San Francisco at St. Louis – Thursday, 8:25 – What is happening to the San Francisco 49ers (1-2)? A consensus NFC contender, the Niners haven’t even looked like a team capable of compiling a winning record during the past two games. The problem starts on offense, where they scored 10 points combined in Weeks 2 and 3. The 49ers are a banged up team that has to deal with a short week, and will be without standout linebacker Aldon Smith, who is now in rehab. The Rams (1-2) are shaping up to be one of the conference’s bottom feeders, and were thoroughly walloped by the Cowboys last Sunday. San Francisco, despite its issues, will bounce back with a win against an inferior opponent.

Baltimore at Buffalo – Sunday, 1:00 – The Ravens (2-1) have improved by leaps and bounds since their disaster of an opener against Denver, but this week provides a tough game against a pesky Bills team that boasts an underrated defense. For Buffalo (1-2), C.J. Spiller’s health has to be a primary concern, because without him at one hundred percent, EJ Manuel will have to be counted on for production that he likely can’t provide. Baltimore should be able to force a key turnover or two that could provide them the push they need to take down the Bills. Buffalo has battled valiantly in their three games so far (falling short by 2 and 7 points in their losses), but Baltimore should win.

Cincinnati at Cleveland – Sunday, 1:00 – Raise your hand if you thought that Brian Hoyer would throw for over 300 yards and 3 touchdowns for the Browns (1-2) last Sunday? Nobody? I didn’t think so. The typically points-challenged Browns exploded in Week 3 to the tune of 31 points against the Vikings, but this is a matchup that doesn’t quite work out in their favor. Cincinnati (2-1) managed to shut the Packers offense out in the fourth quarter en route to a thrilling comeback victory. The Bengals should find it much easier to stop Brian Hoyer or Brandon Weeden and the raised corpse of Willis McGahee than Aaron Rodgers and company. Cincinnati will pick up an important division win.

Chicago at Detroit – Sunday, 1:00 – This game features two NFC North teams that are pretty evenly matched, and a dogfight should be expected. Detroit (2-1) took down a possibly terrible Washington team last week, but scoring on Chicago’s defense will be a much tougher chore. The Bears (3-0) demolished the definitely terrible Steelers in Pittsburgh, despite leaning heavily on checkdowns in their passing game. In the end, the Lions will make mistakes that the Bears will jump all over, and Chicago will improve to 4-0.

NY Giants at Kansas City – Sunday, 1:00 – Big Blue should modify its nickname to Big Black and Blue, because the Giants (0-3) really are a battered team after their 38-0 shellacking at the hands of the Panthers in Week 3. Things will likely go from worse to unmitigated disaster territory this week, as New York goes to Arrowhead to take on a brutally efficient Chiefs team (3-0) that features a sneaky-good defense. Expect the embattled Giants O-line to struggle once again against a great Chief pass rush. KC should be able to stifle the New York passing attack with its strong secondary as well. The Giants simply don’t look capable of playing winning football at this point, and Kansas City should take advantage and get a win.

Arizona at Tampa Bay – Sunday, 1:00 – Things will get real ugly down in Tampa this Sunday. The Bucs (0-3) are an offensive atrocity, despite a solid defense. Josh Freeman certainly isn’t playing like he’s in a contract year, and patience has to be running short among the Tampa Bay front office. Arizona (1-2) isn’t a great team by any stretch of the imagination, but they should be able to do enough to outscore the awful Bucs offense. The Cardinals will get to .500 on the road.

Indianapolis at Jacksonville – Sunday, 1:00 – Andrew Luck, or Chad Henne? The team that walloped the vaunted 49ers, or Chad Henne? Call me crazy, but I’m going to pass on picking the Jags (0-3), whose fans hold rallies calling for their team to add TIM TEBOW, to win this game or any other. Indy (2-1) will cruise.

Seattle at Houston – Sunday, 1:00 – The Seahawks (3-0) are firing on all cylinders now, with their most recent victim being the hapless Jags. They are an entirely logical Super Bowl pick at this point, despite the relative ineffectiveness of Marshawn Lynch (just 3.39 yards per carry). Their defense is, in a word, scary. On the other hand, the Texans (2-1) should be thanking their lucky stars that they have a winning record, because they certainly don’t deserve it. A trendy Super Bowl pick, their once-strong defense was bad in their two wins and got absolutely steamrolled by the Ravens last week. Houston catches a break by getting the Seahawks away from Seattle, but it won’t matter. The Seahawks are the class of the league, and will win in the Lone Star State.

Pittsburgh at Minnesota – Sunday, 1:00 – Fans across the pond in London will be treated to a contest between two severely underachieving winless squads. Minnesota’s issues are clear: their defense couldn’t stop a nosebleed and their quarterback is Christian Ponder. The Steelers have the same record, but at least showed some vitality at the end of their last loss. This will be an ugly, low-scoring affair, but I like Big Ben to lead Pittsburgh to a win in London.

NY Jets at Tennessee – Sunday, 4:05 – Has there ever been a worse 2-1 team than the Jets? Week 1 saw them saved from a sloppy loss by a bonehead personal foul that set up a game-winning Nick Folk field goal, and last week committed twenty penalties (not a typo) and somehow beat the Bills. The Titans (2-1) have also gotten off to a better-than-expected start, led by a defense that has quietly been the seventh-best defense in the league in terms of yardage allowed per game. This will be a low-scoring affair for sure, and I’ll take Jake Locker and the Titans over Geno Smith and the Jets.

Washington at Oakland – Sunday, 4:25 – Two bad teams will collide in the Black Hole this week, as America watches (just kidding). Washington (0-3) has a defense that is comically bad, and Robert Griffin III is rustier than most anticipated. Oakland (1-2) has fought hard in their three contests thus far, but Terrelle Pryor suffered a concussion in Week 3 and doesn’t remember the game, which probably is a bad sign for his status this week. It would be hard to imagine the Redskins going 0-4, and I think they’ll pick up their first win on the road.

Philadelphia at Denver – Sunday, 4:25 – Chip Kelly’s much ballyhooed, up-tempo offense sounds great in theory. By hurrying his team to the line, Kelly can create mismatches and can produce a decided schematic advantage for the Eagles (1-2). But what happens when the three-and-outs start piling up? What happens when that team commits numerous turnovers, as a Michael Vick-led team almost certainly will? And what happens when Peyton Manning and the juggernaut Broncos (3-0) offense is standing on the other sideline? I’m expecting a bloodbath. Philly’s defense has been suspect all three games, and Manning and his plethora of options should easily dissect the Eagles secondary. Denver will roll at Mile High.

Dallas at San Diego – Sunday, 4:25 – As a die-hard Giants fan, it pains me to say that the Dallas Cowboys (2-1) are clearly playing the best football out of all the NFC East teams. They rolled through the Rams last week, and Tony Romo is playing excellently. San Diego (1-2) has been much better than expected thus far, but their secondary is in trouble against the Cowboys. Romo will be able to pick apart the Charger defense, and Dallas will pick up a W out west.

New England at Atlanta – Sunday, 8:30 – Two banged-up contenders will clash in what should be a great Sunday Night Football game. New England (3-0) hasn’t looked particularly strong thus far, but Tom Brady can make magic with the scraps he has been given. Atlanta (1-2) has underachieved, but they have been bitten hard by the injury bug early, and their play will improve as their health does. Roddy White’s improving status will be a key help to the Falcons, who always play better at home than on the road. I like Atlanta in a shootout.

Miami at New Orleans – Monday, 8:30 – Another high-scoring contest should go down on the Bayou on Monday Night Football. Miami (3-0) could be the surprise team of the year, with Ryan Tannehill’s improvement being the main catalyst. The Dolphins also possess one of the league’s better front sevens, but that won’t help much against the Saints (3-0). Drew Brees will more than happily utilize four and five wide receiver sets to spread out the Miami defense, and should march the Saints up and down the field with relative ease. Coming into the Superdome and beating the Saints is no easy chore and I don’t think the Dolphins are up to the task. New Orleans will defend its turf with a MNF victory.