NFL Week 4 Predictions: Best Picks Against the Spread
Here’s a quick look at all Week 4 NFL games, played Sunday unless noted.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Cincinnati Bengals, Thursday
Jacksonville has a new quarterback in Trevor Lawrence and a new head coach in Urban Meyer, but it’s the same old sad-sack Jaguars. The team made a trade on Monday, sending the No. 9 overall pick in the 2020 draft, cornerback CJ Henderson, to Carolina for tight end Dan Arnold and a draft pick. Cincinnati was a 24-10 upset winner in Pittsburgh on Sunday as rookie WR Ja’Marr Chase had two more TD catches. That’s four for the No. 5 overall pick.
Pick ATS: Cincinnati (alternate line of -7)
Washington Football Team at Atlanta Falcons
Washington’s defence was supposed to be among the NFL’s best this year but has massively disappointed in a 1-2 start. Reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year Chase Young doesn’t have a sack yet. The Falcons got their first win Sunday at the equally bad New York Giants. Rookie tight end Kyle Pitts is still looking for his first TD catch.
Pick ATS: Washington
Houston Texans at Buffalo Bills
Houston gave third-round rookie QB Davis Mills his first start on Thursday in Week 3 and it went about as expected: I.e., not that well in a 24-9 loss. He’ll start again here. Buffalo didn’t look good in Week 1 but has looked like the Super Bowl contender we all expected in winning the past two. Josh Allen had four passing TDs and a rushing score in Sunday’s blowout of Washington. This may be the biggest spread we see all season.
Pick ATS: Houston
Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears
It’s frankly a miracle that Bears coach Matt Nagy still has his job as Chicago was historically inept in Sunday’s 26-6 loss in Cleveland. The Bears finished with 47 total yards and one yard passing with rookie QB Justin Fields making his first start. He was sacked nine times behind a porous offensive line. The Lions find creative ways to lose every season and did so again Sunday on a record 66-yard field goal against the Ravens as time expired. QB Jared Goff remains winless when Sean McVay is not his head coach.
Pick ATS: Chicago (alternate line of -2.5)
Carolina Panthers at Dallas Cowboys
Short week for Dallas off hosting Philadelphia on Monday to close Week 1. Top wideout Amari Cooper isn’t 100 per cent but was to play vs. Philly. Carolina is a surprise 3-0 after last Thursday’s win in Houston but that was costly as superstar running back Christian McCaffrey injured his hamstring and will not play here. Rookie first-round cornerback Jaycee Horn broke his foot and will miss many weeks. That’s why the Panthers traded for Jaguars cornerback CJ Henderson on Monday.
Pick ATS: Dallas
Indianapolis Colts at Miami Dolphins
Colts quarterback Carson Wentz was able to play through two sprained ankles on Sunday but Indy fell to 0-3 for the first time in 10 years with a 25-16 loss at Tennessee. Wentz clearly was hindered badly. Miami was without injured QB Tua Tagovailoa on Sunday and lost 31-28 in OT at Las Vegas. Tua will miss at least two more games, so it’s more of Jacoby Brissett.
Pick ATS: Miami
Cleveland Browns at Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota may have saved the job of Coach Mike Zimmer with Sunday’s 30-17 home upset win over Seattle. The Vikings were without Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook. He probably will play in this one. Go ahead and mark down Cleveland’s Myles Garrett as the AFC Defensive Player of the Week after he had 4.5 of the Browns’ nine sacks in their easy win over Chicago on Sunday. Odell Beckham Jr. made his season debut with five catches for 77 yards.
Pick ATS: Cleveland
New York Giants at New Orleans Saints
This will be the Saints’ first true home game of the season as their opener was moved to Jacksonville, Fla., due to Hurricane Ida and their past two were on the road. The Saints were winners at the Patriots on Sunday. New Orleans picked off Mac Jones three times. The Giants are a dumpster fire yet again at 0-3. They lost top linebacker Blake Martinez to a season-ending injury in Sunday’s loss to Atlanta.
Pick ATS: New Orleans
Tennessee Titans at New York Jets
The Jets are an even bigger dumpster fire than the Giants are. Rookie No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson does not look ready for the NFL yet as he now is up to seven interceptions. The Jets have been outscored in the first half of their three games 46-3. They’ve yet to hold a lead. Tennessee improved to 2-1 with a win over Indianapolis on Sunday. Derrick Henry had 113 yards rushing.
Pick ATS: NY Jets
Kansas City Chiefs at Philadelphia Eagles
Short week for the Eagles off a trip to Dallas on Monday to close Week 1. Of course, Chiefs coach Andy Reid formerly held the same job in Philadelphia. Reid was hospitalized after Kansas City’s upset home loss Sunday to the Chargers but is expected to be fine. Patrick Mahomes was intercepted twice. The Super Bowl-favoured Chiefs are now last in the AFC West at 1-2.
Pick ATS: Kansas City
Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams
The Matthew Stafford trade for the Rams is working out splendidly so far as he had four touchdown passes Sunday in beating the Bucs. Stafford may win his first MVP Award. Speaking of MVP candidates, Arizona QB Kyler Murray is one, too, with his team also 3-0. These clubs are tied for first in the NFC West.
Pick ATS: Los Angeles
Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers
Seattle was a short favourite Sunday at Minnesota but lost 30-17. The Seahawks’ defence has been a problem in the early going. The 49ers had some questionable clock management on Sunday night vs. Green Bay as they left Aaron Rodgers too much time – he led Green Bay to the winning field goal. The Niners were missing a few injured running backs.
Pick ATS: San Francisco
Baltimore Ravens at Denver Broncos
Baltimore’s Justin Tucker already was probably the greatest kicker in NFL history, but he cemented that status without a doubt Sunday with a game-winning, NFL-record 66-yard field goal as time expired in Detroit. The Ravens had no right winning that game. Wideout Marquise Brown dropped three potential touchdown passes. Hard to know if the 3-0 Broncos are any good because the three teams they have played are a combined 0-9.
Pick ATS: Baltimore
Pittsburgh Steelers at Green Bay Packers
Quite possibly the last time future Hall of Fame QBs Ben Roethlisberger and Aaron Rodgers face off – they did in Super Bowl XLV, won by Rodgers and Green Bay. Big Ben looks done already in all honesty. To be fair, his offensive line has been atrocious. The Packers rallied past the Niners on Sunday night thanks to more Rodgers magic.
Pick ATS: Green Bay (alternate line of -6.5)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New England Patriots
Sunday night game, and I’d be willing to bet this is the highest-rated and most-wagered regular-season game of the year if not for the past several years. Tom Brady’s return to New England to face off for the first time against Bill Belichick, who drafted the expected long-term Brady replacement this year in Mac Jones. It simply does not get better than that. Jones struggled badly Sunday with three picks in a loss to the Saints. Brady will pass Drew Brees as the NFL’s all-time passing yardage leader at some point early in this game.
Pick ATS: Tampa Bay
Las Vegas Raiders at Las Vegas Chargers, Monday
The Raiders already have two overtime wins (rallying from down two touchdowns in both) in their 3-0 start. Derek Carr’s monster start continued in Sunday’s win over Miami with 386 yards and two TDs. He leads the NFL in passing yards. The Chargers upset the Chiefs in Kansas City behind four TD passes from Justin Herbert. He outplayed Patrick Mahomes.
Pick ATS: Los Angeles