Best NFL games of Week 4: Ravens, Steelers meet in AFC North grudge match

FOXBOROUGH, MA - SEPTEMBER 24: New England Patriots wide receiver Brandin Cooks stays inbounds as he makes a catch to haul in the game-winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter on a pass from quarterback Tom Brady during a game against the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., Sept. 24, 2017. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /

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FOXBOROUGH, MA – SEPTEMBER 24: New England Patriots wide receiver Brandin Cooks stays inbounds as he makes a catch to haul in the game-winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter on a pass from quarterback Tom Brady during a game against the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., Sept. 24, 2017. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /

4. Carolina Panthers at New England Patriots

This game is intriguing. The Panthers on the road in Foxborough presents an interesting matchup. We thought the Patriots would have their way with the Texans last week, but that wasn’t the case at all. The Patriots narrowly escaped victory thanks to a Tom Brady throw that only he could make. If it weren’t for that magic, we’d be sitting here panicking about the 1-2 Patriots.

There’s not a clear blueprint to beating Tom Brady, but the best way to do it is getting pressure in the pocket. The Texans got to Brady for five sacks and nine total quarterback hits last week. It doesn’t matter how good you of a quarterback you are, pressure is going to rattle you. The difference with Brady is that he doesn’t make mistakes when he’s under fire. But, the Patriots offensive line isn’t great and the Panthers pass rush needs to take advantage of that. If Brady has all day in the pocket, good luck, you’re not going to win.

An interesting matchup to watch will be Cam Newton’s dual-threat ability against the Patriots defense. The defense has been the weak link of the Patriots this season and they are prone to giving up big plays. The Panthers will be without Greg Olsen or Kelvin Benjamin, which puts even more pressure on Newton. He’s got the MVP talent and he’ll have the chance to put that on display.

If both team’s play to their potential, we could see a very good game come Sunday. If it ends in similar fashion to the Patriots game last week, we certainly wouldn’t be disappointed.