NFC West Week 4 Preview & Picks

NFL NFC West Week 4 Preview

There are just three games on the NFC West schedule as we head into Week 4 of the 2010 NFL season. The NFC West went 3-1 last week and the race for the division lead is sure to heat up. The Seahawks and Cardinals are atop the division at 2-1 while St. Louis grabbed its first win against the visiting Redskins and are already just one win away from bettering their 2009, 1-15 finish. San Francisco is still winless and is at the bottom of the standings. Here I look at all of the week’s 2010 NFC West matchups.

Click Here for more  Free Expert NFL Football Picks

SUN, OCT 3 TIME (ET)

vs.

San Francisco at Atlanta 1:00 PM FOX – Falcons’ (2-1) QB Matt Ryan lead his team on a late 62-yarrd drive to set up Matt Bryant’s 46-yard field goal that sealed a 27-24 overtime win over the New Orleans Saints in Week 4.

It would be the dirty birds second OT finish in the first three weeks of the season as they won the toss at Heinz Field but came up short in a 15-9 loss at Pittsburgh in Week 1.

The win in the Big Easy netted Ryan his second straight passer rating over 100.

Everybody got into the action with contributions from Michael Turner and Jason Snelling who combined for 202-yards rushing, while TE Tony Gonzalez had his first 100-yard receiving effort in a Falcons uniform and WR Roddy White caught his 12th touchdown pass in his last 16 games.

Meanwhile, the chaos in the 49’ers (0-3) camp escalated and culminated in the Mike Singletary’s firing of offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye, after San Francisco’s 31-10 loss at Kansas City in Week 3.

The Niners’ offense, which rolled up 417 yards Monday night against New Orleans, managed only a field goal until the final play from scrimmage.

QB Alex Smith has been a bust, throwing five interceptions and San Francisco has converted 24.4 percent of their third downs — 31st in the league.

Smith threw three interceptions in his only previous game against Atlanta in 2007, while the Falcons hammered San Francisco, 45-10 on the road in 2009.

PREDICTION: Atlanta

vs.

Seattle at St. Louis 1:00 PM FOX – Seattle (2-1) is off to a good start is currently tied for first in the NFC West after a 27-20 win over the imploding San Diego Chargers in Week 3.

Their only defeat of the season coming by way of a 31-14 loss to Denver in their only road game in Week 2. Something to consider as they’ve dropped 16 of 19 on the road.

However, one place where the Seahawks haven’t had trouble winning in recent years is the Edward Jones Dome, but they’ll be facing a much-improved St. Louis Rams (1-2), that are coming off a 30-16 beat down of Donovan McNabb and the Washington Redskins at the Edwards Jones Dome.

After losing its first two games by a combined six points, the Rams finally broke through as backup running back Kenneth Darby — who replaced workhorse running back Steven Jackson who suffered a groin injury — scored the go-ahead touchdown, as rookie QB San Bradford earned his first NFL victory while snapping a 14 game home losing skid.

Bradford has performed well considering he has no real talent to toss to, and has stepped up to become the leader that St. Louis was hoping for.

As impressive as the Seahawks victory was last week, they only managed 13 points on offense, and are ranked 29th in total offense, with the defense being no better, at No. 28.

It may be a little premature to think the Rams could string together two wins in a row, but looking at last week’s results, and the Seahawks gimme wins, they could improve to 2-2 with a huge win at home.

PREDICTION: St. Louis

vs.

Arizona at San Diego 4:15 PM FOX – All I keep hearing is how the Chargers (1-2) are off to another slow start under coach Norv Turner, and how San Diego has gone 6-8 in September in its four seasons under Turner, but how the they responded with winning streaks that gave them the AFC West title in the first three.

Well, I don’t buy it, and the team’s optimism is nothing more than a cover up for playing some really awful football.

With one of the NFC West’s best QBs in Phillip Rivers, who by the way threw a franchise-record 455 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s 27-20 loss to Seattle, the Chargers should be commanding wins at will. Instead, they are giving wins away, committing five turnovers, the last coming when Rivers was picked off—for the second time — at the Seahawks’ 5-yard line in the final seconds.

I’ve seen better play from the local Pop Warner team. San Diego lost three fumbles, committed 11 penalties for 83 yards, and allowed two kickoff returns for scores, including a 99-yarder in the fourth quarter that sealed their doom.

A typical slow start or just plain sloppy play?

Meanwhile, the Cardinals (2-1) bounced back from a 41-7 blowout at Atlanta in the previous week by hanging on to beat Oakland 24-23 on Sunday.

Although I am not overly impressed with the Cardinals, their ground game appears to be getting better, as Beanie Wells returned to rush for 75 yards on 14 carries.

The real problem remains at QB, and Arizona still needs more out of Derek Anderson, who went just 12 of 26 for 122 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

The Cardinals rank 25th in offense and are allowing 231.3 passing yards per game, and that number could go up after they face Rivers, who has thrown for an NFL-high 1,087 yards.

San Diego has won eight of 11 all-time meetings with Arizona and five of six at home, but their poor start has killed the buzz. If the Chargers can’t turn things around this weekend, the Cardinals could embarrass them in front of their hometown fans.

PREDICTION: Arizona