NFL SEASON 2014: Week four picks

My stats

Me

Week three: 11-5

Season total: 28-20

Prisco:

Week three: 13-3

Season total: 31-17

Exact spread:

me

Week Three: 0/16

Season: 1/48

Prisco

Week Three: 0/16

Season: 0/48

Exact score (game):

me

Week Three: 0/16

Season: 0/48

Prisco

Week Three: 0/16

Season: 0/48

Exact score (team):

me

Week Three: 1/32

Season: 3/96

Prisco

Week Three: 1/32

Season: 3/96

Correct upset specials:

me:

2/3

Prisco:

N/A

As the season progresses, it gets easier to pick winners and losers. The good teams separate from the bad and, as coaches have more and more film to study, surprising other teams gets more difficult.

Last week I finished 11-5, good enough to win a division. Prisco finishes 13-3, enough to win a first round bye. I was correct on my my second upset special, making me 2 out of three on the season. I only pick one exact team score correct, but I was one point off on several.

The Eagles continue to build big deficits and then come from behind to win. the 49ers have been outscored 52-3 in the second half and the Buccaneers gave up more points in one game than eight teams have given up on the season.

Who is the worst team in the NFL currently? My vote goes with Jacksonville, but the Raiders and Buccaneers have also yet to find their way into the win column. What's on tap for week four?

Bye weeks: Browns, Bengals, Seahawks, Rams, Cardinals, Broncos

The Giants are coming off a much needed win. The Redskins are back home after a tough loss. Kirk Cousins has been playing well, the Giants defense is terrible. I like the 'Skins.

Giants 21 Redskins 28

result:

Giants 45 Redskins 14

Carolina is coming off an embarrassing loss at home (which was my upset pick of the week) and the Ravens are coming off an emotional, last second win against a surprisingly competitive Browns team. Neither team thrills me, but I like Panthers defense to get after Flacco and force him into some mistakes.

Panthers 20 Ravens 14

result

Panthers 10 Ravens 38

I can't figure out either of these teams. The Packers, though, haven't looked good all season, even in winning. They're coming off a tough road loss against a Bears team that has put together two impressive road wins. The Packers seem to be on the decline.

Packers 17 Bears 23

result:

Packers 38 Bears 17

The Bills 2-0 start was about as real as a unicorn. But, so was the Texans, who were embarrassed by a bad Giants team on the road. Both these teams have great defenses but inconsistent quarterback play. This one will be low scoring and ugly.

Bills 14 Texans 19

result:

Bills 17 Texans 23

After an impressive opening week win, the Titans have looked flat out bad the last two weeks. Now, they're starting QB may be out. The Colts got a much needed win and demolished the Jags in Jacksonville. Now they come back home where they will do the same thing to the Titans.

Titans 10 Colts 24

result:

Titans 17 Colts 41

The Lions defense has been rather dominant the start the season, to go with an offense featuring many weapons. The Jets have been solid on defense but not good at all on offense. The front seven of the Lions will be too much for the Jets on a short week.

Lions 24 Jets 16

result:

Lions 24 Jets 17

After defeating the Pats in week one (my upset special that week), the Dolphins have look bad. The Raiders nearly beat the Patriots last week in Foxboro and that defense is good enough to keep them in most ball games. I think the Dolphins are the better team, and Tannehill's job is on the line. He steps up here, and may keep his job in tact for another week.

Dolphins 21 Raiders 17

result:

Dolphins 38 Raiders 14

After allowing 56(!) points last week, Mike Glennon came in and saved the team form getting shut out. But they look bad. The Steelers just destroyed the Panthers in Carolina (my upset pick from last week). The Bucs are worse than the Panthers and the Steelers are home. It's going to be a long season for the Bucs.

Buccaneers 14 Steelers 31

result:

Buccaneers 27 Steelers 24

I thought the Jags were going to be better this year. I was wrong. Blake Bortles gets his first career start against a physical Chargers team on the road. Blow out.

Jaguars 10 Chargers 27

Result:

Jaguars 14 Chargers 33

The Falcons lit up a bad defense last week for 56 points. The Vikings have scored 16 points since dropping 34 in week one. They're still bad. The Falcons offense porous defense will keep it close, but the Falcons will prove to be too much.

Falcons 28 Vikings 23

result:

Falcons 28 Vikings 41

The Eagles are a scoring machine, but they haven't faced a legit defense all season. They can't keep falling behind, especially not against a desperate Niners team, which has been outscored 52-3 in the second half this season. I think like all Chip Kelley teams, a tough, physical defense will stifle a powerful offense when it counts.

Eagles 24 49ers 26

result:

Eagles 21 49ers 26

A battle of no defenses should be fun to watch.. The Cowboys are a surprising 2-1. DeMarco is Murray is the difference here, as he can bleed clock in the fourth quarter.

Saints 27 Cowboys 31

result:

Saints 17 Cowboys 38

New England (2-1) at Kansas City (1-2)

Tom Brady looks like a 37 year old and the the Pats in general look out of sync and struggled mightily against a bad Raiders team in Foxboro. The Chiefs don't look much better but they are coming off a big road win and I don't see them losing two in a row at Arrowhead, which is always a tough place to play.

Patriots 16 Chiefs 20

result:

Patriots 14 Chiefs 41

Thanks for Reading

A FREELANCE WRITER, HONORS STUDENT AND GOVER PRIZE FINALIST, JUSTIN W. PRICE (AKA, PDXKARAOKEGUY)IS A POET, SHORT STORY, BIOGRAPHY AND HUMOR WRITER. HIS POETRY COLLECTION,DIGGING TO CHINA, WAS RELEASED FEBRUARY 2ND, 2013 BY SWEATSHOPPE PUBLICATIONS AND IS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM, BARNES AND NOBLE AND THROUGH YOUR LOCAL BOOKSELLER.

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