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NY Jets at Atlanta – Well, the Jets finally won a game. My brother and I were discussing what it might mean for Gang Green if they can win this one. As he pointed out, it would be a pretty big deal for the Jets to win two games in a row. They managed to do that late last season following an 0-13 start, although Jets fans would probably like to forget that one, as it cost them the first pick in the draft, because it meant that after a miserable season and a historically bad start, the Jets still would not get the top prize in the draft, quarterback Trevor Lawrence. However, they did get Zach Wilson, and Wilson finally began to show some evidence of why he was picked so high in the draft. In truth, it is not really his fault entirely, since he has little talent and protection to work with. However, the Jets did finally show some signs of life last weekend against Tennessee. Now, they go on the road – in London, England! - against the also hapless Falcons. Ike the Jets, Atlanta has earned only one win so far this season. This is technically a road game for the Jets, but it will not be a conventional road game, since London is hardly a typical road game. If London is a home game for any team, it would be the Jaguars, who play London themselves on the 17th, and actively courted the idea of a move to London some years ago, and might still be flirting with the idea. In truth, this is more like a road game for both teams. That makes it difficult to pick which team will benefit from the extremely shortened work week, including serious time zone change. Another thing that makes it difficult to pick who will win is that they are both bad teams, and both have shown themselves fully capable of letting their fans and their fortunes down. Nobody will be totally surprised no matter who loses this game. However, I still think that the Jets are struggling on offense, despite some positive signs in last week’s game against the Titans. The good news, though, is that they will face a Falcons defense that has allowed the most points of any team in the league, although conversely, the Falcons and their league worst defense surely feels relieved to face the NFL’s worst rated offense, which of course belongs to Gang Green. Again, very hard to pick a winner for this one. But if I have to – and that is the point of these previews on this blog page – then here it is. My pick: NY Jets
New England at Houston – Now I know that both teams enter this game with identical 1-3 records, and neither team looks like a solid playoff contender to this point. However, I suspect that the Patriots are nevertheless a much better team overall than the Texans are. They still have Belichick, and coming off a tough home loss to the Bucs last weekend, the Pats will be eager to get themselves a win to try and stay relevant in the AFC East. Make no mistake, the Pats cannot afford a letdown, but I believe that Belichick will have his team very ready to take this one, even on the road. My pick: New England
New Orleans at Washington – This is a pretty big game for both teams. They both sport identical 2-2 records, and neither team has a strong identity yet so far this season. It could go either way for these two teams, but it sure would help for whoever comes out on top to gain a winning record. These are two fairly evenly matched teams, but you never know which version of these teams you will get in any particular game. That makes predicting a difficult challenge. Have to go with the home team here. My pick: Washington
Tennessee at Jacksonville – The Jaguars have gotten close at times, but no cigar just yet in terms of achieving their first win of the season. Now, they host the Titans, a team who just gave the Jets their first win of the season last weekend. There is hope for Jax. However, the Titans are better than that. This is a team that made it to the AFC title game two seasons ago, and won the division title last year, to boot. Plus, again, they lost to the Jets, and do not want the indignity of giving other teams their first (and so far only) wins this season on consecutive weekends. So my suspicion is that the Titans really play sharp football, and that the result will be that the Jaguars will remain winless after this one. My pick: Tennessee
Green Bay at Cincinnati – Two 3-1 teams meeting head to head. Neither are particularly familiar with one another. The Bengals have home field advantage, and they also are a vastly improved team. However, the Packers feel like a legitimate contender this year, and they have a ton of experience, which should help them get through for the win in this game. My pick: Green Bay
Denver at Pittsburgh – The Broncos lost their first game of the season last weekend, when they really wanted to win to prove that they belonged among the true contenders. Instead, they got humbled by the Ravens. Now, they head out on the road in what is traditionally a tough place for road teams to have to play. Yet, the Steelers themselves are having a difficult season themselves so far, having dropped three straight games. They are desperate to get a win and remain relevant this season, even if that might sound funny after only a quarter of this season has passed. But this is a big game for both teams. However, it seems to me that the Steelers are likely to break out a bit in this game. They are overdue for a win, although I would love to see the Broncos win. My pick: Pittsburgh
Miami at Tampa Bay – The battle of the two original Florida teams. The Buccaneers are the hotter team, appear to be the more complete team, and are the defending champs, to boot. Oh, and not only is the GOAT of all time, Tom Brady, the quarterback for the Bucs, but he is familiar with the Fins, having burned them numerous time while in New England. I suspect that all of that adds up to bad news for Miami, a team that has not yet won their second game of the season. My suspicion is that they will have to wait at least one more week for that elusive second win. My pick: Tampa Bay
Detroit at Minnesota – The Lions remain winless, while the Vikings continue to struggle in a major way, having only won one game in four games played. Whoever wins will feel a little better about this season. And while I would like to see the Lions win, something tells me that a road game up in Minnesota, against a pretty good team that feels like they have had a ton of missed opportunities, will be just a little bit too much of a challenge for a Lions team that just does not appear to be having much luck this season. My pick: Minnesota
Philadelphia at Carolina – The Panthers are no longer perfect, having been handed their first loss last weekend. But they are still pretty solid. Meanwhile, the Eagles have lost three straight games, and just feel like a team that is seriously deflating. These are teams going in the opposite direction this season. And so of course, it would be difficult to predict anything but what seems the logical conclusion. My pick; Carolina
Cleveland at LA Chargers – Wow, this looks like a huge game! Two division leaders (at least tied in both cases). Two rising quarterbacks in the league. Two teams trying to get past recent eras of struggle, and overcome the odds in a promising new season. Both are succeeding to this point, each with impressive 3-1 records. And while Los Angeles appears to be a tough place for visiting teams to play in both conferences, I have to go with the team that feels like the better of the two, which would be the visiting team in this case. The Browns only suffered one loss this season, and it was a heartbreaker to an AFC West team. They will do everything that it takes to avoid a repeat scenario. My pick: Cleveland
Chicago at Las Vegas – The Justin Fields era begins for Da Bears, although it begins on the road in Las Vegas. The Raiders were just handed their first loss of the season, and showed some vulnerabilities. However, the Bears are still struggling, and while Fields was the highly anticipated addition on offense that some feel will instantly and dramatically improve the Bears offensive production, it should also take a bit of time and adjustment before he can really get the offense going. So, don’t expect instant magic for Chicago. The Raiders lost that last game, but they are still a solid team, and their defense should fluster the young Fields. Look for this to be a tough game, but for the home team to ultimately prevail. My pick: Las Vegas
San Francisco at Arizona – The Cardinals enter this weekend as the league’s sole remaining undefeated team. They have to defend their perfect record now against their division rivals, the San Francisco 49ers, who themselves started off 8-0 two seasons ago, en route to the Super Bowl. So these appear to be two top contending teams. Right now, though, the Cardinals are riding high. They are bound to have a disappointing week eventually, and the ‘Niners sure would love to be that team. But for now, I suspect that Arizona stays hot, at least for one more week. Again, not sure how long this perfect start will last, but my suspicion is that they will extend it for at least one more week. My pick: Arizona
NY Giants at Dallas – The G-Men finally earned their first victory last weekend in New Orleans. They stay down in the South for another week, but play a far more familiar opponent. Yes, they take on the ‘Boys, a team that they have had some serious trouble against. The G-Men have to feel good about winning, but they are still struggling, still only 1-3. Dallas, meanwhile, is a hot team, perhaps even the hottest team in the league, with three straight wins, and there only loss was a narrow defeat at Tampa, which they just as easily might have won if even one play goes the other way. So asking the G-Men to win this one is likely a bit too much of a tall order. My pick: Dallas
SNF: Buffalo at Kansas City – This is a really huge test for the Bills. They are hot right now, atop the AFC East by a comfortable two games, and having emerged as one of the obvious favorites for the AFC. However, they now go up against the Chiefs, the traditional powerhouse for the AFC for the past three seasons, who are kind of on the fence in terms of what kind of a season they are going to have. Still, the Chiefs are tough. I would like to pick the Bills, and would like to see them win this game. But against the Chiefs, kin KC, is a tall order. If the Bills can find a way to win this one, I think that it might be time to put them up there as the favorites for the AFC. But until they do that, the Chiefs are still not to be underestimated. My pick: Kansas City
MNF: Indianapolis at Baltimore – Another good game. The Colts maybe are finally getting back on track, having finally won. But the Ravens are one of the hottest teams in the league, and it will be extremely difficult for the Colts to pull this one off, on the road in Baltimore. I think that the Colts have a better chance at pulling off the upset than most people would think, but I am still not going ahead and predicting that level of an upset. My pick: Baltimore
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