NFL Predictions Week 4: San Francisco 49ers and 3 Division Leaders Sure to Fail

It isn't uncommon for there to be some surprising division leaders three weeks into the NFL season, but this is about the time when the pretenders begin to get weeded out from the contenders. Several early-season surprises have tough matchups this weekend, so they'll have excellent opportunities to prove themselves.

Here are three division leaders who will begin their slide back to obscurity, however, with losses in Week 4.

Cleveland Browns

In a virtual pick 'em game at home, the 2-1 Cleveland Browns will host the 2-1 Tennessee Titans in a battle of surprising division leaders. The Browns barely outlasted the hapless Miami Dolphins last weekend, while the Titans were able to get past the Denver Broncos.

Neither team is being taken seriously at this point, but I feel like the Titans have more staying power due to diverse possibilities on their offense. With Tennessee passing so much in recent weeks, Cleveland might overcompensate in that regard and allow running back Chris Johnson to finally break out.

The Browns have gotten by on grittiness thus far, but they simply don't have the horses for sustained success. This should be a tightly contested game, but in the end, the Titans are simply more talented.

Washington Redskins

If not for a late comeback by Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys last week, the Washington Redskins could easily be 3-0. Instead, they're 2-1 and currently in a three-way tie for the NFC East lead with the Cowboys and New York Giants.

A switch seems to have flipped on for quarterback Rex Grossman, so the 'Skins could have some staying power. They run into a very desperate and dangerous opponent in the form of the St. Louis Rams, however.

A brutal early-season schedule has left the Rams 0-3, but they are certainly much more talented than their record suggests. Running back Steven Jackson should be ready to shoulder the load as he is another week removed from his injury and quarterback Sam Bradford will be eager to prove that the Rams are still a team to be feared.

San Francisco 49ers

With a record of 2-1, the San Francisco 49ers are the unquestioned leaders in the lowly NFC West at the moment, but they'll receive their first big test of the season in Week 4. The Niners have wins over Seattle and Cincinnati, and a narrow defeat against Dallas, but they have yet to face a team as talented as the Philadelphia Eagles.

After back-to-back losses, quarterback Michael Vick and the Eagles will obviously be very hungry for a victory. The Eagles have greatly underperformed to this point, but in terms of talent level, the Niners are no match for Philly.

San Francisco may be without the services of running back Frank Gore who is hobbled by an ankle injury, and even if he does play, he could be ineffective. I fully expect the Eagles to not only win this game, but to make a statement by blowing the 49ers out of the water.