Week 4 NFL daring predictions: Packers hand Vikings first loss regardless of who QB is, Andy Dalton goes off once more

Week 4 kicked off anticlimactically with quarterback Dak Prescott’s Dallas Cowboys winning his 13th consecutive start in opposition to the New York Giants in a 20-15 highway victory. 

That run of dominance is tied for the second-longest successful streak by a quarterback versus a single opponent since not less than 1950 with San Francisco 49ers Corridor of Famer Steve Younger (13 wins in a row in opposition to the Rams) and the GOAT Tom Brady (13 wins in a row in opposition to the Payments). Solely Miami Dolphins Corridor of Famer Bob Griese has an extended streak of wins in opposition to a single squad with 17 wins in a row in opposition to the Payments. 

Thursday night time’s final result was fairly predictable. Let’s pivot from that sport to 5 unlikely issues that might occur in Week 4. Listed here are this week’s 5 daring predictions for the remaining slate of video games this week. 

Will Jordan Love return for the Packers? Will not matter. Inexperienced Bay offers Vikings first lack of 2024

The Minnesota Vikings are 3-0 and using excessive off consecutive wins in opposition to the 2023 NFC champion San Francisco 49ers (23-17 in Week 2) and the 2023 AFC South champion Houston Texans (34-7 in Week 3) coming into their first matchup of 2024 with the Inexperienced Bay Packers at Lambeau Area. 

A lot of their success comes from what defensive coordinator Brian Flores and his unit are doing: they lead the NFL with 16 sacks and 54 quarterback pressures coming into Week 4. That is a troublesome protection to crack. The Packers will achieve this and hand Minnesota their first loss whether or not or not Jordan Love is wholesome sufficient to return to play after struggling an MCL sprain. He has been a restricted follow participant this week. 

What’s one of many best methods to decelerate an aggressive go rush? Do not permit them to go rush in any respect by hitting them within the face by operating the ball. That is one thing Packers head coach Matt LaFleur has made a focus of his offense the final two weeks with Love on the sideline. Inexperienced Bay’s 612 dashing yards this season are a group’s most of their first three video games for the reason that 2019 Baltimore Ravens totaled 650 of their first three video games. That Ravens group broke the NFL single-season group document for dashing yards in a season with 3,297. 

Tennessee Titans castoff Malik Willis has crammed the void left by Love’s absence admirably in victories in opposition to the Colts and Titans the final two weeks. His 9.8 yards per go try and 9.5 yards per carry each lead the NFL since Week 2 amongst gamers to have a minimal of 12 makes an attempt for every class. Willis is simply the fourth participant within the final 50 years to guide the league in each classes in a two-week span together with Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts in 2022, Titans quarterback Steve McNair in 1997 and Eagles quarterback Randall Cunningham in 1987. The Packers have additionally used movement on the best fee of any group within the NFL, 85.3%. That is a device that helps quarterback determine what a protection is doing pre-snap, and nobody has even finished so at a fee of 80% or greater — Sean McVay’s Los Angeles Rams are the following closest group with a movement fee of 76.2%. 

Defensively, the Packers should take care of a quarterback in Sam Darnold who’s coming off the most effective sport of his profession with 4 passing touchdowns and no interceptions in a 34-7 win in opposition to the Texans. Darnold’s self-discipline and ball safety shall be examined in Week 4 in opposition to a Inexperienced Bay protection that leads the league with 9 takeaways by means of the primary three weeks of the season, seven of that are interceptions. New defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley has the Packers taking part in a way more aggressive model of soccer than his predecessor Joe Barry: The Packers had seven interceptions in all of 2023, a complete they’ve already matched, and solely 18 takeaways final season, a determine Inexperienced Bay is already midway towards reaching. 

Hafley’s unit placed on a masterclass in Week 3 on the highway in opposition to the Tennessee Titans, racking up eight sacks (one wanting the Packers’ single-game document), three takeaways and a pick-six by Professional Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander. Free agent acquisition security Xavier McKinney additionally deserves loads of the credit score for the Packers scorching begin: he leads the NFL with three interceptions, which is a better determine than the 2 catches for 23 yards that he has allowed in protection this season. Inexperienced Bay hasn’t had a security this dynamic since Nick Collins was roaming round for his or her Tremendous Bowl XLV championship group in 2010. 

Oh, and if Love does play on Sunday, that is a transparent benefit for the Packers. LaFleur and Love made a mockery of Flores’ protection in Week 17 final season, throwing for 256 yards and three touchdowns on 24 of 33 passing in a 33-10 Packers highway win over the Vikings on New Yr’s Eve.   

Andy Dalton, Panthers push Bengals to 0-4

In his first begin in a 12 months, Andy Dalton grew to become the primary quarterback to throw for 300 or extra yards (319) and three or extra touchdowns (three) in a sport this NFL season in Carolina’s 36-22 highway win on the Raiders in Week 3. He’ll now begin in opposition to his former group, the Cincinnati Bengals, the squad for whom he’s the all-time passing touchdowns chief with 204. 

 Dalton’s reference to Diontae Johnson yielded the most effective day of the six-year vet’s profession as he totaled 122 receiving yards. Johnson gathered extra targets (14) catches (8), receiving yards (122), and touchdowns (1) in Week 3 than he did within the first two video games this season mixed with 2023 first general choose quarterback Bryce Younger beginning. 

Carolina with face a Bengals protection in Week 4 that surrendered 38 factors, 22 first downs, three touchdowns in three pink zone drives and three fourth down conversions in as many makes an attempt in 38-33 loss in opposition to the Washington Commanders and rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. Opponents are finishing 75% of passes in opposition to Bengals this season, tied for the second-highest fee allowed within the NFL coming into Week 4.  

If Dalton beats the Bengals, Cincinnati shall be 0-4 this season. The final time the Bengals began 0-4, Andy Dalton was their beginning QB (2019, began season 0-11). Andy Dalton began 13 video games within the final season the Bengals began 0-4 (CIN completed 2-14 in 2019, misplaced first 11 video games). Time is a flat circle, and Dalton may have a hand within the Bengals going 0-4 as soon as once more.   

Jalen Hurts throws a number of passing TDs, no interception vs. Buccaneers robust go protection

One may assume this daring prediction is somewhat mean-spirited. That may be truthful, however these are the details: Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts has thrown an interception in seven consecutive video games, the longest such streak by an Eagle since Ty Detmer in 1996. His 26 giveaways since 2023 are additionally probably the most within the NFL. 

Hurts not throwing an interceptions would legitimately qualify as daring, particularly on the highway in opposition to this stingy Tampa Bay Buccaneers go protection. Opponents have thrown two interceptions in opposition to them and have but to throw a landing in opposition to head coach Todd Bowles’ unit. That is the most effective touchdown-to-interception ratio allowed within the NFL this season. 

Eagles tight finish Dallas Goedert is coming off of the most effective sport of his profession in Philly’s Week 3 win on the Saints, registering 10 catches for 170 yards in a sport. He retains the groove going with Hurts and will get into the top zone whereas his quarterback goes chilly turkey on his turnover dependancy this week. 

Chargers upset Chiefs *if Justin Herbert performs*

The Los Angeles Chargers fell to 2-1 in Week 3 due to a 20-10 loss in opposition to the now-3-0 Pittsburgh Steelers. That outcome was closely impacted by Chargers Professional Bowl quarterback Justin Herbert leaving the sport within the third quarter with an ankle harm and never returning. 

That sport was tied at 10 till Herbert departed, however Los Angeles was solely in a position to run 10 performs for eight yards after Herbert left halfway by means of the third quarter. They punted on all 3 drives. If Herbert, who was restricted in follow on Wednesday and Thursday this week with the ankle harm, can go well with up on Sunday, the Chargers will snap the defending Tremendous Bowl champion Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ nine-game successful streak. 

Head coach Jim Harbaugh’s bunch has been stout defensively, rating third  in scoring protection (11.0 PPG allowed) and sixth in dashing protection (91.7) this season. That group will face a Chiefs group that has been begging for somebody to beat them all through their nine-game successful streak as they’ve the smallest margin of victory in a 9-0 stretch in NFL historical past (+54).

Chiefs 9-Sport successful streak, Together with playoffs

* Smallest margin of victory (+54) in 9-0 stretch in NFL historical past

Future Corridor of Fame tight finish Travis Kelce continues to experience the battle bus inn 2024 with simply eight catches and 69 receiving yards this season. That quantities to his fewest catches and receiving yards in any three-game span in his profession. The soon-to-be 35-year-old, Kelce’s birthday is Oct. 5, has totaled 21 catches for 157 yards and no touchdowns in his final six common season video games, which marks six video games in a row of below 50 receiving yards, the longest streak of his profession. Kelce additionally has 9 consecutive video games with out a receiving landing. That can be the longest such streak of his profession.

Kansas Metropolis does not get away with Kelce and the Chiefs offense struggling in opposition to Herbert and Harbaugh’s stingy protection in a surprising, upset loss. 

Seattle Seahawks go into Detroit, upset Lions on “Monday Evening Soccer”

The Seattle Seahawks are at present 3.5-point highway underdogs in opposition to the Detroit Lions this week, however they’ll depart Ford Area with a victory. Seattle head coach Mike Macdonald, who coordinated the NFL’s No. 1 protection with the Baltimore Ravens ins 2023, has the Seahawks wanting virtually as stingy instantly. 

They lead the NFL in go protection (132.3 passing yards per sport allowed) whereas rating second in complete yards per sport allowed (248.7) and fourth in third down conversion fee allowed (26.1%). Mix that elite degree protection with what Professional Bowl large receiver DK Metcalf is doing, and that is a recipe for achievement. The 2-time Professional Bowler has over 100 yards and a receiving landing in consecutive video games, tied for the longest such streak in group historical past. Metcalf breaks the document together with his third in a row in opposition to an inexperienced group of Lions cornerbacks, serving to lead Seattle to victory.