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| Photo courtesy of Kathryn Riley/Getty Images |
Written by Sam DeCoste
Week 3 was bananas. The Bills rallying to win after giving up a 25 point lead to the Rams, a shootout between the Cowboys and Seahawks, and the Chiefs dominant win over the Ravens. I fared well in my predictions, but naturally, I fell down to earth after a 15-1 record in Week 2. My Week 3 record finished at 9-6-1, which is a tie better than my Week 1 record. In order to make this my best Predix season yet, I need to step up my game. I need to be more consistent. This week presents some challenges, but I am confident I can finish with more than 9 wins this time around.
Week 4 is loaded with some barnburners. Browns-Cowboys headlines the early Sunday window, with the last 2 Super Bowl champs in the Pats and Chiefs facing off in the late window, and the Falcons and Packers closing the week out on Monday night. This weekend should produce some exciting football. Without any further delay, let's dive right in. Week 4, let's do this!
Here are my records from this season:
Week 3 record: 9-6-1
Regular season record: 33-14-1
Lock of the Week record: 2-1
The Steelers and Titans will not be playing this week, after an outbreak of COVID-19 cases in the Titans organization. The Steelers-Titans game is postponed until further notice.
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| Broncos @ Jets |
One of these 0-3 squads will walk out of MetLife Stadium with their first win of the season on Thursday night. It has been a wretched season for the Broncos and the Jets so far, and each team is likelier to tank than to turn the tide on their seasons.
Denver's season has unravelled because of the injury bug. Quarterback Drew Lock will not return for Thursday, making Brett Rypien the starter. Denver is starting their third quarterback in three games, coming from the practice squad last week. Rypien will be thrown into the fire without his number one wideout Courtland Sutton, a game-changing running back Philip Lindsay, and a significantly shorthanded defensive unit to cut his growing pains some slack. Rypien will have to lean on Melvin Gordon all game long in order to slow the game down for the inexperienced signal caller. The Jets 23rd ranked rush defense could be exploited if Gordon carries the load.
The Jets have the makings of one of the worst teams we have seen in the past decade, and it starts with the head coach. Gang Green ranks bottom in the league in total offense, scoring, passing yards, rushing yards, and first downs. Sam Darnold is completely stranded and shackled by Adam Gase's offense. Against a Broncos defense without Jurrell Casey, Von Miller, and A.J. Bouye, Darnold should have plenty of time in the pocket, and his receivers should have more time to create separation. The Jets win the game if Jamison Crowder and Breshad Perriman step up and can keep the injury-plagued Denver defense honest.
It is quite outlandish at this point to proclaim the New York Jets favorites to win any game, but they are this time. Adam Gase is coaching for his job, but who knows if that will change his approach. Probably not. The Jets will still win, because Darnold will outplay Rypien who is making his first career start.
Prediction: Broncos 14, Jets 20
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| Browns @ Cowboys |
On paper, this is a dynamite matchup. Two high octane offenses facing up against woeful defenses. Can you say points?
It's not often that a team racks 522 yards of offense and still loses. The Cowboys are in fact one of those teams, who could not stop the Seahawks from doing pretty much whatever they wanted. For the 2020 Cowboys, the plan is simple: outscore the other team. Dak Prescott leads the NFL in passing yards, and threw for 473 yards last Sunday. The Cowboys offense is not the problem, and they will not be the problem this week. Ezekiel Elliott definitely needs more than 14 carries, but if the Cowboys control the game early, he will. Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, and CeeDee Lamb is too powerful a receiving trident for the Browns secondary to contain.
Meanwhile, for the first time in millions of years, the Browns have a winning record. Their 5th ranked rush defense will be tested by Elliott and the Cowboys ground attack, and the secondary has a tough day in store for them, but the Browns offense must lead from the front to lead Cleveland to a 3-1 start. The identity of the Browns this early on appears to be a ground and pound team. Nick Chubb has 292 rushing yards this season, good for 4th in the league. Chubb and Kareem Hunt combined for 35 carries for 154 yards against Washington, and they will be counted on again versus Dallas. Keeping Prescott on the sidelines will be key, and the running game may be what controls the tempo for Cleveland.
This game will be tight. But Dallas is the favorite, primarily because the Cowboys have a habit of putting their skill position players in positions to succeed. The Browns are struggling getting their best player on offense, Odell Beckham Jr., more than 4 catches per game. Baker Mayfield cannot throw for more than 219 yards passing this season. The Browns inconsistency is frightening, while I know the Cowboys will score in bunches. Win for Dallas.
Prediction: Browns 24, Cowboys 28
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| Chargers @ Buccaneers |
The Buccaneers started settling into a groove with their dominant win over the Denver Broncos last Sunday. Tom Brady played his best game yet, throwing for 297 yards and 3 touchdowns, without a turnover. There is tangible momentum the Bucs can build on going into the Chargers game. The absence of Chris Godwin will be noteworthy again, but this will virtually offset the absence of Chris Harris, Jr. on the other side. Mike Evans, Scotty Miller, and O.J. Howard will need to step up once again, and make impact plays to keep the Chargers rookie quarterback on the sidelines.
While the box score from last Sunday is flattering for the Chargers, a home loss to the Panthers is very discouraging. Despite 13 catches from Keenan Allen and 141 yards from scrimmage for Austin Ekeler, Justin Herbert had too much on his plate in just his second career start. Herbert has a tall task going up against Tom Brady on the other sideline, but Herbert will not prevail by dropping back 50 times. Ekeler will be the bellcow and will see 30-35 touches, but the Bucs defense ranks 3rd against the run. Herbert may be forced to drop back 50 times if the Bucs stout front 7 is able to neutralize LA's ground game. That does not bode well for the rookie.
The Bucs and Chargers match up well in terms of talent. But when it comes to experience at the quarterback position, the matchup is quite lopsided. I expect Tom Brady to outpeform a quarterback making his third career start, and send the Bucs to a 3-1 start.
Prediction: Chargers 17, Buccaneers 24
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| Colts @ Bears |
Do not scratch your eyes, the Indianapolis Colts have the number one defense in football. In the past two games, the Colts have allowed just 435 yards total. They are shutting down opposing offenses, by caving in on the pocket and catching quarterbacks off guard with their blitz packages and stellar play in the secondary. That being said, the Bears offense led by Nick Foles has potential to disrupt their hot start. The Bears racked 437 total yards against the Falcons, and their last gasp comeback win will have them confident they can move to 4-0 this week. The injury to Tarik Cohen is devastating for Chicago, and David Montgomery will need to step up if the Bears offense is to move without missing a beat.
Philip Rivers and the Colts offense has to pick up the slack as well. In 3 games, the standout performer happens to be the rookie running back Jonathan Taylor. Their star player T.Y. Hilton has just 10 catches this year. The Colts cannot take the next step unless Hilton is unleashed. Role players like Michael Pittman, Jr. and Parris Campbell need to make plays themselves, and make life easier for Rivers who is still adjusting to a new system in Indy. The running game will be key for Indy, and it can open up the passing game for Rivers on play-action, and catch Chicago's defense sleeping.
Be prepared for a low scoring, hard fought afternoon in the trenches. These squads enter Sunday at a very even playing field. As much as this could be a trap game for the Colts, they are the more talented and better coached squad. Besides, a world with the Bears at 4-0 is a bizarro world.
Prediction: Colts 17, Bears 14
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| Saints @ Lions |
In three weeks, the Saints and Lions hold the same record. These teams have remarkably different ambitions, and one is much more experienced and talented than the other. Nonetheless, a matchup between Drew Brees and Matt Stafford delivers every single time. This one will, too.
The Saints defense has fallen down to earth this season. This is the worst Saints defense in 4 years. They have given up an average of 31 points in 3 games, and can't stop a grasshopper. Despite the addition of Malcolm Jenkins, the Saints defense is getting cooked every week. The only way the Saints beat the Lions is by simply outscoring them. As unsustainable as it sounds, Alvin Kamara needs to touch the ball 35 times for the Saints to win. Kamara lining up out wide yielded fantastic results last Sunday night. He caught 13 balls for 139 yards and 2 scores as a running back. If Michael Thomas is healthy this week, the floodgates are wide open.
As chaotic as a season it has been for Detroit, the Lions are 1-2 and are not to be written off. When everyone wrote them off against Arizona, the Lions did whatever they wanted on offense. The 68 year old running back Adrian Peterson ran for 75 yards. Kenny Golladay returned and scored a touchdown, and T.J. Hockenson is developing into an elite tight end. Led by Stafford, the Lions offense is capable of forcing the Saints to play catch-up all afternoon, just like the way they did it against the Cardinals. And don't forget, Kyler Murray threw 3 interceptions to this Lions defense. With Drew Brees playing like a 41 year old quarterback as of late, the Lions defense will be in a position to make plays.
This one should be a barnburner. The Lions will put up a fight, but it would be a disaster if the Saints moved to 1-3 with a quarter season in the books. Somehow, someway, the Saints will prevail.
Prediction: Saints 34, Lions 33
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| Vikings @ Texans |
Must-win games hardly exist by Week 4, but this one fits the billing. Two preseason playoff favorites and squads that went all the way to the Divisional Round last season are facing an 0-4 start.
Somehow, the Vikings lost a close one to the Titans even though Dalvin Cook racked 199 yards on 24 touches. The Vikings know Cook is the focal point of the offense, and they fed him early and often. They will have to run it back in Houston, where Deshaun Watson could produce a home run ball every time he steps on the field. The emergence of Justin Jefferson last week is pivotal, and the rookie will need to be a key player in the offense for the Vikings to improve from their 28th overall ranked unit in the league. A turnover-free game would go a long way as well in securing Minnesota's first win of the season.
The Texans put up a fight in Pittsburgh, and even led in stretches. But everything has gone wrong for Houston in the first three weeks. Houston knows a thing or two about rallying from an 0-3 start to make the playoffs, they accomplished the same feat just two seasons ago. The 2020 Texans have a steeper hill to climb if they want to relive the past. Deshaun Watson has taken 13 sacks in 3 games, ranking second in the NFL. David Johnson has just 57 yards rushing in the past two weeks. The Texans' rush defense ranks bottom in the NFL. The Texans are built to throw deep, and Watson cannot do that if he is under duress all day. The running game could slow down the pass rush, but the Texans steer away too quickly, and forget about it before it has a chance of amounting to a threat. Stopping Dalvin Cook on Sunday will be mission impossible for the Texans defense which has allowed 188 yards per game on the ground this season.
There is a reason these teams are both 0-3. In fact, there are many reasons. The likelier of the two to claim their first win is the home team, because Deshaun Watson has more plays in his locker than Kirk Cousins. This one should be a nail-biter.
Prediction: Vikings 23, Texans 27
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| Cardinals @ Panthers |
Arizona and Carolina each found themselves in upsets last week. The Cardinals fell to the Lions, while the Panthers shocked the Chargers.
It's safe to say the Cardinals blew a huge chance to move to 3-0 and be sitting atop the mega competitive NFC West. Kyler Murray threw a huge dent into the operation with his 3 interceptions. Murray already has 5 interceptions on the season. In a pivotal second year for the former Heisman winner, his turnovers are becoming a liability for his development and for the team. Kliff Kingsbury will be preaching a turnover-free game against the Panthers, who rank second in takeaways this season. The Cards need to regain their mojo by running the ball 25 times a game. Kenyan Drake has yet to make a true impact for Arizona this season, and the ground game for Murray has slowed down as well. Hopkins will likely catch 10-15 balls again this week, but involving other playmakers on the offense should be a priority in the passing game this week. Against a very young Carolina secondary, veteran players like Andy Isabella and Larry Fitzgerald will find separation, and Murray would be wise to look in their directions a few more times.
After losing Christian McCaffrey for 4-6 weeks, the Panthers came out firing against the Chargers. Go figure. Mike Davis lined up wide plenty of times in his place, and touched the ball 21 times for 91 yards. Not bad. But that may not be the wisest gameplan going up against the Cardinals. The Panthers could bode well setting their speedy receivers down the field, and winning the game with the deep ball. Robby Anderson has started the season strong, while D.J. Moore and Curtis Samuel have not seen as many touches as they would like. Davis is not McCaffrey, but the receivers on tap for Carolina are speedy and dangerous. The passing attack could be Carolina's friend this week. They may need to go down that road to outscore Murray's ground and pound Cardinals offense.
The Cards are on upset alert again, and the Panthers have the confidence they can deliver back-to-back upset wins. That being said, lightning rarely strikes twice in the NFL. The Cardinals are far and away superior to the Panthers, and the away team will be too tough to stop.
Prediction: Cardinals 27, Panthers 20
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| Jaguars @ Bengals |
The Bengals have a tangible amount of swagger about them for a winless team led by a rookie quarterback. Forcing the Eagles to a tie is impressive, and Joe Burrow had his best game yet as a starter. Burrow threw for 312 yards and 2 touchdowns without turning the ball over, and is gaining more and more control of the offense by the week. Burrow has an opportunity to claim his first career win against the Jags, if his supporting cast steps up. The offensive line needs to hold Burrow upright, after giving up 14 sacks to their rookie QB after just 3 games. Joe Mixon has yet to rush for more than 69 yards this season, or get into the end zone. The running game needs to be the focal point of the Week 4 gameplan, to slow down Jacksonville's pass rush, and make play-action a weapon for Burrow. Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins are coming off strong performances in Week 3, and they are poised to keep it up this weekend.
It was a letdown on Thursday night for the Jaguars, who will be flying to Cincy off 10 days rest. The Jags gave up 138 rushing yards to the Dolphins, the team turned the ball over twice, and Gardner Minshew was sacked 4 times. That is a formula for losing football. James Robinson had a strong performance, touching the ball 17 times for 129 yards and 2 touchdowns. He can be Jacksonville's main man if the Jags continue to feed him the ball. The Jags running game stalled out early when they faced a heavy deficit, but Robinson can complement the air attack if the Jags keep the game within striking distance. If they fall down early again, the Jags will not catch up, because the team is not built to do that.
I am tempted to pick the Jags because Gardner Minshew makes me eat my words whenever I pick against him. That being said, he burned me last week when I picked the Jags. This time, I fancy the Bengals led by Joe Burrow to win their first game of the year.
Prediction: Jaguars 10, Bengals 23
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| Ravens @ Football Team |
Lamar Jackson put it best, the Chiefs are Baltimore's kryptonite. Jackson and the Ravens are coming off their worst defeat in a long, long time. The passing game produced 70 yards. Yup. The Ravens also allowed 4 sacks, and the offensive line could not keep Jackson upright all night. Not to mention the Ravens are not built to come from behind. A trip to Washington presents an opportunity for a bounce back performance, and for the Ravens to recapture their mojo. Control the game from the ground, leaning on Mark Ingram and Gus Edwards. Unleash the deep ball with Marquise Brown, and boost Mark Andrews' confidence after an uncharacteristic end zone drop on Monday. Also find a way to keep Jackson upright. Jackson has been sacked 10 times in 3 games, which is more sacks than the Ravens can afford to give up.
The first three games have been hot and cold for Washington. In spurts, the running game is explosive, Dwayne Haskins is making strides, and Chase Young is making an instant impact. But the box score reads a losing record, and 7 giveaways on the season. If the Football Team can mitigate the turnovers, they can be an efficient offense. This week, they have the tall task of outscoring the Ravens, which will be virtually impossible without Chase Young, who is banged up. After giving up 158 rushing yards to the Browns last weekend, the Ravens will be licking their lips at this matchup.
Washington has prevailed in the previous two meetings in the Beltway Battle, but they are 13.5 point underdogs this time around. The Ravens are primed for a bounce-back performance in Week 4.
Prediction: Ravens 33, Football Team 13
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| Seahawks @ Dolphins |
Russell Wilson is the Seattle Seahawks. We might as well refer to them as the Seattle Wilson from now on, because the team's success hinges on Wilson playing at an MVP level every week. So far, Wilson has delivered every week. The NFC Offensive Player of the Month scored 5 touchdowns in a thrilling win over the Cowboys, despite his defense giving up 522 yards, and Cris Carson going down with an injury. The Seahawks are built to win like the 2018 Chiefs, overcoming incompetent defense with MVP level play at the quarterback position. It is not sustainable, as last season showed the Seahawks. But it can work against the Dolphins, who have already been dominated by Cam Newton and Josh Allen so far.
Ryan Fitzpatrick continues to hold off Tua Tagovailoa on the sidelines with strong performances through the air. The Dolphins won their first game of the season over the Jaguars with an efficient running game and a consistent short passing attack. Fitzpatrick threw just 2 incompletions in Week 3. That'll do every week. He has the opportunity to stretch the ball deep down the field against the Seahawks defense, which is giving up an average of almost 500 yards per game, including 430 through the air. The likes of DeVante Parker and Isaiah Ford are in for breakout performances. The Dolphins are certainly capable of scoring in bunches, but they will be playing catch-up all night with Russell Wilson on the other side.
Wilson is in for another big game against the Dolphins, and the Seahawks are in position to continue their high scoring tear. The Dolphins won't have an answer.
Prediction: Seahawks 37, Dolphins 24
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| Giants @ Rams |
The Rams were a missed pass interference call away from completing the greatest comeback in franchise history last Sunday. Their loss to the Bills last week, while heartbreaking, is still encouraging for the direction of the offense. They have a lot to be optimistic about going into their matchup with the winless Giants.
Against an elite Bills defense, the Rams were unstoppable in their comeback attempt. Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods, and Darrell Hendersons starred in a stellar second half, totaling 478 total yards of offense on the game. The Rams offense has regained its mojo, and is not nearly as predictable or as slow as it was last season. They match up beautifully with the New York Giants, who will not be able to keep up with their inevitable scoring spree.
In three games, the Giants have amassed the 2nd fewest yards per game, and the fewest yards on the ground. The Giants have also given the ball away 7 times, tied for 2nd worst in the league. The cherry on top is losing to the injury-plagued 49ers, who fielded half a team of backups, including Nick Mullens at quarterback. The Giants allowed them 420 yards on the day, and mustered just 231 yards of offense themselves. They can't move the ball, and they can't stop the other team from moving the ball. A formula for losing football. Devonta Freeman will need to be knee deep in the playbook for the Giants to capture any semblance of spark in the offense. Otherwise Sunday will be another turnover-filled, offensive lacking afternoon for the Giants ending in a blowout defeat.
In case you haven't deciphered my prediction yet, it's the Rams. Decisively.
Prediction: Giants 17, Rams 34
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| Patriots @ Chiefs |
Cam Newton's Patriots are fun. They're strong, explosive, and they win in a different way. Then again, their first two wins came against the Dolphins and Raiders. The Super Bowl champs present New England's biggest test in the young season. The Pats will lean on the ground game to control the tempo, and try to keep Pat Mahomes on the sidelines. Sony Michel broke out with 117 yards on just 9 carries last week, spearheading a ground game which totaled 250 yards against the Raiders. Newton will surely extend plays with his legs in the pocket and even carry the ball himself, as he did 9 times in Week 3. If the Pats can go up early and force the Chiefs to punt on their first two possessions, New England will be in the driver's seat. However, it's more likely the Chiefs will start fast, and Newton will have to go toe-to-toe with Mahomes.
In Mahomes' third year as a starter, he is 1-2 against the Patriots. The Chiefs pulled away victorious last year, while Tom Brady broke Chiefs hearts twice in 2018, including the AFC Championship. This time around, the Chiefs are strong favorites to even the series. The Chiefs are coming off a signature win in Baltimore, where they laid the hammer on the reigning MVP and his Ravens. The Ravens could only muster 228 yards on offense against KC, and the Patriots should be concerned. The Ravens and Patriots are built very similarly, to run the ball at the quarterback position and force opponents to respect a high octane running attack. Well, last week, the Chiefs completely shut Lamar Jackson down, collapsing on the pocket, and shutting down his receivers downfield. The game could unfold a little similarly for the Chiefs this time around.
On paper, the Chiefs are heavy favorites, but Bill Belicheck will have a trick or two up his sleeve to close the gap. But truth be told, the gap between the previous two Super Bowl champions is very wide at the moment. It could be close, but the Chiefs will be victorious one way or the other.
Prediction: Patriots 19, Chiefs 28
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| Bills @ Raiders |
The Bills averted disaster last week, and are 3-0 for the second consecutive season. Now they fly to Vegas for the first time to take on the Raiders, who were humbled in Foxboro last Sunday.
In the preseason, skeptics and analysts expressed their confidence in the Bills if Josh Allen was ready to take the next step. Well, in year three, Allen is second in the NFL in passing yards, and has scored 12 total touchdowns. He is playing like an MVP candidate in the early going. Stefon Diggs joined the Bills and has taken Buffalo's offense to the next level, which now ranks 4th overall. The Bills will be confident they can move the ball efficiently against the 26th ranked defense, and Allen will keep his hot start to 2020 rolling.
The Raiders stumbled against the Patriots and could not muster much offense until the fourth quarter. In situational football, the Raiders faltered on Sunday. It will be difficult against the Bills to set the tone, but the pieces are in place to move the chains with efficiency. Josh Jacobs ranks 5th in rushing yards, and will be the focal point of the Raiders gameplan. The Bills defense has started slow in 2020, ranking 20th in total yards alllowed. The Raiders will be confident they can take advantage of the struggling secondary, but they are lacking a home-run threat to do so. Without Henry Ruggs, the Raiders will be counting on Zay Jones and Hunter Renfrow to make plays from the slot. Darren Waller will need a similar performance to his Week 2 standout game against the Saints for the Raiders to keep up with Buffalo's high octane offense.
This game has the makings of a nail-biter. But in crunch time, Josh Allen has proven he can lead his team down the field with the game on the line in the dying moments. This week could come down to the final drive once again, and the Bills are more poised to deliver than the Raiders.
Prediction: Bills 29, Raiders 24
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| Eagles @ 49ers |
These NFC heavyweights seem to be trending in polar opposite directions. The Eagles mustered just a tie last week and are still looking for their first win of the season, while the 49ers backups are coming off a blowout win over the Giants.
After conquering New Jersey, the 49ers are back home but still facing dire straits. Jimmy Garappolo and Raheem Mostert are still not practicing, and they will not suit up on Sunday night. Nick Mullens will retain the reins for primetime, and hope to keep San Fran's momentum rolling. Considering that their hamstrung offense racked 420 yards against the Giants on the road last week, the 49ers are rightfully confident they can keep rolling against the Eagles. If the 49ers' winning run continues, Kyle Shanahan deserves all the credit for somehow dialing up a scheme to put the likes of Nick Mullens and Jerick McKinnon to succeed together, still without George Kittle and Deebo Samuel. Kittle is back in practice, and his return on Sunday night is likely. That changes everything for this offense.
Fortunes look very bleak in Philly. Carson Wentz is having his worst start to a season in his career. He leads the league with 6 interceptions. The Eagles rank 24th in total offense, and 32nd in turnover differential and giveaways. For crying out loud, the Eagles tied with the Bengals led by a rookie quarterback. What could go wrong has gone wrong, and this team looks nothing like the team that hoisted the Lombardi just three years ago. This iteration of Philadelphia matches up horrifically with a 49ers defense that ranks 3rd in yards allowed, and 2nd in passing and points allowed. Despite the injuries to Dee Ford and Dre Greenlaw for San Fran, the Eagles walk in pretty banged up themselves. DeSean Jackson is not practicing, Miles Sanders and Alshon Jeffrey are limited, and the offensive line is battling injuries of their own. The fault does not lie entirely on Wentz for Philly's early season struggle. When the injuries pile up in bunches like this, it is virtually impossible to succeed. Then again, the 49ers look just fine.
Wentz is in for a long, long, long night. San Francisco's relentless pass rush and stout defensive play will be the end of Wentz and the Eagles offense this Sunday night. This one could unravel quickly.
This is my Lock of the Week.
Prediction: Eagles 13, 49ers 29
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| Falcons @ Packers |
Faltering in the fourth quarter is more than a fluke if it happens every week. The Falcons have made a habit of blowing two-score leads in the final five minutes the past two weeks. It is a trend which started back in Super Bowl LI four seasons ago, which still haunts this team. The Falcons need to exercise their demons this week, and finish the job this time. Julio Jones should be healthy this week, which will open up the offense which struggled just a little bit against Chicago. Todd Gurley going up against a middle-of-the-pack Packers rush defense, and Jones and Calvin Ridley matching up with Kevin King and Chandon Sullivan is a deadly matchup.
The Packers are riding high off their primetime win over the Saints. Without Davante Adams, the Packers scored 37 points, leaning on the likes of Allen Lazard, Robert Tonyan, Jr., and Jace Sternberger. Wow. Aaron Rodgers, how do you do it? It helps that Aaron Jones is second in the league in rushing yards, and he has emerged as Green Bay's top playmaker not named Adams. Rodgers will be licking his lips at this matchup, going against the 31st ranked defense in the NFL. The Packers have the opportunity to control the game from the kickoff and not even allow Atlanta to take a lead to blow in the first place.
On paper, this promises to be an entertaining primetime affair. Not to mention every time Matt Ryan and Aaron Rodgers square off, it is must-see television. Considering the state of mind swirling in Atlanta, the Packers are the safe bet to secure the win. But the Falcons will give it their all.
Prediction: Falcons 24, Packers 31
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