NFL WEEK 4: The Detroit Lions kicked off this Week 4 with their second Thursday night victory of this young season, easily cruising past division rival Green Bay and serving notice that it’s a new day in the NFC North. Lions quarterback Jared Goff said after the game that the team feels like they can beat anyone, and though it’s early, Goff’s sentiment doesn’t appear to be too far off. This Lions team is balanced offensively and the defense is much improved. If they stay healthy, they’re going to be a tough out.
There are 15 more games on tap this weekend and we get some early London action on Sunday, so buckle up, get your bets in, and let’s wash away the disappointment of the Ryder Cup enjoy some NFL football, shall we?
Miami Dolphins @ Buffalo Bills (BUF -3, 52.5)
Recommendation: Buffalo -3 at 2.05
These teams have emerged as early Super Bowl contenders, with Miami in particular turning heads with a record-setting offense. That offense faces its toughest challenge, however, as the Bills once again have once of the very best defenses in the league and are coming off a dominating Week 3 performance against Washington in which they sacked Commanders QB Sam Howell nine times. Getting pressure on Tua Tagovailoa and disrupting the timing of the Miami passing attack has always been the key to slowing down these Fins, and keeping them off the field isn’t a bad idea, either– the Bills, who rank 3rd in the NFL in time of possession, are equipped to do both. The Dolphins hype train will be derailed… for one week, anyway.
Minnesota Vikings @ Carolina Panthers (MIN -4, 46)
Recommendation: Minnesota -4 at 1.92
At 0-3, the Vikings may be the single most disappointing team in the NFL right now– they desperately need a victory. Fortunately for them, this week they face a Carolina team that is also winless and will be without several of its best players on the defensive side of the ball. Top cornerback Jaycee Horn is out, as is starting safety Xavier Woods, and rangy linebacker Frankie Luvu is questionable with a hip injury. Minnesota QB Kirk Cousins leads the NFL in passing yards and he has the league’s best receiver, Justin Jefferson, at his disposal, so this is going to be a serious challenge for the banged-up Panthers D. On the other side of the ball, Carolina rookie QB Bryce Young returns to the lineup after a 1-week absence and he’s struggled mightily in the first two games of his career, averaging just 4.2 yards per pass attempt and ranking 32nd out of 34 qualified quarterbacks in QB rating. The Vikings are simply the better team here and should win this one rather comfortably.
Los Angeles Rams @ Indianapolis Colts (pk, 45.5)
Recommendation: Los Angeles moneyline (to win) at 1.96
Rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson makes his return in this one after missing last week’s win over Baltimore while recovering from a concussion, and though I certainly understand why the Colts brain trust wants to get their first-rounder some experience, he’s simply not as effective right now as veteran backup Gardner Minshew. Richardson is extremely raw and downright remedial in the passing game, so we can expect a very conservative game plan here from Shane Steichen’s offense against the veteran Rams D. The Los Angeles offense will likely take a very different approach, as the Indy D is stout up front but vulnerable in the secondary, surrendering over 250 yards per game through the air. Look for Matt Stafford to carry the Rams to victory with his arm.
Cincinnati Bengals @ Tennessee Titans (CIN -2.5, 41.5)
Recommendation: Tennessee +2.5 at 2.03; Tennessee moneyline (to win) at 2.34
The Bengals have been in a funk, but everybody just assumes they’ll naturally break out soon– after all, they have one of the NFL’s best receiving corps and an elite young quarterback in Joe Burrow. Burrow hasn’t been himself while recovering from a calf injury, however, and the offense has been reduced to a non-threatening, dink-and-dunk unit. They’ll try to get it cranked up against a mediocre Titans secondary, but Tennessee QB Ryan Tannehill will have chances of his own against a Bengals defense that is allowing an NFL-worst 10.0 air yards per completion. Mike Vrabel’s teams have always been tough as a home ‘dog, and something tells me people are giving up on these Titans too quickly. I like the home team to grind out a tough win here.
