NFL Pick 'em: Week Four

Short week last week led my to posting my picks without any explanations. In the end, I did just alright, going 10-6 which brings me to 26-21-2 on the year. As an expert on the Pick ‘em, this record requires me to step it up in week four. With a couple different bye weeks, I’m expecting this week to be my best yet. If you follow along, you too, should reap the rewards. Onto the picks (side note: I started the week off 1-0 thanks to picking the Rams over the Vikings):

Cincinnati at Atlanta

The Bengals (or are they the Bungles?) will play without Joe Mixon and a possibly hurt A.J. Green. This Bengals team has multiple questions marks while the Falcons have multiple offensive weapons in Julio Jones, Devonta Freeman and the emergence of Calvin Ridley and Tevin Coleman. Even without Freeman, this team has shown explosive offensive power.

Pick: Atlanta

Tampa Bay at Chicago:

We don’t know what we will get from this game. While Ryan Fitzpatrick has been an offensive powerhouse, he has also gone from four touchdowns in one week to five interceptions the next week. So I always approach his performance wearily. The Bears have a potent defensive rush and can bring on the sacks. I expect the pressure to get to Fitzpatrick.

Pick: Chicago

Detroit at Dallas:

Both teams have less than stellar rosters this year, but the Lions are coming off of an impressive win against the New England Patriots while the Cowboys are coming off of a loss where they scored only 13 points. This will leave many thinking the Lions will win this game. But make no mistake, the Lions team has had numerous problems outside of the one game where they dominated the Patriots’ biggest weakness.

Pick: Dallas

Buffalo at Green Bay

The Minnesota Vikings’ poor play last week left many thinking the Bills have the ability to take down top opponents. Again, watch that game. It was more about Kirk Cousins and his inability to complete a pass while also committing what seems like one hundred mistakes. Aaron Rodgers should roll into this one and stomp on the Bills.

Pick: Green Bay

Philadelphia at Tennessee

This might be the hardest game to predict. The Eagles will have virtually no run game in this one, while the Titans had an impressive win over Jacksonville last week. This will come down to if Carson Wentz can beat the Titan’s secondary.

Pick: Philadelphia

Houston at Indianapolis

At this point, I’ve overrated the Colts. I think I have picked them every week so far. Still, the train keeps rolling. Andrew Luck faces questions based on his arm strength while Deshaun Watson’s question marks are in his comeback from an ACL injury. I’ll take arm strength over an ACL injury in this one.

Pick: Indianapolis

Miami at New England

We’re living in an upside down world. New England is 1-2 and the Dolphins are 3-0. Surely, the Patriots won’t start off 1-3 while the Dolphins remain undefeated, right?

Pick: New England

New York Jets at Jacksonville

Blake Bortles is terrible. The Jets had a good showing last week on Thursday night football. But then again, that was against the Cleveland Browns and they still lost. This Jets team has a lot of problems right now.

Pick: Jacksonville

Cleveland at Oakland

This game will have a lot of eyes. Between Baker Mayfield, Jarvis Landry and the Browns’ offense against Jon Gruden trying to get his first win, I like this matchup. I think Gruden finds a way to get a win against this Browns team.

Pick: Oakland

Seattle at Arizona

Everybody predicted the Seahawks to fall this season. But with this game, I think the Seahawks find a way to defeat an Arizona team with a lot of offensive problems.

Pick: Seattle

New Orleans at New York Giants

This game will probably end in a shootout with both running backs putting up massive yards. Even though I think the Giants have a better team than last year, I can’t see them taking down the Saints’ attack.

Pick: New Orleans

San Francisco at Los Angeles Chargers

The Giants are without Jimmy G in this one and the rest of the season. The Chargers have an underrated offense between Phillip Rivers and Melvin Gordon. I expect Gordon to rush for over 100 yards and a couple touchdowns and lift the Chargers to victory

Pick: Los Angeles Chargers

Baltimore at Pittsburgh

While the Steelers have been dysfunctional this season, they found a way to defeat Tampa Bay. Baltimore is a similar team to Tampa Bay. Plus, this is a divisional game, a rivalry and the Steelers are at home.

Pick: Pittsburgh

Kansas City at Denver

Andy Reid is doing what he normally does. His team is off to the best start in the NFL under their quarterback of the future, Patrick Mahomes. Although Kansas City won’t keep this pace up all season, they should continue to keep pace against the Broncos.

Pick: Kansas City