NFL Week Four Bold Predictions: Kansas City Chiefs Sack Attack
By Erik Lambert
Sep 22, 2013; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Kawann Short (99) sacks New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) during the NFL second quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
After getting blanked in week three, the NFL week four bold predictions better get better results. There are a number of intriguing games with even better possibilities. What are some things that can happen?
The Denver Broncos and Philadelphia Eagles will combine for over 80 points
Peyton Manning, amazingly, is off to the best start of his historic career at the age of 37. His Denver Broncos play host to the Philadelphia Eagles and their high octane offense under head coach Chip Kelly. While both defenses are not complete pushovers, this game will be all about points. Denver didn’t exactly shut down a struggling Raiders team on Monday Night while the Eagles are anxious to overcome their turnover-filled fiasco on Thursday Night. Expect Manning and Michael Vick to come out firing with plenty of fireworks to the point where they combine for over 80 points on the afternoon.
Eli Manning will get sacked ten times by Kansas City Chiefs
What he endured against Carolina had to be one of the biggest beatings and humiliations of a bright career for Eli Manning. Getting sacked seven times is never fun. Unfortunately it’s not going to get any better. In the wake of that disaster he must go into Arrowhead Stadium against a Kansas City Chiefs defense that leads the NFL with 15 sacks in three games. Their front seven led by Tamba Hali, Justin Houston and Dontari Poe present a big matchup problem for a struggling New York Giants offensive line. Unless Manning gets help from a nonexistent run game, he can expect to either start throwing interceptions again or get sacked more. Considering the Giants are familiar with sacking quarterbacks double digit times in game, they get a taste of it themselves when the Chiefs down Manning ten times.
Terrelle Pryor tops 200 yards rushing against the Washington Redskins
It’s well documented how bad the Washington Redskins defense is. Not only do they struggle covering receivers through the air, but their woeful tackling makes them just as bad against the run. The last time they saw a dual threat quarterback, Michael Vick torched them for 200 yards passing and 50 rushing with three touchdowns. The only reason it wasn’t worse was because LeSean McCoy was busy gutting them as well. This has to excite the combo of Terrelle Pryor and Darren McFadden of the Oakland Raiders. Both of them will have big days, but the surprise will be Pryor who reaches 200 yards rushing, breaking Vick’s record of 173.
Tom Brady and Matt Ryan will both top 400 yards passing
One of the lesser talked about game on the docket is the New England Patriots visiting the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday Night Football. The story of this game is the quarterbacks. Tom Brady has struggled at times getting on the same page with his young receivers but has managed well enough. Best of all he may get a huge boost from the return of Rob Gronkowski. Matt Ryan got some difficult news when Steven Jackson went down with injury, which means the running game is somewhat unstable. In other words both teams could end up passing the ball a lot. Given the prowess of Brady and the strength of the Falcons receivers it could turning into a classic air show. Expect the two quarterbacks to each get over the 400-yard mark.
Brian Hoyer will lead Cleveland Browns over Cincinnati Bengals
Nobody in their right mind expected Brian Hoyer to pull off the upset for the Cleveland Browns in Minnesota against the Vikings. Such a victory can give a team loads of confidence, perhaps even enough to repeat the feat again. Cleveland returns home where they will host the division-leading Cincinnati Bengals who are feeling pretty good about themselves after a thrilling back-and-forth victory over the Green Bay Packers. So much in fact that they may be entering week four a tad overconfident. Hoyer proved he can execute the offense under Rob Chudzinski. With the home crowd and a solid NFL defense behind him, it could be upset city again for the Browns.