2015 NFL Week 4 Picks

Here are my picks for week four of the 2015 NFL season.

Thursday, October 1st
Baltimore Ravens (0-3) vs Pittsburgh Steelers (1-2)- 8:25, CBS/NFLN: Baltimore is winless, but I'm not willing to count them out yet since Pittsburgh has lost Ben Rothlisberger for four-six weeks with an MCL sprain. Pittsburgh is coming off a road win in St. Louis against the Rams and Baltimore is coming off a tough home loss against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Steelers will miss Rothlisberger as Michael Vick will start, so the Ravens will get their first win.
Prediction: Baltimore 24, Pittsburgh 16.

Sunday, October 4th
New York Jets (2-1) vs Miami Dolphins (1-2)- 9:30, CBS (London): The first NFL London game of the season will take place between two AFC East clubs. The Jets are coming off a disappointing home loss against a desperate Philadelphia Eagles team. Miami is coming off a bad home loss against the Buffalo Bills. The Dolphins have not looked great throughout the first three weeks and the Jets showed life in the second half against the Eagles, so give me Todd Bowles's squad to get the victory here due to bounce back games from Ryan Fitzpatrick and Brandon Marshall.
Prediction: NY Jets 23, Miami 20.

New York Giants (1-2) vs Buffalo Bills (2-1)- 1:00, FOX: The Giants are coming off their first win of the season against Washington at home. Buffalo is coming off a big division road win in Miami against the Dolphins. I really can see a let down from Rex Ryan's club, similar to what happened after their opening week win after the Colts, they had a let down against the Patriots. I see the same thing happening here as Eli Manning will be getting another weapon back in Victor Cruz back this week and it will help the Giants to their second straight win.
Prediction: NY Giants 33, Buffalo 28.

Oakland Raiders (2-1) vs Chicago Bears (0-3)- 1:00, CBS: Oakland has been perhaps the biggest surprise this season so far and their coming off a nice road win in Cleveland against the Browns. Chicago has been a mess thus far and is coming off a shutout road loss in Seattle against the desperate Seahawks. The Bears already are cleaning house after trading away Jared Allen and Jonathan Bostic to the Panthers and Patriots, respectively. I like the Raiders to continue their early success and get the win on the road.
Prediction: Oakland 27, Chicago 19.

Jacksonville Jaguars (1-2) vs Indianapolis Colts (1-2)- 1:00, CBS: Jacksonville is coming off a bad road loss in Foxboro against the Patriots and Indianapolis is coming off a huge road win in Nashville against the Titans. The Colts have to win this game to get their record at .500 and they'll get the job done in blowout fashion at home. The Colts are my lock of the week.
Prediction: Indianapolis 38, Jacksonville 19.

Houston Texans (1-2) vs Atlanta Falcons (3-0)- 1:00, CBS: Houston is coming off their first win of the season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta is still unbeaten after their comeback win in Jerry World against the Tony Romo-less Cowboys. The Falcons are home and the crowd will be ruckus so I expect them to beat a Texans team that's not that good.
Prediction: Atlanta 31, Houston 17.

Carolina Panthers (3-0) vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-2)- 1:00, FOX: Carolina is coming off a home win against a Drew Brees-less Saints team. Tampa Bay is coming off a road loss in Houston against the Texans. The Bucs maybe not as bad as they looked week one, but I expect them to hang around with the Panthers, who should be 4-0 after the weekend is over.
Prediction: Carolina 27, Tampa Bay 21.

Kansas City Chiefs (1-2) vs Cincinnati Bengals (3-0)- 1:00, CBS: Kansas City is coming off a tough road loss at Lambeau against the Packers. Cincinnati is coming off a great road win in Baltimore against the Ravens. This should be a fun game between these two AFC squads. I like the Bengals to remain unbeaten for another week as Andy Dalton and AJ Green will have another good game.
Prediction: Cincinnati 30, Kansas City 24.

Philadelphia Eagles (1-2) vs Washington Redskins (1-2)- 1:00, FOX: Philadelphia is coming off a much needed win over the Jets at MetLife. Washington also played at MetLife last week, but they lost to the Giants. Both of these teams can use a win here, but I like the Eagles to build off their win last week and win another one on the road and take advantage of the Redskins's issues.
Prediction: Philadelphia 30, Washington 20.

Cleveland Browns (1-2) vs San Diego Chargers (1-2)- 4:05, CBS: Cleveland is coming off a tough home loss against the surprising Oakland Raiders. San Diego is coming off a disappointing road loss in Minneapolis against the Vikings. This is arguably a must win for Philip Rivers and the Chargers and I think they'll get the job done at home against Browns team that has some issues.
Prediction: San Diego 33, Cleveland 20.

Minnesota Vikings (2-1) vs Denver Broncos (3-0)- 4:25, FOX: Minnesota is coming off a nice home win against the San Diego Chargers. Denver is coming off a nice road win in Detroit against the Lions. A lot of people think this is going to be a good game, which it could be. I just find it tough for Teddy Bridgewater and the Vikings to hang in this one with Peyton Manning and the Broncos. The Broncos defense is one of the leagues best but I don't see the Vikings defense as good as the Broncos defense.
Prediction: Denver 31, Minnesota 20.

Green Bay Packers (3-0) vs San Francisco 49ers (1-2)- 4:25, FOX: Green Bay is coming off a terrific home win against the Kansas City Chiefs. San Francisco on the other hand is coming off a disastrous loss in Glendale against the Cardinals where Colin Kaepernick struggled mightily. I do think Frisco can hang in there with the Pack at home for a bit, but expect Aaron Rodgers & Co to pull away late.
Prediction: Green Bay 37, San Francisco 23.

St. Louis Rams (1-2) vs Arizona Cardinals (3-0)- 4:25, FOX: St. Louis is coming off a disappointing home loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers in which they couldn't take advantage of Ben Rothlisberger's injury. Arizona is coming off a great home win against the San Francisco 49ers. The Cardinals are arguably the leagues best team right now and they'll show it here against their division rivals.
Prediction: Arizona 37, St. Louis 20.

Dallas Cowboys (2-1) vs New Orleans Saints (0-3)- 8:30, NBC: Dallas is coming off a tough home loss against the Atlanta Falcons in their first game without Tony Romo, which they had a two touchdown lead in. New Orleans is coming off a road loss in Charlotte against the Panthers, in which they almost won the game without Drew Brees. Sean Payton is hopeful that Brees will play this Sunday. If Brees doesn't play, this is going to be an ugly game. Either team can win this game but if Brees plays, the Saints should and will get their first win.
Prediction: New Orleans 27, Dallas 23.

Monday, October 5th
Detroit Lions (0-3) vs Seattle Seahawks (1-2)- 8:30, ESPN: Detroit is coming off a disappointing home loss against the Denver Broncos. Seattle is coming off a much needed home win against a hapless Chicago Bears team in which they shut them out. The twelfth man should help the Seahawks to another win to put them at .500 and send Detroit to 0-4.
Prediction: Seattle 34, Detroit 20.