Thursday, September 25, 2014

2014 NFL SEASON WEEK 4





UNDEFEATED WATCH

Bengals (3-0): BYE WEEK
Cardinals (3-0): BYE WEEK
Eagles (3-0): at 49ers (1-2)


WINLESS WATCH

Buccaneers (0-3): at Steelers (2-1)
Jaguars (0-3): at Chargers (2-1)
Raiders (0-3): vs. Dolphins (1-2, at London)


MUST WATCH GAMES

Giants at Washington

This was expected to be a matchup between Eli Manning and Robert Griffin III. Instead the role of Griffin will be played by back-up quarterback Kirk Cousins.

Giants quarterback Eli Manning threw for 234 yards, 2 touchdowns, and most importantly threw ZERO interceptions in his team's first win of the season over the Houston Texans. Wide receiver Victor Cruz had his first 100-yard receiving game of the season, caught five passes, and scored a touchdown pass. New York also intercepted 3 passes from Houston.

Washington gave it their best shot to unseat the Eagles from the ranks of unbeatens but lost the shootout in Philadelphia by a field goal. Their defense held Eagles running back LeSean McCoy to 22 yards. Kirk Cousins passed for 427 yards and 3 touchdowns including an 81 yard catch and run by receiver DeSean Jackson.


Packers at Bears

In Week 17 last season…


That touchdown pass put Green Bay in the playoffs and knocked Chicago out.

This season the Packers are off to another 1-2 start. Green Bay faithful should not panic. Over the last two seasons the Packers have started the season 1-2 and ended up winning the NFC North.

The much anticipated quarterback matchup between Rodgers and Stafford did not come to pass in part due to the Detroit defense and sloppy offensive execution. Stafford got me one (series of expletive deleteds) point and I lost my fantasy game by THREE points because I left Russell Wilson (23 points) and Steelers running back Bell (16 points) on the bench!!!

Rodgers did toss a touchdown pass, but threw for measly 162 yards (11 fantasy points). The Lions defense smothered the Packers. Detroit's defense (16 fantasy points) scored more points (9) than the Packers offense (7).

On Monday Night, the Bears patchwork secondary held against the Jets who were trying to tie the game. This was a concern about the Bears heading into this season. Rodgers and the Packers will be looking at rebounding after their performance in Detroit against a tattered Chicago secondary.


Panthers at Ravens

The Ravens got by Cleveland to earn their second win of the 2014 season. This game marks now-Ravens receiver Steve Smith taking on his former team. Through three games Smith has caught 18 passes for 290 yards and this 80-yard touchdown back in Week 1 at home against Cincinnati.

During his 13 years with the Panthers, Smith caught 836 passes, 12,197 yards, and 67 touchdowns. In the 2003 playoffs, Smith caught 18 passes, 404 yards, and 3 touchdowns leading the Panthers to their only Super Bowl appearance. In the divisional round against at St. Louis, Smith caught this 69 yard catch and run for the game winning score in the Panthers 29-23 double overtime win over the Rams.



Eagles at 49ers

In Philadelphia's first three games they have trailed by double digits at one point. The Eagles are 3-0 in part due to their quick paced offense.

Are the 49ers in trouble? After opening the season with a win at Dallas, the 49ers allowed Chicago to come back from down 17 to win by 8 and the Cardinals dominated the 49ers in Phoenix last Sunday.

This is not the first meeting between Eagles coach Chip Kelly and 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh. Kelly was the coach of the Oregon Ducks while Harbaugh was the coach of the Stanford Cardinal. The teams split their two meetings against each other. Stanford beat Oregon in 2009 in Northern California while Oregon returned the favor at their home field in 2010.


Saints at Cowboys

The Saints would be in the undefeated ranks if it wasn't for a Marques Colston fumble in overtime and the Browns kicking the game winning field goal in Week 2. New Orleans got their first win of the year with a victory over the Saints.

The Cowboys trailed the Rams 21-0 after Tony Romo tossed an interception that was returned for a touchdown. It looked like the Cowboys were headed towards another blowout.

Dallas scored 34 of the game's 44 final points by remembering two things: they have running back DeMarco Murray who rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown, and they were playing the Rams.

The Cowboys defense though assumed to be bad is actually playing better than expected. Linebacker Bruce Carter intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown to put Dallas up 10 in the fourth quarter. Cornerback Morris Claiborne who was regularly targeted and burned for a touchdown intercepted a pass to seal the victory.

Since being with the Saints in 2006, Drew Brees has gone 4-1 against the Cowboys and is 3-0 against the Cowboys in Dallas.

Overall Dallas leads the series 15-11, but the Saints have won 8 of the last 9 games. The last time the Cowboys beat the Saints in Dallas was in 1991.


And now the picks.

Kickoff times are mountain time, games airing in Denver are noted by (DEN), and picks are in BOLD.



Me
WEEK 3
13-3
11-5
11-5
TOTAL
28-20
29-19
28-20


BYE WEEK
Bengals, Broncos, Browns, Cardinals, Rams, Seahawks


THURSDAY NIGHT, CBS/NFL 6:15 PM
Giants at Washington


FOX 11AM
Packers at Bears (DEN)
Buccaneers at Steelers
Lions at Jets


CBS 11AM
Bills at Texans
Dolphins at Raiders (in London)
Panthers at Ravens
Titans at Colts


FOX 2PM
Eagles at 49ers (DEN)
Falcons at Vikings

CBS 2PM
Jaguars at Chargers (DEN)


SUNDAY NIGHT, NBC 6:15 PM
Saints at Cowboys


MONDAY NIGHT, ESPN 6:15 PM
Patriots at Chiefs


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