With a very rough start to the season, the SF 49ers have a road matchup this week in Atlanta and I think this defense will surprise. Most people have already forgotten about SF defense, but I think this week they will be out for blood. Week four team defense start sit is a very important week to realize who will be the top defenses the rest of the season and who to drop at this point in the season. Here are week four’s team defense start sit.
Start'em: Week Four Team Defenses
San Francisco 49ers @ ATL: This is a gut feeling move… SF has not looked good at all this year, but Mike Singletary will have them ready to go in Atlanta this Sunday. Since Atlanta lost to Pittsburgh in week one, their team has beaten the Cardinals and Saints; With Atlanta ranked 21st in total team defense, SF will control the ball with Frank Gore and this defensive play will look better than it does on paper.
Cincinnati Bengals @ CLE: Ranked in the top 10 in team defense, the Cincinnati Bengals have a great matchup this week versus the Browns and this is a no brain-er team defense start in week four. In their last matchup, the Bengals defeated the Browns 16-7, I see a similar type game here and I really like the Bengals defense this week.
Tennessee Titans vs DEN: With Knowshon Moreno out with injury, Tennessee defense will step up and cause turnovers this Sunday at home versus Denver. Kyle Orton has thrown over 1,000 yards already this season, this passing yard pace will be put on a halt this Sunday. Orton has already thrown two interceptions this season and I see a lot more of that to come on Sunday. Tennessee will run the ball a ton in this game and control the clock, start the Titans defense in week four.
New Orleans Saints vs CAR: With a rookie quarterback starting his second game as a pro in the Super Bowl Champions back yard, I like the New Orleans team defense this week. The Saints will pack the box to stop the run and put the entire game on Jimmy Clausen’s shoulders to keep the Panthers in this game, with that being said, I absolutely love the Saints defense this weekend. With Jeff Otah [Panthers OT] possibly out this weekend, Carolina will just not be able to have any type of offensive success.
Sit'em: Week Four Team Defenses
Green Bay Packers vs DET: I understand this sounds like a real questionable sit for week four, but I think the Lions will put up points in this one. Green Bay will score a lot of points in this matchup, and when that happens that gives the Lions a lot more chances to score as well. The Packers will do better than some other defenses this week, but when you are looking at the elite team defense plays on Sunday, I do not think GB will be sitting at the top. The Lions are averaging over 18 points a game this season, and I think they will score around their against GB.
Houston Texans vs OAK: With Bruce Gradkowski managing the Raiders offense since taking over for Jason Campbell, I just do not think the Texans will manage the turnovers needed to make this start worth it for Houston. The Raiders are averaging over 19 points scored in their last three matchups at home versus Houston since 2006. Ranked second in rush defense and thirty-second in pass defense, the Houston Texans defense has yet to actually make a name for themselves and this Sunday we will see what they are made of.
Indianapolis Colts @ JAX: This sit has all to do with Maurice Jones-Drew. So far this season MJD has been stopped by injuries, this week will be his coming out party. MJD has averaged around 150 total yards in his last four matchups versus Indianapolis, and the Colts defense has not looked up to par the entire season and I really think Jones-Drew and the Jaguars will put points up this weekend.
Miami Dolphins vs NE: Historically, New England puts up a lot of points when they play the Dolphins [21, 27, 48, 28- last four matchups] and this Monday Night will be no different. I understand the Dolphins are at home, but that will not make a difference in terms of the production of their defense. Look at the Sunday Night game this week, the Jets offense put up 31 points on them and did not let up the entire night. I expect the exact same sort of result this Monday and this is my sit of the week, do not play the Patriots defense this week.
