make some noise in the postseason.

This is a difficult pick because I feel like both of these two teams are around the same level of production. However, with Chicago’s recent success and Green Bay’s recent struggles, I’ll say that the home team gets a statement win.

THURSDAY UPDATE: After further consideration, while statisitcal signs may point to Chicago, I have a feeling that an elite team like the Packers can bounce back after a tough loss. If the Bears were more consistent, I would pick them. However, their lack of continued proven success and the Packers’ recent dominance in this rivalry as me changing my original pick.

Winner: Packers 

 Buffalo Bills (2-1) vs. Houston Texans (2-1)-

This is a very even match-up between two teams who are considered weak, but have gotten off to relatively good starts.

On one side we have E.J. Manuel and the Bills. Although they were shut-down by the Chargers last week, wins over the Bears and Dolphins have impressed me. Perhaps this shows that Manuel is developing in his process as a young NFL quarterback and that there is a light at the end of the tunnel for Buffalo.

On the other we have Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Texans. Though they have yet to play a solid team, they looked fairly dominant in wins over the Redskins and Raiders. Despite losing to the Giants last week, I am not ruling this team a bust. Fitzpatrick is not terrible, Houston does have a solid wide-out in Andre Johnson, and we cannot forget about Arian Foster, the injury-prone yet potentially elite running back who missed last week’s game due to…wait for it…an injury. Mix this in with a solid defense and you have a team who may finish around the .500 mark, not 2-14 like last year.

I went back and forth on this pick for approximately 15 minutes (whenever I do that, I almost always get it wrong so take note) but with Houston having yet to play a good team, getting beat by the Giants last week, and the Bills getting two impressive wins in the first two weeks of the season, I have to take Buffalo to squeak out a road win.

Winner: Bills

Tennessee Titans (1-2) vs. Indianapolis Colts (1-2)-

With quarterback Andrew Luck quickly growing into one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, the Colts shook off their 0-2 start with a blowout win over the Jaguars last week. I am a huge Luck fan and continue to comfortably believe that Indianapolis should cruise to an AFC South victory.

The Titans are one of those teams that can look great one week and terrible the next, but with the talented but young Jake Locker under center, you would kind of expect that. Again, the Colts are the favorites in this division, and with Tennessee lacking a bit of explosiveness, I don’t expect them to be major contenders this year.

I can see the Titans winning this game, but with Luck’s talent and big losses to the Cowboys and Bengals, I simply cannot take Tennessee.

Winner: Colts

Carolina Panthers (2-1) vs. Baltimore Ravens (2-1)-

The Panthers loss to the Steelers on Sunday night was surprising, but it’s nothing something I will take into tremendous consideration when picking this game.

Here’s the deal: Under Cam Newton, the Panthers cruised to a division title with a 12-4 record last year. The Ravens, on the other hand, are incredibly inconsistent, and while they can look great one week, they can also look awful the next.

Having won their past two games, I’m going to say that Baltimore is due for a bad game, and on the road, Carolina gets a big road win.

Winner: Panthers

Detroit Lions (2-1) vs. New York Jets (1-2)-

The Lions are coming off a big win over the Packers last week. As is the case with the Bears, this team has talent but often fails to put it together. Matthew Stafford has a powerful arm, wide receiver Calvin Johnson is the best in the business, and if they can limit the errors and inconsistency, they too have the potential to win the NFC North.

The Jets probably won’t have enough to contend for the postseason, but after keeping it close with two good teams like the Packers and Bears, I am not quite ruling them out. Geno Smith has shown flashes of talent, the offense looks better than in previous years, and to consider this team flat-out bad would be foolish.

This should be a tight game. I’m going to go with my gut and say that after a big win over the Packers, the Lions go into New York and suffer a little bit of a letdown loss.

THURSDAY UPDATE: With the Lions offense looking as sharp as it has, and the Jets coming off a short week, I’m switching this tough pick to Detroit.

Winner: Lions

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-3) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1)-

After seeing them lose to Derek Anderson’s Panthers, Austin Davis’s Rams, and get absolutely demolished by the Falcons, I am starting to think that the Buccaneers can make a serious contention for the NFL’s worst team. The Josh McCown offense just isn’t clicking, and a team we thought might be a bit of a surprise is making opponents laugh and fans cry.

Playing on the road against a Steelers team that looked impressive against the Panthers on Sunday night, this pick is ridiculously easy.

Winner: Steelers

Miami Dolphins (1-2) vs. Oakland Raiders (0-3)-

Derek Carr’s Raiders have played at a bad level so far, and with this team lacking serious talent at almost all positions, I consider them among the NFL’s worst.

Ryan Tannehill and the Dolphins have suffered two disappointing losses after a big win against the Patriots in week 1. However, I continue to believe in Tannehill and that developing offense, and though I expect this game to remain relatively close, pure talent should win out in the end.

Winner: Dolphins

Jacksonville Jaguars (0-3) vs. San Diego Chargers (2-1) (Sunday at 4:05 PM ET)-

The Chargers are a solid team, and with strong quarterback Philip Rivers and a good defense leading the way, they should be able to at least contend for a wild card spot in the AFC.

The Jaguars, on the other hand, are just flat-out terrible. Blake Bortles has more potential than Chad Henne, but neither is particularly good right now, the receivers are all banged up (not that they were particularly appealing to begin with), and the running game with Toby Gerhart has been a disappointment in the early going as well.

With this game in San Diego, this pick is a solid lock.

Winner: Chargers

The following games are on Sunday at 4:25 PM ET:

Philadelphia Eagles (3-0) vs. San Francisco 49ers (1-2)-

The Eagles have looked solid so far. A comeback win over the Jaguars, a primetime comeback win over the Colts, and a tight win over the Redskins are their achievements, and this team is definitely the favorite to win the NFC East. Quarterback Nick Foles is demonstrating similar talent to last season, running back LeSean McCoy remains elite, and the receivers offer some nice targets for Foles in the passing game as well.

Though I also consider San Francisco a great team, they have not gotten off to the best of starts. Losses to the Bears and Drew Stanton’s Cardinals do have me a bit concerned, but with that said, I am not panicking. I continue to believe in quarterback Colin Kaepernick and the variety of receiver weapons that he has at hand, and with a solid defense on the other side of the ball, I still think that San Francisco is a playoff team.

The 49ers will be under a lot of pressure to win this game. The Eagles are due for a loss. At home, San Francisco gets a key victory.

Winner: 49ers

Atlanta Falcons (2-1) vs. Minnesota Vikings (1-2)-

As far as overall talent is concerned, the Falcons are the clear-cut better team. Matt Ryan is a top 10 overall quarterback, the wide receiver duo of Julio Jones and Roddy White is among the best in the league, and the offense looks great…at least on paper. Atlanta struggled badly on the road last season (1-7), and considering they got thumped by the Bengals in Cincinnati a couple of weeks ago, some concerns do arise with how they will perform here.

Especially after the loss of running back Adrian Peterson, the Vikings are not a great team. However, probable starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has the potential to be a solid player, athletic beast Cordarelle Patterson is on the squad, they kept things close on the road against the Saints last week, the Falcons have struggled on the road, but more than anything, this is a gut call.

Upset alert!

Winner: Vikings

New Orleans Saints (1-2) vs. Dallas Cowboys (2-1)-

Even with the Saints suffering losses to the Falcons and Browns and just barely squeaking out a win over the Vikings last week we must remember – this team is led by Drew Brees – one of the best quarterbacks in the game. He can lead an offense like no one can, and playing against Tony Romo and the Cowboys – one of the most inconsistent teams in the league (Warning: They have won two in a row), there is no way I can pick against New Orleans, especially since that elite offense thrives in dome environments.

Saints show the prime-time audience that they’ve still got it.

Winner: Saints

New England Patriots (2-1) vs. Kansas City Chiefs (1-2)-

As is the case with other “elite” teams like the Packers and Saints, the Patriots have struggled in the early-going, losing to the Dolphins, and barely edging out the Raiders last week. Despite Tom Brady being one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game, he is experiencing a decline in production and that normally explosive New England offense is just not looking the same in 2014.

After a big loss to the Titans and a tight loss to the Broncos, the Chiefs looked like a pretty decent team against the Dolphins last week. As I have been saying, I believe that an easy 2013 schedule makes people think they are better than they really are, but with that said, they should by no means be completely written-off from the playoff picture.

In this game, Brady’s Pats have been struggling, and with running back Jamaal Charles probably back, I say that the Chiefs edge out a home win on Monday night.

Winner: Chiefs

 

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2013 NFL Week 4: What We Learned

I am beginning to get a better grasp on some teams. While this week’s prediction record of 9-6 is nothing to be too proud of, I honestly think I will step it up in week 5. Before I get to my predictions on a different post and try to improve upon my 37-26 (58.73%) prediction record, let us take a look at week 4 one final time. Here are five things we learned:

• The Seahawks  can play away from Seattle, as they got a road win over the Texans. At 4-0, this team is looking great.

• The Patriots can beat good teams. Even with weak receivers, their offense looked good on Sunday night.

• Perhaps the Lions can be playoff contenders. Matthew Stafford and the offense looked great in a win against the Bears.

• The Ravens continue to be be inconsistent, as they lost to the Bills this week. How do you analyze this team?

• The Giants? Flat out terrible. Hard to believe that so many people, including myself, picked them to win the division.

2013 Week 4 NFL Picks: A Correction

Even when no one sees a mistake, the mistake is there.

On Tuesday, I delivered to you my 2013 week 4 NFL picks. Today, I realized that I had accidentally picked the Texans to beat the Seahawks on Sunday.

I do not know why. For the rest of the week, I completely had in mind that I was going with the Seahawks to win, and in my heart, in all honesty, my true prediction was for the Seattle Seahawks to beat the Houston Texans.

That’s what happened today.

I am making this post so no one considers me a cheater. I have changed my prediction on the week 4 picks to what I was thinking before the game. I have never done this before, so I hope that you all can trust me just this once that that is what truly happened.

I wanted to make a post to specifically clarify this in case someone saw the prediction post and thought that I was trying to make my picking record look better by cheating. I will try my absolute hardest to not make such silly, mental mistakes in the future so I can deliver the best accurate picks in a way that looks fair to everybody.

I apologize for any trouble and inconvenience to all of my viewers.

2013 Week 4 NFL Recap

With the exception of two games, week 4 of the 2013 NFL season has come to a close. While the picture on who is good and who is not is becoming a little more clear, there are still some question marks on certain teams. In my picks, I have started the week with a record of 8-5, putting me at a record of 36-25 (59.02%) on the season. If I can predict the Sunday and Monday night games correctly, I will be above 60% and climbing that ladder towards my goal of picking 70% by the end of the regular season. Right now, however, let’s take a look at what went down so far in week 4:

• Colin Kaepernick and the 49ers got right back on track, as they went to St. Louis and pounded the Rams on Thursday night.

• E.J. Manuel and the Bills were able to get back to .500, as they squeaked out an upset win over the .500 Ravens.

• Brian Hoyer and the Browns were able to get another surprising win, as they defeated a good Bengals team in the Battle of Ohio.

• Matthew Stafford and the Lions looked sharp as they picked up a rather comfortable, division win over the improved Bears.

• The Texans looked like they had the game in hand, but a critical pick 6 by quarterback Matt Schaub sent the game to overtime, and eventually gave the 4-0 Seahawks a tight, road win.

• The Jaguars were no challenge for Andrew Luck and the Colts, as they got a laughable, road win and sent the hopeless Jaguars to 0-4.

• Alex Smith, Jamaal Charles, and the Chiefs improved to 4-0 as they got a blowout win over the terrible looking Giants. New York is 0-4 for the first time since 1987.

• Matt Cassel, Adrian Peterson, and the Vikings got their first win of the season, as they held on for a tight win over the 0-4 Steelers in London.

• Carson Palmer and the Cardinals made a late game comeback, to spoil the rookie debut of quarterback Mike Glennon, and send the Buccaneers to 0-4.

• The Titans had no problems handling the Jets at home, as they got an easy win to improve to 3-1. It was bittersweet, however, as Tennessee quarterback Jake Locker was carted off the field in the third quarter.

• Peyton Manning and the Broncos continue to look absolutely unstoppable, as they scored 52 points and picked up an easy victory over the Eagles.

• Robert Griffin III and the Redskins were able to get their first win of the season, as they marched into Oakland and beat the banged up Raiders.

• Phillip Rivers and the Chargers improved to .500, as they picked up a nine point victory over Tony Romo and the inconsistent Cowboys.

2013 Week 4 NFL Power Rankings

Please note: Due to the breaking Josh Freeman benching, I am changing my prediction about the Cardinals/Buccaneers game. I had originally picked the Buccaneers, but now I am picking the Cardinals to get the road win. To know exactly why I did so, check out this week’s picks. 

Week 3 of the 2013 NFL season was not a good one for many “elite” teams. Therefore, on this week’s power rankings, teams that did poorly may not be moved down so much. After careful research, here are the best teams in the NFL after three games:

10. Baltimore Ravens (1-2)- While this team did not look great in their first two games, they had a fantastic showing last week by crushing the Houston Texans. I am still a believer in the Super Bowl champions. Their quarterback Joe Flacco is solid, they still have a fairly solid running back in Ray Rice (when he is healthy), and wide receiver Torrey Smith has the ability to impress as well. I continue to believe that they will make the postseason and possibly make some noise…again.

9. Indianapolis Colts (2-1)- What a great week for the Colts. Not only do they go into San Francisco and easily beat what I think is a great team, but they also acquire running back Trent Richardson. One of the few weaknesses with this team was the running game, and it appears that they have found a solution. If the young RB Richardson can make things click, and quarterback Andrew Luck can continue to impress, this is easily a playoff team. Maybe even more.

8. Cincinnati Bengals (2-1)- It seems that Andy Dalton and this young team are growing every week. They picked up an impressive win over the Packers on Sunday. If Dalton can continue to mature, A.J. Green can continue being one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, and that running game with Green-Ellis and Bernard produce, this might just be a Super Bowl contending team.

7. Green Bay Packers (1-2)- Even though the start to their season has not been particularly impressive, I am still a believer in the Packers. Not only do they have one of the best quarterbacks in the league with Aaron Rodgers, but two great receivers in Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson help the offense as well. If they can eliminate some inconsistency that was present last year, expect them to be right there come January.

6. Atlanta Falcons (1-2)- The Falcons also have not had an ideal start to the 2013 season, but I remain a believer. I love quarterback Matt Ryan, running back Steven Jackson (when he is healthy), and the fantastic receivers that the Falcons possess. Last season, I kept saying how they were not beating bad teams by a large enough margin. Let’s just hope that that has not come back.

5. Chicago Bears (3-0)- Maybe I have the Bears a little too high on this list. Then again, maybe not. Jay Cutler and company have not disappointed throughout the first three weeks of the season and that Marc Trestman offense looks good. With wide receiver Brandon Marshall, running back Matt Forte, and a stellar defense, I am liking the Bears more and more with every passing week.

4. San Francisco 49ers (1-2)- After a monster performance in week 1 against Green Bay, Colin Kaepernick and the 49ers have settled down. I did pick this team to win the Super Bowl in the preseason, and I do not regret that pick. This team just needs to get all of their talent together, and win some games. Don’t press the panic button.

3. New Orleans Saints (3-0)- This team is starting to remind me of the 2009 Saints. And if you don’t remember, the ’09 Saints won the Super Bowl. Quarterback Drew Brees remains in elite status. He has a solid receiver in Marques Colston and the best healthy tight end in the league with Jimmy Graham. The defense is doing its job of limiting the yards, and things are clicking on all aspects. I smell Super Bowl contenders.

2. Seattle Seahawks (3-0)- While this team can have its rougher games, they can look so dominant at times, it is hard not to call them Super Bowl contenders. With young, talented quarterback Russell Wilson, an elite running back in Marshawn Lynch, and a very talented defense, I like this team going forward. They just need to eliminate the inconsistency and I really like their playoff chances.

1. Denver Broncos (3-0)- I’m beginning to run out of words to describe this team. That passing offense is simply perfect. That’s right. I said it. Perfect. While that may be a slight exaggeration, Peyton Manning and this team look stacked. With Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker, Eric Decker, and tight end Julius Thomas, I would not be surprised if this team went 16-0.

2013 Week 4 NFL Picks!

Well, folks. It’s week 4. The week that the bye weeks start and the freshness of the season wears down. Hopefully, this is the week that my poor prediction record wears down as well. In week 3, I went only 7-9 to put my season record at 28-20 (58.33%). But wait! Before you click out of this site and go elsewhere, I need to tell you a few things. #1: It is still very early in the season. I can guarantee that this record will go up and I will hopefully finish somewhere around my goal of 70% by the end of the regular season. #2: It was a bad week for a lot of people. As a matter of fact, in my ESPN Pick’em game, only one of five other people beat me. Congratulations to MakaylaBrooks on picking better than me this week. Details on how you can play along are at the bottom of this blog post. Right now, however, it is time to bounce back. After the rain, (week 3 picks) comes down the rainbow. Here are the 2013 week 4 NFL predictions:

San Francisco 49ers (1-2) vs. St. Louis Rams (1-2) (Thursday at 8:30 PM ET)- For an elite team, these last two 49er losses have been a tad concerning. What is supposed to be a high powered offense has scored a combined 10 points over the last two games. While Colin Kaepernick remains an incredible athlete, the running game is still solid, the receiving crew is talented, and the defense is top notch, losing to Sam Bradford and the Rams this week would turn on the panic button in my head. While St. Louis is talented with Bradford and Tavon Austin, they a.) don’t have much of a running game and b.) still need time to develop. I say San Francisco gets right back on track. Winner: 49ers

The following games are on Sunday at 1:00 PM ET:

Baltimore Ravens (2-1) vs. Buffalo Bills (1-2)- Just when you begin to doubt the Ravens and their abilities, they put on a show as they did last week against the Texans. I think that the regular season inconsistency that was present last year is here again. However, deep down, the Ravens are a very talented squad. With proven Super Bowl champion quarterback Joe Flacco under center, a pretty good wide receiver in Torrey Smith, a high powered running game led by Ray Rice (when he’s healthy), do not rule Baltimore out of anything this year. The Bills, on the other hand, are not such a great team. While rookie E.J. Manuel has done slightly better than I had anticipated, C.J. Spiller and the running game has done significantly worse than I expected (it does not help that Spiller is injured as well). Overall, this is a weak team, and even if the Ravens do not show up with as much power as last week, they should have no problem getting the win. Winner: Ravens

Arizona Cardinals (1-2) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-3)- While quarterback Carson Palmer has improved this team, it is not a big enough improvement to make the Cardinals playoff contenders. Sure, they have some decent talent with Larry Fitzgerald leading the receiving core and Rashard Mendenhall on the ground. However, this team almost certainly will not have enough. That last statement holds true to the Buccaneers as well. I thought that Josh Freeman and this team would have a better chance at contending because they have a good, young running game in Doug Martin, and their receiving crew can be very productive at times. However, so far this year, they have been a big disappointment. So much of a disappointment, as a matter of fact, that the Bucs have now benched Freeman for rookie quarterback Mike Glennon. While this move gives the Buccaneers some more potential down the road, I think it currently makes them worse. I had originally picked Tampa, but because we have learned that they are going to start a rookie quarterback, I will go with the visitors. Winner: Cardinals

Pittsburgh Steelers (0-3) vs. Minnesota Vikings (0-3)- Speaking of disappointments, you have the Pittsburgh Steelers. You could really begin to see the red flag when the injury of starting running back Le’Veon Bell mixed in with the lack of receivers. Perhaps it should not be that big of a surprise that they are 0-3. Nevertheless, this is currently a bad-mediocre team. With Bell returning soon, perhaps they can become better, but the playoffs are looking like a fantasy at this point. The Vikings have also been somewhat of a disappointment this year, but to be honest, I kind of saw this coming. You are not going to be very good when your whole offense essentially rests in the feet of one player. I do not trust Christian Ponder as a quarterback, and I do not think the Vikings will be good until they get an improvement at the position. This is another difficult pick. I will go with the team that has the veteran QB. Winner: Steelers

New York Giants (0-3) vs. Kansas City Chiefs (3-0)- The disappointment list just keeps on growing. The Giants have looked terrible over the first three weeks, and I am strongly starting to regret picking them to win the division. While Eli Manning is a talented quarterback, and two great weapon recievers are present, I actually need to see production to give them credit. The early season play of running back David Wilson has not helped matters either. On the other end of the spectrum, you have the Chiefs. Things are clicking for this team in both the running game with Jamaal Charles and passing game with Alex Smith. While I do not think that they are quite Super Bowl worthy, they should have enough to be strong playoff contenders and to be beat the slumping Giants. Winner: Chiefs

Indianapolis Colts (2-1) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-3)- It is performances like last week’s that get me really excited about this young Colts team. They have a quarterback in Andrew Luck that has the potential to be a star, they have some good, young receivers that can get the job done rather efficiently, and now they have a new and improved running game with Trent Richardson getting traded from the Browns. While I do not think Richardson automatically makes them true Super Bowl contenders, it would certainly make me more excited if I was in Indianapolis. Playing a Jaguars team who should be legitimately worried about going 0-16, they should get a cakewalk win here. Winner: Colts

Seattle Seahawks (3-0) vs. Houston Texans (2-1)- While the Seahawks tend to have some games where they play lot better than others, they are sitting at 3-0 and are off to a great start in the NFC West. I really like quarterback Russell Wilson, running back Marshawn Lynch, and the receiving core that is going to get better whenever Percy Harvin comes back. I also consider the Texans an elite team, however, I did not like what I saw from them last week. They got blown out to the Ravens, and this is not the first time we are seeing some inconsistency from them. If you think back to last year, they had a bunch of games where they did not look like the Texans we all know. It also worries me that their two wins (against the Chargers and Titans) have not been by a large margin at all. This is a difficult pick because both teams can be inconsistent. However, Houston played really poorly last week. Would not bet on it at all. Winner: Seahawks (If you are confused, please refer to the link attached https://jacobssportstalk.wordpress.com/2013/09/29/2013-week-4-nfl-picks-a-correction/)

Cincinnati Bengals (2-1) vs. Cleveland Browns (1-2)- Andy Dalton and the Bengals looked like a powerful team last week against the Packers. They have a stud wide receiver in A.J. Green, a decent running game with BenJarvus Green-Ellis and a solid defense. While I am not sure whether they can take that step forward and become true Super Bowl contenders, they are division title contenders for sure. The Browns did beat the Vikings last week under backup quarterback Brian Hoyer. Hoyer did look fairly impressive and it is not certain on what is going to happen with the Browns quarterback situation. However, regardless of who starts, this team is simply not built to win right now, and this was proven by the Trent Richardson deal a few days ago. As sad as it is, the Browns are not going to be good until at least a few more years, and I do not think they will have enough to beat a very good Cincinnati team. Winner: Bengals

Chicago Bears (3-0) vs. Detroit Lions (2-1)- Are the Bears for real? After three weeks of play, Chicago has three victories. Quarterback Jay Cutler is leading this team, and using the added talents of wide receiver Brandon Marshall and running back Matt Forte, the Bears are showing productivity both offensively and defensively. I did not have them making the playoffs in the preseason, but I would change that prediction if I could. I did not have the Lions going in either, but I do not regret that pick. It seems that quarterback Matthew Stafford has not improved all that much and even though this team has clear talent with Calvin Johnson and Reggie Bush, I do not think they will have quite enough to make postseason noise or beat their impressive opponents. Winner: Bears

New York Jets (2-1) vs. Tennessee Titans (2-1) (Sunday at 4:05 PM ET)- While the Jets have yet to beat a quality team, Geno Smith and company have been moderately impressive. There is no way that I am calling them possible playoff contenders, but perhaps New York has found some kind of future in Smith. The Titans are pretty much the same deal. While they have yet to beat a solid team, I am starting to like quarterback Jake Locker a little more. Mix this in with the talents of running back Chris Johnson, and some good, young receivers and you have an almost decent team. Playoff worthy? Probably not. But it should be enough to get a home win over the Jets. Winner: Titans

The following games are on Sunday at 4:25 PM ET:

Washington Redskins (0-3) vs. Oakland Raiders (1-2)- Let us just say it how it is: Robert Griffin III and the Redskins have been a major disappointment so far this year. Whether it has anything to do with the injury Griffin suffered in last year’s playoffs, I do not know. Nevertheless, the Redskins are off to a poor start and their playoff chances are in severe jeopardy. There is absolutely no doubt about the fact that they are talented with Griffin, young running back Alfred Morris, and wide receiver Pierre Garcon. However, even though the future looks exciting, it does not appear this will be the year for Washington. However, I have good news this week. They are playing the Raiders. While I do see some talent in their quarterback Terrelle Pryor, there are two major problems for Oakland: a.) Pryor suffered a concussion last week and b.) the Redskins are more talented. With that being said, I am picking the visitors to get their first win of the young season. Winner: Redskins

Philadelphia Eagles (1-2) vs. Denver Broncos (3-0)- After their week 1 victory against the Redskins, I was rather impressed on how the Eagles performed under the new Chip Kelly offense. After last week’s performance against the Chiefs, I am no longer impressed. As I have been saying on this blog since it started, I am not a Michael Vick fan in any way, and it is because of performances like Thursday’s. The guy is an interception machine, and even though the Eagles have some talent with LeSean McCoy, and DeSean Jackson, and even Vick who remains a fine athlete, they are overrated. The Broncos, in my opinion, are underrated. Yes, I am aware that most people are proclaiming them the best team in the NFL. However, Denver is in a class of their own right now. With elite veteran Peyton Manning, multiple fantastic receivers, a decent running game, and a good defense, the 1972 Miami Dolphins might want to watch out. Seriously. Winner: Broncos

Dallas Cowboys (2-1) vs. San Diego Chargers (1-2)- Speaking of overrated teams, you have the Cowboys. We all know how it is with this team. Quarterback Tony Romo is talented, but makes the wrong plays at the wrong time and it ends up costing them the game. However, it is important to say that the Cowboys appear to be in a bad division this year. In fact, if I had to make a prediction right now, I would say that Dallas is going to win the NFC East. Tony Romo. Playoffs. Scary thought. Anyway, they are playing the Chargers last week, who seem to be looking more like the Chargers from last year. It should not come as a surprise as Philip Rivers does not have a lot of targets to throw the ball to and the talent on their team is not good. The better team should win and improve to 3-1. Tony Romo. 3-1. Scary thought. Winner: Cowboys

New England Patriots (3-0) vs. Atlanta Falcons (1-2) (Sunday at 8:30 PM ET)- Even though New England has yet to lose, they have not played any teams that are even decent so far this year. The fact that they only beat the Bills by two points and the Jets by three is concerning. Nevertheless, even though their receiving crew is weak, the Pats are led by Tom Brady, one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. When Danny Amendola and Rob Gronkowski return, this should be a playoff worthy team. The Falcons are also a playoff worthy team. While they haven’t looked fantastic in their first three games and were upset by the Dolphins, I am still a believer. This team is stacked with talent at almost all positions. And when Steven Jackson and Roddy White are both fully healthy? Watch out. At home, Atlanta should take care of business. Winner: Falcons

Miami Dolphins (3-0) vs. New Orleans Saints (3-0) (Monday at 8:40 PM ET)- I am not completely sold on the Dolphins quite yet. While they did pull out a nice, upset win over the Falcons last week, I am simply not sure if second year quarterback Ryan Tannnehill can make this a playoff team. While they are talented with Tannehill, running back Lamar Miller, and wide receiver Mike Wallace, I would wait a few more games to buy my Super Bowl tickets. If you are a Saints fan, on the other hand, you might want to consider buying your spot to the big Apple right now. With head coach Sean Payton back, Drew Brees and the Saints have looked great over their first three games. If the defense can limit the points and the offense can continue to rack up the wins, this team is a true Super Bowl threat. They should pick up the home victory. Winner: Saints

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