NFL Picks Week 4: Eagles and 3 Slumping Contenders That Will Get Needed Win

Just when you think you've got everything figured out, the first three weeks of the NFL season happen. Now, maybe the NFL knew what they were doing. Maybe they anticipated some backlash from the lockout and scheduled some of its best games early. I don't know if that's the case, but it actually makes some sense.

Whatever the reason, when two good teams play each other, one is going to lose. In the early season, teams can fall into an early hole.

Philadelphia Eagles

Who would have thought that the 49ers would be in better shape than the Eagles after three weeks? Well, whether you thought it or not, they are.  The 49ers sit atop the NFC West, while the Eagles are 1-2 in a division with three 2-1 teams.

Fortunately for the Eagles and their fans, this is a good matchup. The 49ers' secondary just doesn't match up well to the Eagles' receivers.

Philadelphia and their fans will get a week's worth of breathing room, as they should easily dispose of the 49ers.

Chicago Bears

Things could hardly have started better for the Bears. They blew the Falcons out in Week 1. The last two weeks have not been so good: A blowout loss in New Orleans and a loss to the Packers in Chicago have the Bears in a pretty desperate situation. They are 1-2 and in a division with two of the NFL's three undefeated teams.

Fortunately, they match up well with the Panthers. Cam Newton will have another big game here, but the Bears shouldn't have much of a problem in this one.

New England Patriots

It's hard to call a 2-1 team struggling. After all, their one loss was on the road to an undefeated team. But in one week, the Patriots went from a team perceived as one of the best two in the NFL, to a team with obvious holes.

Some of those holes are going to be exposed this week. The Raiders have a lot of talent on offense and can easily score some points. They just won't hang with the Patriots' offense.

The Raiders have allowed a lot of yards to lesser offenses this season. The Patriots have the weapons to cash those yards into points. Also, New England almost never loses consecutive games. I like their chances to get on track in this one.