NFL Predictions Week 4: Underachieving Teams That Will Get Back on Track

It would certainly be premature to say that a team's season is essentially over after a rough start, but coming away from the first month with a losing record obviously isn't ideal.

A number of teams that made the playoffs last year, or were expected to contend for a spot in the postseason this year, are struggling and in dire need of a victory in Week 4.

With so many desperate, talented teams, there is little doubt that this will be an extremely interesting slate of games. It's definitely possible that some teams were overrated heading into the season, however, winning this week could completely change the outlook for the remainder of the year.

Here are three teams that are performing well below expectations in 2013, but will right the ship in Week 4 by coming away with much-needed wins.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers were a major disappointment last season as they finished 8-8 and failed to reach the postseason for the first time since 2009.

Although the Steelers lost wide receiver Mike Wallace in free agency ad made some changes on defense, they were still expected to contend in the seemingly weak AFC.

That hasn't been the case thus far, though, as the Steelers are 0-3 after losses to the Tennessee Titans, Cincinnati Bengals and Chicago Bears. Sports radio personality Jim Rome is already writing the Steelers off, but he may be getting ahead of himself.

Pittsburgh barely seemed to have a pulse on offense through its first two games, but things changed on Monday night against the Chicago Bears.

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger threw for a season-high 406 yards and two touchdowns, while wide receiver Antonio Brown torched a strong Chicago secondary for 196 yards. The Steelers nearly overcame a huge deficit, but the Bears put them away late. Even so, it is something that Pittsburgh can build on.

The Steelers will take on an equally desperate team when they travel to Minnesota to face the Vikings.

Minnesota is also winless, but the Steelers would seem to have the advantage due to the Vikings' porous passing defense. Minnesota was beaten by Brian Hoyer and the Cleveland Browns in Week 3, and Big Ben appears to have hit his stride, so he should have a field day en route to Pittsburgh's first win.

San Francisco 49ers

After losing to the Baltimore Ravens in the Super Bowl last season, the San Francisco 49ers were instantly installed as the favorite to win it all this year.

Things started out well as the Niners beat the Green Bay Packers in Week 1 behind a virtuoso performance from quarterback Colin Kaepernick, but things have gone south for the team since then.

The 49ers have lost their past two games and risk ending up all alone in last place in the NFC West should they lose this week.

The 49ers won't have long to prepare as they'll face the St. Louis Rams Thursday on the road. The Rams have stumbled out to a 1-2 start as well, but they went 1-0-1 against the 49ers last season, so they may have San Fran's number.

The 49ers have lost to a pair of strong teams in the Seattle Seahawks and Indianapolis Colts, but their slow start is shocking due to the fact that they had never had a losing record under head coach Jim Harbaugh until now, according to ESPN Stats & Info.

While the Niners seem to be in disarray from the outside as star linebacker Aldon Smith is leaving the team to enter rehab, there is still a ton of talent in place.

Kaepernick has really struggled over the past couple weeks, but the Rams were dismantled by the Dallas Cowboys' running game in Week 3, so look for the 49ers to go back to their roots by pounding running back Frank Gore and allowing Kaepernick to do damage out of the read-option.

Provided the defense returns to form as well, the Niners should be able to shake off the past two weeks.

Washington Redskins

Most figured that it would take quarterback Robert Griffin III some time to get back into the swing of things, but he and the Washington Redskins have had a much tougher time getting up to speed than expected.

RG3 has been very poor in the first half this season, so while his numbers aren't terrible, they are very much a product of coming from behind. That may not be an issue in Week 4 as the winless 'Skins will face the Oakland Raiders.

The Raiders aren't necessarily pushovers, especially at home, but this is a game that Washington absolutely must win if it wants to entertain thoughts of competing for an NFC East title.

The Dallas Cowboys lead the division at 2-1, but no team has truly separated itself, so Washington is still in the hunt.

The big issue for the Redskins this season has been their defense. Washington is in the bottom three in both passing and rushing yards allowed, and that has hurt the offense's progress as well.

With running back Darren McFadden running well and quarterback Terrelle Pryor getting it done with his arm and legs, Washington's defense will have to step up in Week 4.

In addition to that, Griffin must play like the 2012 edition of RG3. He very nearly led the 'Skins back against both the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles, but fell just short. Griffin must refuse to allow Washington to lose to the Raiders, and he will.

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