After a solid Week 2, I dropped back down to .500 in Week 3. Let's take a look at my season record, identify my best and worst picks of Week 3, and make the picks for Week 4.
Season Record: 27-21
49ers Picks Record: 2-1
Best & Worst Picks Week 3
My Best Pick: Bears 23 - Falcons 20
Final Score: Bears 30 - Falcons 26
My Worst Pick: Cardinals 47 - Lions 13
Final Score: Lions 26 - Cardinals 23
Week 4 Predictions
Broncos @ Jets (+2.5) - Football's best medicine: the Jets as an opponent. Broncos 24 - Jets 12
Browns @ Cowboys (-4.5) - Baker beats the Boys with a game-winning drive. Browns 33 - Cowboys 30
Steelers @ Titans (+1) - Tennessee exposes Pittsburgh's D with a lot of Derrick Henry. Titans 27 - Steelers 24
Saints @ Lions (+4) - The decline of Drew continues, Lions with the upset. Lions 38 - Saints 27
Vikings @ Texans (-3.5) - Watson does just enough for the win. Texans 26 - Vikings 24
Colts @ Bears (+2.5) - Bears make it to 4-0 due to Rivers turnovers. Bears 31 - Colts 24
Chargers @ Buccaneers (-7.5) - Chargers abuse Brady, Herbert stars in big win. Chargers 28 - Buccaneers 20
Ravens @ Washington Football Team (+12.5) - I'm done picking WFT for the year, Ravens soar. Ravens 45 - WFT 24
Cardinals @ Panthers (+3.5) - Boil this one down to the QBs, Murray > Bridgewater. Cardinals 24 - Panthers 18
Jaguars @ Bengals (-3) - I don't care, do you? Bengals get the W. Bengals 27 - Jaguars 24
Seahawks @ Dolphins (+6.5) - Seahawks' terrible defense won't hold back their tremendous QB. Seahawks 33 - Dolphins 31
Giants @ Rams (-13) - This spread is too low. Rams 34 - Giants 10
Bills @ Raiders (+3) - Bills win another shootout on the arm of QB Josh Allen. Bills 37 - Raiders 30
Patriots @ Chiefs (-7) - Covid changes this game dramatically, if it happens. Chiefs 31 -Patriots 20
Falcons @ Packers (-7) - Should have fired Quinn last year. Packers 43 - Falcons 26
Eagles @ 49ers (-6.5)
Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Why SF Wins: The 49ers head into this match-up beaten and bruised from a difficult 3 week stretch of football. Despite the injuries, the 49ers have dominated their past 2 opponents and have received major production from many reserve players. The 49ers bring one of the top rated defense in the NFL to match up with the very worst rated passer in the NFL in Eagles QB Carson Wentz. The Philly QB has thrown only 3 TD passes to 6 interceptions and is completing passes at a pedestrian 59.8%. As crazy is it may sound, Wentz, a one-time MVP candidate, is at the center of a QB controversy. This bodes very well for a 49ers defense that is playing smart football and limiting big plays. On offense the 49ers may see the return of their franchise QB and stellar TE. If Jimmy Garoppolo and George Kittle return they will bolster an offense that was already humming in Week 3. If the Eagles have a strength, it's certainly their defense (5th in total defense, 3rd in sacks). If the 49ers win it will be because they put pressure on Wentz on defense and kept their QB upright on offense.
Why SF Loses: The Eagles are struggling badly on offense, but defensively they have impressed. Philly can get to the QB, racking up 11 sacks through 3 games. If the Eagles can get to the QB they will have a chance to disrupt the timing and execution of the 49ers offense. A solid defensive game won't be enough for the Eagles to pull off this road upset. If the Eagles are to win, Carson Wentz will have to play like 2017 Carson Wentz, not 2020 Carson Wentz and the defense will have to wreak havoc on the 49ers offensive line.
Prediction: The 49ers are looking at a very winnable game. Whether it be Jimmy or Nick at QB, Philadelphia simply doesn't have the offensive firepower to keep up with Shanahan's 49ers at this moment. Add to the fact that the best TE in football may be making his return and it makes the challenge than much more difficult for the Eagles defense to defend a hot 49ers offense. The Eagles would need to force some turnovers to stay in this game, but the 49ers have done a great job at limiting turnovers in 2020 (1 turnover on the season). Expect an efficient 49ers offense to be paired with a smothering 49ers defense, leading to a rather comfortable 49ers victory. 49ers 33 - Eagles 16
- Gilbert Brink
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Written by:49ers outsider, residing in the Hudson Valley, representing 30+ years of the 49ers experience
