Week 4 predictions: 49ers, Patriots eye bounce-back road wins
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Another week of complete football madness. Lord knows who will fall from grace this week, a la the San Francisco 49ers being toppled over at the Metrodome last Sunday.
One group who we know won't be bludgeoned are the zebras. Has any sport ever been so happy to see the guys in Foot Locker jerseys throwing yellow rags around? Uh, no. If borderline calls ever were to get a free pass, this is the weekend.
The
[Falcons](/teams/atlantafalcons/profile?team=ATL) keep rolling at home versus Carolina, a place where they capitalized on
[Cam Newton](/player/camnewton/2495455/profile) mistakes last season (0 TD, three picks) en route to
[a big midseason win](http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2011101606/2011/REG6/panthers@falcons?icampaign=GC_schedule_rr#tab=recap&menu=highlights). Newton tried to do too much in Week 1 against the Bucs, and last Thursday night showed more frustration than leadership when the going got tough. How will he fare when trying to keep up with
[Matt Ryan](/player/mattryan/310/profile) and the
[Falcons](/teams/atlantafalcons/profile?team=ATL)' track-meet offense?
[#CARvsATL](https://twitter.com/#!/search/realtime/%23CARvsATL)
If you're expecting Buffalo to fall on its face, think again. Believe it or not,
[Ryan Fitzpatrick](/player/ryanfitzpatrick/2506581/profile) has not had as bad a season as his reputation merits. In fact, on third down Fitzmagic has racked up a sterling 115.5 passer rating. The Pats have
*allowed* opposing quarterbacks two touchdowns, no interceptions and a 107.3 rating on the all-important down. That said, I think
[Wes Welker](/player/weswelker/2505790/profile) proves last week was no fluke and makes a big catch when the
[Aaron Hernandez](/player/aaronhernandez/497244/profile)-less Pats need it.
[#NEvsBUF](https://twitter.com/#!/search/realtime/%23NEvsBUF)
The jury is out on Matt Stafford's
[return from injury](http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000066798/article/matthew-stafford-returns-to-practice-scheffler-too), but irrespective of that, we're calling for the
[Lions](/teams/detroitlions/profile?team=DET)' disappointing season to continue.
[Christian Ponder](/player/christianponder/2495215/profile) continues his smart, if not spectacular play, while the
[Vikings](/teams/minnesotavikings/profile?team=MIN) defense comes up clutch in spots like it did
[against San Francisco](http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2012092302/2012/REG3/49ers@vikings). I feel a disturbance in the Force regarding a key penalty call in this game.
[#MINvsDET](https://twitter.com/#!/search/realtime/%23MINvsDET)
Yes, we're predicting a safety. But beyond that, look for
[Ben Tate](/player/bentate/497208/profile) to get some late work in this game and hammer Tennessee's front in part to make up for his costly fumble that allowed the
[Broncos](/teams/denverbroncos/profile?team=DEN) to hang around
[in a game](http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2012092311/2012/REG3/texans@broncos) they had no business hanging around in last week. Houston will stay atop
[our NFL.com Power Rankings](http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000066168/article/nfl-power-rankings-week-4-houston-texans-claim-no-1-spot) for another week.
[#TENvsHOU](https://twitter.com/#!/search/realtime/%23TENvsHOU)
San Diego gets a road win that few are expecting after
[last week's big loss](http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2012092310/2012/REG3/falcons@chargers) to the
[Falcons](/teams/atlantafalcons/profile?team=ATL). While
[Jamaal Charles](/player/jamaalcharles/925/profile) should find some running lanes at Arrowhead on Sunday, he's not playing the New Orleans front seven this time around. Give Charles 91 yards and a touch, but it won't be enough. Kansas City still has defensive kinks it must work out, particularly in the secondary. Opposing quarterbacks are posting a 114.3 passer rating with eight touchdowns and just one pick against the
[Chiefs](/teams/kansascitychiefs/profile?team=KC) in 2012.
[#SDvsKC](https://twitter.com/#!/search/realtime/%23SDvsKC)
Remember in the old "Star Trek" episodes how the actor you never saw on the show before -- who was always wearing a red shirt --
[got whacked when they beamed down to the planet](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3cL1Aofy90)? The sacrificial lamb so to speak? Well, that's the
[Jets](/teams/newyorkjets/profile?team=NYJ) this weekend, except they are going to get taken out on their home planet.
[Jim Harbaugh](/player/jimharbaugh/2515790/profile) will have his guys ready to play, while
[Vernon Davis](/player/vernondavis/2495826/profile) should have a big day. New York is having trouble stopping the run, while their third-down defense was struggling even before
[Darrelle Revis](/player/darrellerevis/2495717/profile) got hurt; they're 32nd in the NFL. (There are 32 teams in the league.)
[#SFvsNYJ](https://twitter.com/#!/search/realtime/%23SFvsNYJ)
Is
[Russell Wilson](/player/russellwilson/2532975/profile) the next great thing? No. He's not even Dave Krieg yet. What he can do is not hurt the
[Seahawks](/teams/seattleseahawks/profile?team=SEA) with an awful play at the worst time. He plays smart. His teammates rally around him. He takes what the defense gives him. Football clichés? Yes, but appropriate in this case. The Hawks' secondary will be too much for
[Sam Bradford](/player/sambradford/497095/profile), who has played viably in his third year but lacks playmakers outside. Seattle continues its "win" streak.
[#SEAvsSTL](https://twitter.com/#!/search/realtime/%23SEAvsSTL)
This game will be much closer than those who only look at the won-loss records would anticipate. Miami's front seven has played very well -- particularly against the run -- which forces
[Kevin Kolb](/player/kevinkolb/2507169/profile) to win this game. Or does it? Arizona's defense is the primary reason this club has won 10 of its past 12, specifically its ability to hold quarterbacks in check. The Cards have allowed only 10 touchdown passes and a close-to-horrific 74.8 passer rating to opposing quarterbacks over that stretch. So does
[Ryan Tannehill](/player/ryantannehill/2532956/profile) pull it out on the road? No.
[#MIAvsAZ](https://twitter.com/#!/search/realtime/%23MIAvsAZ)
[Peyton Manning](/player/peytonmanning/2501863/profile) is in store for a really good game. For starters, Oakland had big problems with
[Ben Roethlisberger](/player/benroethlisberger/2506109/profile) and the
[Steelers](/teams/pittsburghsteelers/profile?team=PIT)' passing attack last week, and Manning is due. The future Hall-of-Famer has admitted to some rust but at home he should be able to audibilize to favorable matchups, be it to
[Demaryius Thomas](/player/demaryiusthomas/497328/profile),
[Eric Decker](/player/ericdecker/497284/profile) or ancillary parts like tight end
[Joel Dreessen](/player/joeldreessen/2506531/profile), who scores this week.
[Steelers](/teams/pittsburghsteelers/profile?team=PIT) tight end
[Heath Miller](/player/heathmiller/2506369/profile) was wide open on several occasions last week in Oakland. On the other side of the ball, the
[Raiders](/teams/oaklandraiders/profile?team=OAK) need a healthy
[Darren McFadden](/player/darrenmcfadden/284/profile) to run wild like he did last year in Denver. Otherwise, no chance for the
[Raiders](/teams/oaklandraiders/profile?team=OAK) on the road.
[#OAKvsDEN](https://twitter.com/#!/search/realtime/%23OAKvsDEN)
[Andy Dalton](/player/andydalton/2495143/profile) has been red hot lately, but that was against the
[Browns](/teams/clevelandbrowns/profile?team=CLE) and
[Redskins](/teams/washingtonredskins/profile?team=WAS) -- the latter is giving up chunk yardage in the passing game at a historic pace. The
[Jaguars](/teams/jacksonvillejaguars/profile?team=JAC) haven't been nearly as bad in the back four as Washington, but the issue here is a lack of pressure. With only two sacks registered so far (worst in the NFL), it's status quo for the fierce
[Jaguars](/teams/jacksonvillejaguars/profile?team=JAC)' pass rush.
[Maurice Jones-Drew](/player/mauricejones-drew/2495831/profile) should find plenty of seams in a depleted defense, but it won't keep his own team's defense off the field enough. At least, not with a complementary passing attack that averages just 147.3 yards per game.
[#CINvsJAC](https://twitter.com/#!/search/realtime/%23CINvsJAC)
While I fully anticipate at least 80 passes to be thrown (and that might be low) at Lambeau, the
[Saints](/teams/neworleanssaints/profile?team=NO) will not be able to keep pace. Green Bay's protection problems will not resurface as New Orleans' pass rush is hit or miss, and
[Aaron Rodgers](/player/aaronrodgers/2506363/profile) will see that he simply held the ball too long in Seattle. Moreover, the
[Packers](/teams/greenbaypackers/profile?team=GB) should get Cedric Benson involved more so as to make the defense honor the run game. Throw in a couple of
[Packers](/teams/greenbaypackers/profile?team=GB) takeaways, and it's Green Bay all the way at home.
[#NOvsGB](https://twitter.com/#!/search/realtime/%23NOvsGB)
[Josh Freeman](/player/joshfreeman/79557/profile) might have only thrown for 110 yards
[last week in Dallas](http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2012092300/2012/REG3/buccaneers@cowboys#tab=recap&menu=highlights), but the
[Redskins](/teams/washingtonredskins/profile?team=WAS) don't have corners like
[Brandon Carr](/player/brandoncarr/4365/profile) and
[Morris Claiborne](/player/morrisclaiborne/2533059/profile). Through three games, they've allowed more than 1,000 yards passing and 10 touchdowns. The saving grace here for Washington is a lack of pure weapons in the Tampa aerial attack.
[Vincent Jackson](/player/vincentjackson/2506400/profile) was a non-factor in Dallas. That said, my sense is
[RG3](http://www.nfl.com/player/robertgriffiniii/2533033/profile) will try to take on too much, playing right into
[Greg Schiano](/player/gregschiano/2533233/profile)'s hands. Bucs get to 2-2.
[#WASvsTB](https://twitter.com/#!/search/realtime/%23WASvsTB)
Don't look for an offensive explosion in this game, although both teams will put some points up. Big Blue will surely utilize the ground game with megastar
[Andre Brown](/player/andrebrown/2507790/profile) (not really) and "starter" Ahmad Bradshaw, especially after
[Kevin Gilbride](/player/kevingilbride/2514867/profile)'s offense ran the ball so effectively in Charlotte a week ago. On that note, while the
[Eagles](/teams/philadelphiaeagles/profile?team=PHI) will be in this game throughout ... and
[Michael Vick](/player/michaelvick/2504531/profile) will use his legs more, the 10 days rest will serve the road club in this NFC East battle. This should be one of the best games of Week 4, and I would be shocked by a blowout from either side.
[#NYGvsPHI](https://twitter.com/#!/search/realtime/%23NYGvsPHI)
[DeMarcus Ware](/player/demarcusware/2506349/profile) gets a safety in
[Cowboys](/teams/dallascowboys/profile?team=DAL) Stadium, in case the score catches you off guard. The
[Bears](/teams/chicagobears/profile?team=CHI) inability to move the ball consistently combined with poor protection will lead to some short fields for
[Tony Romo](/player/tonyromo/2505354/profile) and the offense. Unfortunately, the
[Cowboys](/teams/dallascowboys/profile?team=DAL) interior offensive line will get destroyed by
[Henry Melton](/player/henrymelton/238403/profile) and
[Stephen Paea](/player/stephenpaea/2495210/profile), thus don't expect a barnburner in Dallas either. And yes, we mentioned
[Stephen Paea](/player/stephenpaea/2495210/profile) in the game predictions. Get excited.
[#CHIvsDAL](https://twitter.com/#!/search/realtime/%23CHIvsDAL)
Follow Elliot Harrison on Twitter @Harrison_NFL