The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

rwells@tribunemedia.net

LIKE so many other persons tasked with picking NFL games, I am still working to decode the mystical secrets of this season’s style of play.

Every season brings with it a unique tempo and style, and this year is no different.

The 2016 season has featured a uptick in quality games by young quarterbacks. Carson Wentz is off to a good start, so is Dak Prescott in Dallas while both youthful arms for the Patriots - Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissette - have shown flashes of excellence.

The ability of these young guys to ease in to play proves that the league’s plan to protect offensive players is paying off, with QBs having more time to deliver the ball up the field to receivers that are not being manhandled at the line of scrimmage.

Well, as we shift our focus to Week 4, the first week of byes, I believe teams that show the ability to apply pressure to both areas - passing and receiving - will start to take huge steps forward in terms of games won.

Miami Dolphins (1-2) @ Cincinnati Bengals (1-2)

My issues with the Dolphins are well documented. It isn’t that I dislike the squad as many of you think. To be completely honest, I think the Dolphins often times underperform, and team management doesn’t step up to correct clear flaws.

This week the team takes on the Bengals, a team that should clearly beat them. But knowing the Miami Dolphins, this is precisely the kind of game they would show up for.

Expect a strong performance by the Dolphins pass rush in this matchup. However, I still think the Bengals pull this one out.

BENGALS

Indianpolis Colts (1-2) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (0-3)

Both team have left much to be desired over the course of the first three weeks.

It is no secret that the Colts defence is ill-equipped in most game situations. The Jaguars are built to take advantage of those weaknesses.

I expect a big performance by Jacksonville, but my smart money is on the Colts emerging victorious.

COLTS

Tennessee Titans (1-2) @ Houston Texans (2-1)

Houston will be without J J Watt for the foreseeable future. Coming off the embarrassing performance against my Patriots, I think the Texans come out in this one with vengeance on their minds.

TEXANS

Cleveland Browns (0-3) @ Washington Redskins (0-0)

Josh Norman didn’t shine against the Giants last week. I think he is in for a rebound game this week.

REDSKINS

Seattle Seahawks (2-1) @ New York Jets (1-2)

This game has “trap” written all over it.

Jets were humiliated last week, and the Seahawks steamrolled their opponents. Added to that, the Seahawks are travelling east to square off in this one.

The football gods are pointing at the Jets, insisting that all is in their favour, but I love to play Devil’s advocate.

SEAHAWKS

Buffalo Bills (1-2) @ New England Patriots (3-0)

And in my usual short/sure pick of the week

PATRIOTS

Carolina Panthers (1-2) @ Atlanta Falcons (2-1)

The Panthers are struggling. Cam Newton hasn’t been able to put it all together thus far this season and has looked overmatched at times.

It is clear that, physically, he is still the Cam Newton we all fell in love with last year, but he is missing something. I think that SuperBowl loss to Denver is still eating away at his psyche.

While I think it takes a couple of weeks to get right, I am going with the Panthers in this one because that drive to the playoffs starts somewhere around now.

PANTHERS

Oakland Raiders (2-1) @ Baltimore Ravens (3-0)

Ravens are still undefeated. While I didn’t expect this team to be as good as they are, watching the over the course of the year thus far, I am impressed with the level of coaching in Baltimore.

This team is primed and ready to run and the coaching staff has gotten everyone to buy into that belief.

From Oakland’s standpoint, this year is all about proving the naysayers wrong. Experts are predicting a loss for the Raider nation, here is to proving them wrong once again.

RAIDERS

Detroit Lions (1-2) @ Chicago Bears (0-3)

Nothing to see here ... well, except for the 50 points getting put up by Matthew Stafford.

LIONS

Denver Broncos (3-0) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-2)

Denver travels well. Very well in this regard. Here is to 4-0.

BRONCOS

Los Angeles Rams (2-1) @ Arizona Cardinals (1-2)

I have a sneaky suspicion that the Rams play big in this one, just not big enough.

CARDINALS

New Orleans Saints (0-3) @ San Diego Chargers (1-2)

The allure of the New Orleans Saints may finally be lost.

The team has struggled against every opponent they have faced, and I for one don’t see the sense in picking them until they prove that they can compete on both sides of the ball.

CHARGERS

Dallas Cowboys (2-1) @ San Francisco 49ers (1-2)

Dez Bryant is now due to miss some time after a torn meniscus diagnosis. Chip Kelly knows the Cowboys well after a couple of seasons up in Philadelphia. It pays of big this week.

49ERS

Kansas City Chiefs (2-1) @ Pittsburg Steelers (2-1)

Now, what can I say here? Steelers laid an egg in Philadelphia last week, and the Chiefs shined bright against Buffalo.

STEELERS

New York Giants (2-1) @ Minnesota Vikings (3-0)

I think the Vikings are for real. Their defence does an excellent job of taking away the football.

VIKINGS

Teams on bye

Green Bay Packers (2-1)

Philadelphia Eagles (3-0)