Week 4’s Top 5 Match-Ups!
By Matt DeLucia
It’s time for this week’s installment of top games on tap. Welcome to week 4’s top 5 match-ups for the NFL.
5 – MINNESOTA (1-2) AT TENNESSEE (3-0)
On paper we have two great defenses that have lead their teams weak offenses to victory. Kerry Collins is back at the helm for the Titans and has his team moving in the right direction. Gus Frerotte comes in and leads the Vikings to a win they desperately needed in his first start of the season. I’m actually looking forward to this game, can’t wait to see what Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor can do on the ground vs the Titans defense. Tennessee faces their first real test of the season. Can the combo of LenDale White and Chris Johnson open the run game vs the Vikes defense. I like the Titans to go to 4-0. TITANS 24-17
4 – GREEN BAY (2-1) AT TAMBA BAY (2-1)
It’s the battle of the Bay’s, the Pack and the Bucs. Green Bay’s high powered offense vs the Bucs defense that gave up 405 total yards to the Bears. Tampa Bay can not allow Aaron Rodgers and Ryan Grant to control the game. The Bucs need to apply pressure to Rodgers which Dallas did last Sunday night. The Packers like to come out firing the ball with all of the targets Rodgers has available to him, if that happens Brian Griese and the rest of the team will have along day a head of them. PACKERS 31-20
3 – PHILADELPHIA (2-1) AT CHICAGO (1-2)
Donovan McNabb returns to his hometown of Chicago, is he going to play and how well is another question. The Eagles arrive banged up after last week’s game with the Steelers. McNabb (chest) and Brian Westbrook (ankle) look like they’ll play as of now. If Westbrook’s unable to go, look for Correll Buckhalter and Lorenzo Booker to pick up his workload. It that happens with the way the Bears defense can shut you down, you just might have an upset in the making. Kyle Orton performed a little CPR on the Bears offense and is renewing the once lifeless offense for now in the windy city. If McNabb and Westbrook play it’s a win, without them I like Chicago. EAGLES 24-16
2 – BALTIMORE (2-0) AT PITTSBURGH (2-1)
It’s an AFC North showdown on Monday Night Football. The Ravens led by young rookie quarterback Joe Flacco and veteran Willis McGahee arrive ready for prime time. Now the Steelers on the other hand already know they will be without star RB Willie Parker this week. So another young rookie Rashard Mendenhall takes the starting nod behind Big Ben this week. The Ravens could have a field day with Roethlisberger, and poor Ben just might spend most of the game on his back. The keys for this game if Flacco plays the way he has all season, meaning no mistakes. The Ravens defense pressures Ben and Steelers, I like the Ravens in this game. If Ben has time to hit his receivers down field and his new favorite target Heath Miller. That combined with Mendenhall holding onto the ball ( 3 fumbles last two preseason games) the Steelers can win and jump back into first in the division. Sorry Pittsburgh just to many if’s in this one. RAVENS 16-13
1- WASHINGTON (2-1) AT DALLAS (3-0)
This week’s biggest game is also one of the league’s best rivalries. We have the “Hogs” of Washington and the self proclaimed “America’s Team” in Dallas. The Redskins just squeaked by the Cardinals last week at home while the Cowboys showed the NFC why they just might be the best this yr. Tony Romo has the Cowboys riding high on offense along with Barber, Owens and Witten. Clinton Portis will need to help his team’s cause this week and control the ground game against a weak run stopping Cowboys team. Even with Portis and Jason Campbell, Chris Cooley and Santana Moss it’s just not enough for the Redskins. Look for Romo to have two touchdowns and toss a few kicks in from Nick Folk, with Barber and Felix Jones adding another. The Cowboys ride to 4-0 and sit alone on top of the NFC East after this week. COWBOYS 34-20