Fansided

NFL Week 4: 5 best games on Sunday

By Matt Verderame

Sep 22, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick looks on from the sideline during the fourth quarter against the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots won 27-0. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 22, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick looks on from the sideline during the fourth quarter against the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots won 27-0. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 18, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) reacts after the Falcons scored a touchdown against the Oakland Raiders in the third quarter at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. The Falcons defeated the Raiders 35-28. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 18, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) reacts after the Falcons scored a touchdown against the Oakland Raiders in the third quarter at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. The Falcons defeated the Raiders 35-28. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons

When the schedule came out in April, this game didn’t look like a marquee matchup. Sure, the Panthers were supposed to be one of the best teams in football, bu the Falcons were likely to stink up the joint something fierce. After losing at home in Week 1 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, it certainly looked like that was about to happen.

Then, the Falcons shocked most everyone and beat the Raiders on the road before taking down the New Orleans Saints on Monday night in the Superdome. Meanwhile, the Panthers have been anything but impressive in their first three games, sporting a record of 1-2. Carolina is also coming off its first home loss since 2014, with Cam Newton throwing three interceptions in a defeat to the Minnesota Vikings.

This game will show us plenty for these two teams. If Atlanta can defend its home field and beat Carolina, perhaps we should start looking at the Falcons in the light of a real contender in the NFC South. If the Panthers go down to the Georgia Dome and smoke the Falcons, then we can go back to business as usual, assuming Carolina only got off to a slow start.

For both teams, this could be a turning point to reflect on later in the campaign.

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