NFL Predictions Week 4: Picks and Odds Guide for All Matchups on the Schedule

What role does desperation play in the NFL?

When a team comes into Week 4 having lost its last game, it's fairly easy for a head coach to get his players' attention during the week at practice.

But does that mean the team is going to bounce back with a strong performance and win the game? In the case of Rex Ryan and the Buffalo Bills, that's just what it meant.

The Bills got hammered by the New England Patriots in Week 2 and were a snarling and angry team when they took the field at Sun Life Stadium to play the Miami Dolphins. Even though they were on the road for the first time this season, the Bills picked up a 41-14 victory over their divisional rivals.

On the opposite side, Joe Philbin's Dolphins went into their home opener after a loss to the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars. His team offered little resistance against Buffalo and came through with a shoddy effort.

A coach can get a losing team's attention in practice, but that doesn't mean a win is at hand the following week. Once the competition starts in earnest, talent and preparation win out, not anger and the so-called will to win.

As we get closer to game day—it's actually here for the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers—we offer our picks against the spread and the totals for the Week 4 games. All handicapping numbers are courtesy of Odds Shark.

Game	Line	Over/Under	Prediction
Baltimore at Pittsburgh	Balt. -3	43.5	Pittsburgh; Over
N.Y. Jets vs. Miami (London)	NYJ -1	41	Miami; Under
N.Y. Giants at Buffalo	Buff. -5.5	46.5	N.Y.Giants; Over
Oakland at Chicago	Oak. -3	44.5	Oakland; Under
Jacksonville at Indianapolis	Ind. -10	48	Indianapolis; Over
Houston at Atlanta	Atl. -7	46.5	Atlanta; Under
Carolina at Tampa Bay	Car. -3	40	Tampa Bay; Under
Kansas City at Cincinnati	Cin. -4	44	Cincinnati; Over
Philadelphia at Washington	Phil. -3	46	Philadelphia; Under
Cleveland at San Diego	SD -9	45	San Diego; Under
Minnesota at Denver	Den. -7	43	Minnesota; Under
Green Bay at San Francisco	GB -9.5	48.5	San Francisco; Under
St. Louis at Arizona	Ariz. -7.5	42.5	Arizona; Over
Dallas at New Orleans	NL	--	Dallas
Detroit at Seattle	Sea. -10.5	43	Detroit; Under

Speed kills, and the Texans are about to learn that lesson

After a brutal 2014 season in which the division winner slogged through to the playoffs with a below-.500 7-8-1 record, the NFC South is opening eyes around the NFL. The division-winning Panthers are a lot sharper than they were last year, as they are undefeated with a 3-0 mark. The Atlanta Falcons are also 3-0.

The Falcons jettisoned head coach Mike Smith and brought in Seattle defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, and the results have been startling.

In the past, the Falcons got pushed around on defense, which put a lot of pressure on Matt Ryan, Julio Jones and the rest of the offense. In the last two seasons, the Falcons couldn't cope with that shortcoming and suffered through back-to-back losing seasons.

The Falcons still don't have the biggest defense in the league, but their speed has allowed them to make key plays when the game is on the line. In their 39-28 victory over Dallas in Week 3, the Falcons blanked the Cowboys over the final 30 minutes.

Speed has been the key for Atlanta. Jones has game-breaking speed and combines that with sensational ball skills and strength. Ryan gets rid of the ball quickly, and the Falcons also have quickness at the running back spot with Devonta Freeman.

The Texans have overwhelming talent on the defensive side of the ball with J.J. Watt, Jadeveon Clowney and Brian Cushing, but Romeo Crennel's defensive unit rarely plays with the cohesiveness it needs.

The Texans had to go full speed to eke out a win at home versus Tampa Bay in Week 3, and that same kind of effort will likely get them beaten badly on the road against the Falcons. We like Atlanta to stay undefeated and register a double-digit victory in the process.

Bengals catching Chiefs at right moment

The Cincinnati Bengals are making a case for being one of the NFL's strongest teams through the first three weeks of the season, while the Kansas City Chiefs are anything but.

While the Chiefs have talent on both sides of the ball, they had a nightmarish loss to the Denver Broncos at home in Week 2 and are coming off a weak effort in the Monday night loss to the Green Bay Packers.

Head coach Andy Reid blamed himself after the Green Bay loss for his team's lack of preparation.

When you compare Reid with Cincinnati head coach Marvin Lewis, it's hard not to give Reid the advantage. But after these two tough defeats, the Chiefs may not be ready to play their best game against the Bengals.

The Chiefs are one-dimensional on offense as quarterback Alex Smith does not excel at the downfield passing game, and it's difficult to get consistent production when opponents are trying to stop Jamaal Charles and a complementary passing game is not working.

Nick Wass/Associated Press

On the other hand, Andy Dalton is throwing the ball like an All-Pro in the early season, and wideout A.J. Green is simply dominating. No. 2 receiver Marvin Jones is also getting free on nearly every play.

While the Chiefs have two superb pass-rushers in Justin Houston and Tamba Hali, their secondary is vulnerable. Look for Dalton to continue his roll and pile up the points against Kansas City.

The Chiefs will lose and fail to cover.

Packers due for a letdown against lowly 49ers

It has looked ugly for the Niners, but a bounce-back effort is likely here. Why?

Take a look at their opponents. The Green Bay Packers have started the season with wins over the Chicago Bears, Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs.

Norm Hall/Getty Images

All three were emotional games, and now they must travel to the West Coast to play San Francisco. While there's little doubt that the Packers are prime Super Bowl contenders who have already gotten the best of the team that knocked them out last year, they are not going to come up with a prime effort every week.

Since they return home for two consecutive games after this West Coast trip, it seems more likely they will be back in form for those games at Lambeau Field than against the 49ers in San Francisco.

While the Niners have lost badly to Pittsburgh and Arizona the past two weeks, they return home for the first time since their Week 1 blowout win over the Vikings.

Jim Tomsula's team is more comfortable at home and getting 9.5 points. The Niners may not win outright, but they will keep it under the spread.