NFL Week 4 Preview

Atlanta vs. Carolina:

ATL: Matt Ryan goes on the road – so does his QB rating. In seven games, including the preseason, he has completed 43.6 percent of his passes with one touchdown and two interceptions. Not even Michael Turner rushing for 175+ yards and a touchdown are going to help.

CAR: Steve Smith has another game under his belt. Look for Jake Delhomme to get the ball to the standout WR a little more this game. CB Chris Gamble, who has a takeaway in three straight games, is goihng to get an interception – its just a matter of when.

Carolina wins, 24-10.

Cleveland vs. Cincinnati

CLE: Wow, D.A. sure isn’t looking like the Pro Bowler he was last season – feel free to blame Braylon “Zen” Edwards. Edwards will get back on track this week, as will Anderson. The Browns may end up using the pass to open up the run. D.A. will pass for 250+ and three touchdowns, two to Edwards.

CIN: NFL.COM is reporting that Carson Palmer will be the third-string QB in this game, so the other lowly franchise in Ohio may be battling uphill. The last time these teams met it was a shoot out, but without Palmer that may prove to be a bit more difficult. Ocho-Cinco and Whose-yo-mama will struggle to get off the ground and break the century mark.

Cleveland wins, 38-14

Houston vs. Jacksonville

HOU: This hasn’t been the start to the year that most Texans fans were looking for, or expecting. They will right the ship this week. The emergence of Steve Slaton will help take the load off of Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson. This week will be a balanced attack from the Texans. Slaton will have 80+ yards and a touchdown on the ground, Johnson will have the same through the air.

JAX: Jacksonville has lost three of the last four meetings with the Texans – including last season by way of two kick off returns for touchdowns. Even though David Gerrard only has one touchdown pass on the season, Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew have been taking care of business on the ground (last week at least). It might be up to the two backs to carry the load again.

Houston wins, 20-13

Denver vs. Kansas City

DEN: They are playing Kansas City… enough said.

KC: They are Kansas City… enough said

Denver wins, a lot – a little

San Fran vs. New Orleans

S.F.: QB J.T. O’Sullivan (Drafted by the Saints in 2002, before being shipped off to Green Bay) is the cliché joke of every sportscaster right now – we get it, he is an “unknown” player. It’s just too bad he doesn’t play safety and know how to stop Drew Brees or Reggie Bush. The defense for the 49ers will have their hands full – fo’ sho’. Frank Gore will see a lot of action, if you are a fantasy guy – start him.

N.O.: Puff Daddy was once quoted, a lot, as saying, “Can’t stop, won’t stop.” Brees can’t stop and Bush won’t stop. This is an “interesting” game to the “experts” but with how much offense the Saints have to offer, it’s tough to not see this one coming.

Saints win, 42-20

Arizona vs. N.Y. Jets

ARI: Every year it’s the year of the Cardinal. This year it might be true. Look for Arizona to spread the field against the thinner Jets secondary (Justin Miller hurt). Kurt Warner and Edgerrin James might be old but the receiver corps is not.

NYJ: Brett Favre had a very Brett Favre game last week. In the past he has bounced back from those games to have a decent performance but not this week. WR Laveranues Coles is questionable, WR David Clowney is out and the Jets still lack a powerful run game. Their defense won’t help either.

Arizona wins, 27-13

Green Bay vs. Tampa Bay

G.B.: The Packers have looked pretty good without Favre. That Aaron Rodgers kid is pretty good, and he will continue to be when he throws for another 300+ yards and two touchdowns this week. The Packers will still not have a steady run game, but it will suffice again Tampa. But the 26^th ranked run dfense will have a tough time stopping Earnest Graham.

T.B. Brian Greise has never lost to Green Bay. Chances are he won’t have to pass it 667 times this week. Plus every time LB Bryon Rudd grabs an interception, the team wins. If the pass rushers can get to Rodgers and force him to throw an errant pass, it would turn into six. Give Greg White a sack as well.

Packers win, 21-20

Minnesota vs. Tennessee

MIN: Adrian Peterson is questionable and the Vikings will have to air it out a bit more. The Tavaris Jackson Project ended prematurely. He’ll get back on the field this week after Gus Ferrotte throws three interceptions. The defense will play stout, but have their hands full with the two running backs for Tennessee.

TEN: RB Chris Johnson is fast. RB Lendale White is strong. Sounds kind of like the Viking in 2003 with Michael Bennett and Moe Williams – hmm. The two backs will have a tough day on the ground facing the fourth best rush defense. The Titans will look to Kerry Collins (yes, that Kerry Collins) to lead them to the franchise’s first 4-0 start.

Titans win, 17-7

San Diego vs. Oakland

S.D.: Has L.T.

OAK: Does not have L.T.

Chargers win, by a lot

Buffalo vs. St Louis

BUF: This is almost too easy – for the players in red and blue. Trent Edwards will continue to shine and Marshawn Lynch will run all over the 29^th ranked rush defense.

STL: Good news: Trent Green is back. Bad news: It isn’t 2004. Worse news: The next concussion could turn him into a vegetable.

Buffalo wins, 31-6

Washington vs. Dallas

WAS: So far this season, QB Jason Campbell is actually looking respectable and RB Clinton Portis is running decently – it’s almost like the Redskins are an average team. Campbell will have another decent outing. Watch out for TE Chris Cooley and Santana Moss – both have historically played well against the Cowboys

DAL: Running backs Felix Jones and Marion Barbar are nasty good and QB Tony Romo has a great arm. That explains why the Cowboys are the best offense in the league. But the 19^th ranked pass defense will be tested by the Redskins. It’s all about if the front seven can cause an bad pass. If they can’t watch out.

Redskins win, 35-31