Week 4 Preview:
There’s no lousier week on the football calendar than the one when the local team has a bye. This week, the early vacations go to Detroit, Indianapolis, Miami, New England, NY Giants and Seattle. In many ways, a bye week feels worse than a loss because (if you’re a football junkie) there’s no game that provides as much drama as the one in which your team is involved. Based on the way the Patriots played in Week 3, there’s probably no better time than now to find out what went horribly wrong and fix the problems going forward. Hopefully the weather will be nice get out and enjoy outdoor activities, and in New England there is always a lot to see and do.

This week's docket is about as exciting as a steaming bowl of grits.

Between weeks three and four there were some very interesting developments in the NFL. The biggest news was the announcement by the Detroit Lions that they'd fired their CEO, Matt Millen. Lions’ fans won’t have Matt Millen to kick around any more. It was no great shock, and was probably long overdue for someone who basically ran one of the NFL's flagship franchises into the ground over the course of the last seven years. The tipping point came when the owner's son publicly stated that if it were in his power, he would have terminated Millen's contract a lot earlier. Now the Lions have to rebuild from square one. Hopefully, they'll hire someone who has a clue about how to put together an organization.

Denver -8.5 At Kansas City 45.5

The Broncos offense has been on fire all year long, but it's been their defense that's left a lot to be desired. This week, their defensive liabilities probably won't be much of an issue as they travel to Kansas City for a date with the offensively-challenged Chiefs. The question is whether Cutler can maintain his hand on the road and against an AFC rival. Damon Huard is back in the driver’s seat, but does it really matter who the quarterback is in KC? This team is a mess.

Projected Final Score: Denver 27, Kansas City 16.

At Cincinnati -3.5 Cleveland 44

Talk about Hobson’s Choice, two lousy offenses against two lousy defenses. Coach Crennel is sticking with Anderson this week, and it’s really hard to see a team that was predicted to be a contender start off the year 0-4. Last week, the Bengals demonstrated that they actually have a heart, going toe to toe with the world champions only to lose in overtime. That performance alone probably saved Marvin Lewis' job for this year. The Browns have played disappointingly so far and it now seems as if it's a matter of when, not if, Brady Quinn takes over for Anderson. If Cincinnati is able to continue the level of performance they put forth last week, the Browns will come out of this one winless. Still, the Bengals have yet to earn the right to comfortably cover.

Projected Final Score: Cincinnati 23, Cleveland 20.

At Jacksonville -7.5 Houston 41.5

The Jags have a terrific divisional win on the road last week and find themselves in a great spot to create some distance in the AFC South. With this win under their belt, look for them to continue their trend against the struggling Tejanos. These offenses are almost as impotent as Cleveland and Cincinnati’s but the defenses are considerably better. On the other hand, the Texans are in a predicament similar to what the Browns face (a team that played some pricing really well last year that now seems to have fallen back to Earth under the weight of high expectations). Slaton has started off well carrying the ball, but the rest of the offense has yet to get off the ground. It’s a tough call giving the Jags the 7 1/2 , but this time we’ll give ‘em the benefit of the doubt.

Projected Final Score: Jacksonville 24, Houston 16.

At NY Jets -2.5 Arizona 45

On Monday night, the Jets were spectacularly bad, there's really no other way to put it. It's hard to figure because the team went out and spent a small fortune in the free agency market during the off-season, but there is really no rhythm with either the offensive or defensive units. It could be the case that everyone is really tight from trying so hard to succeed. Even though it's only week four, the determination of the Jets season hinges on their performance this Sunday. If they play in a similar fashion to Monday night, it may be a very long year. If they play with intensity and intelligence, they can have a pretty good year regardless of the score this week. The Cardinals find themselves in a rare spot: a fighting chance to grab a playoff spot out of the pathetic NFC West. In the long and less than illustrious history of the Cardinals, opportunities like this have been few and far between. This is a long road trip for them, as they did not return to the desert after having lost in Washington last week. Sooner or later something thing’s gotta break right for the J-E-S-T…

Projected Final Score: NY Jets 23, Arizona 20.

At New Orleans -5.5 San Francisco 48.5

The Aints return to the Superdome for date with the surprising 49’ers, who may have finally discovered quarterback in JT O'Sullivan. New Orleans will be somewhat shorthanded without Colston and Shockey, and they need to find a way of getting the football to the Deuce.

Projected Final Score: New Orleans 24, San Francisco 21

At Carolina -6.5 Atlanta 39.5

It will be interesting to see how Matt Ryan and the 2-1 Falcons will fare against a good team. They've quickly learned how to beat up on the weak sisters, but had a hard time with the likes of Tampa Bay. The Panthers are comparable to the Bucs talent wise, they're playing at home and do not want to lose to a divisional opponent they're substantially better than.

Projected Final Score: Carolina 24, Atlanta 17.

At Tennessee -2.5 Minnesota 36

This should be a very good matchup between the Vikings’ running game and Tennessee’s defense. The Titans are currently second in total defense and Collins ought to have some success throwing the ball on Sunday.

Projected Final Score: Tennessee 27, Minnesota 16

At Tampa Bay -1.5 Green Bay 42

Aaron Rodgers' two-week honeymoon came to an abrupt end at Lambeau Field last Sunday night, and now he and the Pack face another tough test on the road against Chucky and his band of pirates. Last week, Brian Griese put the football in the air an incredible 64 times in their comeback win on the road in Chicago. It looks like the Packers will not have to play out the rest of the year without Al Harris who suffered a severe spleen injury last week, and Charles Woodson didn't exactly look like a spring chicken out there on the field, either. Griese will assuredly look to exploit the big hole in Green Bay's defensive backfield.

Projected Final Score: Tampa Bay 24, Green Bay 20

Buffalo -7.5 At St. Louis 42

Just how bad are the Rams? If there is one fact about which long-standing New England football fans are intimately familiar, it's bad football teams. What the good folks in St. Louis may be witnessing this year might be something along the lines of the ill fated 1990 Patriots' team that went 1-15. Coach Linehan has now turned the offense over to Trent Green, a man whose concussion issues are so lengthy and severe that he has no business being on a football field. How many years in a row has Green been carted off the field? It's simply astounding than any team would allow him to play given the risks involved. The Bills ought come into this one angry and mean, after having been chastened by their last second victory over the lowly Raiders. This week, they know not to take any opponent for granted, even one that's as bad as the Rams.

Projected Final Score: Buffalo 24, St. Louis 16

San Diego -6.5 At Oakland 45.5

You have to hand it to Lane Kiffin for having the intestinal fortitude to stand up to The Man. Most young people given the opportunity of a lifetime to function at the highest level of their profession would probably fold their cards in the face of an unwinnable hand, but Kiffin is hanging tough despite the daily soap opera associated with an eccentric owner. Kiffin was rumored to be fired on Monday, only he wasn't. There was a bizarre scene at his weekly press conference where one of the owner's lackeys nearly picked a fistfight with one of the beat writers.

Over the past few years, the Chargers have started slowly only to get their act in gear and go on a roll. After last Monday night's total domination of the Jets, it appears as if San Diego is now hitting on all cylinders.

Projected Final Score: San Diego 28, Oakland 17

At Dallas -11.5 Washington 46

Do you remember those great Cowboys-Redskin rivalries of the ‘70’s when Landry and Allen matched wits and both teams were perennial Super Bowl contenders? Times have changed. Despite a few issues on the offensive line, the Cowboys are currently the best team in the NFL. They have a wealth of talent and have steamrolled through September. The Redskins already have two hard-fought wins this year, and have grown by leaps and bounds since their opening night loss to the Giants, but they’re not yet in the Cowboys’ league.

Projected Final Score: Dallas 31, Washington 17

Philadelphia -2.5 At Chicago 40.5

After last week's Pyrrhic victory against the Steelers, a banged-up McNabb and the Eagles head off to Soldier Field for Sunday night date with the Bears, who have snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in successive weeks. It ought to be quite a homecoming for McNabb, who will probably air things out against a porous pass defense. The Eagles’ defense is rock tough and will have an answer for any schemes the Bears may have prepared.

Projected Final Score: Philadelphia 24, Chicago 17