NFL Picks Week 4: Will New York Jets Steal Win in Baltimore?

The New York Jets are either considered a great team, or an overrated team.

Despite your opinion on them, they know how to win football games. Rex Ryan coaches his team up, and they always feel like they have a chance to get a win.

They are facing the Baltimore Ravens this weekend to try and beat one of the elite teams in the AFC. When two teams of this caliber clash, there are a few things to look for.

First, which team will be able to run the ball?

The Jets haven't been efficient running the ball, and Shonn Greene can't quite get over four yards per carry. Unless they figure out how to run the ball effectively, the Jets won't have a very good chance of winning this weekend.

The Ravens, on the other hand, have Ray Rice. He is one of the most dynamic running backs in the league, and he can do just about anything. The Ravens like to get him 25-plus touches every week, and that gives them the best chance to win.

The second thing to look for is which defense can create big-time turnovers?

The Jets have an incredibly tough defense, but they aren't necessarily known for getting turnovers. That being said, they are opportunistic when necessary. Joe Flacco has played well this year, but at times, he can succumb to poor decisions. Facing Ryan's blitzes, he might force some throws.

The Ravens, however, are known for forcing turnovers. Ed Reed is one of the best ball hawks in the league, and he will be watching Mark Sanchez all day long. If Sanchez starts forcing throws, he could find himself throwing a few pick-sixes.

Finally, when teams this talented come together, the best game plan usually wins games.

Rex Ryan knows how to scheme defense, and you can be sure he will have something special for Rice. He won't let him run the ball, and he will make sure he won't be able to catch the ball out of the backfield. By taking Rice out of the game, Ryan gives the Jets a great chance to win.

With that said, John Harbaugh is a pretty darn good coach. He will have pressure in on Sanchez all day, hoping to force turnovers. If Sanchez doesn't maintain composure, he could end up with quite a few turnovers. However, he is usually pretty calm, which would allow him to avoid turnovers and burn the Ravens deep.

After all that, the game is being played in Baltimore. It's tough enough to beat a great team, but to beat them at home is an entirely different issue. I'm just not quite sold on the Jets.

Prediction: Ravens 20, Jets 13

Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/873333-nfl-picks-week-4-will-new-york-jets-steal-win-in-baltimore

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