It’s about to be the quarter mark of the 2020 NFL Season, and already COVID-19 has taken a toll on the originally scheduled Week 4 matchup between the Steelers and Titans, as additional tests were conducted and determined positive in Tennessee, causing the game to be postponed completely for a later date. With one game down for the week, let’s explore the rest of the games still on for this weekend:
Denver Broncos @ New York Jets (TNF @ 8:20pm): Both the Broncos and Jets have been on a downward spiral since the season started, but eventually, one of these teams will finally get out of the hole and put up their first win of the season. With Drew Lock still out and Jeff Driskel unsuccessful with his performance against Tampa Bay, Brett Rypien has been called to lead the charge at MetLife. Gordon will lead the backfield once more with Lindsay unlikely to play, while receivers like Jerry Jeudy are will look to back up Rypien. For the Jets, Sam Darnold is still looking for a breakthrough with Gore in the backfield and Perriman still out but Hogan questionable. If the defense plays well enough, the Jets’ offense may have enough weapons to triumph over Denver for their first win of the season.
PREDICTION: Jets win 27-20
Indianapolis Colts @ Chicago Bears (1pm): This may be viewed as one of the most underrated matchups of the week, as the Bears bring their perfect record back home against Phillip Rivers and the Colts. It will be the Colts’ offense, led by Rivers, Taylor, and Hilton, against Khalil Mack’s defense. Nick Foles has now become the new starting QB for Chicago after he led a comeback at Atlanta just like Prescott did for the Cowboys. A nail biter may be in store, but to be honest, the Colts appear to have more weapons than Chicago does, and if it does play out like that, the Colts will spoil the Bears’ tied-lead for first place in their division.
PREDICTION: Colts win 28-24
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Cincinnati Bengals (1pm): Both teams failed to pick up a win last week when they could’ve. The Jaguars were threatening the first two weeks but Fitzpatrick exposed them at TIAA Bank Field last Thursday and the Bengals gave up a game-tying TD late in the 4th to Wentz and the Eagles that forced a tie in the end. Now, both teams will clash and the game may be unpredictable with who will end up the victor. As far as offense, Burrow still has weapons at his disposal, more than Minshew has, so I can see Burrow finally getting his first win of his NFL career.
PREDICTION: Bengals win 23-17
Cleveland Browns @ Dallas Cowboys (1pm): Seeing the records both teams have is quite confusing. Of course, the Browns winning against the Bengals and Washington while losing to Baltimore makes sense, as for the Cowboys, losing at LA and Seattle while winning at home against Atlanta makes sense too. So, what will be the key in this game? Defense. The Cowboys’ defense is the reason they’re 1-2, while the Browns’ offense, particularly the ground game led by Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, has helped them often in the first three weeks of the game. This game may appear closer, and when you compare offenses, Dallas still looks more tough than Cleveland’s. So, you may expect Dallas to win, but not by a large margin.
PREDICTION: Cowboys win 30-27
New Orleans Saints @ Detroit Lions (1pm): The Saints appear to be declining and have not won since Michael Thomas went down with a high-ankle sprain in Week 1 vs. Tampa Bay. Of course, Thomas wasn’t effective in that game but his presence contributed to the win. And the big news: Thomas practiced on Wednesday. Detroit upset Arizona last week on Matt Prater’s game-winning field goal along with Kenny Gollday’s return from injury and his first game of the season resulting in a TD catch. The Lions could get better, but if the Saints reassume their identity offensively with Thomas leading the way, the Saints will pull back against Detroit.
PREDICTION: Saints win 31-21
Seattle Seahawks @ Miami Dolphins (1pm): Russell Wilson’s success to start the season couldn’t have gone any better as he has a new NFL record for the most TD passes in the first 3 games of the season, even passing Manning’s TD passes through the first 3 games of the 2013 season that included a 7-TD game to start the year against Baltimore. Against the Dolphins’ defense, expect Wilson to keep building on his success that could lead to him getting his first-ever MVP vote, and MVP award at the end of the season. Fitzpatrick shined at Jacksonville last week, but playing against a healthy Seahawks’ defense featuring Jamal Adams, if possible, will not be easy by any means.
PREDICTION: Seahawks win 34-20
Los Angeles Chargers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1pm): Justin Herbert appeared to some as overhyped after he failed to capture a win against Carolina following their loss against Kansas City where they nearly upset Mahomes. Playing a Buccaneers team that has started to develop their identity will be no easier. Godwin and Evans playing together is still questionable, but the running game is developing and Gronkowski is being eyed more by Brady, as they always did in New England. If Tampa Bay’s defense plays their game against the Chargers’ offense, the Buccaneers may come away with another victory to hold their first-place lead in the NFC South.
PREDICTION: Buccaneers win 27-24
Baltimore Ravens @ Washington Football Team (1pm): Chiefs fans got more than they hoped when Kansas City went all over the Ravens on MNF last week. But, the Ravens will look past it and give themselves another chance to stay hot in the AFC. Their next battle is in D.C. against a Washington team that has dropped their last two games and are still tied for first in the NFC East, which is looking weak to start the season. Washington has had some good looks against their opponents in the first three weeks, but playing against a powerhouse Ravens’ team is going to bring them down.
PREDICTION: Ravens win 34-17
Arizona Cardinals @ Carolina Panthers (1pm): Panthers found enough rhythms at SoFi Stadium to accomplish their first win of the season last week, while Arizona did not perform the way they hoped, and late injuries to the defense in the game allowed Detroit to shock them. Carolina won in Glendale last year, and Bridgewater will look to keep that streak rolling. But, Murray hopes for everyone to be healthy as his MVP case takes a bit of a dip. Hopefully, the offense pulls through and triumphs over the Panthers’ defense.
PREDICTION: Arizona wins 30-23
Minnesota Vikings @ Houston Texans (1pm): It has not looked good for both of these teams to start the season. Vikings dropped home games to Green Bay and Tennessee and lost at Indianapolis. For Houston, their first 3 losses were against KC, Baltimore, and Pittsburgh. When comparing both teams, the Texans’ opponents were tougher than Minnesota’s, and since the game is at NRG Stadium, the Texans’ offense will most likely take advantage of a depleted Vikings’ defense that has not performed the way they had the last few seasons.
PREDICTION: Texans win 31-21
New York Giants @ Los Angeles Rams (4:05pm): Both teams suffered hard losses last week, and will try to rebound when they meet at SoFi Stadium this weekend. The Rams nearly overcame a 28-3 deficit, but the Bills got a game-winning drive down in the end to win, while the Giants, who supposedly looked more healthy than the 49ers, still got badly beat at home. With the Rams in control at home and with healthy and dangerous weapons, the Giants will still question when their first game of 2020 will come.
PREDICTION: Rams win 35-17
New England Patriots @ Kansas City Chiefs (4:25pm): One of the most enticing games of Week 4 will take place at Arrowhead with limited attendance taking place. The Patriots appear be almost as strong as Brady has made them look like the last few seasons to start 2020 after a firm win over the Raiders last week, and the Chiefs secured a great win at Baltimore on MNF. Cam Newton has started to prove his worth, while Mahomes looks as unstoppable as ever. A game like this may be a shootout and could be determined at the last second. With the game on the line, Mahomes has all the answers, and despite a tough Patriots’ defense, the weapons that Pat has can give him another case for MVP.
PREDICTION: Chiefs win 34-30
Buffalo Bills @ Las Vegas Raiders (4:25pm): Don’t sleep on this game. The Bills’ win over L.A. has shown that Buffalo can be a team in the AFC on the rise and can dethrone New England. Josh Allen has also made a case for MVP to start the season as he has great weapons like Stefan Diggs, John Brown, and Dawson Knox at his disposal. For the Raiders, they will look to rebound from their loss at Foxborough, and between both teams, the Bills’ offense can overcome a questionable Raiders’ defense while the Bills’ defense can also do enough damage to close a very close game.
PREDICTION: Bills win 31-28
Philadelphia Eagles @ San Francisco 49ers (SNF @ 8:20pm): You would’ve thought this would be a grand game to watch when the season began, but injuries and questionable performances has raised question marks for both teams. Carson Wentz has yet to give the Eagles a win this season, while the 49ers found an answer against the Jets and Giants when injuries affected them. If Garappalo, Coleman, and Mostert return, it will be a problem for the Eagles, and Deebo Samuel may play for the first time this season. The 49ers defense has the strength to perform without Bosa and Thomas, and with that, expect the 49ers to make the Eagles look as rough as the rest of the NFC East.
PREDICTION: 49ers win 27-14
Atlanta Falcons @ Green Bay Packers (MNF @ 8:15pm): Comebacks have been an enemy for Atlanta to start the season. Matt Ryan and the Falcons appear to have the answer at first in the 4th quarter, but then give it away, like they did to Dallas and Chicago. The Packers’ have shined a lot more than many would’ve expected them to at the beginning of the season, such as going crazy at Minnesota and New Orleans, and doing what they were expected to do against Detroit. Playing Atlanta? Well, it may be a shootout, but no matter the outcome, Aaron Rodgers will show that age is not affecting them.
PREDICTION: Packers win 38-28
Zachary Wilson 