Dee Friedman
Week four begins the first of 10 straight Sunday’s that feature abbreviated schedules because of teams on byes. The Bengals, Browns, Broncos, Rams, Cardinals and Seahawks are off this week. Let’s get an overview of the 13 games on the slate.
Week four begins the first of 10 straight Sunday’s that feature abbreviated schedules because of teams on byes. The Bengals, Browns, Broncos, Rams, Cardinals and Seahawks are off this week. Let’s get an overview of the 13 games on the slate.
Thursday
New York Giants at Washington
Neither the Giants nor Redskins have gotten off to great starts but with Dallas not exactly dominant there is room for a second playoff contending team in the NFC East behind the Eagles. Kirk Cousins will make his first home start of the year for Washington. Last year the Giants won both match-ups. Seven of the last eight meetings between these rivals have resulted in totals under 43.Washington went 2-6 on the road against the spread last year.
Sunday
Miami vs. Oakland in London
The first of three NFL regular season games in London this year is the second appearance in the UK for Miami. The Dolphins fell to the Giants 13-10 at Wembley Stadium in 2007. Miami has won the last four and seven of the eight most recent match-ups between these squads. Both teams have byes next week. Following the off week the Raiders play back-to-back home games against San Diego and Arizona. The Dolphins host Green Bay October 12 ad travel to Chicago October 19.
Green Bay at Chicago
Last year the Packers made the playoffs by beating the Bears in week 17. It was the seventh win for Green Bay over Chicago in their last eight tries with the only loss when Aaron Rodgers was injured. The seven wins have come by an average of just over nine points. The Packers were 6-10 against the spread last year. Chicago was 4-10-2 against the number.
Buffalo at Houston
The Bills and Texans have split six all time meetings with Buffalo going 2-1 at Reliant Stadium. This is the lone home game during a four week span for the Texans. The Bills are playing their first of two straight road games with a trip to Detroit on tap for next week. Buffalo went 2-6 straight up and against the spread on the road last year. While the Texans were 2-14 last season and 4-12 against the number, they were 12-4 with a 9-7 mark against the spread two years ago.
Tennessee at Indianapolis
The Colts started the year with two incredibly difficult games losing at Denver by a touchdown and falling to the Eagles at home after Philadelphia rallied for a 30-27 victory. Last season the Colts were 7-1 in games decided by one possession. The Colts were 6-2 at home last year and 5-3 against the spread. This begins a span of three home games in four weeks for Indianapolis. This is the third road game out of Tennessee’s first four contests this season. In 2013 the Titans were 4-4 away from home and 5-2-1 against the number. Tennessee is 0-6 all time at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Carolina at Baltimore
Over the last four years the Panthers have gone from 2-14 to 6-10 to 7-9 to 12-4. They’re off to a good start this year and now are hoping to go 2-0 all time at M&T Bank Stadium. The Panthers have beaten the Ravens in three of four all time meetings. Carolina went 9-6-1 against the spread last year but were just 3-5 on the road. The Ravens played divisional opponents in each of their first three games and this is their third home game in four weeks. Baltimore went 12-4 at home during the regular season in 2012 and 2013. Four of the next five contests for the Ravens are on the road.
Detroit at New York Jets
For a third time in four weeks the Jets are at home. New York has done a nice job running the ball and stopping opponents ground attack early on, and struggled to pass effectively and stop the aerial attack. The Jets were 6-2 at home last year straight up and against the number. The Lions are already 1-0 against New York area teams having blown out the Giants 35-14 on the opening Monday Night of the year. Detroit played poorly in their only other road game this year, a 24-7 setback at Carolina. The Jets have won three straight against the Lions dating back to the start of the 2012 season.
Tampa Bay at Pittsburgh
After losing home games to Carolina and St. Louis, both of whom started backup quarterbacks, the Bucs are now playing their second of three straight road games. After going 4-4 on the road in 2012, Tampa Bay was 1-7 away from home last year. Pittsburgh is at home for the first time since beating Cleveland 30-27 on opening day. This is the only home game in a five game span for Pittsburgh. The Steelers have gone 5-3 at home in back-to-back years.
Jacksonville at San Diego
For a third time in four weeks the Jags are on the road. The first two tries didn’t go so well with Jacksonville taking an early lead against Philadelphia only to allow 34 straight points, and then getting crushed in Washington during week two. Dating back to the start of 2012, Jacksonville is 2-16 on the road and 9-9 against the spread. The Chargers beat Seattle in their only home game this year. San Diego was 5-3 at home straight up and against the number last year. This is the first of three home games in four weeks for the Chargers.
Atlanta at Minnesota
The Vikings are playing their home games outdoors this year for the first time since the early 1980’s. Thus far Minnesota has played better in road games inside than their lone home game, a 30-7 setback against the Patriots. Today Atlanta, a dome team, plays their second road game of the year. The Falcons only foray outdoors resulted in a 24-10 loss at Cincinnati in week two. Atlanta has won two straight and three of four against Minnesota. The Falcons were 1-7 on the road last year but went 6-2 in 2012.
Philadelphia Eagles at San Francisco 49ers
The Niners have been among the best teams in the NFL the last three years going 36-11-1 during the regular season between 2011 and 2013. The schedule maker did them no favors to start 2014. San Francisco faces five straight opponents to start this year that were .500 or better last year. San Francisco dropped their home opener to Chicago 28-20 despite leading 17-0. Philadelphia runs a similar up temp offense to the Bears. The Eagles went 9-3 during the final 12 weeks last year scoring almost 29 points per contest. Philadelphia won their only road game to date, a 30-27 victory September 15 in Indianapolis. The Eagles have won five of the last six meetings between these two teams with a 24-23 Niner victory in Philadelphia in 2011 the most recent match-up.
New Orleans at Dallas
The Saints dug themselves a hole this year starting 0-2 with a pair of road loses. They’re back on the road today against a Dallas team who dropped their only home game thus far in 2014. The Saints won 11 games last year but only three of them were away from home. New Orleans went 1-7 against the spread last year on the road and are 0-2 this season. The Cowboys are 9-8 at home dating back to the start of 2012 and 6-11 against the number. New Orleans has won three straight meetings with Dallas and eight of the last nine dating back to 1995.
Monday
New England at Kansas City
The Patriots play their third road game in four weeks with mixed results in the first two. New England opened the year blowing a 20-10 halftime lead to the Dolphins in a 33-20 loss. The next week they manhandled the Vikings in Minnesota 30-7. The Patriots went 4-4 on the road last year and 2-6 against the spread. The Chiefs lost their only home game, a 26-10 setback to Tennessee on September 7. Despite going 11-5 last year, the Chiefs were just 5-3 at home and 2-6 against the number. Kansas City travels to San Francisco next week before a week six bye on October 12.
