Empty the Bench

We’re all about daring predictions here at ETB. We love analyzing and second-guessing other people’s picks, but we also enjoy putting ourselves on the line as well. That’s why in the days leading up to Sunday every week we’ll be gazing into our crystal ball and both of us will post the ten predictions our meditations generate.

Not all of them will come true, but when they do we’re going to be bragging about them. Repeatedly. And when they don’t, you’ll have to let us know about it because we won’t be bringing it up. In no particular order, it’s ETB’s NFL Week 4 Crystal Ball.

Andrew’s Predictions:

1. I don’t care if the Jets stack eight men in the box all day. Marshawn Lynch is going to be the focal point of the Bills offense and he’s going to have a huge day on Sunday, a coming out party to be noticed by the national media. Opponents are rushing for 121 yards and scoring 27 points a game versus these softies, and the rock-solid Lynch is going to churn out 130 hard-fought yards and a pair of touchdowns.

2. This is no knock on Steven Jackson, we’re fans here at ETB and understand he hasn’t been working under ideal conditions. That said, in his first game as a starter rookie Brian Leonard will come out and post more fantasy points than Jackson has in any game this season. He’s a tough kid with good quickness who should be very active in the passing game and he’s the unquestioned goal-line back. Something in the neighborhood of 90 total yards and a score sounds right.

3. The Bears secondary will be without Nathan Vasher, Mike Brown and Charles Tillman and the defensive line will be missing Tommie “Gun” Harris. Safety Adam Archuleta will also be playing with a broken hand. With seventh-rounder Trumaine McBride and Ricky Manning Jr as the starting cornerbacks, the Lions come out and hang 350 passing yards and 3 TDs on Chicago.

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