NFL Picks Week 4: Latest Spreads, Predictions Leading into Sunday's Games

The 2015 NFL season has officially entered October and there are already plenty of surprises in the standings.

Some teams that have grown accustom to finishing toward the bottom of the league are making early pushes toward the top, while some of the more successful franchises are experiencing a rocky start.

It's a long season and there's plenty of time to turn things around, but the games go by quick and Week 4 is the perfect chance to get seasons back on track. 

Here is a look at the remaining Week 4 schedule, the latest odds courtesy of OddsShark.com and which team I think will win each game:

Matchup	Time (ET)	Spread	Who Wins
New York Jets vs. Miami Dolphins (from London)	9:30 a.m.	Even	New York Jets
New York Giants at Buffalo Bills	1 p.m.	BUF -5.5	New York Giants
Oakland Raiders at Chicago Bears	1 p.m.	OAK -1	Oakland
Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts	1 p.m.	IND -8.5	Indianapolis
Houston Texans at Atlanta Falcons	1 p.m.	ATL -5	Atlanta
Carolina Panters at Tampa Bay Buccaneers	1 p.m.	CAR -3	Carolina
Kansas City Chiefs at Cincinnati Bengals	1 p.m.	CIN -3	Kansas City
Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Redskins	1 p.m.	PHI -3	Philadelphia
Cleveland Browns at San Diego Chargers	4:05 p.m.	SD -7	San Diego
Minnesota Vikings at Denver Broncos	4:25 p.m.	DEN -4.5	Denver
Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers	4:25 p.m.	GB -9.5	Green Bay
St. Louis Rams at Arizona Cardinals	4:25 p.m.	ARI -6	Arizona
Dallas Cowboys at New Orleans Saints	8:30 p.m.	NO -7	New Orleans
Monday, Oct. 5
Detroit Lions at Seattle Seahawks	8:30 p.m.	SEA -9.5	Seattle

Game of the Week

Oakland Raiders at Chicago Bears

Normally, this is a game I wouldn't bat an eye at. There were plenty of other options this week, as well. The New York Jets and Miami Dolphins are playing in London, the St. Louis Rams and Arizona Cardinals are lining up two top-10 defenses and even the Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals might offer an entertaining game. 

But this time, it's a bit different. This week, the Oakland Raiders have a chance to move to 3-1 in 2015. 

And while a win against the fledgling, hapless Chicago Bears doesn't necessarily mean the Raiders would be for real, it does mean they are on the right track. 

It's well known that the Raiders have been a struggling franchise for the past decade. In fact, the last time they recorded at least three wins in their first four games was in 2002. They'll have an opportunity to match that on Sunday. 

They already broke one drought without even stepping onto the field as SportsNation points out:

In order to win, they might have to outscore the Bears, as the Raiders defense ranks No. 28 in the league, averaging 28.7 points allowed per game. 

Luckily for Oakland, they are taking on a Bears offense that is one of the worst in the league. Having already been shut out once this season, Chicago hasn't scored more than 23 points in a game so far. 

To make matters worse, it looks like the Bears might not have starting quarterback Jay Cutler for the second straight week, per the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport:

After backup Jimmy Clausen recorded just 63 yards passing last week, the Raiders have to be feeling pretty confident that they can hold the Bears down on Sunday. 

That should give the Raiders offense, ranked 10th in the league, an easier week in terms of outscoring their opponent. Yes, you read that correctly. The Raiders offense led by quarterback Derek Carr, rookie wide receiver Amari Cooper and a running back in Latavius Murray, who had previously recorded 424 yards in two seasons, is a top-10 unit in the NFL. 

Cooper has been a gift to the Raiders receiving corps, as he became the first receiver to wear silver and black since Randy Moss in 2005 to record two consecutive 100-yard games.  While the Raiders' recent records are seemingly falling everywhere, it's going to be an inept Bears offense that should help seal a victory for Oakland on Sunday. 

Prediction: Raiders win 27-17

Stats courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com