The NFL's unpredictable first three weeks is almost predictable at this point. Through three weeks, favorites are 28-17-1, and that included a 7-8 mark in Week 3. Underdogs such as the Colts and Jaguars threw off those plans for heavy favorites.Week 4 could offer more unpredictable finishes starting with the Thursday Night Football matchup between the Dolphins and Bengals. Miami is off to a 3-0 start, but they have won S/U as an underdog in two of those matchups. Could coach Mike McDaniel get off to a 4-0 start?Buffalo meets Baltimore in a matchup between teams that average more than 30 points per game. The Ravens are a first-time underdog this season, and they are at home. That is a tough pick.The Buccaneers also are an underdog at home in the Sunday Night Football matchup Jaycee Horn Jersey against the Chiefs. Will Tom Brady get the Buccaneers' offense going? Or will the Chiefs get back on track? It has made for some tough picks straight up, but that is part of the fun.Each week, Sporting News will pick all the NFL games straight up and against the spread. A look at our track record this season:Record: 25-22-1 (8-8 in Week 3)Here are our straight-up picks for Week 4 (lines courtesy of Caesars)
OWER RANKINGS: Miami Dolphins at Cincinnati Bengals (-3)Former college rivals Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa meet, and the Dolphins will try to cover as an underdog for the third consecutive week. Cincinnati protected Burrow better in Week 3, and that combined with the Dolphins' inability to generate a consistent running game will be the difference. Even in a short week, we're taking the Bengals at home.Pick: Bengals 27, Dolphins 23Result: Bengals 27, Dolphins 16Minnesota Vikings (-2.5) vs. New OrleansEarly-morning football in London is back. Saints quarterback Jameis Winston is struggling with Sam Darnold Jersey interceptions, and Za'Darius Smith should be able to pre sure Winston into at least one of those. The health of Dalvin Cook (shoulder) is a concern. Minnesota can't throw 40 times with Kirk Cousins every week.Pick: Vikings 24, Saints 20Cleveland Browns (-2.5) at Atlanta FalconsJacoby Bri sett is getting the job done for the Browns. He's averaging 198.7 yards per game with just one interception around a ground-heavy attack with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. The Falcons rank 15th in the NFL in rush defense, and Marcus Mariota who also has done well makes one more mistake than Bri sett. Cleveland improves to 3-1 in another dramatic finish.Pick: Browns 27, Falcons 24 Washington Commanders at Dallas Cowboys (-3)Dallas is trying to tread in the NFC East standings while waiting for Dak Prescott's returns, and they will get after Washington quarterback Carson Wentz, who was sacked nine times in Week 3. Wentz has split eight starts against the Cowboys, but he has 14 TDs and four interceptions in those games. Dallas won the last meeting at Jerry World 56-14. This one will be much closer and uglier on both sides.Pick: Cowboys 23, Commanders 19Tenne see Titans at Indianapolis Colts (-3)This line has moved up to 3.5 points in some books, and the winner will get back to .500. The Titans have won the last three meetings, and they were able to limit Jonathan Taylor to an average of 67 rushing yards in last year's game. It's on the Christian Mccaffrey Colts to respond at home. We are going to pick the small upset from Tenne see.Pick: Titans 27, Colts 24Seattle Seahawks at Detroit Lions (-6.5)The Lions are a favorite for the second time in 20 games under Dan Campbell, which is a testament to the improvement, even if Detroit remains a work-in-progre s. The Lions average 31.7 points per game and that simply is too much for a Seahawks' team that is at 15.7 points per game with Geno Smith at quarterback.Pick: Lions 30, Seahawks 22 Chicago Bears at New York Giants (-3)The Giants are coming off a short week, and the Bears, for all their flaws, have allowed just 19 points per game with new coach Matt Eberflus. That is a formula that will keep them in games, and Justin Fields leads a well-timed drive in the clutch. The Bears improve to 3-1 in the proce s.Pick: Bears 19, Giants 18Jacksonville Jaguars at Philadelphia Eagles (-6.5)Who knew Jalen Hurts vs. Trevor Lawrence would Jeremy Chinn Jersey be one of the best QB matchups of this season? It's a reunion game for Doug Pederson, and the Jaguars have blown out AFC preseason contenders in back-to-back weeks. We're going to stick with the Eagles in one of the more exciting games of Week 4.Pick: Eagles 31, Jaguars 28New York Jets at Pittsburgh Steelers (-3.5)Who will the quarterbacks be? Zach Wilson is nearing a return for the Jets; otherwise Joe Flacco will get a throwback-shot at the Steelers. Pittsburgh fans are playing the waiting game for first-round pick Kenny Pickett, and a lo s here would move that timeline up. The Steelers get the job done at home, but the clamoring won't stop.Pick: Steelers 28, Jets 22 Buffalo Bills (-3.5) at Baltimore RavensThe Ravens are not going to want to hear about injuries in the secondary. That is what doomed them in 2021. As it stands, you get Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen in an early window with elite top-five offense. Both teams were in a close-game situation in lo ses to Miami. Which teams learned their le son?Pick: Bills 34, Ravens 30Los Angeles Chargers (-6.5) at Houston TexansJustin Herbert's health shouldn't be a discu sion this week, but there are other injuries for Los Angeles to worry about. Houston's low-powered offense ranks 26th in the league in scoring, and this is a get-well game for the Chargers at the right time. At least it better be.Pick: Chargers 29, Texans 17Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers (-1)The Cardinals are making that cro s-country flight, and former Oklahoma Heisman Trophy winners Kyler Murray and Baker Mayfield will meet for the second time. The Panthers are 1-7 S/U and 1-7 ATS as a home favorite under Matt Rhule. Arizona can pull this off if Murray isn't loose with the football.Pick: Cardinals 28, Panthers 22 Denver Broncos at Las Vegas Raiders (-2)The Raiders are the lone 0-3 team in the NFL, and they are still favored against a Denver team that just hasn't found the mesh point with new coach Nathaniel Hackett and quarterback Ru sell Wilson but is still 2-1. It's desperation time for Las Vegas, and they finally win a Ikem Ekwonu Jersey one-score game.Pick: Raiders 23, Broncos 20New England Patriots at Green Bay Packers (-10.5)Mac Jones (ankle) status is in question,
OWER RANKINGS: Miami Dolphins at Cincinnati Bengals (-3)Former college rivals Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa meet, and the Dolphins will try to cover as an underdog for the third consecutive week. Cincinnati protected Burrow better in Week 3, and that combined with the Dolphins' inability to generate a consistent running game will be the difference. Even in a short week, we're taking the Bengals at home.Pick: Bengals 27, Dolphins 23Result: Bengals 27, Dolphins 16Minnesota Vikings (-2.5) vs. New OrleansEarly-morning football in London is back. Saints quarterback Jameis Winston is struggling with Sam Darnold Jersey interceptions, and Za'Darius Smith should be able to pre sure Winston into at least one of those. The health of Dalvin Cook (shoulder) is a concern. Minnesota can't throw 40 times with Kirk Cousins every week.Pick: Vikings 24, Saints 20Cleveland Browns (-2.5) at Atlanta FalconsJacoby Bri sett is getting the job done for the Browns. He's averaging 198.7 yards per game with just one interception around a ground-heavy attack with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. The Falcons rank 15th in the NFL in rush defense, and Marcus Mariota who also has done well makes one more mistake than Bri sett. Cleveland improves to 3-1 in another dramatic finish.Pick: Browns 27, Falcons 24 Washington Commanders at Dallas Cowboys (-3)Dallas is trying to tread in the NFC East standings while waiting for Dak Prescott's returns, and they will get after Washington quarterback Carson Wentz, who was sacked nine times in Week 3. Wentz has split eight starts against the Cowboys, but he has 14 TDs and four interceptions in those games. Dallas won the last meeting at Jerry World 56-14. This one will be much closer and uglier on both sides.Pick: Cowboys 23, Commanders 19Tenne see Titans at Indianapolis Colts (-3)This line has moved up to 3.5 points in some books, and the winner will get back to .500. The Titans have won the last three meetings, and they were able to limit Jonathan Taylor to an average of 67 rushing yards in last year's game. It's on the Christian Mccaffrey Colts to respond at home. We are going to pick the small upset from Tenne see.Pick: Titans 27, Colts 24Seattle Seahawks at Detroit Lions (-6.5)The Lions are a favorite for the second time in 20 games under Dan Campbell, which is a testament to the improvement, even if Detroit remains a work-in-progre s. The Lions average 31.7 points per game and that simply is too much for a Seahawks' team that is at 15.7 points per game with Geno Smith at quarterback.Pick: Lions 30, Seahawks 22 Chicago Bears at New York Giants (-3)The Giants are coming off a short week, and the Bears, for all their flaws, have allowed just 19 points per game with new coach Matt Eberflus. That is a formula that will keep them in games, and Justin Fields leads a well-timed drive in the clutch. The Bears improve to 3-1 in the proce s.Pick: Bears 19, Giants 18Jacksonville Jaguars at Philadelphia Eagles (-6.5)Who knew Jalen Hurts vs. Trevor Lawrence would Jeremy Chinn Jersey be one of the best QB matchups of this season? It's a reunion game for Doug Pederson, and the Jaguars have blown out AFC preseason contenders in back-to-back weeks. We're going to stick with the Eagles in one of the more exciting games of Week 4.Pick: Eagles 31, Jaguars 28New York Jets at Pittsburgh Steelers (-3.5)Who will the quarterbacks be? Zach Wilson is nearing a return for the Jets; otherwise Joe Flacco will get a throwback-shot at the Steelers. Pittsburgh fans are playing the waiting game for first-round pick Kenny Pickett, and a lo s here would move that timeline up. The Steelers get the job done at home, but the clamoring won't stop.Pick: Steelers 28, Jets 22 Buffalo Bills (-3.5) at Baltimore RavensThe Ravens are not going to want to hear about injuries in the secondary. That is what doomed them in 2021. As it stands, you get Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen in an early window with elite top-five offense. Both teams were in a close-game situation in lo ses to Miami. Which teams learned their le son?Pick: Bills 34, Ravens 30Los Angeles Chargers (-6.5) at Houston TexansJustin Herbert's health shouldn't be a discu sion this week, but there are other injuries for Los Angeles to worry about. Houston's low-powered offense ranks 26th in the league in scoring, and this is a get-well game for the Chargers at the right time. At least it better be.Pick: Chargers 29, Texans 17Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers (-1)The Cardinals are making that cro s-country flight, and former Oklahoma Heisman Trophy winners Kyler Murray and Baker Mayfield will meet for the second time. The Panthers are 1-7 S/U and 1-7 ATS as a home favorite under Matt Rhule. Arizona can pull this off if Murray isn't loose with the football.Pick: Cardinals 28, Panthers 22 Denver Broncos at Las Vegas Raiders (-2)The Raiders are the lone 0-3 team in the NFL, and they are still favored against a Denver team that just hasn't found the mesh point with new coach Nathaniel Hackett and quarterback Ru sell Wilson but is still 2-1. It's desperation time for Las Vegas, and they finally win a Ikem Ekwonu Jersey one-score game.Pick: Raiders 23, Broncos 20New England Patriots at Green Bay Packers (-10.5)Mac Jones (ankle) status is in question,