By Chris Schisler
Welcome to week 4 in the NFL! It’s Thursday and that means it’s time for my NFL picks for the week. So far my record is 30-19. I’m giving you a little over 60 percent winners. As I start to feel this season out even more I’m hoping to get that number up. So we’re not doing bad, let’s see how good we can get this. Winners will be highlighted in purple.
NFL PICKS WEEK 4
Jaguars @ Bengals
The Bengals just beat the Steelers and they’re feeling it. The Bengals have gotten to the point where they can be trusted to win against bad teams. Give me the Bengals here. I don’t think they’re quite a contender yet, but Joe Burrow and company don’t need to find that out just yet. The Bengals strike me as a middle-of-the-road team with the arrow pointing up. The Jaguars strike me as a run-of-the-mill bad team.
Titans @ Jets
I can’t trust the Jets here. The Titans have picked it up in the last two weeks after a clunker to start the season. Give me a whole lot of Derrick Henry, and Ryan Tannehill playing well enough to get past a struggling Zack Wilson and the Jets.
Lions @ Bears
This is a tough game to predict. The Lions showed the Ravens that they were tougher than they were expected to be. The Lions also seem like a team that will find a way to lose no matter what. Give me Justin Fields having his first big day as an NFL quarterback. Give me the Bears but I don’t feel overly confident in either team.
Colts @ Dolphins
The Colts are not a good team. The Dolphins just took a very good Las Vegas Raiders team to the brink in an overtime game. I’m going with the Dolphins. I trust the Colts about as much as I trust the franchise owner of the Colts.
Browns @ Vikings
The Browns are a better team here. They just walloped the Bears. There is no reason to think the Browns won’t do the same thing to the Vikings. This looks like a big day for Nick Chubb and the Browns run game. The Vikings may put up some points but they aren’t going to win this duel.
Washington Football Team @ Falcons
It’s the Falcons. The Falcons made the Philadelphia Eagles look like world-beaters. The Buccaneers had no challenge with them. The Giants lost to the Falcons, but it’s not like the Giants are any good. Picking the Falcons seems like a bad idea. I have less confidence in Washington than I did at the start of the season yet I can’t pick the Falcons under almost any circumstances.
Texans @ Bills
I’ll give the Texans credit. They have played better football than I thought they would. David Culley may have a chance as a head coach in this league. The Texans still aren’t good. Davis Mills isn’t outdoing Josh Allen. The Bills win big at home.
Giants @ Saints
If the Saints lose this game, I really can’t figure them out. The Saints have looked too good this season to lose this game. Give me a big day for Jameis Winston and Alvin Kamara. Give me a bad day for Daniel Jones and the Giants.
Chiefs @ Eagles
In the dictionary, under “Get-Right-Game” there is a picture of this matchup. The Chiefs aren’t going to fall three weeks in a row and lose to Andy Reid’s old team. The Eagles just let up 41 points to the Dallas Cowboys. Patrick Mahomes has at least 35 points for the Chiefs this week and the Eagles won’t keep up.
Panthers @ Cowboys
Speaking of the Cowboys, they know exactly who they are. They’re rolling on offense and Dak Prescott is playing at an MVP level. Give me the Cowboys, especially considering Christian McCaffery is out for the Panthers.
Seahawks @ 49ers
I keep rolling with the Seahawks and they keep proving to me that they’re not a complete team. The 49ers were impressive against the Packers they just left 30 seconds for Aaron Rodgers. Give me the 49ers. The 49ers’ offense can stay on the field and limit Russell Wilson’s chances. They just lost a duel with a Pro Bowl quarterback, but they’ll win this one.
Cardinals @ Rams
Don’t kill me if this one is wrong, because it could easily go either way. The Rams are probably the better overall team and this is a “Show Me’ game for Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford. It’s a shame that it’s not the Sunday Night Football game. This for the record is objectively better television than the Sunday Night Game.
Steelers @ Packers
The Steelers can’t put up enough points to win this game. It’s just not a very high possibility. The Packers’ offense should put up too many points. Anything Joe Burrow can do, Rodgers can do better. Give me the Packers to get a delicious victory.
Ravens @ Broncos
Oddly, I’m feeling more confident about the Ravens than I was before the Lions game. The team is getting healthier. The Ravens are a scrappy team that finds a way, let’s be honest this feels like vintage Ravens football. The Ravens’ offense will have a bounce-back game, Marquise Brown included. I think it takes 24 points to win this game and the Ravens should get there first.
The NFL presents Sunday and Monday night football:
Buccaneers @ Patriots
I have a prediction for you, Cris Collinsworth will lay on the “Brady Returns” thing on so thick, you’ll forget that there is a football game. It’s going to be obnoxious, there’s no way it can’t be that way. The Buccaneers will win convincingly so they may not have much else to talk about in the fourth quarter.
Raiders @ Chargers
The Raiders are a more complete team than the Chargers. Do I expect this to be a great game? Absolutely. It’s worth ruining your Tuesday morning. I have the Raiders winning on the road in a game that will feel more like a home game for them.
NEXT POST: Lamar Jackson: Looking at his crazy start to the 2021 season
There you go. My NFL picks are now locked and official. As always take them for whatever you think they are worth and have fun!
