With three weeks in the books the 2016 NFL season is already beginning to take shape. We have seen some power house teams emerge and others wither under the pressure. Week 4 begins with a good matchup on Thursday night between the Bengals and the Dolphins, and this week features some prime time matchups. Take a look at the power rankings going into this week to see which times might rise and which teams might fall. This week’s game of the week features the Pittsburgh Steelers who are up against the Kansas City Chiefs. I am anxious to get on with predictions, I am hopeful to keep this winning predictions record alive this week. Here are the picks for week 4 in the NFL.
*Teams on Bye: Eagles, Packers
GAME OF THE WEEK
Chiefs (2-1) vs. Steelers (2-1)
The Chiefs and he Steelers face off this week in the battle of bounce back teams in the AFC. The Steelers are coming off of an embarrassing loss to the Eagles last week, and the Chiefs giving out the embarrassing loss to the Jets. The Steelers get a huge boost to their offense this week with LeVeon Bell set to return to the lineup after serving a three game suspension. The Steelers are out to prove that last week was a rare mishap and will look to take out their anger on this Chiefs team. A game which seems to be leaning more in the Steelers favor this week will be an intriguing matchup. The Chiefs defense looked great last week forcing 6 interceptions from Ryan Fitspatrick, and they look to do the same to Big Ben and the Steelers. I give the nod to the Steelers in this game to knock off the Chiefs at home. Bell will have a big game in his return to action.
Pick: STEELERS
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THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL GAME
Bengals (1-2) vs. Dolphins (1-2)
This is a must win game for these two teams on Thursday night as the Dolphins come to town to face the Bengals. It’s my favorite game of the week with Color Rush uniforms in full display. The Dolphins in Orange and the Bengals in White at home. Look for the Bengals to take this one in a one-sided affair in Cincinnati. The Bengals have had a rough slate to start the season playing some good teams which is most of the reason why they are 1-2. The Dolphins have been very unimpressive in 2016. With such talent, you would think they would do so much more with it. The offense has been a no-show and the defense hasn’t stopped too many people. The Bengals should run away with this one at home to get the record back at .500 and move on up from there. I have a feeling that Dalton and Green are going to go big in this one.
Pick: BENGALS
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Colts (1-2) vs. Jaguars (0-3)
Two bottom dweller teams face off this week in Jacksonville when the Jaguars take on the Colts. The Colts looked good in defeating decent Chargers last week at home behind the arm of Andrew Luck, and this week looks to bring in more of the same. The Jaguars have been this season’s disappointment. Bortles has yet to look like he did last year torching defenses all year long, and the Jaguar defense gets torn apart every week. Luck is too good to lose in this one and I predict that the Colts will win a close one in Florida.
Pick: COLTS
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Titans (1-2) vs. Texans (2-1)
A battle between to young quarterbacks takes place this week in Texas where the Texans look to take on the Titans. Marcus Mariota has been good at times this year, but needs to be more consistent for the Titans to start picking up some more wins. The Texans on the other hand, led by Brock Osweiler, looked good in the first two weeks, then got blown out by an injury and suspension ridden Patriots team 27-0. I believe that the Texans will bounce back this week and control this game from the beginning in route to a solid win at home. The defense will show up big and take the Titans out of the game from the start.
Pick: TEXANS
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Browns (0-3) vs. Redskins (1- 2)
An intriguing matchup between two teams searching for identity early in this season. The Redskins got a great win last week in New York against a good Giants team that was 2-0 at the time. They have been hit hard by the injury bug so far this season, but still have the weapons to produce big numbers and wins. The Browns have the worst luck, and have continually fallen apart in games that they should have won (somehow they keep these games close). The Browns are on their third quarterback this season, and while Terrell Pryor is a bright spot for them, they are still looking to find something positive to take away from this season. I see this game as another close loss for the Browns in Washington DC.
Pick: REDSKINS
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Seahawks (2-1) vs. Jets (1-2)
Two good defenses collide this week in New York as the Jets take on the Seahawks. The Jets have had a up and down three games, losing to the Bengals in week one, then taking it to the Bills in week two, then getting DESTROYED by the Chiefs last week. They are better than their record shows and should push this season for one of the wild card spots in the AFC. Russell Wilson had an injury scare last week as he seemed to go down awkwardly in the Seahawks win. He seemed to bounce back this week at practice and will start against the Jets. This matchup is a close call, but with Christine Michael playing running the ball so well last week, and the Seattle defense being what it is, I have to go with the Seahawks coming away with a win on the road.
Pick: SEAHAWKS
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Bills (1-2) vs. Patriots (3-0)
The Bills were the talk of the town this past week as they were able to dismantle a good Cardinals team in route to a great first win of their season. This week in preparing for the Patriots, Rex Ryan even posed as a journalist in order to find out who was playing quarterback against him this coming weekend. With Jacoby Brissett injured, Garoppolo still recovering, and Brady having one week left on this suspension, the Patriots are reeling to find a guy to lead the team this weekend. Brissett looks to be the man behind center, but Edelman might take some snaps if needed. The Patriots should take this one because of their preparation and talented defense. Say what you want about Rex Ryan showing up against the Patriots, I don’t think this one will be close.
Pick: PATRIOTS
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Panthers (1-2) vs. Falcons (2-1)
This is probably the hardest pick of the week for me. The Falcons are showing just how good that offense is this year. Matt Ryan is an early candidate for MVP putting up great numbers through the first three weeks. On the other side of the ball is the reigning NFC conference champions in the Panthers. The Panthers are out for blood after taking their second loss of the season to the Vikings last week at home. Between these two teams, the Panthers have the better defense so I am going to give them the last chance nod for this week’s game. I am giving them one more chance at being a top weekly pick for me, if they lose this one I am shunning them.
Pick: PANTHERS
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Raiders (2-1) vs. Ravens (3-0)
Another great matchup is set to go underway in Baltimore as the Ravens take on the Raiders. The Raiders boast one of the most young and talented offensive units in the game right now and they are starting to click together. I should probably have more respect for Flacco and that Ravens team, but I am just not convinced by them so I am calling the Raiders getting a win this week behind the arm of Carr.
Pick: RAIDERS
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Lions(1-2) vs. Bears(0-3)
WARNING! WARNING! Fantasy owners dream matchup here this week as the Lions take on the Bears. Stafford is on a tear this year torching defenses for 985 yards and 7 touchdowns in three games so far. Stafford will not be slowed down this week in Chicago as I am willing to say that he will put up HUGE fantasy numbers and possibly going into the 30+ point range for the week. The Bears look horrible, they are my last ranked team in my weekly power rankings and they keep losing guys to injury. I feel for this Bears team, but they look like they might lose them all this year if this keeps up.
Pick: LIONS
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Broncos (3-0) vs. Buccaneers (1-2)
Another blow out in the making as the Broncos go to Tampa Bay to take on the Buccaneers. Siemian blew up last week and threw for 4 touchdowns in a great win over the Bengals. Look for this Broncos offense to continue to improve as the season goes on as Siemian continues to build rapport with his receivers and begins to thrive in this offense. The Buccaneers looked like contenders after the first week, but then got man handled the next two weeks. This one is going to get ugly fast ladies and gentlemen.
Pick: BRONCOS
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Rams (2-1) vs. Cardinals (1-2)
Sorry Los Angeles fans, yet again I am going against my home town team in this week’s matchup against the Cardinals. The Cardinals, like the Panthers for me, have one last chance before I stop giving them the benefit of the doubt in picks. I like them in this game because of their offensive firepower and superior defense. Gurley will not yet eclipse 100 yards and this might get ugly in Arizona.
Pick: CARDINALS
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Saints (0-3) vs. Chargers (1-2)
Two teams searching for ways to win this season. The Saints have been on the wrong end of three losses this year, two of which went down to the final minutes of the game. The Saints are better than their record shows and will be able to pull this one out in San Diego. Brees is coming back to the team who drafted him, and he is looking to show what they have been missing since the trade that sent him away. A close one in San Diego which could go either way, but I’m saying that the Saints pick up their first win.
Pick: SAINTS
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Cowboys (2-1) vs. 49ers (1-2)
A vintage classic matchup between the Cowboys and 49ers this week in San Francisco. The Cowboys have been surprising people with the play of Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott who have both been extremely impressive to start off 2016. The 49ers are outmatched in this game and simply do not have the firepower to win against this depleted Cowboys team. The Cowboys, look likely to lose Dez Bryant to injury (AGAIN) for up to 3 weeks. We are back in the same situation as last year, with our two best offensive players out, let’s see how this year’s team responds. This will be a win for my Cowboys.
Pick: COWBOYS
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MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL GAME
Giants (2-1) vs. Vikings (3-0)
Another Strong candidate for game of the week. The Vikings take on the Giants this week on Monday Night Football. The Giants are extremely talented on offense, and are still gelling on defense, while the Vikings are the talk of the league after a complete domination of the Panthers last week in Carolina. Sam Bradford has looked like a championship caliber quarterback for the Vikings and is looking to be the missing link for this team. The Vikings will win this one out of sheer talent on defense and the arm of Bradford.
Pick: VIKINGS
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