NFL BluePrint: Week 4 Preview, Picks and Ranks

(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

This is a preview of week 4 in the league. There was no research done in this article, just what goes through my mind when I see the matchup on paper.

Quick side note; the numbers on the left of team's are my power rankings.

Overall: (32-16)                       

Last Week: (10-6)

(3) Baltimore (3-0) @ (9) New England (2-1) - 1:00/CBS

I am unsure why New England is favored in this one. Baltimore is  No. 1 on many power rankings, and people talk about them being the best team. The Ravens are right around where I expected them to be in terms of success on both sides of the ball.

Flacco is proving himself as a reliable player for the offense and McGahee is displaying a great deal of strength, vision and speed. 

Another thing I have heard all week is how will Brady pass against the Raven secondary. This game might be won on how well Brady plays, but his offensive line will be the determining factor.

You can't forget about Suggs, Ngata, Gregg and all the other blitzers Baltimore is capable of unleashing. The Ravens should pressure Brady just as much as New York did, and it will come down to how well the Patriots protect their star.

Both backfields have the potential to breakout any given week, but I don't see this game won on the ground.

I also hear that Welker might not play. I was convinced in week two that the Patriot offense is too out-of-sync and too vulnerable for Brady to find more success than none when being pressured against a solid defense.

Are you more convinced that Baltimore's defense can pressure Brady, or that New England's offense can handle it?  

Pick: BAL

(30) Tampa Bay (0-3) @ (24) Washington (1-2) - 1:00/FOX

The crystal clear problem with the Redskins is Clinton Portis not rushing the football. What'd he rush, 14 times last week? This guy should be the main focus of your offense, not Jason Campbell.

Campbell can ball, but he is not the best playmaker on Washington's offense. Santana showed good signs last week, and he is more than capable of making consistent big plays.

Tampa finally benched Leftwich though, so don't be surprised if their offense shows signs of explosion in the game. The playmakers around the quarterback position are very under-rated for Tampa. Cadillac and Derrick are both dangerous rushers, and Winslow has been a constant red-zone threat.

I don't see Washington losing this game at home, mainly because I don't think their defense will allow Tampa situations to possibly win. A close game at best for the Bucs, and possibly a better offense.

Pick: WAS

(19) Tennessee (0-3) @ (27) Jacksonville (1-2) - 1:00/CBS

Tennessee is the biggest disappointment in the league so far. Good news for Titan fans though, it's only week four. If Tennessee expects to make comeback in the season, they have to win this divisional game.

The Titans defense has given up too many plays in the past two weeks. Teams are both driving on them and making big plays. This is a perfect 'gut-check' game for the Titans. They are playing against a less-than-average offense that is mainly one-dimensional.

Chris Johnson will need to see a majority of the touches on the ground and possibly the air. Jones-Drew is capable of scoring more than once, but Garrard will need to make consistently good decisions to keep this game close or win it.

Pick: TEN

(28) Oakland (1-2) @ (18) Houston (1-2) - 1:00/CBS

I'm expecting a physical game with a handful of big plays. Houston's defense has struggled tremendously (in my eyes), but the offense might be back on track.

Slaton is slowly but surely coming along, and overall they seem much more focused and mature as an offense opposed to last season.

The Oakland defense can stop Houston's rushing attack, but the matchup between Asomugha and Johnson will determine how close this game can be.

Russell is not the answer for a successful Oakland offense, but he is the problem. When it comes down to it, Houston's offense should outscore Oakland's, no matter how well the Raider defense can play.

The only way I see Oakland winning is if they force Houston's offense to score with the final possession. But even then, I would place my money on Houston in that situation.

Pick: HOU

(15) Chicago (2-1) @ (26) Detroit (1-2)  - 1:00/FOX

If Detroit's secondary wasn't so bad, I would probably pick them to win this game. The Lion's front seven is not great, but they are much more improved as opposed to last season.

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