Week 4 NFL Predictions

New York Jets at Buffalo

Line: Jets by 3.5

The Jets are going to be OK. So long as this team can run the football, they should have no problem beating the downtrodden Bills, who have yet to break into the win column. Jets 20, Bills 14

Baltimore at Cleveland
Line: Ravens by 4

Jamal Lewis against his old team. Revenge will be a factor, no doubt. This Ravens team has yet to really impress me, as they’ve barely gotten by in their two wins and appear to be losing a step defensively. Ravens 23, Browns 20

Oakland at Miami

Line: Dolphins by 4.5

The Dolphins could only get this kind of line against a team like the Raiders. Oakland was fairly competitive in its last pair of games, but they’re still a young team and are at a distinct disadvantage starting Daunte Culpepper on the road.

Dolphins 24, Raiders 14

Chicago at Detroit

Line: Bears by 3

You know you’re having QB problems when your fans are actually excited about Brian Griese starting. Detroit’s biggest weakness is pass defense and Griese will spend the whole game trying to get in rhythm, so no defensive letdown this week for the Lions. Lions 17, Bears 13

St. Louis at Dallas

Line: Cowboys by 13

The oddsmakers were being generous with this line. This game will be over well before halftime. St. Louis is playing without its star RB, its star OT and with a QB playing on two bruised ribs. If that’s not enough, Tony Romo has been on fire and the Rams’ pass defense has been getting torched all year. Lets just call this the Official TUMS Blowout of the Week. Cowboys 49, Rams 21

Houston at Atlanta

Line: Texans by 3

The Texans will make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history and even without Andre Johnson and Ahman Green, the Falcons will feel the wrath of Andra Davis, Ron Dayne and Dr. Samkon Gado. This is the year the Falcons wish they could have Matt Schaub back. Texans 21, Falcons 13

Seattle at San Francisco

Line: Seahawks by 2

This one’s too easy. Take the home team here. San Francisco may not look as impressive as their 2-1 record suggests, but its not like the Seahawks have been setting the world on fire. Frank Gore loves playing against these guys, as his two monster games against Seattle from last year suggests. 49ers 24, Seahawks 20

Green Bay at Minnesota

Line: Packers by 2

The young Brett Favre lost routinely in the Metrodome. The more experienced Brett Favre owns the Metrodome, having won there in three of the last four years. This Sunday won’t be any different. Packers 20, Vikings 17

Tampa Bay at Carolina

Line: Panthers by 3

Jake Delhomme is hurt, but I don’t think the injury matters so long as Carolina continues to run the football the way they did the last two weeks. Jeff Garcia is due to come back to earth and David Carr could honestly take this job and run with a good performance this week. Panthers 24, Buccaneers 20

Pittsburgh at Arizona

Line: Steelers by 6

A tricky one for the Steelers, as they’ll be going up against an old coordinator who knows most of their secrets in Ken Whisenhunt with a good but fairly inexperienced coach in Mike Tomlin. I’ll go with Pittsburgh on sheer talent, but it’s scary how well Arizona matches up with them. Steelers 20, Cardinals 17

Kansas City at San Diego

Line: Chargers by 11.5

Everyone keeps anxiously waiting for that breakout game from the Chargers. The talent is clearly there, but they have to get back to playing physical football. They’ll start to do it against the Chiefs by shutting down their offense early and controlling the game on the ground. Chargers 24, Chiefs 10

Denver at Indianapolis

Line: Colts by 9.5

Shanahan’s teams have not fared well against this Colts’ outfit in recent years. It’s like Peyton Manning is always two steps ahead of him. The Broncos added Dre Bly to match up with Reggie Wayne, so Manning will just use the middle of the field and kill them with Dallas Clark, Joe Addai (Sharpstown High represent!!!) and Anthony Gonzalez. Plus the Colts’ D has played better than expected this year and the Broncos are having enough problems on offense. Colts 42, Broncos 24

Philadelphia at New York Giants

Line: Eagles by 2.5

After putting up a 56-spot on the Lions, it looks like the Eagles will be OK. Donovan McNabb should continue to get well against another weak secondary, as he’ll attack the middle of the field repeatedly against the Giants’ soft coverage. New York should thank their lucky stars they woke up in the second half against Washington, otherwise they’d be 0-3 right now. Eagles 24, Giants 17

New England at Cincinnati

Line: Patriots by 7.5

This game has serious video game score potential. The Patriots have been kicking ass and taking names the first three weeks while the Bengals have been their usual productive selves on offense and absolutely miserable on defense. With no Rudi Johnson, Carson Palmer could honestly pass the ball 50 times in this game, nothing would surprise me. Oh, and the Pats will win comfortably. Patriots 70, Bengals 56

Week 3 vs Spread: 7-6-3

Season vs Spread: 22-20-6

Week 3 Straight up: 12-4

Season Straight up: 33-15