We are entering the fourth week of the season, with 30 of the 32 teams about to be through the first quarter of their schedule. Washington and Carolina have a bye week, but the remaining 30 teams are in action, starting with a huge potential playoff preview on Thursday Night Football between the Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings.
It’s time once again for our pick ‘em and Survivor pool contest options. We have the weekly prediction contest this season, and you can make those picks here. We also have a traditional “Pick ‘Em” contest. If you still want to join, the group name is Niners Nation, the group ID is 45734, and the password is go49ers. You’re pretty far behind, but feel free to join.
We continue with Survivor pools, after a huge chunk of people were knocked out for picking the Minnesota Vikings, Jacksonville Jaguars, or New England Patriots. I took the Chicago Bears, and barely survived over the Arizona Cardinal. This followed me taking the New Orleans Saints in Week 2, and the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1.
This week, the Los Angeles Chargers (hosting the San Francisco 49ers), Green Bay Packers (hosting the Buffalo Bills), and Jacksonville Jaguars (hosting the New York Jets) are the three most popular picks. The 49ers downgrade at quarterback with C.J. Beathard, but the Chargers are not a particularly good team. I think LA probably wins, but I think the 49ers are going to give them a scare. So much so in fact that I might take them as a ten-point favorite in the Super Contest. For Survivor, I am leaning towards the Packers — I look for a Bills letdown after that upset.
Tonight, Week 4 opens with the Rams hosting the Vikings. The Rams are a touchdown favorite in this one, even with a host of injuries piling up. Cornerback Aqib Talib was placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury, and cornerback Marcus Peters is questionable with a calf injury. I think the Rams could pull this out, but I think the line might be a little inflated by the Vikings’ shocking loss to Buffalo. I’m gonna take the points with Minnesota.
Here are the rest of my straight-up picks. I was 9-7 last week, bringing my season record to 29-17-2. I’ll have my picks against the spread later this weekend.
Vikings @ Rams: Vikings
Bengals @ Falcons: Bengals
Buccaneers @ Bears: Bears
Lions @ Cowboys: Cowboys
Bills @ Packers: Packers
Eagles @ Titans: Eagles
Texans @ Colts: Colts
Dolphins @ Patriots: Patriots
Jets @ Jaguars: Jaguars
Browns @ Raiders: Raiders
Seahawks @ Cardinals: Seahawks
Saints @ Giants: Saints
49ers @ Chargers: Chargers
Ravens @ Steelers: Ravens
Chiefs @ Broncos: Chiefs