Last Week: 11-4

Buffalo Bills (2-2) at Cleveland Browns (2-2)

Don’t snark, this is not as bad a game as it looks. Brian Hoyer is finally living up to some of the expectations he had as a backup in New England. He’s playing well enough that Cleveland may have to trade him under the ‘Trent Richardson Precedent’. Buffalo, meanwhile, have toppled the Panthers and Ravens already, so they can’t be underestimated (as if anyone can in this league). None of the Thursday Night NFL games have been any good as contests yet, but this one is promising.

Wildcard’s Pick: Cleveland by 6

New Orleans Saints (4-0) at Chicago Bears (3-1)

Jay Cutler had a guest appearance on The League the other week, but it didn’t make him a whole lot more likeable. Nice lookin’ wife though. Chicago’s defence is as vulnerable as it’s looked for a while, not coincidentally after Brian Urlacher retired offseason. Drew Brees is fantasy gold, as is Jimmy Graham at TE. Da Bears ain’t gonna stop ‘em.

Wildcard’s Pick: Saints by 7

New England Patriots (4-0) at Cincinnati Bengals (2-2)

The Bengals are proving really hard to pick (when they aren’t playing Pittsburgh), while New England just keeps rolling despite all of the injuries. Vince Wilfork was probably their best defensive player, so his season-ender is a big blow, but it may yet be offset by the imminent returns of Danny Amendola and Rob “I am party” Gronkowski. Seeing what Belichick/Brady have done with a troop of rookie receivers, they surely can’t lose with those two back fit. It remains to be seen what role if any they play in this one though.

Wildcard’s Pick: New England by 7

Kansas City Chiefs (4-0) at Tennessee Titans (3-1)

It’s a shame that Jake Locker is out, because he was playing great for Tennessee. With him in at QB, this was a close game. With Ryan Fitzpatrick in, Kansas City should cruise. Obviously Andy Reid has been reading these guides, because he actually let Alex Smith throw the ball some against the Giants. And he went and threw interceptions. Sorry, Andy. My bad.

Wildcard’s Pick: Chiefs by 3

Detroit Lions (3-1) at Green Bay Packers (1-2)

Green Bay cannot afford to lose this divisional clash. Detroit is looking dangerous, and if they can open up a 3 game lead over Green Bay, it’ll be tough not to cover. The Packers are coming off their bye week, so they’ll be refreshed and all caught up on Breaking Bad, meaning their full focus can be on finding a way to stop Calvin Johnson.

Wildcard’s Pick: I just can’t fathom a 1-3 Packers team. Green Bay by 4

Seattle Seahawks (4-0) at Indianapolis Colts (3-1)

Just on the Breaking Bad thing, I’d like to say that I thought the finale was excellent, and the final scene one of the great moments in television history. It was brilliant. From the sentiment, to the implications, to the vindication (I’m using large buzzwords to avoid spoilers), and the music choice was impeccable. That’s just my opinion though. Another opinion of mine is that the Colts are a threatening team this year, and that they, at home, will pose Seattle a tough challenge. Seattle probably should have lost to Houston, but for reasons out of their control (Matt Schaub/Texans Play-calling) they were able to pluck that game out of the air and take it into the endzone for the score. I’m not brave enough to pick the Colts, but I’ll happily halfass it with a small line.  

Wildcard’s Pick: Seattle by 1 (with a slice of Luck)

Jacksonville Jaguars (0-4) at St Louis Rams (1-3)

This is a well-timed fixture for St Louis. They’re on the verge of falling off the cliff after a few big losses, so a match at home to the worst team in the NFL is a handy one. I still rate Sam Bradford, so I’m placing blame squarely on the coaching staff here. As any quarterback will tell you, the best way to establish a passing game is to establish a running game. Let Darryl Richardson pound it up some, and stop asking Bradford to throw 50 times a game. You won’t win like that. Luckily, skillwise, this will be the worst game we have to put up with in week 5 (the bye teams have a combined record of 2-14).

Wildcard’s Pick: St Louis by 10

Philadelphia Eagles (1-3) at New York Giants (0-4)

Eli Manning is one of three Superbowl winning quarterbacks struggling in 2013. Big Ben and Flakey Flacco are the others. Aaron Rodgers’ team is struggling despite him, Peyton, Brees & Brady are as good as ever. It’s hard to know what to say about the Giants, because in all honesty they could turn it around at any stage. Victor Cruz is dominating already, and if he gets some help suddenly it’s a different story. But I hate the Giants, so screw ‘em. I’m not a Philly Phanatic either, but if you don’t appreciate watching LeShawn McCoy run the ball then you don't appreciate football*.

*of the US variety

Wildcard’s Pick: Eagles fly back to Jersey-side with a 7 point win

Baltimore Ravens (2-2) at Miami Dolphins (3-1)

Hmm. There’s no way that Baltimore win with Joe Flacco doing what he did last week. But does he improve by enough to beat Miami? I don’t think he does. Baltimore followed the Dallas Mavericks model and immediately gutted a championship team. And as any Mavericks fan (like myself) will tell you, that doesn’t bode well. At least they still have Terrell Suggs, the quarterback flattening piece of machinery that he is. Following that model, Baltimore doesn’t win a playoff game this year or the next. Luckily they are playing in a division in which every team except Cleveland (who nobody rated anyway) is underperforming.

Wildcard’s Pick: Miami by 6

Carolina Panthers (1-2) at Arizona Cardinals (2-2)

I really want to take Carolina here. I think they’ve got more than they’ve shown us so far, but I’d be more confident with a different coach to Ron Rivera. Carolina is fresh off the bye; Arizona is fresh off barely beating Tampa Bay. I’m gonna go with the gut, but it could go either way.

Wildcard’s Pick: Panthers by 5

Denver Broncos (4-0) at Dallas Cowboys (2-2)

Dallas is the latest deer to find themselves in Denver’s headlights. They blew a solid half time lead against San Diego in a game where their secondary was scorched by Phil Rivers. And now they face Peyton Manning in MVP form. The Cowboys should sneak into the playoffs given the back alley garbage that they’re competing against in the NFC East, but it’s their turn to be ruthlessly picked apart by the NFL’s Paul Bunyan. Just keep it respectable, lads. There’ll be kids watching.

Wildcard’s Pick: Denver by 14

Houston Texans (2-2) at San Francisco 49ers (2-2)

Two teams with Superbowl dreams, both that’ve started pretty average. The difference is San Francisco have shown glimpses (week 1 vs Green Bay) of being the team that they aspire to be. Houston needs to get Arian Foster dominating again (he’s getting there), and stop trying to win the game with Matt Schaub’s arm. Once fans start burning their own QB’s jerseys in the carpark after games, you really gotta start listening.

Wildcard’s Pick: 49ers by 10

San Diego Chargers (2-2) at Oakland Raiders (1-3)

I’d like to formally apologise to Phil Rivers for underrating him so badly. I said he was done, and he took it personally by torching my beloved Cowboys last week. Bastard. It needs to be said, though, that San Diego are playing very well, and are just a few close plays, a dose of self-belief and a dollop of elbow grease from a 4-0 start. Matt Flynn was sacked seven times last week for Oakland, and once midweek by his coach, who’s dropped him to third in the depth charts. Terrelle Pryor should be back for this one, and he’s mobile enough to avoid that pressure better. But it won’t help them if they can’t stop The Bolts’ offense.

Wildcard’s Pick: San Diego by 14

New York Jets (1-3) at Atlanta Falcons (1-3)

Atlanta has been in the red zone more than any other team in the NFL, but only has 7 TDs in 4 games. That places the fault on Matty Ice, who really needs to do better to live up to the hype, most illustriously his 5th placing on The Wildcard’s Preseason QB Rankings. Once Roddy White feels 100%, things should change. Especially with Tony Gonzalez playing so well against the Pats, and Julio Jones being the deep threat/high-powered-ball-magnet that he has become. It’s time to make it happen, Falcons.

Wildcard’s Pick: Atlanta by 17

BYE: Minnesota Vikings (1-3), Pittsburgh Steelers (0-4), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-4), Washington Redskins (1-3)

The Wildcard is a staff writer for The Niche Cache.

He cuts down trees. He eats his lunch. He goes to the lavatory.

On Wednesdays he goes shopping, and has buttered scones for tea.