Just three unbeaten teams remain in the NFL, and at least two of those are guaranteed to preserve that status heading into week five. That is because the Cincinnati Bengals and Arizona Cardinals are not playing this weekend, having been handed an early bye.
But there are no weeks off on the NFL Talkboard, as regular readers can attest. Doff your caps, please, to Blason, Chappers67, imgoneforthesummer, kindofclaretandblue, millionlittlegods, NotANinja and Tim Henry, each of whom nailed all six predictions last weekend. And then get to making your picks for our latest round of games.
Miami Dolphins @ Oakland Raiders
Sunday 1pm ET/6pm BST
The NFL returns to London for the first of this year’s three International Series games. Oakland have been practicing in (or, truthfully, just outside) the English capital all week, but it is Miami’s players who should be most grateful for a change of scenery after learning that Sun Life Stadium was built, in defiance of all that we have learned from horror movie tropes, on the site of an Indian burial ground. Might a mystical curse be the best explanation for this team’s endless disappointments? Perhaps, although having a head coach who seems determined to undermine his own starting quarterback probably doesn’t help either. In spite of Joe Philbin’s bewildering mismanagement of Ryan Tannehill this week, I find myself leaning Miami’s way.
Dolphins to win
Green Bay Packers @ Chicago Bears
Sunday 1pm ET/6pm BST
Just how worried should Packers fans be? Their team is 1-2 with a divisional loss on the record, and needed a late rally plus a timeout snafu to secure the one victory that they did get, against the Jets. The running game is not working, with second-year tailback Eddie Lacy averaging just 3.1 yards per carry, and even quarterback Aaron Rodgers seems to be having a hard time behind a ropy offensive line. But on Wednesday he told fans to “R-e-l-a-x”. After all, the Packers had this exact same win-loss record at the corresponding stage of each of the last two seasons, and went on to win the division on both occasions. Something tells me that this is the game where Rodgers rediscovers his touch, against an injury-hit Bears secondary.
Packers to win
Buffalo Bills @ Houston Texans
Sunday 1pm ET/6pm BST
All eyes will be on Ryan Fitzpatrick as he attempts to get one over on his former employers. The Texans quarterback had a mixed four years in Buffalo, landing the starting job in 2009 and then a $59m contract in 2011, only to break a rib soon afterwards and get cut less than 18 months later. Fitzpatrick claims to be looking forward to a reunion with old friends, but he will be under pressure to carry his team against a Bills defense that is giving up just 83 yards per game on the ground. Given that he is coming off a three-interception game against the Giants last weekend, I do have some concerns. But they are outweighed by my unwillingness to be let down by the Bills for a second week in a row.
Texans to win
Carolina Panthers @ Baltimore Ravens
Sunday 1pm ET/6pm BST
We should all be relieved that this game is not being played in Carolina. Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith Sr had vowed when the Panthers released him this offseason to stay in shape, find a new team and carry on with his career. But he also warned journalists that if his new path “happens to run through Bank of America Stadium, put your goggles on because there’s going to be blood and guts everywhere”. Instead he faces off against his former team in Baltimore, in what should provide one of the most compelling subplots of the weekend. The Panthers, though, are more concerned right now about the difficulties they have had running the football. Losing All-Pro full-back Mike Tolbert to injury will not help their cause.
Ravens to win
Detroit Lions @ New York Jets
Sunday 1pm ET/6pm BST
For the third time in as many weeks, the Jets line up against opponents from the NFC North. So far this series is not working out terribly well for Gang Green. They lost to the Packers and Bears, and though they were competitive in both games this looks like the least favourable match-up yet. Unless Dee Milliner can make it back from a quadriceps injury in time for Sunday, New York will be attempting to cover Calvin Johnson with either converted safety Antonio Allen or journeyman back-up Darrin Walls. The Jets’ best hope might be to keep Megatron off the field as much as possible. They do have the tools, with a running game that is averaging 157.7 yards per game, while Detroit’s front seven has been weakened by the loss of Stephen Tulloch. Even so, I don’t like New York’s chances.
Lions to win
New Orleans Saints @ Dallas Cowboys
Sunday 8.30pm ET/Monday 1.30am BST
Stealing the show in Dallas this week has been cornerback Morris Claiborne, who walked out of the team’s facility mid-training session after learning that Orlando Scandrick, returning from suspension, had taken his place in the line-up. Others in Claiborne’s situation might have considered this a blessing in disguise. Saints quarterback Drew Brees has been subdued through the first three weeks of this season, but it is hard to imagine anything other than a shootout unfolding when he comes to Dallas on Sunday night. Neither of these teams defends the pass well and both have quarterbacks who like to air the ball out. And between the two signal callers, I know which one I’m taking.
Saints to win
And the rest
Here are the rest of this weekend’s games. These are not included in the Pick Six, but feel free to post your winners for these as well. If you do so, please keep them separate from your Pick Six predictions, as it will make life a lot easier when adding up your scores.
Sunday
1pm ET/6pm BST
Tennessee Titans @ Indianapolis Colts
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Pittsburgh Steelers
4.05pm ET/9.05pm BST
Jacksonville Jaguars @ San Diego Chargers
4.25pm ET/9.25pm BST
Atlanta Falcons @ Minnesota Vikings
Philadelphia Eagles @ San Francisco 49ers
Monday
8.30pm ET/Tuesday 1.30am BST
New England Patriots @ Kansas City Chiefs
(Bye weeks: Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, St Louis Rams, Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks)
