NFL Predictions Week 4: Will Cam Newton and Other Top Rookies Struggle?

It's been said that the NFL is a young man's game. It would be hard to argue that when scanning the landscape of rosters in professional football. Of course, they don't get any younger than rookies. 

Let's take a look at how some of them might fare in Week 4, the final game in the first quarter of the 2011 regular season. 

QB Cam Newton, Panthers: The Panthers travel to Chicago to take on the Bears, whose Cover-2 defense could give Newton trouble. His athleticism might come in handy with athletic, attacking defenders such as Julius Peppers and Lance Briggs bearing down on him. 

WR A.J. Green, Bengals: After a horrific display of offensive football against the 49ers, Green and the Bengals will try to rebound against an upbeat and confident Bills' team. Tom Brady found holes in Buffalo's secondary, but can fellow rookie Andy Dalton do the same? That will determine Green's effectiveness. 

WR Julio Jones, Falcons: Jones finally had his breakout game against the Bucs that many expected after the Falcons took him in the first-round. He's a big-time playmaker and a target that Matt Ryan should continue to come back to. Seattle is a tough place to play, but I don't expect it to be too much for the rookie. 

RB Mark Ingram, Saints: Ingram has struggled to get his footing early on, but he'll continue to get better as he learns the Saints offense and gets comfortable in his role. Jacksonville's defense has improved since last season, so Ingram's breakout might not come on Sunday. But if the game gets out of hand, he'll get his chances. 

QB Blaine Gabbert, Jaguars: The Saints secondary has been Swiss cheese through three weeks, but it's going to be tough for a rookie quarterback with limited offensive weapons to exploit it. I'd expect a healthy serving of Maurice Jones-Drew with safe, efficient throws mixed in for Gabbert. Keep the expectations low for the Jags rookie.  

LB Ryan Kerrigan, Redskins: Kerrigan has been a pleasure to watch so far in Washington. The knock was always the athleticism coming out of Purdue, but Kerrigan certainly looked like an explosive player as he continually found himself in the Cowboys' backfield. Expect more of the same against the St. Louis Rams on Sunday. 

QB Andy Dalton, Bengals: Dalton started well against the 49ers, but he looked lost at times later on. He faces another big test against the Bills. Their opportunistic defense might not get much pressure on Dalton and there could be the "hangover" effect, but I don't like Dalton in this matchup.