The Chargers came out smacked the Packers around, showing us their true potential as a team. If they can play like that every week, they can beat just about anyone. That kind of play will beat the Raiders, but the Raiders are no easy win. They’ve proved to be a lot more competitive, and the competitiveness always comes out for divisional games.
Prediction: Chargers
Giants @ Jets
Both the Giants and Jets are bad teams, but the Jets just lost to the Dolphins. I’ll take the Giants.
Prediction: Giants
Falcons @ Saints
I believe the Saints are the best team in the NFC, possibly the league right now. They’re not taking a loss to their division rivals.
Prediction: Saints
Chiefs @ Titans
There’s a better chance Mahomes returns this week, but even if doesn’t, the Chiefs have proved they can play with anyone with Matt Moore as quarterback. Their game plan is being executed perfectly with Moore. The Titans still don’t seem to have a true identity, which is why they continue to be inconsistent. I’ll take the good game plan against the inconsistency.
Prediction: Chiefs
Ravens @ Bengals
Well, the Bengals are officially the worst team in the league. They’re not beating the Ravens.
Prediction: Ravens
Bills @ Browns
Let’s face it, the Browns are just bad. Yes, they’re still bad. They couldn’t even beat the Broncos without their starting quarterback, although that probably made it harder….. Despite the Bills not playing very many good teams so far, they still have a good record. They’ve proved they’re a better team than the Browns.
Prediction: Bills
Cardinals @ Buccaneers
Both the Cardinals and Buccaneers went blow for blow with two of the best teams in the league in the 49ers and Seahawks. We saw how competitive these two teams can be. Now it comes down to which team can repeat that competitiveness.
Prediction: Cardinals
Lions @ Bears
What happened to Mitch Trubisky and the Bears offensively? They’ve been terrible recently. That has to change if the Bears are going to climb back into the playoff race. The Lions are still a team I think can beat anyone, but also lose to anyone. Which version of them do we get?
Prediction: Lions
Dolphins @ Colts
The Miami Dolphins have won a game! I repeat, the Miami Dolphins have won a game! Can they make it two in a row? The Colts might be without Jacoby Brissett in this one because of injury, but he does have a chance to play. Their chances of winning are better with him, but I think they can still win without him.
Prediction: Colts
Panthers @ Packers
The Packers getting destroyed by the Chargers last week makes me feel like they’re going to bounce back. The only way they don’t win is if they can’t contain Christian McCaffrey, which is hard to do. If they can just contain him even a little bit, I think they’ve got this.
Prediction: Packers
Rams @ Steelers
The Steelers got lucky getting that win against the Colts last week, but a win is a win. They’ll have to be more than lucky to earn a win against the Rams, though. The Rams may not look like the team we saw last season, but they’re still a winning team who can score at any time. The Steelers might have to play a perfect game.
Prediction: Rams
Vikings @ Cowboys (Sunday night)
Dallas has gotten off to several slow starts this season, which has really hurt them in each of their losses. They started off slow again against the Giants last week, but were able to recover because the Giants couldn’t cash in offensively. If the Cowboys start slow and turn the ball over early against the Vikings, the Vikings will cash in, leaving the Cowboys in another hole.
Prediction: Vikings
Seahawks @ 49ers (Monday night)
In my opinion, the Seahawks are the toughest test the 49ers have had this season. Russell Wilson is playing lights out and is the front runner for MVP. The 49ers have a legit defense, though. We’ll see if the MVP candidate or MVP defense takes control.
The 49ers are one of, if not the best team in the league right now. The Cardinals have been able to stay competitive this season, but they’re simply just no match for the 49ers. This defense will smother Kyler Murray all game long.
Predictions
Adam: 49ers
Aman: 49ers
Dan: 49ers
Joel: 49ers
Rahim: 49ers
Texans @ Jaguars
Last time around the Texans came out with a one point victory over the Jaguars. I foresee this game being similar to the last. I don’t see a ton of points, but rather a defensive battle ending with one team barely getting past the other.
Predictions
Adam: Jaguars
Aman: Jaguars
Dan: Jaguars
Joel: Texans
Rahim: Jaguars
Bears @ Eagles
This game is going to be interesting. Both teams have been up and down. One week they’re dominating their opponent, but then the next they’re getting walked all over. I can see another close game between these two teams, with it possibly coming down to a field goal. Hopefully for the Bears, that’s not the case!
Predictions
Adam: Eagles
Aman: Bears
Dan: Bears
Joel: Eagles
Rahim: Eagles
Vikings @ Chiefs
With the way the Vikings have been playing, I don’t think I can take the Chiefs to win this game. Matt Moore did a nice job hanging in there with Aaron Rodgers, but he couldn’t get it done when it really mattered. I can see the exact same thing happening in this game.
Predictions
Adam: Chiefs
Aman: Chiefs
Dan: Vikings
Joel: Vikings
Rahim: Chiefs
Colts @ Steelers
Pittsburgh got the win over Miami last week, but they did not look good for a half. The Colts have been quite the surprise this season, being one of the better teams in the league halfway through. Mason Rudolph didn’t look too good last week, and I can honestly see the Colts’ defense smothering him the entire game.
Predictions
Adam: Colts
Aman: Colts
Dan: Steelers
Joel: Colts
Rahim: Steelers
Jets @ Dolphins
This is a game I can actually see the Dolphins winning. The Jets have looked horrible over the last two weeks. The Dolphins have looked horrible all season, so it really could go either way. I’ll take the Dolphins just for the fun of it!
Predictions
Adam: Jets
Aman: Jets
Dan: Jets
Joel: Dolphins
Rahim: Jets
Redskins @ Bills
The Redskins have proved they can be competitive for a while, but they can’t put it together for an entire game. The Bills may let the Redskins hang around for a little while, but eventually they’ll walk away with a win when the Redskins can’t hold on anymore.
Predictions
Adam: Bills
Aman: Bills
Dan: Bills
Joel: Bills
Rahim: Bills
Titans @ Panthers
The Panthers got wrecked by the 49ers last week, but that’s exactly why they’ll bounce back against the Titans. You can’t really blame Kyle Allen for having his worst game against the 49ers’ defense. The Titans have been better with Ryan Tannehill at quarterback, but I still don’t have much confidence in them after being one of the most inconsistent teams in the league.
Predictions
Adam: Titans
Aman: Titans
Dan: Titans
Joel: Panthers
Rahim: Panthers
Lions @ Raiders
In my opinion, the Lions are one of the best teams with an average record. If a few calls had gone their way, they’d have a much better record right now. I think the Lions can compete with any team. The Raiders have been better this season, but they’re still a losing team.
Predictions
Adam: Raiders
Aman: Raiders
Dan: Lions
Joel: Lions
Rahim: Raiders
Buccaneers @ Seahawks
There’s usually at least one game every week where I don’t have to give any explanation as to why I’m picking a team. This is that game this week. Seahawks win.
Predictions
Adam: Seahawks
Aman: Seahawks
Dan: Seahawks
Joel: Seahawks
Rahim: Seahawks
Packers @ Chargers
The Chargers barely got by against the Bears last week, but that won’t be the case against the Packers. The Packers are one of the best teams in the league, and I see them walking all over the Chargers in their home stadium.
Predictions
Adam: Packers
Aman: Packers
Dan: Packers
Joel: Packers
Rahim: Packers
Browns @ Broncos
Joe Flacco is out for this game due to injury. That might actually help the Broncos…. Everything points to a win for the Browns, so let’s see if they can actually follow through with it.
Predictions
Adam: Browns
Aman: Browns
Dan: Browns
Joel: Browns
Rahim: Browns
Patriots @ Ravens (Sunday night)
This game will by far be the biggest test for both sides. Lamar Jackson will be tested by a dominating defense, while the Patriots will be tested by a team who’s actually good. It’ll be interesting to see what game plan Bill Belichick comes up with to stop Lamar Jackson and this offense. Whatever it is, I think it works.
Predictions
Adam: Ravens
Aman: Patriots
Dan: Patriots
Joel: Patriots
Rahim: Ravens
Cowboys @ Giants (Monday night)
Dallas put a beating on the Eagles before their bye week, which makes me want to pick them, but I wouldn’t be confident in that decision. Dallas has been very inconsistent this season, which is why I said I wouldn’t pick them again for the rest of the season. I’ll stick with that because I can honestly see the Giants winning this game.
The Redskins have been able to put up a fight in a couple games this season, but when it comes down to it, they just can’t sustain that play for an entire game. The Vikings have been rolling and will continue that this week with a win over the Redskins.
Predictions
Adam: Vikings
Aman: Vikings
Dan: Vikings
Joel: Vikings
Rahim: Vikings
Seahawks @ Falcons
Reports are that the Falcons are open to making some trades after a terrible start to their season. That has proven to be true so far, as they traded away receiver Mohamed Sanu. The Falcons got weaker, and now they take on a Seattle team looking to rebound after a tough loss. Wilson is still a leader in the MVP race, and will surely do everything he can for his team to earn a victory.
Predictions
Adam: Seahawks
Aman: Seahawks
Dan: Seahawks
Joel: Seahawks
Rahim: Seahawks
Chargers @ Bears
The Chargers just can’t seem to get it done. It’ll be tough to get it done against one of the best defensive teams in the NFL. After seeing the Chargers get dominated by tough defensive units this season, I have no doubt the Bears can do the same thing.
Predictions
Adam: Bears
Aman: Bears
Dan: Bears
Joel: Bears
Rahim: Bears
Giants @ Lions
Despite dropping two straight games, I believe the Lions are still one of the most competitive teams in the league right now. The Giants are still the Giants, even with the return of Saquon Barkley.
Predictions
Adam: Giants
Aman: Lions
Dan: Giants
Joel: Lions
Rahim: Lions
Jets @ Jaguars
The Jets got dominated by the Patriots last week, primarily because of the Patriots’ defense. The Jaguars have a very competitive defense, and I think we’ll see Sam Darnold make some more key mistakes.
Predictions
Adam: Jaguars
Aman: Jaguars
Dan: Jaguars
Joel: Jaguars
Rahim: Jaguars
Bengals @ Rams
The Bengals are in the race to be the worst team in the league this season. I’ll leave it at that.
Predictions
Adam: Rams
Aman: Rams
Dan: Rams
Joel: Rams
Rahim: Rams
Buccaneers @ Titans
I feel like the Titans have the perfect defense to pick off Jameis Winston a few times. If that happens, I see a second straight victory for them.
Predictions
Adam: Buccaneers
Aman: Titans
Dan: Buccaneers
Joel: Titans
Rahim: Buccaneers
Eagles @ Bills
The Bills are good this season primarily because of their tough defense. Dallas’ defense gave the Eagles fits last week, and I can honestly see the Bills doing the same thing to them this week. The Eagles have been inconsistent this season though, so maybe we’ll see the competitive Eagles this week instead of the team that got dominated a week ago.
Predictions
Adam: Bills
Aman: Eagles
Dan: Eagles
Joel: Bills
Rahim: Eagles
Broncos @ Colts
Jacoby Brissett has quietly been one of the better quarterbacks in the league this season. On the other side, Joe Flacco has been one of the most mediocre quarterbacks. I’ll take the better one.
Predictions
Adam: Colts
Aman: Colts
Dan: Colts
Joel: Colts
Rahim: Colts
Cardinals @ Saints
The Saints are at home against a rookie quarterback. Kyler Murray looks promising, but he doesn’t look getting a win at New Orleans promising just yet.
Predictions
Adam: Saints
Aman: Saints
Dan: Saints
Joel: Saints
Rahim: Saints
Panthers @ 49ers
The Panthers have been performing well lately, but they haven’t played a defense like the one the 49ers boast. Carolina will do some nice things, but the 49ers should continue their undefeated streak.
Predictions
Adam: 49ers
Aman: 49ers
Dan: Panthers
Joel: 49ers
Rahim: Panthers
Raiders @ Texans
The Raiders got their trash kicked on defense last week against the Packers. They now play another team with the ability to score a lot of points. If the Raiders can even just slow down Watson and the Texans, they stand a chance. I don’t see that happening though.
Predictions
Adam: Texans
Aman: Texans
Dan: Raiders
Joel: Texans
Rahim: Raiders
Browns @ Patriots
There should be no question about the Patriots winning this game. Mayfield has thrown way too many interceptions this season, and the Patriots have a ton of interceptions. That doesn’t add up for the Browns.
Predictions
Adam: Patriots
Aman: Patriots
Dan: Patriots
Joel: Patriots
Rahim: Browns
Packers @ Chiefs (Sunday night)
This one is simple. No Patrick Mahomes against Aaron Rodgers spells bad news for the Chiefs.
Predictions
Adam: Packers
Aman: Packers
Dan: Packers
Joel: Packers
Rahim: Packers
Dolphins @ Steelers (Monday night)
The Steelers should get Mason Rudolph back for this game, which only makes them stronger offensively. In their last game, being strong on offense didn’t matter, as their defense dominated. I foresee their defense dominating once again, helping them earn another win.
Mahomes’ injury has limited his mobility, which has taken away his strength. It’s obvious he’s not the same player when he can’t move around. Can the Broncos take advantage of Mahomes’ lack of mobility? If they can, they have a real shot at winning this game.
Predictions
Adam: Chiefs
Aman: Chiefs
Dan: Chiefs
Joel: Chiefs
Rahim: Chiefs
Raiders @ Packers
The Raiders have made a lot of improvement this season, but the Packers look like they can beat just about anyone right now. I can see the Raiders winning this game, but I think they’ll have to play near perfect in order to do so. Aaron Rodgers and their revamped defense will likely be too much.
Predictions
Adam: Packers
Aman: Packers
Dan: Packers
Joel: Packers
Rahim: Packers
Rams @ Falcons
The Rams need to rebound after getting smacked around by the 49ers last week. The Falcons just need to get a win after losing four straight games. Despite the Rams struggling, they look like the better team, and they just added CB Jalen Ramsey.
Predictions
Adam: Rams
Aman: Rams
Dan: Rams
Joel: Rams
Rahim: Rams
49ers @ Redskins
The 49ers are dominating the NFL right now, and they’ve proved they can beat a good team after beating the Rams. The Redskins have a win, but it was against the Dolphins, who everyone has beaten. They’ll start another losing streak this week.
Predictions
Adam: 49ers
Aman: 49ers
Dan: 49ers
Joel: 49ers
Rahim: 49ers
Texans @ Colts
Both of these teams are coming off a win over the Kansas City Chiefs. These two division rivals are looking like some of the better teams in the league right now, but only one can come out on top. Who can continue their hot play?
Predictions
Adam: Texans
Aman: Texans
Dan: Texans
Joel: Texans
Rahim: Texans
Vikings @ Lions
The Vikings dominated the Eagles last week and are looking good with their passing attack once again. This game shouldn’t be so easy though, as the Lions are coming off a game where they got screwed by terrible officiating. They’ll be seeking to earn a win and will come out firing. It’s always fun watching an NFC North matchup.
Predictions
Adam: Vikings
Aman: Vikings
Dan: Vikings
Joel: Vikings
Rahim: Vikings
Jaguars @ Bengals
The Jaguars proved last week they can at least hang with some of the best teams in the league. They hung in there with the Saints and gave them a tough time. They’ll be too tough for a horrible Bengals team searching for a win.
Predictions
Adam: Jaguars
Aman: Jaguars
Dan: Jaguars
Joel: Jaguars
Rahim: Jaguars
Cardinals @ Giants
Two rookie quarterbacks face off against each other in this one! Kyler Murray vs. Daniel Jones will be fun to watch. Both quarterbacks have had their moments, but they’ve also had some rough times. Which quarterback will shine in this game?
Predictions
Adam: Giants
Aman: Cardinals
Dan: Cardinals
Joel: Giants
Rahim: Cardinals
Dolphins @ Bills
After coming off another loss to the then also winless Redskins, is anyone picking the Dolphins to win this one?
Predictions
Adam: Bills
Aman: Bills
Dan: Bills
Joel: Bills
Rahim: Bills
Chargers @ Titans
Both of these teams are in need of a win. The Chargers just haven’t looked right, and the Titans have looked so poor that they’re switching quarterbacks now. I feel like the Chargers have more offensive weapons than the Titans. However, the Titans have a good defense, and we saw what the Steelers were able to do on defense to the Chargers last week.
Predictions
Adam: Titans
Aman: Titans
Dan: Chargers
Joel: Titans
Rahim: Chargers
Ravens @ Seahawks
Russell Wilson seems to be the leader in the MVP race right now. He’s making play after play and keeping his team in the NFC West race. Now he faces a tough matchup against Lamar Jackson and the 4-2 Ravens. This game will be fun to watch, as we get to see two quarterbacks who can make plays with both their arms and feet. We’ll see who comes out on top.
Predictions
Adam: Seahawks
Aman: Seahawks
Dan: Seahawks
Joel: Seahawks
Rahim: Seahawks
Saints @ Bears
I believe the Saints are the best team in the NFC right now, even without Brees. They’ve built this team to win without Brees, and it’s obvious that plan has worked. This will be a tough matchup for Teddy Bridgewater, as the Bears have one of the best defensive groups. However, so do the Saints. I feel like both defensive units will have a good game, but which one can do a better job of controlling the opposing offense?
Predictions
Adam: Bears
Aman: Bears
Dan: Bears
Joel: Saints
Rahim: Bears
Eagles @ Cowboys (Sunday night)
As long as Jason Garrett is the coach of the Dallas Cowboys, I will not pick them to win another game for the rest of the season. I’ll leave it at that.
Predictions
Adam: Eagles
Aman: Eagles
Dan: Eagles
Joel: Eagles
Rahim: Cowboys
Patriots @ Jets (Monday night)
The Patriots crushed the Jets 30-14 last time around, but this time the Jets have Sam Darnold. Will that make a difference? Maybe a little bit, but ultimately, it won’t matter. Patriots remain undefeated.
What a surprise…… The Patriots play yet another terrible team. The easiest schedule in the NFL continues and the Patriots get another win to stay undefeated.
Predictions
Adam: Patriots
Aman: Patriots
Dan: Patriots
Joel: Patriots
Rahim: Patriots
Panthers @ Buccaneers
Last time these two teams faced off, the Buccaneers dominated the Panthers. This time around, the Panthers are a different team. McCaffrey is dominating defenses, while Kyle Allen is still performing well in place of Cam Newton. For the Buccaneers, they must stay turnover free. That comes down to mostly Jamies Winston. If he can avoid turnovers, the Bucs are in good shape.
Predictions
Adam: Buccaneers
Aman: Buccaneers
Dan: Buccaneers
Joel: Panthers
Rahim: Panthers
Redskins @ Dolphins
One of these winless teams will get their first win of the season. After seeing the Redskins hang with the Patriots for a half of football, I’m thinking it might be them who comes out on top.
Predictions
Adam: Dolphins
Aman: Redskins
Dan: Redskins
Joel: Redskins
Rahim: Dolphins
Saints @ Jaguars
Let’s face it, the Saints are one of the best teams in the NFL. That’s with or without Drew Brees. This team is too well built, and they’ll continue to find a way to win against a competitive Jaguars team.
Predictions
Adam: Saints
Aman: Saints
Dan: Saints
Joel: Saints
Rahim: Jaguars
Bengals @ Ravens
The Ravens are better than they showed last week against the Steelers. Against a winless Bengals at home, they shouldn’t have a problem coming up with a win this week.
Predictions
Adam: Ravens
Aman: Ravens
Dan: Ravens
Joel: Ravens
Rahim: Ravens
Seahawks @ Browns
With a win over the Rams last week, Seattle made it clear they can compete with and beat any team in the league. The Browns still have many problems to solve, with the offensive line being one of them. They got wrecked by the 49ers’ defensive line. Seattle’s D-Line is one of the best, so it’s likely they’ll duplicate the success the 49ers had against Cleveland.
Predictions
Adam: Seahawks
Aman: Seahawks
Dan: Seahawks
Joel: Seahawks
Rahim: Seahawks
Eagles @ Vikings
The Eagles seem to have found their groove, but so have the Vikings. After throwing the ball more last week, the Vikings were able to dominate the Giants. They finally took advantage of their dynamic receivers. For the Eagles, they have to get pressure on Kirk Cousins in order to stop their passing attack. With one of the best defensive line units in the NFL, it shouldn’t be a problem.
Predictions
Adam: Vikings
Aman: Vikings
Dan: Eagles
Joel: Eagles
Rahim: Vikings
Texans @ Chiefs
The Texans went off last week against Atlanta, while the Chiefs suffered their first loss of the season. The Colts set a blueprint for how to beat Patrick Mahomes. After he lost his ability to move out of the pocket, he couldn’t make as many plays. We’ll see how well the Texans can contain Mahomes in the pocket. If they can do that, the Texans’ offense shouldn’t have trouble putting up enough points to earn a victory.
Predictions
Adam: Chiefs
Aman: Chiefs
Dan: Chiefs
Joel: Chiefs
Rahim: Chiefs
Falcons @ Cardinals
Neither of these two teams are good, and it’s hard to predict who will win because they’re so similar. The Falcons are ranked 19th in points per game, while the Cardinals are ranked 20th. On defense, the Cardinals are ranked 28th in points allowed, while the Falcons are 31st. We’ll see which team can come up with the better game plan.
Predictions
Adam: Cardinals
Aman: Cardinals
Dan: Falcons
Joel: Falcons
Rahim: Falcons
49ers @ Rams
This game will likely be one of, if not the best game of the week. The 49ers are still undefeated, but the best team they’ve played so far is the Browns. The Rams are by far the best team they’ve played. They have a dynamic offense, but they could get into trouble if Jared Goff has one of those games where he throws multiple interceptions. The 49ers have been very good defensively this season. If they can create multiple turnovers, it will help their offense a ton, much like it has all season.
Predictions
Adam: Rams
Aman: Rams
Dan: 49ers
Joel: Rams
Rahim: Rams
Titans @ Broncos
What the Broncos did to Philip Rivers and the Chargers, I feel they can do to Marcus Mariota and the Titans. Then again, the Titans can go off at any time. The problem is, they’re usually just mediocre. After their dominating performance over the Browns in Week 1, we haven’t really seen that again. Will their lackluster offense continue into Week 6?
Predictions
Adam: Titans
Aman: Broncos
Dan: Titans
Joel: Broncos
Rahim: Broncos
Cowboys @ Jets
After losing two straight games, this game against the Jets looks like the perfect bounce back game for the Dallas Cowboys. Sam Darnold has been cleared to return, but I don’t think it really makes a difference.
Predictions
Adam: Cowboys
Aman: Cowboys
Dan: Cowboys
Joel: Cowboys
Rahim: Cowboys
Steelers @ Chargers (Sunday night)
With Mason Rudolph likely to not play, the Chargers should have themselves a win walking out of this one. However, the Steelers gave the Ravens a run for their money at the end of the game, so we’ll see if they can stay competitive with so many key injuries.
Predictions
Adam: Chargers
Aman: Chargers
Dan: Chargers
Joel: Chargers
Rahim: Chargers
Lions @ Packers (Monday night)
The Packers have made it clear they’re one of the best teams in the NFC, but we can’t count out the Lions. They’re a very underrated team who’s been in every game they’ve played. This is a divisional game, so we really never know what will happen.
Not sure what happened to the Rams last week on defense, but it was a poor effort. That was against Jameis Winston. If they play that poorly against the Seahawks, Russell Wilson will crush them. I believe their defensive effort will be much better in this game. The Rams and Seahawks always seem to have close games, and I expect this to be another one.
Predictions
Adam: Seahawks
Aman: Seahawks
Dan: Seahawks
Joel: Rams
Rahim: Rams
Jets @ Eagles
The Eagles dominated the Packers last week offensively, and I believe they’ll do the same against the Jets. With Sam Darnold still out, the Jets don’t really stand a chance. The Eagles looked good, and the Jets aren’t.
Predictions
Adam: Eagles
Aman: Eagles
Dan: Eagles
Joel: Eagles
Rahim: Eagles
Jaguars @ Panthers
The Minshew magic is real! I’m not sure how Minshew continues to do it, but he does. He’s been fun to watch this season. Another quarterback who has been fun to watch is Panthers quarterback Kyle Allen, who has two wins in his two starts this season. Will Allen be able to manage the game enough for the Panthers against a tough Jaguars defense, or will Minshew’s magic continue?
Predictions
Adam: Jaguars
Aman: Panthers
Dan: Jaguars
Joel: Jaguars
Rahim: Jaguars
Vikings @ Giants
The Vikings by far have the toughest defense Daniel Jones has faced up to this point. Last week Jones got the win, but he didn’t look great along the way like he did the week before. Despite the Giants not allowing the Redskins to do much on offense last week, I don’t believe their defense is that good. The Vikings will have a much better day against this defense, especially with Dalvin Cook seeking to rebound from a poor showing on the ground.
Predictions
Adam: Giants
Aman: Giants
Dan: Vikings
Joel: Vikings
Rahim: Vikings
Falcons @ Texans
The Falcons continue to struggle because they get off to slow starts and can’t catch up later in the game. The Texans continue to struggle because they continue allowing Deshaun Watson to be under pressure and take sacks. Which team will overcome their weakness?
Predictions
Adam: Texans
Aman: Texans
Dan: Texans
Joel: Texans
Rahim: Texans
Buccaneers @ Saints
It’s obvious the Saints have built their team to succeed past the Drew Brees era. They dominated defensively last week. They have a tough matchup against the Buccaneers this week, especially after the 50+ points they put up against the Rams a week ago. Can they slow down a hot Buccaneers offense like they did against Dallas last week?
Predictions
Adam: Buccaneers
Aman: Saints
Dan: Buccaneers
Joel: Saints
Rahim: Saints
Bills @ Titans
Josh Allen showed his true self against the Patriots last week, throwing multiple interceptions and completing less than 50% of his passes. He may not even play in this game because of an injury, so we’ll have to wait and see there. If he’s out, Matt Barkley will take over. He didn’t look good last week either. Regardless of who plays quarterback for the Bills, their defense can keep them in this game, especially against a Titans offense who has been very inconsistent all season long.
Predictions
Adam: Titans
Aman: Titans
Dan: Bills
Joel: Bills
Rahim: Bills
Cardinals @ Bengals
One of these teams will get their first win of the season. I’m leaning towards the Cardinals because they’ve been the more competitive team between the two so far, but the Bengals have been competitive at times this season too. Expect a good game between two teams seeking their first victories.
Predictions
Adam: Bengals
Aman: Cardinals
Dan: Cardinals
Joel: Cardinals
Rahim: Cardinals
Patriots @ Redskins
The Redskins have yet to win a game, and now they play the Patriots. They’ll be waiting at least one more week for their first win.
Predictions
Adam: Patriots
Aman: Patriots
Dan: Patriots
Joel: Patriots
Rahim: Patriots
Ravens @ Steelers
The Steelers got their first win of the season last week, but it was against the winless Bengals. Will they be able to keep up with the high powered offense of the Ravens? After the Ravens have lost two straight games to the Chiefs and Browns, they’ll likely come out ready to score a lot of points and get back in the win column. The Steelers will have to play almost perfectly offensively to keep up with what Lamar Jackson might do.
Predictions
Adam: Steelers
Aman: Ravens
Dan: Ravens
Joel: Ravens
Rahim: Ravens
Bears @ Raiders
You already know Khalil Mack can’t wait to destroy the Raiders! The Bears dominated defensively last week against the Vikings, and I don’t see any reason why they won’t do so again this week. The Bears may be without Trubisky due to injury, but if the defense can put the offense in good spots, they won’t need him to win this one.
Predictions
Adam: Bears
Aman: Bears
Dan: Bears
Joel: Bears
Rahim: Bears
Broncos @ Chargers
The Chargers are the easy choice here because the Broncos have yet to win a game, but this is a division game, so the Chargers should already know it’s not an easy win. The Chargers do get Melvin Gordon back, but how much will he play? With the way Austin Ekeler has been playing, they could take their time to get him all the way back.
Predictions
Adam: Chargers
Aman: Chargers
Dan: Chargers
Joel: Chargers
Rahim: Broncos
Packers @ Cowboys
Both teams suffered their first loss of the season last week and will be looking to rebound in this one. After both taking a loss, a win here is very important for each team because of who plays in their division. Both teams are leading their divisions right now, but it may not be the case for long if they lose.
The Packers were good offensively last week for the most part, but their defense gave up a ton of points. On the other side, Dallas had their worst offensive outing by far, scoring just 10 points. However, their defense didn’t allow a touchdown and gave up just 12 points. Who will rebound in this game, the Packers’ defense or the Cowboys’ offense?
Predictions
Adam: Cowboys
Aman: Cowboys
Dan: Cowboys
Joel: Packers
Rahim: Packers
Colts @ Chiefs (Sunday night)
Considering the fact that the Colts lost to the Raiders last week, I can’t pick them to beat the Chiefs. The Chiefs are just too good.
Predictions
Adam: Chiefs
Aman: Chiefs
Dan: Chiefs
Joel: Chiefs
Rahim: Chiefs
Browns @ 49ers (Monday night)
The 49ers are one of the few undefeated teams left, but now they play a Browns team who all of a sudden turned it on and is now leading their division. Having played the Buccaneers, Bengals and Steelers, the 49ers haven’t really been tested yet. Now they play a Browns team who hung in their with the Rams and beat the Baltimore Ravens. Can the Browns keep this up? Can the 49ers prove they can beat a team who isn’t at the bottom of the league?
Tomorrow is officially the biggest day in the NFL offseason. It’s draft day baby! It’s time of the year we finally get to see just what our favorite teams are planning on doing for the 2020 season! The internet has been flooded with mock drafts and opinions on who is taking who from fans and experts alike. Here at Fourth Quarter Sports, we wanted to join the party!
With most of the smoke screen’s up, and all the rumors out there, Joel, RahimAli and myself put together our thoughts on tomorrow nights first round! Below you’ll find our picks for each team, along with a breakdown of some of our most notable picks.
I think it’s obvious Kyler Murray will be the No. 1 overall pick at this point. It’s going to be amazing to see what new Arizona head coach Kliff Kingsbury can do with a talented quarterback like Murray. The question that remains is, what are they going to do with second-year quarterback Josh Rosen?
For the Niners, this pick makes perfect sense. They didn’t do as good as they had hoped for last year with the additions of Jimmy Garappolo and Jerrick McKinnon, but both of those guys got injured and missed the rest of the season. So the Niners should leave the offense alone for now, especially after drafting to protect their quarterback last year.
The Jets’ offense is still a question, but they did find ways to stay in games with the offense they did have, so let’s get them better on the defensive line. The Raiders, oh Raiders! We could honestly go anywhere with this first pick, but they have three picks in the first round thanks to the Amari Cooper to Dallas and Khalil Mack to Chicago trades. The fourth pick belongs to the Raiders, and with that pick, they will try to find their replacement for Khalil Mack in edge rusher, Josh Allen. The Raiders will then draft TE Noah Fant to replace the loss of Jared Cook to the Saints, and add RB Josh Jacobs to add more depth at a position they just couldn’t get a handle on over the past few years.
Now I know the pick for Dwayne Haskins may surprise you for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but they could probably get their guy at 10, so they trade with the Denver Broncos. Let’s be honest, the Broncos are completely lost at QB and are looking for anything and everything that will get them back on the right side of things. They signed Case Keenum last year, and then traded him to Washington after trading for Joe Flacco, but Flacco isn’t the best option either. Tampa Bay is looking for a guy who could help them with the weak defense they had last year. That guy could be linebacker Devin White.
The New York Giants and Jacksonville Jaguars are also two teams who could’ve used a QB with their pick, but it appears that neither one will get one. The Giants actually take wide receiver D.K. Metcalf to replace their loss of Odell Beckham Jr. They also did go with QB Daniel Jones in hopes that he could potentially take over for Eli Manning.
With Haskins and Metcalf already off the board, the Jaguars would settle for an offensive linemen to both protect newly acquired QB Nick Foles, and help the run game of RB Leonard Fournette. That offensive linemen is Jawaan Taylor, and he will be asked to do more earlier on the season, as they try to reclaim the division.
The Detroit Lions’ biggest struggle wasn’t on offense, but instead it was on defense. They could honestly use a lot of help in different areas, but we’ll have them take an EDGE like Rashan Gary.
The Buffalo Bills used free agency to help them improve themselves with the offensive weapons, and their defense is fairly decent, but they need to worry about one thing. That one thing is protecting second year QB Josh Allen, who will be one of the young bright stars in the league if he can stay healthy. Hopefully drafting an OT like Andre Dillard will help with that.
The Cincinnati Bengals are like the Lions in the fact that they need more than what they can get. Though the offense took a big hit with injuries to the QB, WR, TE and RB, all those guys are expected back ready and healthy, so the Bengals will focus on getting themselves an EDGE in Montez Sweat.
The Green Bay Packers are going to be a totally new looking team. They will have a new head coach and several different players. The one constant is QB Aaron Rodgers, and they will look to the draft to find him more offensive weapons. With the 12th pick, Green Bay will draft TE T.J. Hockenson as the future of Green Bay with the injuries and age of Jimmy Graham being in question. The late first round pick, 30th, will be a speedy receiver who will come in to take the place of Randall Cobb, who has moved on to Dallas.
The Miami Dolphins are most certainly looking for a QB in this draft, but don’t be surprised if they try to trade up to get Haskins or Murray. I think Drew Lock might be a better pick for how they like to run their offense. Let’s see how the Dolphins’ players around him can play though after being very inconsistent all of last season.
At 14, the Atlanta Falcons have their man. Okay, we all believe they should be trying to draft an OL to help protect QB Matt Ryan, but when one of the best defensive linemen falls to you, there’s no way you pass him up. Plus, the Falcons are known for going defense early in drafts, so that’s why Ed Olivier makes perfect season. Pairing him up with Grady Jarrett could be good for the Falcons, who struggled defensively last season.
Washington now has three different QB’s on the roster, and that’s why we can’t see them taking one in the first round. Whether it’s Colt McCoy, Case Keenum or Alex Smith who starts for the Redskins, they need to find a way to protect and keep them healthy, so the addition of an OT like Jonah Williams would help!
The Carolina Panthers offense wasn’t the problem at all, despite watching QB Cam Newton struggle to play through an injury all season. We aren’t focusing on the offense, because the defensive is the bigger priority. They too need an Edge rusher who can disrupt the opposing QBs, especially being in a division like the NFC South. That’s why Clelin Ferrell is the perfect pick here.
The Minnesota Vikings are one of those teams who are almost ready to get to the big game, they just need a few more pieces to help with that. Those pieces are on the offensive line, and an addition of Cody Ford could be a huge plus for the Vikings as they try to give Kirk Cousins more time to do what he does best.
The Tennessee Titans could go with many different positions here, but with an aging defensive line, it’s only fitting they go with a younger defensive linemen in Dexter Lawrence, as he hopes to lead the Titans in sacks and hopefully help them get back into the playoffs.
The Pittsburgh Steelers could go in any direction, but we know the offense will figure things out without having to worry about the drama of Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown, so we’ll leave the offense allow for now. Instead, let’s help them get better on defense with one of the best linebackers available in the draft, Devin Bush!
Had the Seattle Seahawks and QB Russell Wilson not agreed to a deal, this pick might have happened earlier, and with different people involved. Fortunately, it was a done deal this past week, and now the Seahawks can turn their attention to the defensive side of the ball. There is always going to be the defensive first when it comes to the Seattle Seahawks and their draft picks. This year will be no different as they select DL Christian Wilkins.
The Baltimore Ravens pick is pretty obvious. They are going to go one of two ways with a receiver or a DB. Given the style of offense that the Ravens play with Lamar Jackson at QB, I am going to pass on them taking a wide receiver here. Instead, they will take safety Jonathan Abram to try to help feel the void that is left with Eric Weddle’s departure.
The Houston Texans have had some success with their offense and how things have been going for them! They will need to address the aging defense and having a young corner back like Greedy Williams could definitely help as they look to go even further.
The Philadelphia Eagles could also use the help at cornerback as they saw what Saints QB Drew Brees and WR Micheal Thomas did to them twice last season. An extra DB to help them cover the better receivers in the NFC could help them be a Super Bowl team again and I think Byron Murphy will be a good addition.
The Indianapolis Colts shocked the world last year the way they were able to make the playoffs. The good thing about this pick is that they know what direction they want to go in, but it’s a matter of which one they want to draft. After watching the young defense hold teams down, the offense led by QB Andrew Luck would turn it up. They need to get him more weapons though and that’s where this pick comes in at. Marquise Brown will be a nice complimentary piece to the weapons like T.Y. Hilton, Eric Ebron, and Marlon Mack.
For the Chargers, it’s a pick that will help add a few more years onto QB Philip Rivers playing career. That pick is offensive guard Chris Lindstrom.
Had it been the Kansas City Chiefs pick , they would’ve taken a receiver because we know how important it is to have somebody who can catch the ball deep for the arm of QB Patrick Mahomes. It’s also a security blanket for if anything does go wrong with the investigation of WR Tyreke Hill. That’s why A.J. Brown would be a nice addition to the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Los Angeles Rams are probably the most stacked team on the defensive side of the ball and they don’t really need to go out and draft much, but they will need to think about the future of their offensive line and QB and that’s why this pick to grab Garrett Bradbury makes perfect sense. It will allow him a year or so to develop into one of the young offensive players.
But now it’s the pick that everyone is always interested in. That pick is the pick of the Super Bowl winning champions, New England Patriots. It’s a tough decision because you want to see them go for a tight end, but with both Hornsenon and Fant have already gone off the board this late, we could see the Patriots find a steal in a player like Brian Burns who has fallen in the draft because of other positions on the offensive side that needed to be addressed. So why not take advantage of another man’s treasure.
This draft is a polar opposite from last years draft. The year before was loaded with quarterbacks and offensive weapons while this one is loaded on the defensive side of the ball. All positions have crazy first round depth and all can be major play makers for their respected teams.
Arizona fans will see yet another quarterback took in the first round this year, this time a Heisman Trophy winner in the name of Kyler Murray. Murray going here is not that much of a surprise. The only question left is where Josh Rosen is going to go and how much are the Cardinals going to get for him.
I think the biggest surprise in the top ten is going to be TJ Hockenson, Tight End from Iowa going as high as eight to the Detriot Lions. Matt Patricia is a protege of Bill Belichick and I think he is going to try and model his offense around the great one. Though I think it is a stretch for a Tight End, but he is versatile and I think used well could produce for the Lions.
Another surprise to round out the top ten will be Drew Lock going to the Broncos. Rumors have it that Elway is in love with the quarterback out of Missouri and I think we can all say that Joe Flacco isn’t the long term answer for them. Expect them to sit Lock behind Flacco, learn a little and take over as early as this season.
A pick that I really love is Marquise Brown, a wide receiver from Oklahoma going to the Redskins at fifteen. The Skins have not seen a great receiver since the days of Art Monk running routes. With Derrius Guice getting healthy alongside Alex Smith and newly acquired Case Keenum, I think this is a great opportunity for them to add more weapons for the future.
RaShan Gary once considered a top ten pick, drops in the laps of Pittsburgh at twenty. I am a Michigan fan and I will be the first to say that Gary is highly overrated. Never produced the numbers many in Ann Arbor expected from a top recruit in the nation. Really is a workout warrior and I think tape really shows that. An environment like Pittsburgh could change that though.
At twenty-two, I think the Raven’s will go with EDGE rusher Brian Burns. To me, this is a typical pick for the Ravens who lost half their defense to free agency this year. Needing to replace the likes of Suggs and Preston Smith, Baltimore is going to need rebuild in that area. Burns will play a pivotal part in that process.
At twenty-four and twenty-seven, the Raiders add to their offense with weapons like RB Josh Jacobs from Alabama and TE Noah Fant from Iowa. The second TE took from Iowa, Fant will replace the missed Jared cook in the Silver and Black. A better pass catcher than a blocker, Fant will provide a safety blanket for Carr. With the news of Marshawn Lynch retiring, Oakland now has a need at running back and Jacobs is the best option. Built like a tank Jacobs was the best runner in the three-headed monster that formed the Bama backfield. He is also the best pass catcher the Tide had to offer as well.
All in all, I feel there will not be many shockers in this first round. I will say though I wouldn’t be surprised if the Saints trade up into the first round to take one of the premier defensive players this draft has produced.
Despite the rumors we’ve heard about Kyler Murray not going No. 1 overall to the Cardinals, I still believe he’s going there. If he goes number one, Nick Bosa is a sure fire second pick. The next few picks of Quinnen Williams and Josh Allen coming off the board are pretty standard compared to most mock draft’s I’ve seen.
The biggest variation between the three of us starts at pick five, where I have the Bucs taking OT Jawaan Taylor. I believe the Bucs need to get better along the offensive line if Jameis Winston is actually going to be what he was drafted to be. The back and forth rumors of the Giants taking or not taking Dwayne Haskins at six hasn’t swayed my pick. I believe that’s where the Giants should go. At pick seven, the Jags need to get Foles a big target, which is why D.K. Metcalf comes off the board there.
Now let’s skip down a bit to where the Titans pick. You’ll notice I have them taking Rashan Gary. If you’ve seen a lot of mock drafts, you probably haven’t seen many where Gary is out of the top 10, if not the top five. I believe Gary will fall because he doesn’t stick out to me as being on the same level as the guys who are slated to go above him.
Another interesting pick I have comes right after the Titans. I have the Steelers selecting Antonio Brown’s cousin, Marquise Brown. I think a lot of people want to see that happen, mostly for the drama it will cause, although that’s a reason why it may not happen.
I think the last really interesting pick I have in the first-round would have to be QB Daniel Jones going to the Chargers. Jones will become the next franchise QB for the Chargers. He’ll sit behind Rivers for a year or two, and then take over the starting role after watching and learning from a great QB.
The official start of the NFL offseason was March 11th, 2019, and what a crazy few days it has been since the start. There has been so much happening that will change the course of the upcoming season and some franchises going forward. For the purpose of making everything easier to read, I’m going to write two different articles. The grouping will consist of an article about the trades and an article about the free agency signings.
For this article I’m going to focus on the trades that have happened so far. Ten trades have gone down since the start of the offseason, so lets talk about all ten of them individually.
WR, Odell Beckham Jr.
o The Giants will receive Safety Jabrill Peppers, a 2019 1st round pick, and a 2019 3rd round pick.
o The Browns will receive Odell Beckham Jr.
This trade definitely shocked the entire league. Beckham Jr. has spent his entire career with the Giants and had a nice comeback season last year after his 2017 season was injury plagued. He was the 2014 Offensive Rookie of the Year and has made three Pro-Bowl appearances. Beckham Jr. will certainly make the revamped Browns offense even more dangerous going into this season.
DE, Dee Ford
o The 49ers receive Pro-Bowl Defensive End Dee Ford.
o The Chiefs receive a 2020 2nd, round pick.
Ford had a breakout season in 2018 for the Chiefs, as he forced seven fumbles and tallied 13 sacks. Ford also had 55 combo tackles, 42 solo tackles, and 29 QB hits on his way to his first pro bowl selection. Ford will bring a dangerous edge to San Francisco’s pass rushing for at least the next five years, as he also got a new contract.
WR, Antonio Brown
o The Raiders receive Pro-Bowl Wide Receiver Antonio Brown.
o The Steelers receive a 2019 3rd and 5th round draft pick.
Yes, this trade did come as a shock, but only because of what Pittsburgh got back for probably the best receiver in football today. Derek Carr will now have a top receiver to throw to, while Pittsburgh is stuck with two low round picks. It makes you wonder why they were willing to give up Brown for this deal. Brown will have a tough task in front of him trying to get Oakland back to the playoffs after a rough last couple seasons.
DE, Oliver Vernon and G, Kevin Zeitler
o The Browns receive Defensive End Oliver Vernon.
o The Giants receive Guard Kevin Zeitler.
This trade came before the OBJ trade, and seemed like a questionable one because of how good Vernon was for the Giants last season. He was selected to his first Pro-Bowl after seven years in the league. These are two trades that have really confused football fans around the league. I guess only time will tell if these risky moves pay off.
WR, DeSean Jackson
o The Eagles receive Wide Receiver DeSean Jackson
o The Buccaneers receive a 2019 6th round pick
This trade just seems fitting for a feel-good story. Jackson started out in Philly back in 2008 and was with the team until 2013. All three of his Pro-Bowl appearances came with Philly (2009, 2010, 2013) before he spent time in Washington and then Tampa Bay. Now being 32-years-old, who knows how long Jackson has left as he enters his 12th year in the league. His production has certainly gone down recently, but this is just an instance where a player wants to finish where he started.
DE, Michael Bennett
o The Patriots receive Defensive End Michael Bennett and a 2020 7th round pick.
o The Eagles receive a 2020 5th round pick.
Bennett has been widely regarded as one of the top defensive ends in the league since his arrival in 2009. Bennett will undoubtedly make an immediate impact for the defending Super Bowl Champions, as he made three straight pro bowls from 2015-2017 before having an average year for Philadelphia last year.
RT, Marcus Gilbert and G, Kelechi Osemele
o The Cardinals receive Right Tackle Marcus Gilbert.
o The Steelers receive a 2019 6th round pick.
o The Jets receive Guard Kelechi Osemele and a 2019 6th round pick.
o The Raiders receive a 2019 5th round pick.
I combined these two trades because they just aren’t big trades, I just felt that they should still be mentioned.
QB’s Case Keenum and Joe Flacco
o The Redskins receive Case Keenum and a 2020 7th round pick.
o The Broncos receive a 2020 6th round pick.
o The Broncos receive Joe Flacco.
o The Ravens receive a 2019 4th round pick.
These ones were combined simply because they are both Quarterbacks and the trades kind of tie together. The Ravens and Broncos made a verbal agreement a couple months ago to trade Flacco, which ultimately meant that Keenum was going to get traded. Flacco will now get another chance to start after losing his job to Lamar Jackson last season, and it’s presumed that Keenum will start in Washington after Alex Smith’s leg injury last season.
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The NFL offseason is just getting started, and there has already been so many waves made around the league. Stay tuned for our article on the free agency signings!
