NFL Week 4 Picks: Matchups Guide, Advice and Early Score Predictions

As far as advice goes for Week 4 NFL picks, the best thing to do is not overreact to what happened in the previous game.

All 32 teams are full of professionals who have plenty of pride and aren't about to roll over, especially at this early juncture of the 2015 season. It's all about narratives, so even the teams that won in Week 3 aren't necessarily a lock to keep their rolls going.

Week 2 was admittedly absurd, with upsets galore and unfathomable twists and turns. Most teams are about to be a quarter of the way through the season, though, and the contenders and pretenders will more clearly distinguish themselves starting right about now.

With those words of wisdom—or doom, if they ultimately prove to be wrong—in mind, check out the matchups for Week 4, early score predictions and a breakdown of the most notable picks from the upcoming NFL slate.

Thursday, Oct. 1	Time (ET)	TV	Score Projection
Sunday, Oct. 4	Time (ET)	TV	Score Projection
Monday, Oct. 5	Time (ET)	TV	Score Projection
Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers	8:25 p.m.	CBS, NFL Network	Ravens 31, Steelers 20
New York Jets at Miami Dolphins	9:30 a.m.	CBS	Jets 21, Dolphins 17
Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts	1 p.m.	CBS	Colts 41, Jaguars 13
New York Giants at Buffalo Bills	1 p.m.	Fox	Bills 27, Giants 24
Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers	1 p.m.	Fox	Panthers 34, Buccaneers 21
Philadelphia Eagles at Washington	1 p.m.	Fox	Eagles 35, Washington 10
Oakland Raiders at Chicago Bears	1 p.m.	CBS	Raiders 23, Bears 13
Houston Texans at Atlanta Falcons	1 p.m.	CBS	Falcons 24, Texans 10
Kansas City Chiefs at Cincinnati Bengals	1 p.m.	CBS	Bengals 20, Chiefs 16
Cleveland Browns at San Diego Chargers	4:05 p.m.	CBS	Chargers 38, Browns 24
Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers	4:25 p.m.	Fox	Packers 31, 49ers 3
St. Louis Rams at Arizona Cardinals	4:25 p.m.	Fox	Cardinals 28, Rams 20
Minnesota Vikings at Denver Broncos	4:25 p.m.	Fox	Vikings 24, Broncos 17
Dallas Cowboys at New Orleans Saints	8:30 p.m.	NBC	Cowboys 29, Saints 27
Detroit Lions at Seattle Seahawks	8:30 p.m.	ESPN	Seahawks 31, Lions 10

Featured NFL Week 4 Score Predictions

Ravens 31, Steelers 20

Patrick Semansky/Associated Press

The AFC North is in an interesting place to start 2015. Sure, the Cleveland Browns are still as dysfunctional as ever, but the Cincinnati Bengals are off to a hot 3-0 start, while Baltimore is 0-3 and Pittsburgh has lost its starting quarterback in Ben Roethlisberger.

Big Ben is expected to be out 4-6 weeks with an MCL sprain and bone bruise, per ESPN's Ed Werder. That means Michael Vick is suddenly thrust into duty under center for the Steelers.

Vick wasn't prepared to take over for Geno Smith last year as a member of the New York Jets. He may capitalize better on this second opportunity, but not on a short week against a desperate Ravens team that is in a must-win situation.

Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette alluded to how successful the Ravens have been against their heated rival with Roethlisberger out of the equation:

It's often a fine line in the NFL between winning and losing. Baltimore is a couple of plays or so away from being at least 2-1, losing late leads to the likes of Oakland and Cincinnati, respectively, in the past two contests. The Ravens lost to Denver on the road to open the season, too.

Despite the heartbreaking close calls to start the year, Ravens coach John Harbaugh has an experienced enough nucleus to weather the storm.

Veteran receiver Steve Smith Sr. is the rare tone setter and emotional core of a team for a player at his position. His passion has been evident in what's apparently his final season before retirement, racking up 347 yards receiving thus far.

But the Ravens also have a cool, calm and collected presence at QB in past Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco, whose standout quote from speaking to the media reflects the composure that can keep Baltimore together:

As long as Vick's running ability is held in check, Baltimore ought to be able to go to Heinz Field and emerge with a victory.

The Steelers defense isn't what it used to be under Dick LeBeau, benefiting the past two weeks from facing opposing QBs such as Colin Kaepernick and Nick Foles. Flacco has the ability to carve up Pittsburgh's secondary even with a dearth of weapons beyond Smith.

Given the penchant Vick has shown for turnovers and the minimal time he'll have to get up for a tough opponent that has familiarity with Pittsburgh play-caller Todd Haley's system, the disparity between signal-callers is too big to ignore. That alone tips the scales the Ravens' way.

Vikings 24, Broncos 17

Jim Mone/Associated Press

To go back to the overreaction theme, most thought the Vikings were dead in the water when they were embarrassed in Week 1 by the now-floundering San Francisco 49ers. Since then, Minnesota has bounced back with two wins to stay within striking distance of Green Bay in the NFC North.

Football Outsiders' Scott Kacsmar alluded to how Denver's recent winning model isn't sustainable:

Defensive-minded Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer is going to be the one to put an end to the madness. Peyton Manning can only get by with waning arm strength for so long before the Broncos suffer a defeat.

Coming off a gritty victory over Detroit in Week 3 and with a home game on tap, this seems like the time Denver would be due for a letdown. Minnesota's wins over the Lions and San Diego aren't going to cause the vast majority to believe in its capacity to upset the current AFC West leaders.

There's no denying the Broncos have been extremely impressive on defense, too, but they're also facing a tremendous running back in Adrian Peterson who's starting to find his stride. Pro Football Focus highlighted the most impressive aspect of Peterson's 123-yard rushing day against the Chargers:

Although cerebral Vikings signal-caller Teddy Bridgewater doesn't have a lot of weaponry around him and has a mere 80.1 passer rating through three games, he does have the wherewithal to make the proper decisions. With Peterson rolling at the moment, Bridgewater won't be asked to put the ball in the air 30 times.

Zimmer's defense is predicated on stopping the run, bringing pressure and playing tight man-to-man coverage on the outside (h/t Daily Norseman). Having Harrison Smith as a free safety allows Vikings cornerbacks some leeway to be aggressive, and especially with the state of Manning's arm, Minnesota can jump all over the shorter routes Denver loves to deploy.

Look for the Vikings to keep Manning off the field as much as possible with Peterson pounding the rock. Manning and his two big-time playmakers in Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders will make some plays, but Minnesota will pull this one out on the road in its "statement game" of the year so far.