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Week 4 NFL WEMBERLEEE Part 1 Thread
So it's the first of about 20 league games in Wembley this year and today's should be a real lol-fest:
6PM, SKY SPORTS AND CHANNEL 4
DOLPHINS @ RAIDERS (WEMBLEY)
It's a shame we're still not trusted with the best teams because it means we're basically forced to watch whatever muck we do get sent, but this should still be kinda fun. Both teams have solid D, but both Oakland and Miami have struggled to really get anything going under Derek Carr and Ryan Tannehill going so far, with the Fins' running game being their only discernible difference at the moment. So we can expect a bit of a scrappy game but I'm sure the London faithful will do their part. (MIA by 4-5)
9.25pm, SKY SPORTS
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES @ SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
This will be a good one, the Eagle's explosive offence has come from behind 3 times in a row to remain one of only 3 undefeated teams so far this year, while an angry Niner defence have done their job with aplomb but had nothing in returned from their attacking brethren. Much of this depends on the so far disappointing Colin Kaepernick who has not really found his groove yet this year. Against Philly he faces one of the worst defences and a chance to change that and potentially have enough to win. The Eagles' offence however finds it's first real challenge in a tough Niner D so will have to kick their high flying attack up yet another level if they're going to get through this one. While San Fran are the more balanced team on paper, they are simply not clicking at the moment, so will be fascinating to see if they can overcome Chip Kelly's firing on all cylinders attack. (PHI by 3)
1.30AM, CHANNEL 4
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS @ DALLAS COWBOYS
Not sure many would have thought that the 'Boys would be ahead of the Saints at this point of the season, but there we are. Despite a humbling opening week against SF, the Cowboys have looked solid since then although admittedly against weaker opponents. But then, there's not much excuse for the Saints to have lost to the Browns. Neither side really both putting a defence out, so expect this to be pretty high scoring and while Brees' Saints haven't looked their best yet (especially away from home) Jerryland is pretty favourable place to visit for most teams, especially those who also dome-dwell. (NO by 7)
MONDAY, 1.30AM, EUROSPORT
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS @ KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
What sort of bizarro backwards world is it where the Pats D have become a stout orientation of focus for the team, and their Tom Brady led offence is a mere average afterthought? Well apparently it's this one, so far anyway, as the Pats have won ugly so far. We can expect this to continue to with the Chief's tough Defensive line looking to get to Brady anyway they can through the fairly porous Pats O-line. We can expect this in the reverse too, as the aforementioned Pats D have been mightily tough so far, so don't expect Alex Smith to get much going either, but one still has to trust Brady in all this, right? Right?! (NE by 3)
THE REST, EARLIES:
GREEN BAY PACKERS @ CHICAGO BEARS - The game that really should be on TV if we didn't have to put up with this Wembley nonsense, the oldest rivalry in sports gets its latest edition and for the first time in a while it is the Packers who are struggling and risk being knocked off their feet. The Pack have struggled to really get going this year, largely as their O-line seem to have a grudge with their own QB and actively want him to get knocked over ever single play. The Bears meanwhile are coming off a couple very impressive wins, despite the loss of playmaker Charles Tillman, so it's hard to see them losing this at home as things stand. (CHI by 4-5)
BUFFALO BILLS @ HOUSTON TEXANS - Remember last week when both these teams were undefeated and we all got excited? No? me neither... but this should be a fun contest as both these (mostly) young teams stand at 2-1 and in with a chance of making an impression and a run at the playoffs. Ryan Fitzpatrick welcomes his old team, but this match will all be about running, whoever can get the most out of Arian Foster or CJ Spiller & Fred Jackson will get the win. HOU by 3
TENNESSEE TITANS @ INDIANAPOLIS COLTS - While it wasn't a "daring" predication to say the Colts would take the Jags last week, it was clear from the Colts' fairly frustrating, tough start to the season that they were absolutely going to go off on Jacksonville. And so they did, and follow it with another division match, this time at home, with a perpetually average Tennessee side. While this certainly won't be the walkover that last week proved, Tennessee have a strong D and a burgeoning running game, the Colts should still have too much on offence (despite their questionable D) IND by 4-5
CAROLINA PANTHERS @ BALIMORE RAVENS - Perhaps the other pick of the earlies, here we have a really interesting match, obviously most notable for the return of Panthers' legend Steve Smith suiting up against his old club for Baltimore. Baltimore have steadied the ship after an unimpressive loss to division rivals Cincinnati, while Carolina undone two weeks good work with a beat-down from Pittsburgh. Both pretty balanced teams which should make this a very good one, the one notable weakness that could well be the different being Carolina's real struggles to run the ball where Baltimore have done just fine in a post Ray Rice world. (BAL by 3)
DETROIT LIONS @ NEW YORK JETS - *potential upset alert* The Lions are not themselves away from home, whereas Geno Smith is... better at home. Amazingly these are the top ranked Defences in the league so far this year, so expect a tough battle, and where the Lions have struggled to run the ball, the Jets aren't really throwing too hot, so could be fairly balanced. I just can't trust myself to pick the Jets convincingly. DET by 3
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS @ PITTSBURGH STEELERS - Ugh, the Bucs are just plain bad. Remember when they were people's sleeper pick of the year?! Pittsburgh were much improved against Carolina last week, so this is only really going one way. PIT by 7+
LATES:
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS @ SAN DIEGO CHARGERS - *See above* SD by 7+
ATLANTA FALCONS @ MINNESOTA VIKINGS - The Falcons's offence is just terrifying isn't it? They finally look like they have the weapons to at least outscore their very tough division. Don't count out the Vikes, their D has been decent and they are surviving without AP, and the Falcons can only go so far without having a D to call their own, but for now this should be pretty straightforward. (ATL by 4-5)
And that's yer lot, enjoy yourselves Wembley-ers!