The Sports Inquirer

Quick predictions for Week 4 of the NFL season (home team in CAPS)

Detroit (+2.5) DALLAS:  I’m drinking the Lions’ Kool-Aid and enjoying it.  I don’t trust the Cowboys’ offensive line against Detroit’s defensive line.

New Orleans (-7) JACKSONVILLLE:  This game screams of the Saints winning on a late field goal but if you’ve seen my picks in the last few weeks, its best for me to not go with my instincts.

San Francisco (+9.5) PHILADELPHIA:  I’m starting to just go with the opposite of what I think.  You would think that this would be a matchup for the Eagles to get healthy (pun intended) against a west coast team traveling across the country playing the early Sunday game.  However, I’m taking the 49ers to make this contest close.

ST. LOUIS (+3) Washington:  The Rams are better than they’ve shown the last few weeks and a home game against an average squad should be the recipe for their first victory of the year.

CLEVELAND (+1) Tennessee:  In a battle between two teams who have received minimal contributions from their star running backs, I’ll take the home team to eek out the victory.

CINCINNATI (+3) Buffalo:  The Bills have been hearing about how great they are all week after beating New England and than have to head on the road in a contest that they should win.  I’m banking on a letdown from Buffalo and the Bengals sneaking in the victory.

Minnesota (-3) KANSAS CITY:  The Vikings finally hold on to a second-half lead.

CHICAGO (-6.5) Carolina:  Give me the Bears in my least-confident pick of the week

HOUSTON (-3.5) Pittsburgh:  The Steelers struggled to beat Indy on the road last week.  Houston is better than the Colts.  Sometimes the picks are that simple.

Atlanta (-5) SEATTLE:  I know that the Seahawks have one of the better home-field advantages in the NFL and the Falcons struggle on the road but I’m banking on Atlanta finally putting together a complete game in a game it desperately needs.

Arizona (+1) NY GIANTS:  Similar to Buffalo, the Giants are coming off an emotional win over a conference foe (Philadelphia) that dominated them in the past few years.  I’m expecting a letdown from New York, which gives the Cardinals an excellent chance to win at home.

SAN DIEGO (-7) Miami:  Even if this line was double-digits, I would have taken the Chargers.

Denver (+12) GREEN BAY:  The Packers will win this game but that line is a little too rich for me.

OAKLAND (+6) New England:  I can see either team winning this contest because the Patriots are still an elite offense but the physical nature of Oakland’s rushing attack takes advantage of New England’s biggest weakness, rush defense.  I actually think Oakland wins the contest but if New England gets the victory, it will be by less points than the line.

BALTIMORE (-4.5) New York Jets: Ray Rice vs. an over-rated Jets rushing defense…

TAMPA (-10) Indianapolis:  Curtis Painter starting on the road on Monday night…

Last week: 6-8-2

Season: 16-29-3