NFL Pro Football 2008 Week 4 Picks early games

NFL Pro Football 2008 Week 4 Picks

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Fearless Rick's NFL Week 4 Picks - Early Games

Rick Gagliano | September 28-29

All times Eastern - Click here for late Sunday and Monday night games.

SUN, SEP 28

Green Bay at Tampa Bay (-1, 43) 1:00 PM - Against Dallas, QB Aaron Rogers looked indecisive and unsure of how to attack at key points in the game. If the Dallas defense had Rogers unwound, Tampa's will twist him silly. Forget about a return to the NFC championship for this squad, making the playoffs by winning the conference seems the only way to the post-season for the Packers in the post-Favre era.

The Buccaneers are rock-solid on defense and Brian Griese is a perfect fit for the offense. They sure could use some more punch on offense, like Joey Galloway and Cadillac Williams, but Galloway is doubtful and Williams isn't even on the active roster. Coach Gruden will make do with what he's got, which is probably enough to punch out a win over the Packers

Prediction: Buccaneers 20 Packers 13

Houston at Jacksonville (-7 1/2, 42) 1:00 PM - Coming off an emotional win over the Colts, the Jags get back to basics and home for this divisional tilt with the Texans. Houston hasn't shown much in two games against Pittsburgh and Tennessee, both losses by large margins, and this is their third straight road game. Additionally, the Texans have to have been put somewhat off their collective games by the damage to their stadium and the continuing conditions in and around Houston. This team wasn't very good to begin with, but distractions just make them worse.

Prediction: Jaguars 27 Texans 14

Atlanta at Carolina (-7, 39 1/2) 1:00 PM - Here's a tricky one. Carolina is 2-1, but their wins were both of the buzzer-beater variety and the loss was by 10 at Minnesota. Back home in the cozy confines of Bank of America Stadium (do the Panthers get a bailout from the govt. if they lose?), the Panthers face a dangerous, up-and-coming Falcons team that is also at 2-1, having dusted a pair of patsies (Detroit and Kansas City) sandwiched around a 24-9 loss at Tampa Bay.

Atlanta is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Carolina, and the Panthers are 6-13-4 ATS in its last 23 games against Atlanta. Sixteen of the last 23 games between these two have been UNDER the number, so look for a tight defensive, field position game, which favors neither, and with the points, Atlanta may come away with a surprise win.

Prediction: Falcons 20 Panthers 17

Arizona at NY Jets (-2 1/2, 45) 1:00 PM - Wow! Brett Favre against Kurt Warner. I think the combined age of these two opposing QBs is like 107. As I said in my season preview, we'd surely hear from commentators words to the effect, "the Jets receivers and Favre are not on the same page," and we have. It was especially evident against the Chargers Monday night.

Now, there's nothing like a couple of coast-to-coast flights to take a future hall of fame QB off his game, and the Jets are probably suffering a little lightheadedness already. Favre also got a little dinged in that loss to the Chargers, but he's fine, he's a gamer and, oh, by the way, he's over the hill!

The Jets and Cardinals are pretty even in just about every regard, except that the Cardinals have a much more youthful team, have better players at the skill positions and actually can play defense. Besides, they didn't fly back to Arizona from Washington. They're staying on the road, which is smart. After a week, the jet lag will have worn off and the Cardinals will thump the Jets hard, ending all the foolish speculation about Favre leading them to the playoffs.

Prediction: Cardinals 30 Jets 24

San Francisco at New Orleans (-6, 48 1/2) 1:00 PM - New 0rleans sure can pack a punch on offense, and they should have won last week at Denver, though Martin Grammatica (formerly known as "automatica", but not anymore) blew the game, misfiring on two crucial field goal attempts.

The problem with the Saints is that they often appear to be playing defense with just 9 guys and they get gashed for big plays. San Francisco is on a roll with QB phenom J. T. O'Sullivan (This guy isn't real, is he? Somebody wake me up.), whose stats say it all: 50-75 (67%), 705 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT.

O'Sullivan and his mates should stand in well against the Saints, but, as previously mentioned, the Saints have no defense. This is also the most potent offense the 49ers will have encountered thus far, so the potential for a shootout looms large. In a football game, the 'Niners might have a chance, but in a shootout, the Saints just have too many guns.

Prediction: Saints 42 49ers 27

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Cleveland at Cincinnati (-3 1/2, 44) 1:00 PM - Don't let the kids watch! The way these two teams play, there may be a decapitation or worse, somebody might make a clean tackle. Yep, here's a replay of last year's worst defensive performance, in which Cleveland won at home, 51-45. This affair shifts to the Bengals' turf, and that's a good thing when you're 0-3, as both of these are.

Now, Cincy nearly beat the Giants last week, ultimately losing in overtime, but the Browns were thoroughly outclassed by the Ravens. Oh, lordy! This is after being dumped by Dallas and pulverized by Pittsburgh. Can Cleveland avoid being crushed and crumpled in Cincy? No.

Prediction: Bengals 38 Browns 16

Minnesota at Tennessee (-3, 36) 1:00 PM - This may be the most interesting, and important, game of the week. Tennessee is off to a 3-0 start, while the Vikings seem to have gotten their offense untracked with Gus Frerotte under center in place of the ineffective Tarvaris Jackson. A win by the Vikings would make them 2-0 in the scrambled NFC North.

The Titans and Vikings seem to share the same defensive philosophy: play hard, hit hard, take no prisoners. If both defenses come ready to give their best, this could be well under the line and may be scoreless or nearly so for much of the afternoon.

In such a low-scoring contest, it's wise to take whatever points are offered, and 3 1/2 is a nice give. Minnesota may win outright, but they'll also cover if it's close.

Prediction: Vikings 12 Titans 10

Denver (-9, 46) at Kansas City 1:00 PM - OK, KC fans! Stand up and be counted. All right, you three guys can sit down now and witness the demise of head coach Herm Edwards. While everyone's watching to see if Lane Kiffin gets the axe in Oakland, Edwards may be done before this one is over. In 2007, Herm led the Chiefs to a 4-12 record, including losing their last 8 straight. He's down 0-3 thus far in '08, so the question becomes: how long will management allow him to stay in charge?

If the Chiefs win this game, it will be some kind of miracle. I say Edwards is fired right after the Chiefs go 0-4.

Prediction: Broncos 31 Chiefs 10

All times Eastern - Click here for late Sunday and Monday night games

Copyright 2008, 2009, Rick Gagliano, Downtown Magazine. All rights reserved. Downtown Magazine is located in the Uinted States of America and is not affiliated with the National Football League or the NCAA. For more information, contact us here. Use of this site is for entertainment purposes only.

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