Week 4 of the NFL 2009 season is coming our way, and with the bye-weeks starting there are just 14 games this week for us to make predictions on. There are some great looking matchups too!

Here are our picks for this week…

Sunday October 4th
Detroit Lions @ Chicago Bears
A – The 1-2 Lions come bouncing off their win last week that arrested their 19 game slide and travel to Chicago to face the Bears who seem to have woken up after a slow first week. Jay Cutler has been on great form and the defense has done well in two potentially tricky matches in weeks 2 and 3. I think it’s a return to 2008 form for the Lions here.

G – Agreed.  I was happy to see the Lions finally getting a win last week (sorry it had to be against the Redskins Andrew!), and while I do see them getting better as the season goes on, this game is not going to be theirs.

Baltimore Ravens @ New England Patriots
A – Now this is a juicy matchup. I can hear in my head John Madden saying “Now this is what it’s all about.” The Ravens have been stunning so far, with their stingy defence now augmented by an offense that is breaking team records each week. The Patriots looked to be struggling in their first two weeks, and there’s no doubt that they’ve looked better but they can never be ruled out.
That said, I’m picking the Ravens to get it done here.

G – The Ravens have looked good, while the Pats have not looked so good.  I still don’t think that things are as bad for the Patriots as people are making out, we are just too used to seeing them win. I am picking them at home this week.

New York Giants @ Kansas City Chiefs
A – The Giants to win this comfortably. The Chiefs aren’t looking good, and though I think there is more to come from them they won’t be able to show it against the Giants.

G -I pick the Giants to continue their great road form.

Tennessee Titans @ Jacksonville Jaguars
A – No-one predicted that the Titans would be winless going into week 4, but the Jaguars are a more predictable 1-2. Both teams need a win here. The Titans haven’t played badly, and are moving the ball and putting up points, I think they’ll be able to outscore the Jags. This could be a great game though, if Chris Johnson And Maurice Jones-Drew are both on form.

G – This one is such a hard pick.  Who will give the game away?  Jacksonville have been too inconsistent for my liking, so I am going with the Titans……yes  I know they have been consistent by losing, but also with their performances.

Seattle Seahawks @ Indianapolis Colts
A – I like the Colts here. Like the Giants, they seem to be quietly going about their business with as little drama as they can manage. The Seahawks are looking good compared to last season, but they’ll fall short here.

G – It looks like nothing can stop the Colts at the moment, especially a visit from the Seahawks.  A Colts win here for me.

Oakland Raiders @ Houston Texans
A – I’m almost tempted to go the other way to Graham, just so that we end our streak of getting the Texans wrong!
The Raiders seem to be regressing after a promising start and JaMarcus Russell was as bad as he’s ever been last week. The Texans might have a disappointing record, but are a solid unit overall and I’ve got to pick the home Texans to make good here.

G -I have seen some interesting analysis on this one and a lot of people are going for an Oakland win.  After watching them last week there is no way I am sticking my neck out.  Texans for me.

Cincinnati Bengals @ Cleveland Browns
A – Ah, the Ohio derby. The Browns are looking pretty terrible: they have a points differential of -66 after just three games and despite trying both Quinn and Anderson failed to make any headway in week 3. The Bengals weren’t meant to look good, but have impressive wins against the Bears and Steelers to go with their unfortunate loss against the Broncos. They’re looking physical and they’re looking hungry. I see them winning in some style in The Cleve.

G -Yes Bengals for me too.  The Browns don’t look settled at all and I can’t see them turning it around quickly.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Washington Redskins
A – Redskins win. Easy.

G – This is an interesting one.  Washington were another team that didn’t look at all together last weekend.  In Tampa the change in quarterback for this week is an interesting and brave one.  I can see it paying off though.  I am going to pick the Bucs here.

New York Jets @ New Orleans Saints
A – Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. I really don’t know how to call this one. It’s probably easiest to just say that both teams will score serious points and leave it at that. However, I have to fall one side here… and I’m going with the Saints.

G – At first glance I would pick the Saints, but I have been doing some analysis on this one and feel that the Jets defence could put a stop to the Saints points-fest.  The thing is, I don’t really care who wins this, I just want to open a beer and watch it!  Everything points to a Saints win, but gut feel says the Jets will pull this one off.

Buffalo Bills @ Miami Dolphins
A – The Dolphins are struggling and have now lost Chad Pennington for the season; Chad Henne gets the start this week. The Bills are always erratic and frustrating, but have been playing generally well. I’m going to pick the Dolphins here, as I think they’re going to want it more…. yeah, following my gut.

G – The Dolphins are well set up to play with a weakness at QB.  This will not be an easy game, but if they can pull the same kind of home performance out at home as they did against the Colts then it will be more than enough.  Miami for me.

St. Louis Rams @ San Francisco 49ers
A – The Rams are still looking bad and the 49ers are looking – to me – surprisingly good. Graham has been backing the 49ers since week 1, and this week I’m going to get in line.

G – Week 4 is no different for me 49ers will win this easily.  I love the way they have been playing and even with the serious weakness or Frank Gore being out, they seem to have the depth to get through.

Dallas Cowboys @ Denver Broncos
A – I’ve mentioned before that I’m not sold on the Broncos yet. By week 8 we’ll know… but we’ll know a lot by then. I’ve got to fancy the Cowboys, but a Bronco win makes me see them in a whole new light.

G – The Broncos performance last week was not enough for me to give them the nod.  Yes it was a win, but the opponents were soft.  Cowboys for me here.

San Diego Chargers @ Pittsburgh Steelers
A – Another great match-up! And another one that’s tough to call. The Steelers will be feeling grim at 1-2, and the memories of their last season as champions will be coming back to haunt them if they keep losing close games and fail to get above .500 in the next few weeks. I’ve hesitated on this one more than any other game this week, but I’m picking the Chargers.

G – I expected the Steelers to be doing much better at this point, but I still don’t think there is much to panic about.  Steelers win for me.

Monday October 5th
Green Bay Packers @ Minnesota Vikings
A – The travelling Packers go to the Metrodome to face the Vikings, who have Brett Favre at QB. That’s on top of this already being one of the competetive match-ups in the entire NFL.
I’m picking the Vikings here. I like the Packers, and think they’ll do well over the season but they just seem to lack a certain steel that will see them through this game.

G – Another game that I really want to watch.  The Vikings have been great to watch and the system is working really well.  Green Bay are also a good team though and though they are the underdog here, they become another gut feel pick for me.

Fixtures and Scores @ nfl.com: http://www.nfl.com/schedules?seasonType=REG#Week4
Fixtures and Scores @ Yahoo! Sports: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/scoreboard?w=4

ANDREW GRAHAM GUEST: JOHN ACTUAL
Detroit Lions @ Chicago Bears chi_logo-50x50 chi_logo-50x50 chi_logo-50x50
Baltimore Ravens @ New England Patriots bal_logo-50x50 ne_logo-50x50 bal_logo-50x50
New York Giants @ Kansas City Chiefs nyg_logo-50x50 nyg_logo-50x50 nyg_logo-50x50
Tennessee Titans @ Jacksonville Jaguars ten_logo-50x50 ten_logo-50x50 ten_logo-50x50
Seattle Seahakws @ Indianapolis Colts ind_logo-50x50 ind_logo-50x50 ind_logo-50x50
Oakland Raiders @ Houston Texans hou_logo-50x50 hou_logo-50x50 hou_logo-50x50
Cincinnati Bengals @ Cleveland Browns cin_logo-50x50 cin_logo-50x50 cin_logo-50x50
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Washington Redskins was_logo-50x50 tb_logo-50x50 was_logo-50x50
New York Jets @ New Orleans Saints no_logo-50x50 nyj_logo-50x50 no_logo-50x50
Buffalo Bills @ Miami Dolphins mia_logo-50x50 mia_logo-50x50 mia_logo-50x50
St. Louis Rams @ San Francisco 49ers sf_logo-50x50 sf_logo-50x50 sf_logo-50x50
Dallas Cowboys @ Denver Broncos dal_logo-50x50 dal_logo-50x50 dal_logo-50x50
San Diego Chargers @ Pittsburgh Steelers sd_logo-50x50 pit_logo-50x50 pit_logo-50x50
Green Bay Packers @ Minnesota Vikings min_logo-50x50 gb_logo-50x50 gb_logo-50x50