NFL Week 4 Picks against the Spread: Predictions and Opinion on Every Game

Week 3 was filled with plenty of heart-pumping, last-minute finishes (sorry Vikings and Redskins fans), and seemingly left more question marks than Tom Brady has passing yards (okay I embellished a little, Brady has 1,327 through three games).

The Bills erased an 18-point deficit for the second week in a row, topping Brady's Pats for the first time in 15 tries, while the Detroit Lions (much like the Bills) circled the wagons to edge rival Minnesota in overtime at the Metrodome.

Perhaps Week 4 has more tricks up its sleeve, twists and turns even.

 

Detroit +1 over Dallas

The undefeated, NFC North leading Lions are surprisingly the underdog in this matchup.

The Cowboys will host for the second week in a row, but needed six field goals last Monday night to edge rival Washington (explosive?).

Dallas' banged up receiving corps will prove too much to overcome on Sunday afternoon, and Detroit moves to 4-0.

New Orleans -7 over Jacksonville

The New Orleans Saints are off to an extremely "offensive" start, but in a good way.

Drew Brees and the Saints' offense have offended the right people, opposing defenses going back to Week 1 against the Packers (they scored 34 in a loss).

There is really not a whole lot to say about the Jags here; their Week 1 win over Tennessee is looking more and more distant.

Saints snag their first road win of the year.

Philadelphia -7.5 over San Francisco

Can the self-proclaimed "Dream Team" really start out 1-3?

A pissed off Michael Vick and an offensive line that has been ripped apart the past few weeks take out some frustration on the Niners at the Link.

Eagles right the ship, for now.

Washington over St. Louis

The Redskins are on the road for the second consecutive week; this time, however, they hope they don't lose to a kicker (literally).

There is no favorite in this one, which I like to call the Sam Bradford effect, or rather a slap in the face to the 2-1 Washington Redskins (they can't even get spotted a few points against the winless Rams, who also took a 30-point thrashing at home last week?).

Rex Grossman keeps his starting status intact, and gets a boost from the Skins D. Washington stays atop the NFC East for another week.

Tennessee +1 over Cleveland

Don't look now but the Titans are 2-1 without Vince Young's hamstring, rather Matt Hasselbeck's veteran arm.

Tennessee will travel to Cleveland Sunday afternoon in the battle of the surprise 2-1s.

Cleveland has been handing opponents a heavy dose of Peyton Hillis through the first three weeks, but Chris Johnson has to return at some point, right?

Titans squeeze it out and keep pace with Houston in the AFC South.

Buffalo -3 over Cincinnati

To quote ESPN's Chris Berman, "BILLS!?!...3-0!?!"

The masters of the comeback, imagine what the Buffalo Bills would do to opponents if they didn't spot them 21 points to start the game every week.

The Bills are on fire, and the Bengals have plenty of issues besides Andy Dalton's hair.

Fitzpatrick outsmarts Cincinnati on the road (see what I did there...he went to Harvard).

BILLS!?!...4-0!?!

Kansas City +1.5 over Minnesota

After being beaten and left for dead the first two weeks of the season, the Kansas City Chiefs finally showed some life last Sunday, falling to rival San Diego in a 20-17 nail-biter.

In a rare battle of two 0-3 teams, the edge has to go to the Chiefs considering they lose the game in the first half, unlike Minnesota, which prefers to cough up the game in the most critical half, the second.

Chiefs take some heat of Todd Haley's hot seat, and claim first win of the season at Arrowhead.

Chicago -6.5 over Carolina

Jay Cutler and the Bears have to run the ball better than they did last week. In case you live under a rock and didn't leave the house (or rock) this week, they rushed for 13 yards as a team, yikes!

(I was just kidding about the rock thing; you probably have a nice home).

However, Carolina's defense is much more forgiving than the Green Bay Packers, and Chicago is too good to be 1-3 after four weeks.

Vegas got this line right, and the Bears will humble Cam Newton Sunday at Soldier Field.

Pittsburgh +4 over Houston

So Ben Roethlisberger has more interceptions (four), and fumbles (four) than touchdowns (three) through the season's first three weeks, yet Pittsburgh is 2-1 and tied atop the AFC North division.

Houston is being prematurely crowned by experts (football fans who wear suits) everywhere, whereas the Steelers have already been legitimately crowned (with rings instead of crowns, a little less royal I know).

Give me Big Ben against that Texans' secondary on Sunday.

Atlanta -4.5 over Seattle

ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit said on Mike & Mike in the Morning Wednesday, that Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks may be content to go 0-16 this season to win the Andrew Luck sweepstakes.

Herbstreit was mistaken, however. The Seahawks actually defeated rival Arizona last Sunday, but 1-15 is still a definite possibility.

Atlanta needs this win, and they get it on the road behind Michael Turner (he's absolutely on my fantasy team).

NY Giants -1.5 over Arizona

New York got a very important win last week over NFC East foe Philly on the road.

Eli Manning threw the ball to the right guys (the latest Eli-interception shot of the season) and the Giants could be onto something this week if they can out-duel a confused Arizona team in the desert.

Arizona is coming off a loss at GULP...Seattle, which is currently searching for its quarterback who has been missing since the offseason (he was last scene wearing blue somewhere in Tennessee).

San Diego -7 over Miami

Are the San Diego Chargers consistent underachievers, or just a mediocre team that people constantly hype up?

Perhaps a little bit of both. Either way the finless and winless Dolphs (see what I did there?) will have their hands full on the road with Philip Rivers and Ryan Matthews.

Bolts win a close one on yet another sunny Sunday in Southern California (why don't I live there?).

Green Bay -13 over Denver

The weekend's biggest line is Green Bay over Denver at Lambeau Field, as it should be.

The scoreboard will likely explode as Aaron Rodgers returns home in attempt to keep the Packers' undefeated Super Bowl defense alive.

Kyle Orton is still the guy in Denver, so the Broncos will have a shot to move the ball on a banged up Green Bay defense, but come on, John Elway ain't walking through that door.

Pack wins big.

Oakland +4.5 over New England

The Black Hole is suddenly more scary than fun for visiting teams.

Just ask Rex Ryan and the New York Jets who suffered their first loss of the year at Oakland last Sunday.

The Raiders have a revamped running game led by Darren McFadden (league's leading rusher), and an improved attitude thanks to first-year head coach Hue Jackson.

Brady and the Pats are awfully tough though. They're actually getting 4.5 points here, but I'm bold, I drink Miller Lite and I like the Raiders on Sunday.

Baltimore -3.5 over NY Jets

I used to prefer Monday Night Football, but lately I've been a sucker for some SNF (Sunday Night Football).

The matchups have been far better, and the finishes have yet to disappoint (three games decided on the final play).

This Sunday night matchup should prove no different as the Baltimore Ravens host old friend and recent enemy Rex Ryan and his wounded New York Jets.

This is a toss up, so I'll go with the home team.

Tampa Bay -10 over Indianapolis

Are you ready for some football?

The young Bucs want to taste the playoffs in 2011, and a win over the Indianapolis Colts would send them to 3-1 and keep them atop the NFC South standings, promising.

Peyton Manning is still out (it's still shocking even after four weeks) and the Colts have very little to look forward to if they drop this one because they'll be 0-4 and without their franchise quarterback the rest of the way probably.

I don't know if this game will be as bad as Giants-Rams was two weeks ago, but it will be worse.

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter @_Pat_Clarke