NFL Preview: Week Four

Through three weeks of the season, it looks like the balance of power may be shifting for the first time in several years from the AFC to NFC.  While there is still time for the AFC to get on their feet, New England is without Tom Brady, Indy has a Taco Bell defense (meaning they are susceptible to the runs), San Diego and Jacksonville are off to slow starts, and Ben Roethlisberger is already beat up for Pittsburgh.

Over in the NFC, an entire division, the NFC East, could make a claim at being serious Super Bowl contenders, although at least one of them will miss out on January action. In addition, Green Bay also looks good, even after the loss to Dallas, and Seattle still could get things rolling when their injured wideouts return.

With bye weeks returning (Seattle, the Giants,  Matt Millen-less Detroit, Miami, New England, and Indianapolis are off), there are only 13 games this weekend, most of them not very attractive matchups.

All we need now is the Dolphins to be good again, bell bottoms, and the return of legendary rock and roll music for it to feel like 1972 all over again (the NFL had 26 teams in 1972, thus there were 13 games on every weekend, and not the 16 you and I are used to in 2008). 



GAME OF THE WEEK: Redskins at Cowboys

It seems like all of these early-season games of the week have involved NFC teams, but all of the headliners have been coming out of that conference thus far in 2008. The Cowboys will improve to 4-0 if they can win this contest and would set themselves up for a potential 7-0 start.

The next three weeks feature a visit from Cincinnati and trips to Arizona and St. Louis, a noticeable step down in difficulty from their September schedule. 

Washington's offense has been vastly improved the past two weeks after getting completely shut down by the Giants. But I don't think the skill of the Cardinals' or Saints' defenses are on the same level as that offered by Dallas.

Jason Campbell had a field day with the Dallas secondary a year ago in the first meeting (the meeting in Washington during Week 17 was a meaningless game for the Cowboys), so he has the confidence needed to go into Texas Stadium and lead his team to an upset. 

At the same time, the Redskins couldn't stop the Romo-Owens connection, as they hooked up on all four Dallas touchdowns. Adding to the difficulty of slowing down the Dallas passing game is the fact Jason Taylor will not play after suffering a leg injury against the Cardinals. I like Dallas by anywhere between a touchdown and 14 points. 

Other big games

Packers at Buccaneers

Tampa Bay is being overlooked at 2-1, even though they are a defending division winner.  Let's face it: This isn't a flashy team and probably not the most-talented squad in the NFC South. But their defense keeps them in every ballgame, and a win here would validate them as an NFC playoff contender.

Jon Gruden seems to have settled on Brian Griese as the QB, and, at least last week, it paid huge dividends. The Packers are down Al Harris at one corner position, and Gruden should attack that vulnerability, just as Dallas did one week ago.

Aaron Rodgers and the offense need to come out and establish themselves and show they have not let last week's subpar performance get them down. 

Vikings at Titans

This is an interesting clash of titans, so to say. Tennessee's defense has given up 29 points in three games and has absolutely smothered the opposition. They aren't undefeated because of Kerry Collins, although he has performed adequately thus far. 

Minnesota features Adrian Peterson, who did not let a hamstring injury hamper him too much against the Panthers. It will be a strength-on-strength battle that bears watching on Sunday.

The Titans are 3-0, and appear to be an early frontrunner in a weakened AFC. Meanwhile, the Vikings found the win column a week ago, but they cannot afford to fall to 1-3 with a trip to New Orleans on the horizon next week. 

Ravens at Steelers (Monday night)

I am sure that three weeks ago everyone looked as this as a bitter division rivalry and not much else. Baltimore actually leads the AFC North over Pittsburgh (surprise), although they can thank facing the Browns and Bengals at home for that.

Still, the defense gives them an opportunity to at least remain competitive against good teams, such as the Steelers.

They are relying heavily on the run game, as Joe Flacco gets used to playing up to the speed of the pro game, but against the Pittsburgh front seven, that is going to be difficult on Monday night.

Flacco will have to make plays if the Ravens want to have any chance of going into Pittsburgh and cementing themselves as a surprise team going forward. Another ugly throwback alert: The Steelers are breaking out the yellow helmets and black unis with yellow numbering this week. Ugh. 

And the rest of this week's games

Broncos at Chiefs

KC's defense gave up 38 points to an Atlanta offense being led by a rookie quarterback that doesn't throw a whole lot. Imagine what the Denver juggernaut is going to do to them. Herm Edwards is turning back to Damon Huard this week, and apparently he realizes he gives them the best chances of actually winning a game.

The Broncos are the more talented team, but road divisional games against a hated rival are never a cakewalk. 

Browns at Bengals

It must really stink to be an Ohio sports fan these days: Ohio State folds in big games, the Indians and Reds will miss the playoffs (for Cincy, that is 12-straight Octobers at home), talk of LeBron leaving Cleveland lead the headlines, and these two are a combined 0-6. At least somebody will celebrate a win in this one. 

Texans at Jaguars

The September from Hell continues for Houston: road games against the defenses of Pittsburgh, Tennessee, and Jacksonville, a hurricane that damaged their stadium, and having their most winnable game postponed. Jacksonville, on the other hand, is flying high after a last-second win in Indy, where they finally found a running game. 

Falcons at Panthers

Matt Ryan has played well against the two bad defenses he faced, but Tampa Bay made him look like the rookie that he is. It will be interesting to see how much he has progressed and learned in the two weeks since that game as he goes up against a good Panthers D. 

49ers at Saints

I am going to go out on a limb here and say the winner of this game will put up more than 30 points. We all know what Drew Brees is capable of, and J.T. O'Sullivan has been impressive thus far for the 'Niners. Neither defense is anything special, so the points should come in bunches on Sunday. 

Cardinals at Jets

I am warning you now: The Jets are pulling out those fugly NY Titans throwbacks on Sunday (if you are going to wear a throwback, it should at least be in your team's current color scheme). Arizona may have an advantage after staying on the East Coast following their game in Washington.

The Jets, meanwhile, played in San Diego Monday night and thus were forced into a very short week. 

Bills at Rams

Scott Linehan has turned back the clock by benching Marc Bulger in favor of Trent Green.  They could probably put Peyton Manning under center and he'd get killed behind that offensive line. Good luck, Trent. Meanwhile, the Bills' Trent, Edwards that is, continues to improve for a 3-0 team leading the AFC East. 

Chargers at Raiders

The Raiders drama took another turn this week when team exec/Al Davis right-hand man John Herrera and a reporter got into a little shouting match during a press conference. At this point, I'll believe anything I see or hear about this "team." Let's hope everyone can put aside their differences for three hours on Sunday and not kill each other, haha. 

Eagles at Bears (Sunday night)

Seriously, NBC and the NFL? You know it is a weak slate of games when a mediocre Bears team that has already been on SNF in 2008 is featured at home against an Eagles team that should win fairly easily. Oh well, I guess when all else fails, broadcast a game with teams from two of the biggest media markets.