NFL Week 4: Four pivotal match-ups (and Favre)

There shouldn’t be as many one-sided results during this year’s Week 4 than there have been in the past. Successful teams are preparing to do battle with other successful teams.

A riddle: What do you get when you cross five excellent football games with a plasma TV and some hot wings? A weekend well spent.

Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots, 10 a.m., CBS

This will be today’s most talked about match-up before the Vikings and Packers take over the airwaves on Monday.

The Ravens have been a surprise team this year, currently undefeated with huge victories over three mediocre teams. The Patriots are reeling, needing a win to stay on pace in the AFC East.

Baltimore, however, has the best defense in the league and score an average of 34 points a game. The early Vegas odds award New England with a slight advantage, but this game should be a dogfight to the end.

The Ravens’ offense, manned by sophomore quarterback Joe Flacco, will most likely be limited to less than 34 points, but Tom Brady and the Patriots will also have a tough time against Baltimore’s defense. Neither team should be blown out.

New York Jets at New Orleans Saints, 1:05 p.m., CBS

The second-best game of the day is also the only battle of undefeated teams this week.

The Saints proved last week that they could win without Drew Brees throwing for jaw-dropping numbers, while the blitz-happy Jets have gone 3-0 against significantly better teams.

New Orleans is one of just two teams to have scored more than 100 points through the first three weeks. The Jets, meanwhile, have averaged just 21 points per game, although their defense has been much stronger.

This game has the potential to be an instant classic. All previews point toward a fourth-quarter, game-winning drive from either rookie Mark Sanchez or Brees.

Dallas Cowboys at Denver Broncos, 1:15 p.m., FOX

Denver’s defense has been surprisingly capable so far this season, although the teams they’ve defeated had a combined record of 13-34-1 last year.

After the Jay Cutler circus packed up and left town, the Broncos have beeb left with much to prove.

Dallas has one of the better offenses in the league this year, even with the departure of Terrell Owens. Their defense (or lack thereof) is an obvious Achilles’ heel, but the Cowboys’ 2-1 record shows that their potent offense can score enough to get by.

Kyle Orton has been decent since moving to Denver, averaging 221 yards and a touchdown against some of the worst defenses in the NFL. He will have the chance to tear apart Dallas’ defense, though, and could put up some big numbers.

San Diego Chargers at Pittsburgh Steelers, 5:20 p.m., NBC

While Pittsburgh has the psychological advantage in this home game based on sheer desperation, San Diego is presented with a great opportunity to make a statement to the rest of the league.

Before the season began, the Chargers were considered to have a small window of opportunity — meaning that if they don’t win it all this year, they won’t have another chance for quite some time.

The Steelers find themselves with a 1-2 record and without the heart and soul of their defense in Troy Polamalu. Even though it is just Week 4, this is very close to a must-win game for Pittsburgh.

San Diego was uprooted from the playoffs last year because of these Steelers, and will be looking for revenge. Chargers have a very balanced offensive attack with Darren Sproles, Vincent Jackson and Antonio Gates, but they’ll have to get through the “Steel Curtain” to improve their record. That “Curtain” will be playing its heart out.

Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings, 5:30 p.m., ESPN

As Nick Prevenas covered in his column, this game will almost undoubtedly be the most-watched Monday Night game in history. Besides being a divisional battle between two tough teams, the secondary storylines are endless. Favre is returning to face his old team, and the world will be watching.

On the field, Favre may not have a significant impact at all. Adrian Peterson and Percy Harvin could have all the opportunities they need to run against Green Bay, while Aaron Rodgers and his receiving corps could light up the Vikings’ shaky pass defense.

Minnesota has been given favorable odds, yet Green Bay has won five of the last six meetings between these two teams. A game similar to last week’s 49ers-Vikings matchup should be expected, with numerous lead changes and the result hinging on a few lucky breaks.

Andrew Kneeland is a junior at the Arizona Virtual Academy. He is an intern at the Green Valley News.