NFL Picks Week 4: Predicting Playoff Contenders That Will Falter

Week 4 of the 2013 NFL season is upon us, and it’s time to pick the playoff-caliber teams that will falter and fail against the stiff competition.

All of the following teams have postseason aspirations, but with a rough Week 4 matchup, each will find itself on the losing side of the outcome.

All stats via ESPN.

Full Week 4 NFL Predictions

Date	Matchup	Predicted Winner	Time (ET)	TV
Thursday, Sept. 26	San Francisco at St. Louis	San Francisco 49ers	8:25 p.m.	NFL Network
Sunday, Sept. 29	Baltimore at Buffalo	Baltimore Ravens	1 p.m.	CBS
Sunday, Sept. 29	Cincinnati at Cleveland	Cincinnati Bengals	1 p.m.	CBS
Sunday, Sept. 29	Chicago at Detroit	Chicago Bears	1 p.m.	FOX
Sunday, Sept. 29	NY Giants at Kansas City	Kansas City Chiefs	1 p.m.	FOX
Sunday, Sept. 29	Arizona at Tampa Bay	Arizona Cardinals	1 p.m.	FOX
Sunday, Sept. 29	Indianapolis at Jacksonville	Indianapolis Colts	1 p.m.	CBS
Sunday, Sept. 29	Seattle at Houston	Seattle Seahawks	1 p.m.	FOX
Sunday, Sept. 29	Pittsburgh at Minnesota	Pittsburgh Steelers	1 p.m.	CBS
Sunday, Sept. 29	NY Jets at Tennessee	New York Jets	4:05 p.m.	CBS
Sunday, Sept. 29	Washington at Oakland	Washington Redskins	4:25 p.m.	FOX
Sunday, Sept. 29	Philadelphia at Denver	Denver Broncos	4:25 p.m.	FOX
Sunday, Sept. 29	Dallas at San Diego	San Diego Chargers	4:25 p.m.	FOX
Sunday, Sept. 29	New England at Atlanta	Atlanta Falcons	8:30 p.m.	NBC
Monday, Sept. 30	Miami at New Orleans	New Orleans Saints	8:30 p.m.	ESPN

New England Patriots

The New England Patriots dominated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 3, but they haven’t found the elite form that the perennial Super Bowl contenders have become accustomed to over the years.

Unfortunately for head coach Bill Belichick and the boys, a trip to the Georgia Dome to play the Atlanta Falcons is not the remedy to the team’s woes. While New England is undefeated, Atlanta will be playing angry as the team has already lost two games.

The Patriots offense currently ranks 22nd with 217.7 passing yards and 12th with 122.7 rushing yards per game. Those numbers will have to drastically improve if the team wants to keep up with the Falcons’ seventh-ranked passing attack (289 yards per game).

With both defensive units being inconsistent through the first three weeks of the regular season, the team that steps up and shuts its opponent's explosive offense down will ultimately win the game.

Atlanta’s unit will shine brighter Sunday night.

Prediction: Atlanta 34, New England 24

Dallas Cowboys

In what could become the highest scoring game of the week, the Dallas Cowboys will travel to San Diego to square off with an explosive Chargers offensive unit that has put America’s team on upset alert.

San Diego’s defense has been putrid this season—28th against the run and dead last against the pass—but Week 4 could be the perfect storm for the Chargers. Led by quarterback Philip Rivers and the pass-happy offense, Dallas and its 22nd-ranked pass defense (allowing 274.7 yards per game) will be in serious trouble all day.

There has to be a point in the season where the talented players on the defensive side of the ball step up and play well for San Diego, and there is no better time than playing the Cowboys at Qualcomm Stadium.

While Dallas has the talent to win this game, the Cowboys are on upset alert.

Prediction: San Diego 27, Dallas 24

Detroit Lions

There is nothing better during the NFL regular season than divisional matchups. Week 4 provides the fans with several, but none as impactful as the NFC North battle between the Detroit Lions and the Chicago Bears.

Too bad for the Lions faithful, but Detroit will walk out of this matchup with a loss.

The battle between the rivals will be as fierce as it always is, but this matchup will be won and lost in the trenches. Both Detroit and Chicago have offensive lines that will face serious pressure from two of the toughest defensive lines in football, but the unit that holds up longer will lead its team to victory.

Chicago is getting great play from rookies Kyle Long and Jordan Mills as they protect Cutler along the offensive front, and with a stud like Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh attacking on every play, the Bears QB will have the time needed to pick Detroit's secondary apart.

This will be a close game that the Lions won’t be able to win.

Prediction: Chicago 31, Detroit 27

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