The Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers are on bye weeks and the Cincinnati Bengals have already beaten the Miami Dolphins, but there are still 14 games for NFL fans left for Week 4. Here are the five most notable. All times are UAE.
Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, 5.30pm
No, this is not a great match-up on paper. But it is in London, so the time difference means it is comparatively early in the day and therefore easier for fans in the UAE to watch. With JJ Watt’s injury in Houston, the AFC South race could be wide open. But both the Colts (1-2) and Jaguars (0-3) need to start winning to have a chance.
Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, 9pm
Atlanta were the one team to beat Carolina in the regular season last year. This year, the Falcons find themselves in first place in the NFC South. Granted it is early in the season, and the Panthers still have to be considered the favourites in the division. Cam Newton, an Atlanta native, and the Panthers will be playing angry after being embarrassed by Minnesota Vikings last week.
Kansas City Chiefs at Pittsburgh Steelers, Monday, 4.30am
Two title hopefuls find themselves at 2-1 behind undefeated teams in their respective divisions, meaning every inter-conference game is going to be significant in the play-off race. The Steelers will have star running back Le’Veon Bell for the first time after he has completed a three-game suspension.
Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco 49ers, Monday, 4.30am
Call this a nostalgia pick instead of one based on current competition. The Cowboys and 49ers used to duel for the NFC for much of the NFL’s early post-merger history, winning a combined 10 Super Bowls between them from 1971-1994. We will have to settle for Dak Prescott v Blaine Gabbert this time instead of Troy Aikman or Steve Young, but it is always great to see the silver helmets against the gold ones.
New York Giants at Minnesota Vikings, Tuesday, 4.30am
The Monday-night capper might be the weekend’s best game. The Vikings have defied logic to start 3-0 despite losing their starting quarterback and running back to injury, thanks mostly to one of the league’s best, most athletic defences. Giants quarterback Eli Manning is only 2-5 in his career against Minnesota.
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