Harmon Forecast NFL

[Tinfish]

NFL Week 4

Sunday, September 28, 2003
Atlanta 19 - *Carolina 17
Capturing six straight games in the series and nine of the last 10, the Falcons have dominated the Panthers in recent years -- especially in 2002, when Atlanta shut Carolina out twice, 30-0 and 41-0.

*Buffalo 28 - Philadelphia 13
The Bills are no great shakes on offense, but the Eagles will make them look good. Buffalo punished Philly 26-0 the last time they met, in '99, the first truly one-sided game in the nine they've played.

*Cleveland 23 - Cincinnati 14
It's been 14 long years since two Ohio teams both headed for .500-or-better seasons butted heads. Last year the Browns swept the hapless, hopeless Bengals for the first time since '95, 20-7 and 27-20.

*Denver 32 - Detroit 9
These clubs step outside their respective conferences for the first time, and only the Broncos, better on both sides of the ball, will enjoy the experience. Denver beat the Lions last, four years ago.

*Houston 14 - Jacksonville 13
Not only were the Jaguars one of only two clubs (along with Pittsburgh) ashamed by a home loss to the Texans last season, 21-19, but Jacksonville barely got past Houston in their second matchup, 24-21.

Indianapolis 24 - *New Orleans 16
The Colts, too, take their first shot at an NFC team -- a Saints team that's defeated them five straight times since '86, most recently 34-20 in '01. But Indy has too strong a defensive front for N.O.

Kansas City 28 - *Baltimore 19
Looking all but unstoppable so far, the Chiefs will be more than a test for the Ravens' defense: They may overwhelm it. They've only met once, four years ago, a 35-8 K.C. win. The rematch looks closer.

*Minnesota 25 - San Francisco 18
Yes, the Vikings are firing on all offensive cylinders, but so are the 49ers on defense, so this is by no means a foregone conclusion. The Vikings were 40-16 winners in '99, the last time they met S.F.

*N.Y. Jets 16 - Dallas 14
Homecoming No. 2 for Bill Parcells, with a team that's probably still glowing after its thrilling OT triumph over another former Parcells club, the Giants. N.Y. beat Dallas last, four years ago, 22-21.

*Oakland 20 - San Diego 14
The Chargers can run or throw on the Raiders, so call this a home-field-advantage win. In '02 S.D. ended the Raiders' four-game series winning streak in OT in Oakland, 27-21, then lost big at home, 27-7.

*Pittsburgh 26 - Tennessee 21
After Week One, fans were ready to project this pairing on to the AFC Championship, but Week Two changed that. The Steelers have to want this one badly after two bitter losses in Tennessee last year.

*St. Louis 30 - Arizona 10
Something tells us the limping Rams will give the Cardinals' defense fits, filling the air with passes and the scoreboard with points. St. Louis swept Arizona in '02, but not easily, 27-14 and 30-28.

*Washington 24 - New England 17
Speaking of offense, who's got the league's best? The Redskins, for now. Since beating Washington in their first matchup in '72, N.E. has lost the other five, though they haven't faced off since '96.

Monday, September 22, 2003
Green Bay 26 - *Chicago 16
No new story here: the Packers can beat the Bears on the ground or through the air. G.B.'s 34-21 win in Chicago and its 30-20 win in Wisconsin in '02 were its fourth and fifth in a row in the series.

* indicates home team
Open date: Carolina, Chicago, Dallas, Philadelphia