Entering week four the NFL season and only seven teams remain undefeated. All besides the San Francisco 49ers play this week as they look to continue their winning streaks. Two teams are guaranteed to finish week four with their first loss as the New England Patriots take on the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs face-off against the Detroit Lions.
Even the Thursday night matchup between the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles could end with the Packers suffering their first loss. With the possibility of multiple teams no longer being undefeated, good news comes to the team who have yet to tally their first win.
The Broncos, Redskins, Bengals and Steelers (especially the latter two) have their best shot to get into the win column. Two teams already in the win column and our BushLeagueSports Super Bowl pick, take on each other in one the best almost-rivalries in the NFL.
Dallas Cowboys (3-0) vs. New Orleans Saints (2-1)
The Dallas Cowboys are the best team in the NFC hands down. Sorry Rams fans, it's true. Without Todd Gurley making an impact on the game, the Rams cannot simply rely on Jared Goff and the passing game to carry them to victory.
The Cowboys are the exact opposite.
Running back Ezekiel Elliott has dominated, as usual, thus far into the season totaling 289 yards and two touchdowns. Even during Elliott's worse game of the season (week 3 vs. Giants Zeke totaled 53 yards & 1 TD), quarterback Dak Prescott came through with 405 yards and four touchdowns.
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With Elliott already paid, the fans are clamoring for Prescott to be given a prestigious extension. Thus far, he deserves it. 920 yards, nine touchdowns, and just two interceptions later and Prescott ranks first in completion percentage, second in QBR and touchdowns while leading Dallas to a perfect 3-0 record.
His favorite target, Amari Cooper, leads the NFL with four touchdowns and in just 16 receptions already totaled 238 yards. The connection Prescott and Cooper have is unmatched in the NFL, and since trading for Cooper in October of last season, the two have totaled 10 touchdowns.
The man guarding Cooper will be Saints star corner Marcus Lattimore. Unfortunately for the Saints, Lattimore has allowed the most yards per game this season. An easy opening for Prescott and the Cowboys to take advantage of.
The Dallas offense should have a career day as the Saints have the league's 28th ranked defense. While top ten against the run, allowing 134 yards per game, the Saints give up the seventh-most points (27.7 points) and the third-most passing yards (301.7 per game).
The inability to stop Dallas' high-powered offense will cost the sense but hope remains in the offense.
Losing Drew Brees was supposed to kill New Orleans playoff hopes, but a win in Seattle against the brutal Seahawks' 12th man shines a bright on the Saints future after all. The masterful coaching of Sean Payton has transitioned the Saints offense from Brees to Teddy Bridgewater seamlessly.
After a struggle in Los Angeles the day Brees injured his thumb, Bridgewater bounced back against Seattle tossing two touchdowns. One of those touchdowns came with Alvin Kamara on the receiving end.
Kamara is the key to victory for the Saints. If the Cowboys' third-ranked rushing defense decides to show up, which they will, New Orleans chances dimish to about zero. If Dallas' front seven falters, the Saints will have to ride Kamara to victory.
Keep in mind the last time Dallas and New Orleans met, the Cowboys held Kamara to 72 total yards combined between the ground and the air. Dallas also shut down Saints receiver Michael Thomas keeping him to under 60 yards.
The Saints offensive line versus Dallas' defense is the matchup to watch. As the game reaches the third quarter, will Bridgewater have enough time to throw to Thomas or will Demarcus Lawrence find his way to the backfield and sack a New Orleans quarterback for the third time this season.
The Saints, even without Brees, have a shot to knock off Dallas simply based on coaching but with Dallas' offense rolling and Prescott playing the best football of his life, 'Americas Team' lands as the favorite.
Verdict:
The Dallas Cowboys are once again the best team in the NFC and if not for the Patriots, the best in the NFL. Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliot are playing the best football of his career, and the defense remains top five in the league.
The Saints, on the other hand, are a wild card. Who exactly are they with Teddy Bridgewater and if down late with the game on the line, can he lead the Saints to victory. We have only seen Bridgewater twice this season, and it has been inconsistent at the least. Against Seattle, he looked comfortable in Sean Payton's offense, but versus the Rams, Bridgewater struggled to put points on the board.
The Saints have to get Kamara involved in the offense if they want any chance at winning, but with the Dallas front seven ranking third in the NFL, that seems easier said than done.
Expect Dallas to keep rolling while New Orleans find themselves at .500 with six weeks to go till Drew Brees returns.
Final Score: Cowboys 34, Saints 24
Week 4 Predictions:
Eagles (1-2) vs. Packers (3-0) - Packers 26, Eagles 23 (TNF)
Redskins (0-3) vs. Giants (1-2) - Giants 24, Redskins 20
Chiefs (3-0) vs. Lions (2-0-1) - Chiefs 34, Lions 24
Titans (1-2) vs. Falcons (1-2) - Falcons 24, Titans 20
Browns (1-2) vs. Ravens (2-1) - Ravens 27, Browns 20
Raiders (1-2) vs. Colts (2-1) - Colts 26, Raiders 24
Patriots (3-0) vs. Bills (3-0) - Patriots 27, Bills 23
Panthers (1-2) vs. Texans (2-1) - Texans 29, Panthers 14
Chargers (1-2) vs. Dolphins (0-3) - Chargers 31, Dolphins 17
Buccaneers (1-2) vs. Rams (3-0) - Rams 30, Bucs 20
Seahawks (2-1) vs. Cardinals (0-2-1) - Seahawks 29, Cardinals 17
Vikings (2-1) vs. Bears (2-1) - Bears 27, Vikings 24
Jaguars (1-2) vs. Broncos (0-3) - Broncos 24, Jaguars 20
Bengals (0-3) vs. Steelers (0-3) - Bengals 26, Steelers 23 (MNF)
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