Admin September 26, 2024
Sam Darnold’s MVP run continues, Ravens save season with win in Dallas
Sports Seriously’s Mackenzie Salmon ‘overreacts’ to the biggest news from Sunday’s slate of games.
Sports Seriously
You may not have noticed it, but the first three weeks of the NFL season made history. For the first time ever, the biggest underdog of each week wound up winning in three consecutive weeks to kick off the season. In Week 1, the New England Patriots beat the Cincinnati Bengals. Then, in Week 2, the Las Vegas Raiders took down the Baltimore Ravens. Finally, in Week 3, the Bengals fell once again, this time to the Washington Commanders on Monday Night Football.
All that is to say that this year has been rather unpredictable when it comes to picking winners outright. Who would’ve thought the San Francisco 49ers, even with all their injuries, would be 1-2 with losses to Sam Darnold‘s Minnesota Vikings and a Los Angeles Rams team sans Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp? Now, they’re the biggest favorites heading into Week 4. That’s a bad omen. Basically, if you are still alive in your survivor pool, you’re likely one of the last few remaining. However, a new week brings new challenges and a possibility to end your year once and for all. We’re here to prevent that.
Here are three teams to choose in your survivor pool this week to help you stay alive.
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NFL Week 4 Survivor Pool Picks:
Pittsburgh Steelers over Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts’ defense has been a mess this year, and they head into Week 4 without star defensive tackle DeForest Buckner. The Steelers have leaned heavy on their running game throughout the first three weeks, and the Colts have been abysmal when it comes to stopping the run.
While the team did take a massive leap forward in Week 3 in that area, holding Chicago’s D’Andre Swift to less than two yards a carry, Chicago’s offense as a whole has failed to mesh well, and judging their ability to stop the run based on how they fared against an inept Chicago offense is a bit invalid. The Steelers’ offense, although not elite, has shown the capability to move the ball downfield, and their run game is actually quite effective. Indianapolis surrendered over 300 yards combined from Josh Jacobs and Joe Mixon in Weeks 1 & 2. Najee Harris will be in for a big day so long as Justin Fields is able to complete passes, which he’s proven capable of doing.
Tennessee Titans over Miami Dolphins
Miami’s offense looked atrocious in Week 3 without Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback. Sure, the team brought in Tyler Huntley for Week 4, but are we really going to trust a quarterback entering a new system to win?
There are arguments to be made for why Tennessee could lose. They turn the ball over a lot, and aren’t able to get many turnovers themselves. However, so long as their defense sells out to stop De’Von Achane, it’s going to be very difficult for Huntley to get star wideouts Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle the ball. So long as Tennessee’s Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears can move the ball forward, the weight off Will Levis’ shoulders should be lifted enough to give Miami the win.
Miami has surrendered five rushing touchdowns on the year, the third-most in the NFL. They’re also only one of seven teams to surrender 6.9 net passing yards per attempt on the season. So long as Tennessee can control the clock, they should win this game handedly.
New York Jets over Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos shocked the world a week ago when they took down the previously undefeated Tampa Bay Buccaneers in one-sided fashion. Rookie quarterback Bo Nix broke out in that game, completing over two-thirds of his passes, and while he never threw a touchdown, he did get a few big plays from guys like Courtland Sutton and Josh Reynolds.
Against the New York Jets, those big plays will be harder to come by. Sutton will likely be shadowed by All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner, and when Sutton can’t get open, as was the case in Weeks 1 and 2, we’ve seen how inept this Broncos’ offense can be. Aaron Rodgers and the Jets really came into their own during Thursday Night Football a week ago. The Patriots’ defense is no joke, yet Rodgers looked cool, calm, and collected en route to a huge win. The Broncos’ defense is arguably just as good or better than New England’s but it’s not good enough to give Rodgers much trouble.
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