The Gridiron Gentlemen Super Fun Prediction League: Week 4

Week 4 is here and we’re in danger of actually getting good at this. This week the lowest score was 10 and the highest was 15 (well done Duncan). As you can see Alex has now joined the party.

Dan: 31-17

James: 28-20

Dylan: 28-20

Simon: 31-17

Duncan: 33-15

Alex: 10-6

Duncan still in the lead after a great week 3. No Dylan this week, I’m afraid, but I’ll get the predictions for the scores. So can we continue this run of good luck this week? Let’s be honest, the answer is probably no…

As always, our locks are in capital letters.

 

Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Well it’s a bad start. Thanks to an inability to kick a ball into a designated area, Josh Scobee kept a win away from the Gents.

 

New York Jets @ Miami Dolphins – in London

Here it is. The 1st of the international series matchups and it’s a pretty good one. Both teams come into the matchup on the back of slightly embarrassing losses. The Dolphins haven’t found their feet. The offence is stumbling and the defence just can’t seem to get any pressure. The Jets lost their 1st game last week against a team they were perfectly set up to stop. This should be a concerned against a wounded Dolphins team, who run a very similar system.

 

Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Personally I think this is a potential banana skin for the 3-0 Panthers, who have won, but won ugly. The Bucs haven’t been the push over they were last year. Winston seems to be improving (slowly) with every game and the defence looks like a cohesive unit for the 1st time since before Greg Schiano. At some point the wheels have to come off the Panthers offence and a lack of weapons will become an issue, but will it be in this game?

 

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Indianapolis Colts

After the 2-0 start, I’ve always thought, if they’re going to get good, they’ll get good against their division rivals, which they did with a narrow victory against the Titans last week. This week they face a 1-2 Jags team that’s been up against a number of tough opponents. Both teams could get good here, but you’d have to think the Colts have more to lose which could work against the Jags.

 

Cleveland Browns @ San Diego Chargers

Cleveland have shown signs of life, whilst still suffering from the same old problems. The Chargers have muddled through some massive injury issues, with it beginning to look like it might have taken it’s toll. There could potentially be a surprise here, but personally I think it will involve a change of QB for the Browns.

 

Green Bay Packers @ San Francisco 49er

After the embarrassment of the Cards game, this is not the game the Niners use to get good. The Packers, in my eyes are the best team in the league right now. The Niners are a mess. Kaepernick looks like a rabbit in the headlights and the team is missing some serious pieces. It might be best to miss this one Niners fans.

 

New York Giants @ Buffalo Bills

The Giants, have a high-powered offence that has yet to find it’s form, but have a weak, shallow offence. The Bills have a plan. If they stick to it, they win games, if they are forced to change it up, it all falls apart. This could be a bad matchup for the Giants.

 

Oakland Raiders @ Chicago Bears

The Raiders are “road favourites”, for the 1st time in 3 years, in a combination of the Raiders being pretty good and the Bears being dreadful. This week’s mass exodus of defensive pieces that don’t fit the scheme, won’t help the Bears and the Raiders sudden high powered offence will cause the Bears fits. This could be an ugly, ugly game for the Bears.

 

Houston Texans @ Atlanta Falcons

It’s amazing what difference a year makes. Last year these teams were both just shy of mediocre. This year it feels like they’ve gone in opposite directions, with the Texans possibly being the worst AFC South team and the Falcons topping the NFC South. The Falcons offensive line has been pretty good so far this season, but they’ll be up against in this game.

 

Philadelphia Eagles @ Washington

The Eagles won last week’s game by controlling time of possession and actually running the ball. Washington win games by getting ahead and staying ahead with their run game. So whoever runs the ball best here, wins.

 

Minnesota Vikings @ Denver Broncos

Denver are currently 0-3, due to a series of fortunate events, an exceptional defence and the occasional re-appearance of Peyton Manning. Minnesota appear to have Adrian Peterson back up to speed and a pretty handy defence themselves. This could be a fun match up so long as Manning and Bridgewater can perform.

 

St Louis Rams @ Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals are on fire at the moment, with 3 fairly straightforward wins. The Rams looked great in their victory over the Seahawks, but since then have struggled not look like every other Rams team of the last 10 years. This should be an easy victory for the Cards, but it does feel like the kind of games the Rams occasionally surprise people with.

 

Dallas Cowboys @ New Orleans Saints

The Cowboys have somehow remained competent despite losing a number of key players. The Saints, haven’t. Even though they should have Brees back, this team feels like a mess and it could get worse in this one.

 

Detroit Lions @ Seattle Seahawks

Last year this would have been an exceptional matchup. This year it feels like it might be a little one sided…only a little mind. The Lions are a mess. Stafford is under constant pressure and the Seahawks like dishing out pressure. Not a good mix.

 

Week 3, enjoy the International Series!