NFL Picks Week 4: Predicting the Outcome of Every Game This Weekend

In Week 3, the first set of divisional games mixed everything up. With just three teams remaining unbeaten and five still looking for their first win, there's a giant 24-team lump in the batter.

Week 4 should mix that lump up good. After this week's slate of games, we should have a much clearer idea of what the NFL's 2011 cake will taste like, and which teams will have a chance to lick the spoon in February.

Who will win? Who will lose? I pick the outcomes of all 16 NFL Week 4 games.

Carolina at Chicago

The story of the Carolina Panthers is the emergence of Cam Newton, and the Chicago Bears are wondering what happened to their Roy Williams-fueled passing attack.

But Chicago's loss last week was more about how good the Packers are than how bad the Bears are.

Chicago 24 - Carolina 21

Buffalo at Cincinnati

The Cincinnati Bengals defense is much better than many expected, but the Buffalo Bills offense has blown everyone away. Scoring 37.7 points per game, the high-flying Bills won't be grounded by Cincinnati.

The score, though, may be closer than the two teams' records would suggest.

Buffalo 24 - Cincinnati 13

Tennessee at Cleveland

Cleveland Browns head coach Pat Shurmur has guided his young quarterback, Colt McCoy, to an impressive 2-1 start. The Tennessee Titans have also turned some heads with the play of Matt Hasselbeck.

Though the loss of WR Kenny Britt hurts, the Titans' scoring defense is still the second best in the NFL, allowing 14.3 points per game.

Tennessee 17 - Cleveland 9

Detroit at Dallas

The Detroit Lions are scoring 33.7 points per game,and allowing just 15.3. They lead the NFL in point differential through these three games, while the Cowboys are the NFL's median team.

Jerryworld will prove a tough test for Detroit, but right now they're just playing too well.

Detroit 27 - Dallas 17

Pittsburgh at Houston

Both the Houston Texans and the Pittsburgh Steelers are 2-1, but the Texans have looked like the best 2-1 team in football while doing it. The Steelers: Less so.

The Texans only lost due to a furious comeback from Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints, while the Steelers held off a furious comeback from Curtis Painter and the Indianapolis Colts.

Houston 33 - Pittsburgh 24

New Orleans at Jacksonville

The Saints are a bad playcall away from being 3-0, while the Jaguars apparently sold their souls for a season-opening win.

Rookie Blaine Gabbert has no hope of keeping up with Brees and the Saints.

New Orleans 38 - Jacksonville 7

Minnesota at Kansas City

For three straight games, the Vikings have jumped out to a double-digit halftime lead. For three straight games, they've blown it. Starting out 20-0 against the Detroit Lions, only to lose in overtime, means this team is past due for their first win.

The Kansas City Chiefs have the worst scoring offense in football, the worst scoring defense in football, and therefore the worst point differential in football, by a lot.

Minnesota 34 - Kansas City 6

San Francisco at Philadelphia

The Philadelphia Eagles picked an awful time to have their starting quarterback banged up (though Mike Vick is expected to play). The San Francisco 49ers have the fourth-best scoring defense in the NFL, and QB Alex Smith has quietly developed into an efficient, checkdown-hitting game manager.

Getting a road win at Philadelphia will be extremely difficult, but I like Patrick Willis and the 49ers to eke one out.

San Francisco 24 - Philadelphia 23

Washington at St. Louis

The Redskins have gotten off to a 2-1 start, and were just three points short of 3-0. The St. Louis Rams can't buy a win, scoring only 12 points per game while allowing 32.

The Redskins are more likely "pretenders" than "contenders," but St. Louis isn't even a pretender.

Washington 20 - St. Louis 7

New York Giants at Arizona

The New York Giants are coming off a huge divisional win over Philadelphia, and the momentum of a two-game win streak.

The Arizona Cardinals just lost, somehow, to the Seattle Seahawks. Arizona is better than that, but not better than Big Blue.

New York 20 - Arizona 10

Atlanta at Seattle

The Seattle Seahawks finally got off the schneid with an improbable divisional win. Atlanta has been looking remarkably mortal, though, especially in their two road losses. Going on the road a third time in four games bodes poorly for the Falcons, but the Seahawks' offense is one of the worst in the game.

Close, but Matt Ryan gives the edge to the Falcons.

Atlanta 17 - Seattle 6

Denver at Green Bay

The Packers are the reigning champs and playing like it. They are undefeated, and looking great against teams in orange jerseys. Sorry, Denver.

Green Bay 32 - Denver 17

New England at Oakland

The teams with the 2nd-ranked and 6th-ranked offenses in the NFL will face off this weekend. They'll bring with the the 27th-ranked and 28th-ranked defenses. Can you say "track meet?"

I believe the Raiders will be a tough out this season, and we could see the "Black Hole" really be the Black Hole again.

I won't be surprised, then, to find out my prediction of a Patriots win is wrong.

New England 37 - Oakland 34

Miami at San Diego

Both the San Diego Chargers and Miami Dolphins are underachieving this season. However, the Chargers mediocre'd their way to a 2-1 record, and the 0-3 Dolphins can neither score nor prevent others from scoring.

Maybe the Dolphins rally together to keep Tony Sparano employed, or maybe it'll be like Sparano trying to stage dive, and the Dolphins all taking a step back instead of catching him.

San Diego 27 - Miami 10

New York Jets at Baltimore

They say you throw out the record books when rivals play, but the Jets and Ravens are both 2-1. Further, they're both playing great football. The Ravens are second-best in points differential, and the Jets are seventh. The Jets have the ninth-best offense in football, and the 12th-best defense.

But the Ravens' offense is one slot better, and their scoring defense is No. 1 overall. Oh, and the game will be played in Baltimore.

Baltimore 21 - New York Jets 17

Indianapolis at Tampa Bay

The Indianapolis Colts semi-miraculously pushed the Pittsburgh Steelers to the limit last week, but the Buccaneers are a very good young team that's finally putting it all together.

All my rowdy friends are probably going to be busy washing their hair on Monday Night.

Tampa Bay 20 - Indianapolis 10