NFL Week 4’s best matchups
It’s already week 4 of the NFL season and while the season has gotten off to a somewhat ugly start from an offensive perspective there’s plenty of already desperate teams heading into week 4. With offenses down and QB play off to an ugly start around the league let’s take a look at some of the best upcoming matchups for week 4.
New Orleans Saints (+1.5) @ Atlanta Falcons
I hesitated making this one of the highlighted games of the week but it is a clack of NFC South foes who are both desperate for a win after a tough week 3. The Falcons have gotten off to a disappointing 1-2 start to the season with new QB Kirk Cousins. While the Saints looked like one of the surprise teams of the season through two weeks but certainly hit a skid in week 3 against a tough Eagles defense.
Both teams will be desperate for a win in a tightly contested NFC South that many have the Buccaneers winning. Will Cousins finally be able to get in rhythm with his explosive weapons or will the surprise Saints send the Falcons to 1-3 putting them behind the 8-ball early in the season.
Minnesota Vikings (+2.5) @ Green Bay Packers
Another divisional clash with NFC North foes Vikings and Packers both heading into this game coming off wins. The Vikings have without a doubt been the surprise team of the season led by the resurgent Sam Darnold. Darnold has the Vikings at 3-0 and has their offense humming through 3 weeks even with Jefferson, Addison and Hockenson banged up.
While the Packers starting QB Jordan Love was hurt against the Eagles, Malik Willis has stepped in and played well. Willis led the Packers to a convincing 30-14 win over his old team the Titans on Sunday but a Brian Flores defense will be a tough test for the young QB if Love is unable to go.
Philadelphia Eagles (-2.5) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Eagles headed into the season with sky high expectations around their loaded roster and a disappointing end to last season. It’s been an up and down start for the Eagles while they’re 2-1 it hasn’t been pretty for Philly especially on offense so far. Jalen Hurts has had some turnover issues the first 3 weeks and with AJ Brown missing last weekend and Devonta Smith most likely out this weekend this could be a tough spot for the Eagles.
While the Buccaneers led by Baker Mayfield were up there with the Vikings for surprise teams to start the season they regressed mightily in week 3. The Bucs lost in Denver to a rookie QB in Bo Nix who had struggled his first two games. Could it have just been a bad spot for a Bucs team that was flying high after it’s hot start? Or is that more indicative of who they are as a team, I think this is a matchup we’ll learn a lot about both sides in. Philly needs a win to keep up with the high flying Commanders while the Buccaneers are looking to cement themselves as the class of the NFC South.
Washington Commanders (+3) @ Arizona Cardinals
At the start of the season I wouldn’t have thought this would be a highlighted game of the week but after Jayden Daniels coming out party on MNF against the Bengals the Commanders are becoming must watch TV. Daniels took the league by storm on Monday night lighting up the Bengals defense with multiple deep bombs that were right on the money.
While the Cardinals have been up and down to start the season but with Kyler Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr. anything is possible when they have the ball on offense. This is a good chance for the Commanders to show that MNF wasn’t just a one off. While the Cardinals will be looking to get back in the win column after blowing out the Rams in week 2 but stalled out in week 2 losing to the Lions and only scoring 14 points. This will be a good litmus test for both sides defenses as there’s explosive players everywhere on each teams offense.
Buffalo Bills (+2.5) @ Baltimore Ravens
Two teams that have very different starts to their season face off in this one. As the 3-0 Bills head to Baltimore to take on the surprisingly 1-2 Ravens. Baltimore lost it’s first home game of the season to a Raiders team that most expect to be at the bottom of the league. While Josh Allen has the Bills offense clicking on all cylinders and they look like one of the best teams in the league.
Lamar Jackson and the Ravens offense just hasn’t looked like we all are used to seeing. Jackson has been missing throws he usually makes and his once favorite target in Mark Andrews has been invisible through 3 weeks. It’ll need to be all hands on deck for Baltimore in this one if they’re going to slow down Allen and the Bills offense to avoid starting the season 1-3.
Seattle Seahawks (+3.5) @ Detroit Lions
Another early season surprise the 3-0 Seahawks led by Geno Smith head to Detroit to take on the 2-1 Lions. Geno has the Seahawks on top of the NFC West through 3 weeks and has been one of the best quarterbacks in the league to start the season. With DK Metcalf Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Kenneth Walker as the teams 3 headed monster offensively. However it hasn’t just been Smith and the Seahawks offense that’s impressed so far this season their defense has been one of the best in the league this season as well.
The Lions a heavy NFC favorite and even Super Bowl pick for some have been good not great to start the season. Losing in ugly fashion to the Buccaneers in week 2 head coach Dan Campbell took most of the responsibility for the loss and the team responded well in week 3 with a 7 point win over the Cardinals in Arizona.
Can the Lions continue to keep up with their high expectations? Or will the surprise Seahawks continue to roll and move to 4-0 and keep their lead atop the NFC West.
