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BwareDWare94
Where were you when the world stopped turning?
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A touch of success last week, though I was dead wrong on NO/'Zona
I'm going to substitute a score prediction this week. It'll be in place of the "Actually an upset?" part. Keep in mind that these are scenarios, first. I'm not going to predict every upset to actually happen.
Week 4 Upset #1: Bills over Ravens
Why it might happen:
Buffalo had a less than enthralling showing against New York last week, but still remained in the game. They face another struggling offense (and very good defense) this week, and the Ravens will need to score some points on offense in order to win this game. I wonder if the Spiller/Jackson combo can soften up that Raven front 7, but I have my doubts. This one will be up to E.J. Manuel, and what he can do with some very solid aerial weapons. I expect a big game from Stevie Johnson, this coming week. One thing that worries me for Baltimore is their tendency to play down to their competition, and going into Buffalo is going to make that a major obstacle.
Prediction:
I think the Bills get a couple of surprising early scores, putting the Ravens behind the eight ball. I do believe the Ravens to get this game under control, at some point, but if they can't, the Bills could pull it off. 27-24, Ravens.
Week 4 Upset #2: Lions over Bears
Why it will happen:
I still don't think that the Lions style of offense is sustainable, especially with Bush already being injured once, but I think it could give the Bears some fits. The Bears have yet to face a real pass catching threat out of the backfield, or at least a threat of Bush's caliber. I expect Bush to give the Bears some fits, and Calvin Johnson will have plenty of "wow" moments against Tillman and Jennings. What it comes down to is Jay Cutler finding Marshall and Bennett all over again, after they both were barely there last week. The Lions will struggle with those two, at times, but they're a different beast at home, and I expect them to give the Bears their first loss.
Prediction:
This will be a close game most of the way, and I think the Lions containing Forte is going to be huge in this game. They've already taken AP out of a game for three quarters. I see no reason that they can't do the same to Forte. I think the Lions get a late field goal to ice this game. 34-24, Lions.
Week 4 Upset #3: Texans over Seahawks
Why it will happen:
At this point, the Texans are behind the eight ball. They've yet to play a complete game, let alone an impressive game. Now at home, and against a team that struggles mightily on the road, they need to put their stamp on the NFL this weekend. I fully expect Arian Foster and Ben Tate to be established within the first quarter, and I think the Seahawks secondary will have its struggles against Johnson and especially Hopkins, who is the front runner for ORotY. I have a feeling that the Texans defense will be able to contain Wilson and his mediocre weapons. It'll come down to keeping him in the pocket and not allowing Beast Mode to go off.
Prediction:
I think the Texans win this one fairly convincingly, reminding us why they've been so good (in the regular season, that is) in recent years. The Seahawks and their fans need a reminder that they're not invincible, and I think playing in Houston this weekend is going to give it to them. 23-14, Texans.
Week 4 Upset #4: Giants over Chiefs
Why it might happen:
Imagine a pissed off Tom Coughlin laying into his team for a week straight, grating at their psyches until they can no longer take it. They're so pissed off that they storm into Arrowhead and give the Chiefs one hell of a game. While I really like KC's secondary, they've yet to face a skillset as unique as that of Victor Cruz. While the Giants won't have anything that resembles a running game, they will be able to throw the ball. At some point, Eli's going to stop turning the ball over. As we all very well know, KC's offense has been stagnant, at best, unable to put up any considerable point totals (against relevant teams, anyway. lolJags). That could bite them in the ass with an offense as explosive as NYG's can be.
Prediction:
The Chiefs are anything but paper tigers, and though I think this upset is possible, I just don't see it happening. People keep referring to Alex Smith as a game manager. I think he's more than that. Game managers can't make certain throws or plays, and I guess I can't think of anything Alex Smith absolutely can't do. The offensive struggles so far this season have more to do with Smith's aerial weapons than Smith, himself. At least Donnie Avery is having a good first few weeks. Either way, I think the Chiefs will be too good at home for a reeling NYG team, though it could be close. 20-17, Chiefs.
Week 4 Upset #5: Chargers over Cowboys
Why it might happen:
Romo has been good. Rivers has been just a good, if not better. The only obvious difference so far is that Dallas' defense is much improved and probably superior to San Diego's unit. Edge rushers in Ware and Selvie are going to give a statue like Rivers some real trouble, so it's up to San Diego's OL to over perform. I think that Rivers continues to do well in this game, but I just don't know if it'll be enough to cope with Romo and his weapons. Murray could have another big game, and Dallas needs him to become more consistent. We'll have to wait and see what happens.
Prediction:
Dallas is, I think, the best defense (let's wait a few more weeks to absolutely decide whose defense ranks where. We need a larger sample size) that the Chargers will have faced so far, and Dallas has the kind of secondary needed to contain Gates and Rivers' other weapons. While Dallas almost always loses to San Diego, I think they'll buck the trend this week. 27-17, Cowboys.
Note: I'd have listed Miami over New Orleans, but I doubt the Fins can compete in New Orleans without Cameron Wake. That, and I'm tired. Really really tired.
I'm going to substitute a score prediction this week. It'll be in place of the "Actually an upset?" part. Keep in mind that these are scenarios, first. I'm not going to predict every upset to actually happen.
Week 4 Upset #1: Bills over Ravens
Why it might happen:
Buffalo had a less than enthralling showing against New York last week, but still remained in the game. They face another struggling offense (and very good defense) this week, and the Ravens will need to score some points on offense in order to win this game. I wonder if the Spiller/Jackson combo can soften up that Raven front 7, but I have my doubts. This one will be up to E.J. Manuel, and what he can do with some very solid aerial weapons. I expect a big game from Stevie Johnson, this coming week. One thing that worries me for Baltimore is their tendency to play down to their competition, and going into Buffalo is going to make that a major obstacle.
Prediction:
I think the Bills get a couple of surprising early scores, putting the Ravens behind the eight ball. I do believe the Ravens to get this game under control, at some point, but if they can't, the Bills could pull it off. 27-24, Ravens.
Week 4 Upset #2: Lions over Bears
Why it will happen:
I still don't think that the Lions style of offense is sustainable, especially with Bush already being injured once, but I think it could give the Bears some fits. The Bears have yet to face a real pass catching threat out of the backfield, or at least a threat of Bush's caliber. I expect Bush to give the Bears some fits, and Calvin Johnson will have plenty of "wow" moments against Tillman and Jennings. What it comes down to is Jay Cutler finding Marshall and Bennett all over again, after they both were barely there last week. The Lions will struggle with those two, at times, but they're a different beast at home, and I expect them to give the Bears their first loss.
Prediction:
This will be a close game most of the way, and I think the Lions containing Forte is going to be huge in this game. They've already taken AP out of a game for three quarters. I see no reason that they can't do the same to Forte. I think the Lions get a late field goal to ice this game. 34-24, Lions.
Week 4 Upset #3: Texans over Seahawks
Why it will happen:
At this point, the Texans are behind the eight ball. They've yet to play a complete game, let alone an impressive game. Now at home, and against a team that struggles mightily on the road, they need to put their stamp on the NFL this weekend. I fully expect Arian Foster and Ben Tate to be established within the first quarter, and I think the Seahawks secondary will have its struggles against Johnson and especially Hopkins, who is the front runner for ORotY. I have a feeling that the Texans defense will be able to contain Wilson and his mediocre weapons. It'll come down to keeping him in the pocket and not allowing Beast Mode to go off.
Prediction:
I think the Texans win this one fairly convincingly, reminding us why they've been so good (in the regular season, that is) in recent years. The Seahawks and their fans need a reminder that they're not invincible, and I think playing in Houston this weekend is going to give it to them. 23-14, Texans.
Week 4 Upset #4: Giants over Chiefs
Why it might happen:
Imagine a pissed off Tom Coughlin laying into his team for a week straight, grating at their psyches until they can no longer take it. They're so pissed off that they storm into Arrowhead and give the Chiefs one hell of a game. While I really like KC's secondary, they've yet to face a skillset as unique as that of Victor Cruz. While the Giants won't have anything that resembles a running game, they will be able to throw the ball. At some point, Eli's going to stop turning the ball over. As we all very well know, KC's offense has been stagnant, at best, unable to put up any considerable point totals (against relevant teams, anyway. lolJags). That could bite them in the ass with an offense as explosive as NYG's can be.
Prediction:
The Chiefs are anything but paper tigers, and though I think this upset is possible, I just don't see it happening. People keep referring to Alex Smith as a game manager. I think he's more than that. Game managers can't make certain throws or plays, and I guess I can't think of anything Alex Smith absolutely can't do. The offensive struggles so far this season have more to do with Smith's aerial weapons than Smith, himself. At least Donnie Avery is having a good first few weeks. Either way, I think the Chiefs will be too good at home for a reeling NYG team, though it could be close. 20-17, Chiefs.
Week 4 Upset #5: Chargers over Cowboys
Why it might happen:
Romo has been good. Rivers has been just a good, if not better. The only obvious difference so far is that Dallas' defense is much improved and probably superior to San Diego's unit. Edge rushers in Ware and Selvie are going to give a statue like Rivers some real trouble, so it's up to San Diego's OL to over perform. I think that Rivers continues to do well in this game, but I just don't know if it'll be enough to cope with Romo and his weapons. Murray could have another big game, and Dallas needs him to become more consistent. We'll have to wait and see what happens.
Prediction:
Dallas is, I think, the best defense (let's wait a few more weeks to absolutely decide whose defense ranks where. We need a larger sample size) that the Chargers will have faced so far, and Dallas has the kind of secondary needed to contain Gates and Rivers' other weapons. While Dallas almost always loses to San Diego, I think they'll buck the trend this week. 27-17, Cowboys.
Note: I'd have listed Miami over New Orleans, but I doubt the Fins can compete in New Orleans without Cameron Wake. That, and I'm tired. Really really tired.