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NFL Week 4: Games To Watch

Ryan Nunez, James Santelli, Aaron Fischman, Danny Lee, Jeremy Bergman |
October 1, 2011 | 1:21 p.m. PDT

Sports Staff

Detroit QB Matthew Stafford looks to lead the Lions to a 4-0 start. (Marianne O'Leary/Wikimedia Commons)
Detroit QB Matthew Stafford looks to lead the Lions to a 4-0 start. (Marianne O'Leary/Wikimedia Commons)
Each week, Neon Tommy writers will submit their picks for five marquee games. All picks are straight up.

Detroit Lions (3-0) at Dallas Cowboys (2-1)

Danny Lee: Lions 23, Cowboys 17 - Dallas' Monday night win over Washington revealed Tony Romo's physical toughness and the Cowboys' issues with their offensive line, namely the center position. Both Romo's ribs and that O-line will be tested when Ndamukong Suh leads a talented Lions defense into town. 

Jeremy Bergman: Lions - The bandwagon for the Lions is a lot more crowded since the start of the season as America is starting to believe in Detroit’s new bad boys. But America's Team will try to put an end to that. This matchup at Jerry World will produce big offensive numbers, but eventually Tony Romo will be too beaten down by Ndamukong Suh and the Detroit D-line to lead Dallas to victory.

Aaron Fischman: Lions - If standout receiver Miles Austin were healthy enough to play, I'd pick Dallas to win at home. Since Austin will be out with a hamstring injury, I like the Lions to move to 3-0 on the road and remain undefeated at 4-0. Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson will continue to make beautiful music together.

Ryan Nunez: Lions - I think Detroit is going to mop the floor with Dallas. The boo-birds come out and mutiny is the word of the day. And so is undefeated.

Tennessee Titans (2-1) at Cleveland Browns (2-1)

Lee: Titans 27, Browns 20 - Cleveland QB Colt McCoy will have a little less pressure on his shoulders with the return of Peyton Hillis. But going up against a Cleveland rush defense that ranks 29th in the league could be what the Titans' Chris Johnson needs to finally wake up this season.

Bergman: Browns - These teams look pretty even on paper - both clubs boast new head coaches and star running backs. But the Titans just lost their best wide receiver, Kenny Britt, for the season after he tore both his ACL and MCL. This one goes to the Browns - but it will not be pretty.

Fischman: Titans - Once again, I like the road team. Chris Johnson is due for a big game against a Browns defense that just cannot stop the run. I also appreciate the fact that the Titans signed underrated receiver Donnie Avery. Though wideout Kenny Britt may be lost for the season, I think former Trojan Damian Williams (and Avery, once he learns the team's playbook) will fill in quite nicely.

Nunez: Titans - Whoever establishes the run will win. C.J. vs Peyton Hillis would've been a joke two years ago. Now, it's an honest question. This will be the week Chris Johnson goes nuts.

Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1) at Houston Texans (2-1)

Texans QB Matt Schaub. (AJ Guel/Wikimedia Commons)
Texans QB Matt Schaub. (AJ Guel/Wikimedia Commons)
Lee: Texans 21, Steelers 20 - The Steelers looked disinterested in their close win over the Colts in Week 3, and their running game left a lot to be desired. Ben Roethlisberger might have to link up with Mike Wallace early and often if the Steelers are to have a chance, which could be a tall task against a formidable Houston pass defense.

BergmanTexans - The Texans are on the rise while the Steelers are in decline. The Pittsburgh offense has been plagued by stupid mistakes so far this season while the Texans have already made a name for themselves as an opportunistic defense. We've all been asking ourselves when Houston will finally stand out as an AFC power - well, it's now or never.

FischmanTexans - Although each team comes in with a 2-1 record, the Texans are the superior team and it's not even close. The Texans have such a balanced offense. Running back Ben Tate has been very solid, as Arian Foster battles back from injury. Reliant Stadium will be rocking!

NunezSteelers - Every time anyone wants to jump on the Houston Texans' bandwagon, they’re confronted by five reasons why they should stay off. This one looks close on paper. It's not.

 

New England Patriots (2-1) at Oakland Raiders (2-1)

Lee: Patriots 34, Oakland 27 - Led by Darren McFadden, the Raiders' running game looked impressive slicing through the Jets defense in Oakland's Week 3 win. The Raiders sweeping both AFC East powers in back-to-back weeks is a possibility ― Tom Brady duplicating the four-interception outing he had against the Bills is probably not.

Bergman: Patriots - Let's not get ahead of ourselves now - Tom Brady will never throw four picks in a game again, ever. Oakland is running - pun intended - high on a lot of confidence, but there are still some unresolved secondary issues in the Black Hole. Darren McFadden would have to play both sides of the ball for the Raiders to keep up with Wes Welker and the Pats.

Fischman: Patriots - Darren McFadden and company have been running all over their opponents so far. Fortunately for the Patriots, their most glaring deficiency is their secondary, and I don't expect QB Jason Campbell to exploit that successfully. The Pats will be able to contain the run well enough to win, Sunday. (Jeez. Does this prognosticator ever pick the home team?)

Nunez: Patriots - This was an obvious pick a few weeks ago. Oakland has rediscovered their mojo, but Bill Belichick doesn't let one trick pony offenses beat him. McFadden and Jason Campbell would both have to have great games for Oakland. I don’t see it.

New York Jets (2-1) at Baltimore Ravens (2-1) 

Lee: Ravens 20, Jets 13 - Don't be surprised to see Baltimore take the blueprint the Raiders provided for them on how to torch the Jets' defense. If Ray Rice can move the chains and score the way McFadden did, it will only put more pressure on QB Mark Sanchez to make plays to compensate for a Jets running game that has started the season on the wrong foot.

Bergman: Ravens - Mark Sanchez was getting absolutely swamped last week, getting sacked four times by a mediocre Raiders D, and now he faces the most intimidating defense in the league in Baltimore. Without Nick Mangold, the Jets' passing and running game will be in for another rough day. If Baltimore can run on Gang Green like Oakland did, this one won't even be close.

Fischman: Ravens - Last week, rookie WR Torrey Smith had his coming out party as a man to be reckoned with. For his first three career catches, he found himself in the end zone every single time. It’s too early to tell how good he is, but I can’t wait to find out! If the Jets lose, and I think they will, they'll travel to Gillette Stadium (for their Week 5 meeting with the Patriots) with a split-even record. There's no way Jets coach Rex Ryan expected to be in that position.

Nunez: Ravens - The Jets exposed the fact that they can’t run the ball to save their season, in an embarrassing loss to the Raiders.  Joe Flacco was taking notes. A heavy dose of the Baltimore run-game should put the Jets to sleep early. 

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