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The NFL season is cruising right along, and we kick off Week 4 with a Thursday night divisional matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants.
There are plenty of intriguing matchups in store this week with the Vikings vs. Packers, Bills vs. Ravens, and Lions vs. Seahawks being just a few of the true standouts. But as always, this slate features some really ugly games, such as the Raiders vs. Browns.
Good, bad, and ugly...we'll go through every Week 4 game in this article, offering picks, predictions, and analysis on each and every one. Thanks for joining us here at RotoBaller, let's dive into the slate!
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Dallas Cowboys 24, New York Giants 17
We kick off Week 4 with a fierce divisional rivalry game between the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants. While both of these squads enter this Thursday night matchup with 1-2 records, it feels as though all the pressure sits squarely on the underperforming Dallas Cowboys, who will be traveling to New York on just three days' rest.
NYC is the backdrop to a divisional clash on #TNFonPrime. pic.twitter.com/khYud1k5dd
— NFL on Prime Video (@NFLonPrime) September 26, 2024
Mike Zimmer's return to Big D has been a disaster thus far, as the 'Boys' defense has allowed 72 points over their last two. They will be tasked with containing New York's superstar rookie receiver Malik Nabers, who is so good he's made Daniel Jones look borderline competent over the last two weeks. The G-Men will try to ugly this game up, but Dallas' talent advantage should ultimately shine through.
Pittsburgh Steelers 17, Indianapolis Colts 10
Fans of high-scoring offenses should probably skip this one. The Steelers are off to a 3-0 start to the season thanks in part to Justin Fields' ability to play mistake-free football and largely to a defense that's looked scary good. Pittsburgh is the first team since 2009 to hold each of its first three opponents of the season to under 10 points.
The Colts look like their next victim, as second-year QB Anthony Richardson has been shaky at best. Indy is averaging just 184.3 passing yards per game and will likely continue to struggle against a Steelers defensive unit that's allowing a league-low 8.7 points per game.
Minnesota Vikings 23, Green Bay Packers 21
A heated divisional rivalry between two good football teams who have performed better than expected. Anybody wanna flip a coin? A lot is riding on Jordan Love's availability for this one, and he appears to be on track to play as of this writing.
Whether it's Love or Malik Willis, Minnesota defensive coordinator Brian Flores will likely have a creative game plan to slow down the Packers - if there's a "Coordinator of the Month" Award, Flores is a lock to win it.
Sam Darnold has been a revelation at QB for the Vikings to this point and the revenge narrative will be in full effect as former Green Bay running back Aaron Jones is set to return to Lambeau. This matchup (rightly) has a tight spread and it isn't hard to envision a close game that comes down to a late field goal. We'll give the slightest of edges to the red-hot Vikings.
Houston Texans 27, Jacksonville Jaguars 20
These two teams appear to be headed in different directions, though both are coming into this divisional matchup off blowout losses in Week 3. The Texans will look to get back on track after struggling to put points on the board against Minnesota, while the Jags struggled in every facet in a Monday night destruction at the hands of Buffalo.
As Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson's seat grows hotter by the day, look for the Jags to throw everything but the kitchen sink at Houston here. However, the Texans are the superior squad, are at home, and will look to rebound from their own disappointing performance last week.
Atlanta Falcons 24, New Orleans Saints 23
The Falcons continue a brutal early-season gauntlet against NFC South rival New Orleans. Atlanta will look to level after a 1-2 start that includes losses to the Steelers and Chiefs, as new quarterback Kirk Cousins appears to be improving with each start.
Saints Week pic.twitter.com/ggVQUwNtV1
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) September 25, 2024
Following a white-hot 2-0 start, New Orleans dropped a close one at home to the Eagles last week, as Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak's unit managed just 12 points in Week 3 after averaging 45.5 points across their first two games of the season.
Derek Carr and company will face a tough challenge against an Atlanta defense that's been quietly stingy to this point and the Falcons will successfully defend their home turf in a nailbiter.
Los Angeles Rams 20, Chicago Bears 17
The preseason hype has officially fizzled for "Da Bears," as their new-look offense seems to just be more of what Chicago fans are used to. Despite the unit's struggles, there's certainly the potential for Caleb Williams to get on track against a Rams defense that's dead last in the NFL in yards allowed per game.
Sean McVay's squad pulled off an unlikely win over San Francisco in Week 3 but remains injury-depleted on the offensive side of the ball. Wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua remain out, as do multiple pieces of the offensive line.
Despite those key injuries, McVay and quarterback Matthew Stafford are proven winners at the NFL level. The same can't be said for Williams and company, at least not yet, which makes us think the Rams will find a way to win in a close one.
Philadelphia Eagles 24, Tampa Bay Bucs 21
Philly travels to Tampa for a rematch of last year's NFC Wild Card playoff game, which the Bucs won. However, the Eagles have a new weapon in running back Saquon Barkley this time around. They will look to take advantage of a Tampa Bay defense that's allowed a chunky 4.9 yards per carry through their first three games.
Injuries to A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith are a legitimate concern, though the Eagles will likely lean on the rushing ability of Barkley and quarterback Jalen Hurts in this matchup.
The Bucs possess some offensive firepower of their own with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, though a shocking Week 3 home loss to the Denver Broncos was a nice reminder of how inconsistent Tampa Bay can be.
Cincinnati Bengals 35, Carolina Panthers 27
So many intriguing storylines in this one, as the winless Bengals head to Carolina to face their former franchise quarterback, Andy Dalton, in a have-to-have-it game.
Dalton sparked the Panthers' offense in Week 3 after replacing 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young in the starting lineup. Carolina exploded for 36 points en route to picking up their first win of the season over Las Vegas with the Red Rifle at the helm.
Meanwhile, Dalton's old team has somehow dug themselves a 0-3 hole to start 2024, dropping games to the Patriots and Commanders along the way. Despite the Monday night loss to the Commanders, Joe Burrow looked sharp while going 29 of 38 for 324 yards and three TDs. It's a must-win for the Bengals and they should be able to outscore Carolina in a game with shootout potential.
New York Jets 20, Denver Broncos 13
Both of these squads come in off impressive Week 3 outings. The Jets offense finally flashed its potential with Aaron Rodgers at the helm against New England, while the Broncos shocked the 2-0 Bucs in a trip to Tampa.
Defense will be the order of the day here, as both the Jets and Broncos field units ranking among the top 10 in the NFL in total yards and points allowed. With Rodgers, Breece Hall, and Garrett Wilson, the Jets possess the offensive talent needed to come out on top in what should be a low-scoring affair.
Arizona Cardinals 31, Washington Commanders 28
Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels was electric in a Week 3 win over the Bengals. It certainly looks like the Commanders might have a franchise QB on their hands. However, their defense still has a long way to go, as Washington fields one of the worst secondaries in the NFL.
Jayden Daniels had a historic MNF debut: 293 total yards, 91.3 comp%, 3 total TDs 🔥@JayD__5 | @Commanders pic.twitter.com/TMUHGzUjsw
— NFL (@NFL) September 24, 2024
Playing perhaps the best ball of his career, Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray will look to take advantage of the Commanders' leaky pass defense that's allowing the league's second-most passing yards per game. Arizona has its own issues on defense and is allowing just over 21 points per game.
The public sentiment will probably be with Washington after Daniels looked like a superstar in primetime on Monday night. However, we all know the NFL is never that simple. Expect plenty of scoring in this potential shootout and the Cardinals to eke out a close one at home.
San Francisco 20, New England Patriots 10
The banged-up Niners come limping into a Week 4 matchup with the Patriots on the heels of two straight losses. Playing in Week 3 without Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel Sr., George Kittle, and others, San Fran suffered a shocking defeat at the hands of the L.A. Rams.
They'll look to get back on track against a New England squad that was soundly dominated by the Jets on Thursday Night Football. After a scrappy 1-1 start to the season, the Patriots' offensive limitations were exposed in Week 3.
While the Niners will remain at less than full strength this week, Kyle Shanahan's bunch will outclass a New England team that lacks any offensive punch.
Las Vegas Raiders 17, Cleveland Browns 13
It's tough to say which of these teams had the worst Week 3. The Browns fell to the Giants at home, while the Raiders were shock-and-awed by the Andy Dalton-led Panthers. Ugly stuff all the way around.
Someone has gotta win this Week 4 matchup - although a tie would be BEAUTIFUL - as Cleveland travels west to face the Silver & Black. Browns fans themselves will tell you that Deshaun Watson is not the answer, as Cleveland's 152.3 passing yards per game is the third-worst mark in the NFL.
Conversely, the Raiders have struggled mightily on the ground and rank dead last in the league with an average of 51 rushing yards per game. This feels like the definition of a coin flip, but we'll give Las Vegas the edge at home.
Kansas City Chiefs 24, Los Angeles Chargers 14
The defending Super Bowl champions are 3-0 in their quest for a third consecutive title. The scary thing? Kansas City hasn’t played its best football yet but has still found ways to win against three high-quality opponents, all while navigating injuries to Isiah Pacheco and Hollywood Brown, as well as next-to-nothing production from Travis Kelce.
The Chiefs are 8-2 across their last 10 against the Chargers, which is just one reason why the Bolts targeted new head coach Jim Harbaugh during the offseason. Running a run-heavy scheme, L.A. has jumped out to a 2-1 start. However, the Chargers won't be at full strength in Week 4, as Justin Herbert, Joe Alt, Rashawn Slater, and Joey Bosa are just some of L.A.'s players currently listed as questionable.
A victory over the Chiefs would be a big ask even for a fully healthy Chargers squad, and while Harbaugh will have his team ready to play, Andy Reid and company will do what they do...find a way to win.
Baltimore Ravens 28, Buffalo Bills 27
Week 4's marquee matchup features the Bills traveling to Baltimore to face the Ravens on Sunday Night Football. All the offseason concerns about Buffalo’s retooled roster appear to be slowly evaporating after a dominant 3-0 start to 2024. The Bills haven’t trailed since halftime of the season opener.
Baltimore is proof that the line between wins and losses in the NFL is razor-thin. The Ravens are not without issues – their offensive line being the most obvious – but they are only a handful of plays away from being 3-0 instead of 1-2 right now.
Josh Allen PRAISES Lamar Jackson
“He's an inspiration to a lot of people in this country...he's changed the way that guys play the game but make no mistake, he can throw the snot out of the football. Got a lot of respect for him, a lot of love for him” pic.twitter.com/WnQQ1SxCd9
— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) September 25, 2024
This will be a fun battle between two of the NFL's most electric quarterbacks, though running backs James Cook and Derrick Henry have been significant contributors to both of these offenses. You can expect the Ravens to play with their backs against the wall and successfully defend their home field in a tight, hard-fought game.
Miami Dolphins 14, Tennessee Titans 13
A brutal matchup for fans as part of the Monday Night Football doubleheader, the Titans travel to South Beach in search of their first win of the season. The Dolphins are searching for answers with Tua Tagovailoa on Injured Reserve. To make matters worse, backup Miami QB Skylar Thompson's status is currently unclear after a rib injury forced him out of the team's Week 3 loss to Seattle in the third quarter.
We may see a revolving door at quarterback for the 'Fins with some combination of Thompson, Tim Boyle, and/or Tyrone Huntley getting action against a Tennessee defense that's yielding just 281.3 yards per game.
The Titans will look to get a mistake-free game from Will Levis - which is increasingly looking like an impossibility - and lean on the ground attack with Tony Pollard. Somehow, some way, game-breakers Tyreek Hill and De'Von Achane will make enough plays for Miami to scratch out a win at home.
Detroit Lions 27, Seattle Seahawks 24
The Week 4 slate closes with an intriguing matchup between two NFC playoff contenders. The undefeated Seahawks and first-year head coach Mike Macdonald will face their first true test of 2024 against Dan Campbell's scrappy Lions.
No longer a Cinderella, Detroit has been uneven while winning two of its first three, though the team that reached last year's NFC Championship Game might have rediscovered its identity while pounding Arizona for 187 yards on the ground last week.
They'll likely have a tougher time against a Seattle defensive front that's only allowing 76.7 rushing yards per game, but a rowdy Ford Field crowd and Detroit's recent experience in big-game environments should lift them to a win here.
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