NFL Game Picks: Week 4

After a record-breaking week 3 filled with massive upsets, week 4 looks to be a much more competitive weekend in the NFL.

Don’t forget to set your alarms for 9:30 on Sunday, as the London games begin this week once again, set for a full day of football.

With that being said, here are our picks for the action around the league in week 4.

Rocco’s Picks:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1) @ New Orleans Saints (2-1) Sunday 1:00 p.m. (NO -3)

The headline of this game is Derek Carr’s status, who was sidelined for most of the second half of the Saints’ 18-17 heartbreaking loss in Lambeau.

Jameis Winston will likely get the start, and I’ll lean towards the former Heisman winner getting his revenge against his former team behind his stout defense that’s allowed a measly 16.4 PPG to start the year.

Expect a low-scoring matchup as FanDuel has this matchup listed as the lowest point total across the Week 4 slate.

My Pick: Saints 17, Buccaneers 14

Las Vegas Raiders (1-2) @ Los Angeles Chargers (1-2) Sunday 4:05 p.m. (LAC -6)

Intra-division matchups are usually a tough call, especially for a matchup where the teams have split the last three seasons.

However, one thing is for certain in this AFC West matchup: lots of points. The Chargers passing defense ranks dead last in the league currently while Justin Herbert sits in third in the NFL in passing yards per game at 308.

I’m going to go with the better quarterback here Justin Herbert as Jimmy Garoppolo leads the NFL in interceptions with six in only three games.

My Pick: Chargers 34, Raiders 23

Denver Broncos (0-3) @ Chicago Bears (0-3) Sunday 1:00 p.m. (CHI +3.5)

It’s no secret that these two teams have been the two worst teams in the NFL. Denver currently sports a -53 point differential, and Chicago sits at last in the league with a -59 point differential.

The Broncos offense has had brief glimpses of potential, specifically a 33-point outing versus Washington despite blowing a 21-3 lead. Chicago is yet to surpass 20 points on the year if you exclude a garbage-time touchdown in Week 1.

I’ll go with the lesser of two evils here in Denver in hopes of their offense finding a spark.

My Pick: Broncos 23, Bears 17

Atlanta Falcons (2-1) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (1-2) Sunday 9:30 a.m. (London) (JAX -3)

Jacksonville heads across the pond for the 10th time in 11 seasons (2020 COVID season where no games were held in London) in hopes of bouncing back after a rough loss to the division rival Houston Texans.

Atlanta looks to ride behind their defense and rushing attack as they travel to London for the second time in three years.

Jacksonville leads the league in trips to London, so they are no strangers to this time change and travel. I’ll take the Jaguars with Calvin Ridley having a big day against the team that traded him last season.

My Pick: Jaguars 24, Falcons 16

Carlin’s Picks:

Baltimore Ravens (2-1) @ Cleveland Browns (2 - 1) Sunday 1:00 p.m. (CLE -2.5)

Division rivalries tend to be up in the air, but the Ravens have dominated this one, winning 35 of the 48 games played.

However, I’m taking the Browns. They have the No.1 ranked defense in the league, only letting up 491 total yards. If they can prevent Lamar Jackson from escaping the pocket, I believe they can escape with a win.

My Pick: Browns 24, Ravens 20

Cincinnati Bengals (1-2) @ Tennessee Titans (1-2) Sunday 1:00 p.m. (TEN +2.5)

The Bengals enter week 4 looking to even the count with another needed win to stay in contention with the AFC North.

The Titans are looking to bounce back from a depressing loss last week against the Browns, only totaling 94 yards and six first downs.

I have the Bengals leaving Nissan Stadium with a win despite Joe Burrow not being 100 percent.

My Pick: Bengals 35, Titans 7

Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1) @ Houston Texans (1-2) Sunday 1:00 p.m. (HOU +3)

Pittsburgh looks to continue its two-game win streak with another victory on the road while Houston seeks another impressive win.

I think the Steelers will walk away with a win. Not only has their offense improved, but their defense has been top-tier the past two weeks.

My Pick: Steelers 23, Texans 10

Jameson’s Picks:

Detroit Lions (2-1) @ Green Bay Packers (2-1) Thursday 8:15 p.m. (GB +1.5)

This will be a matchup between the NFC North’s two best teams, and the victor will have a big leg-up in the standings moving forward.

Both teams are coming off of a good win, but I think the Lions will be better prepared off a short rest.

My Pick: Lions- 27, Packers- 20

Miami Dolphins (3-0) @ Buffalo Bills (2-1) Sunday 1:00 p.m. (BUF -3)

This is undoubtedly the best game of the week and even has a game-of-the-year potential between two outstanding teams.

Both offenses have looked outstanding, and this will be massive for the AFC East standings at the end of the year.

The Dolphins are probably the more complete team, but give me Buffalo at home in this one.

My Pick: Bills- 34, Dolphins- 30

Kansas City Chiefs (2-1) @ New York Jets (1-2) Sunday 8:20 p.m. (NYJ +9.5)

This is going to be a tough one to watch on Sunday night, an Aaron Rodgers injury has taken much of the fun out of this contest.

The Chiefs put up 41 points last week and should be able to put up enough against a tough Jets defense to get the win.

My Pick: Chiefs- 27, Jets- 10

Luke’s Picks

Seattle Seahawks (2-1) vs. New York Giants (1-2) Monday 8:15 p.m.

The Seahawks are looking to come off their huge win against the Carolina Panthers last week and carry it over into Metlife Stadium against the New York Giants.

The Giants have had a rough year so far and with Saquon Barkley’s injury being day-to-day, they are going to have to heavily rely on the passing game and Daniel Jones’ arm.

I do think this will be a back-and-forth game, but I have the Seahawks fighting harder and beating the Giants in their hometown.

My Pick: Seahawks - 17, Giants - 10

Washington Commanders (2-1) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (3-0) Sunday 1 p.m.

This is going to be a great NFC East division battle. The Commanders looked strong starting off the season but took an absolutely brutal beating from the Buffalo Bills last week.

The Eagles and Jalen Hurts are looking again like the Super Bowl contenders their fans believe them to be. D’Andre Swift has taken off and has proven that the Eagles have more than just an elite passing game.

The Eagles are going to take care of business this week using the running and passing game. They are going to prove their fans right and begin to show why they are Super Bowl contenders this year.

My Pick: Eagles - 35, Commanders - 17

Los Angeles Rams (1-2) vs. Indianapolis Colts (2-1) Sunday 1 p.m.

The Rams are coming off a losing week against the Bengals, and are hoping to turn it around this week against the Colts.

The Colts have shown last week that they don’t need their fourth overall pick in Anthony Richardson and that Gardner Minshew can get the job done. Being able to beat the Ravens in Baltimore last week in overtime shows that the Colts have to fight and they won’t go down quietly.

I have the Colts winning this one at home behind Minshew and showing that they are here to compete and that the starting quarterback going down won’t stop them.

My Pick: Colts 24, Rams 21

Joe’s Picks:

(1-2) Arizona Cardinals @ (3-0) San Francisco 49ers Sunday 4:25 p.m. (SF -14)

After a surprising win against the Cowboys last week, the Cardinals are rewarded by facing one of the top teams in the NFL this season.

The 49ers are rolling right now, averaging 30 points per game through three weeks.

Featured by two of the top four rushing yards leaders, James Conner and Christian McCaffrey, I expect both teams to run the ball early and often. I do not think this game will be close, the 49ers will continue to roll along.

My Pick: Cardinals 13, 49ers 34

(1-2) New England Patriots @ (2-1) Dallas Cowboys Sunday 4:25 p.m. (DAL -6.5)

Coming off an unexpected, disappointing loss against the Cardinals, the Cowboys look to get back on track at home against the Patriots.

The Cowboys are fifth in the NFL in points per game at 28.7, while the Patriots sit at 26th with 17.3 points per game.

I have the Cowboys winning by two possessions, as Micah Parsons continues his quest for Defense Player of The Year.

My Pick: Patriots 17, Cowboys 28

(0-3) Minnesota Vikings @ (0-3) Carolina Panthers Sunday 1:00 p.m. (MIN -3.5)

There are not many must-win games in week four of the NFL, but this game is for the Vikings. Coming off a 13-win season last year with 11 of them being one-score games, the luck simply is not swinging Minnesota’s way this season, as all three losses this season have been one-score games.

With that being said, I think this is the week the Vikings get in the win column. The Panthers have allowed 987 total yards so far this season, while the Vikings average 406 yards per game, headlined by the passing yards leader Kirk Cousins with 1,075 and receiving yards leader Justin Jefferson with 458.

My Pick: Vikings 31, Panthers 17

Rocco Pellegrino is a first-year student majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email rdp5387@psu.edu.

Carlin Whalen is a third-year student majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email cjw6426@psu.edu.

Jameson Kramer is a fourth-year student majoring in broadcast journalism, to contact him, please email jek5650@psu.edu.

Luke Panzer is a fourth-year student majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email lzp5281@psu.edu

Joe Degnan is a third-year student majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email jhd5241@psu.edu