The final week of the 2017-2018 NFL Season where all 32 teams were in action yielded some interesting results. I actually went 10 and 6 against the spread this week, which isn’t bad. Check out the updated NFL Week 4 Picks + Schedule for the actual record.
We learned some things in NFL Week 4. Let’s get to it!
2017 NFL Week 4 Recap
Chicago Bears +7 at Green Bay Packers -7
The Packers dominated the Bears…again. Green Bay has covered in something like 13 out of the last 15 versus rival Chicago. This used to be a rivalry on par with Yankees versus Red Sox in MLB. Not so anymore. The Packers are banged up. But, they remain one of the better teams in the NFL. The Bears have already announced a QB change for Week 5. They’re going with rookie Mitch Trubisky.
Result: Packers 35, Bears 14
New Orleans Saints pk vs Miami Dolphins pk
The line went from a pick game to Saints -4. Someone knew something, right? What that person almost assuredly didn’t know is that my pre-season prediction that the New Orleans Saints’ defense would be a huge surprise this season might becoming to fruition. New Orleans held Miami to 0 points. Fins’ RB Jay Ajayi gained 46 yards on 12 carries. Cutler was 20 out of 28. He only passed for 164 yards, though. He also threw a pick.
Result: Saints 20, Dolphins 0
L.A. Rams +8 at Dallas Cowboys -8
I really liked the Rams at +8 going into Arlington to face the Dallas Cowboys in NFL Week 4. The Rams didn’t disappoint. this was another where the pros sided with the casual players. Dallas ended up a -5.5 favorite off a -8 starting line. All the money went to Los Angeles. After the Rams’ road win versus the Boys, it’s time to take at least one of L.A.’s two NFL teams seriously. What I really liked seeing was RB Todd Gurley carrying the football with two hands. Gurley didn’t fumble. He subsequently had an incredible game both rushing and pass catching.
Result: Rams 35, Cowboys 30
Jacksonville Jaguars -4.5 at New York Jets +4.5
I was definitely iffy about the Jaguars covering a -4.5 spread versus the New York Jets. The Jets had showed me something in their 20 to 6 win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 3. NYJ followed that victory up with a solid overtime win versus a much better opponent in the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 4. NYJ is now tied with the New England Patriots in the AFC East.
Result: Jets 23, Jaguars 20
Detroit Lions +2.5 at Minnesota Vikings -2.5
The biggest news to come out of this game is Minnesota rookie RB Dalvin Cook going down with an ACL tear. Cook was having a fantastic rookie season. Both QB Sam Bradford and RB Dalvin Cook are out for the foreseeable future. What it means is that Minnesota has an uphill battle to just get back into the NFC North race. The Lions are as steady as any team in the NFL right now not named Kansas City.
Result: Lions 14, Vikings 7
Buffalo Bills +9 at Atlanta Falcons -9
I called the Bills money line upset because I believe in the Buffalo Bills. I had a feeling that Bills coach Sean McDermott might find a way to stop Atlanta’s overpowering offense. The Bills did just that. Buffalo is now in charge of the AFC East while Atlanta is only a half a game ahead of Tampa Bay, tied with Carolina, and only a single game ahead of New Orleans in the NFC Deep South.
Result: Bills 23, Falcons 17
Cincinnati Bengals -2.5 at Cleveland Browns +2.5
The Bengals proved that they can handle an inferior team on the road. Cincinnati’s offense finally kicked it up a notch by dominating the Browns. What’s startling is that Cleveland hasn’t made any adjustments on offense, or defense, to change some things. I know that Hue Jackson’s job should be safe. He’s the best coach out there to bring along rookie QB DeShone Kizer. But, is it safe?
Result: Bengals 31, Browns 7
Carolina Panthers +9 at New England Patriots -9
I saw this money line upset coming a mile away. Carolina’s defense is just much better than New England’s. I’m not sure why the New England Patriots decided to become the 2015 New Orleans Saints. The Pats’ D is ranked last in the NFL in yards allowed per game. New England gives up an amazing 456.8 total yards per game. The Patriots allow an average of 32 points per.
Result: Panthers 33, Patriots 30
Pittsburgh Steelers -2.5 at Baltimore Ravens +2.5
I missed this one big time. I thought the Ravens might pick up their feet versus the Steelers on Sunday. Baltimore battled their rivals at home. The Ravens didn’t just not pick up their feet. They also decided to throw in the towel early. By halftime, the score was 19 to 0. It was over before the 3rd quarter kicked off. Steeler fans had to love seeing RB Le’Veon Bell rush for 144 yards and score 2 TDs from 35 carries. Bell finally got it going.
Result: Steelers 26, Ravens 9
Tennessee Titans -2.5 at Houston Texans +2.5
The most inexplicable NFL game so far this season, and maybe in the past ten seasons, occurred this past Sunday when Tennessee battled Houston. Wow. I don’t believe I’ve seen an NFL team score 57 points on another NFL team, which is what Houston did to Tennessee, since the days of the vaunted early 1990’s Dallas Cowboy teams. Back then, huge blowouts occurred in the Super Bowl. I have no idea where to begin in this game. I’ll just leave it at that.
Result: Texans 57, Titans 14
Philadelphia Eagles +1 at L.A. Chargers -1
The bottom line in this battle is that Philadelphia is a good football team and the L.A. Chargers aren’t. The Bolts can’t buy a home win. That’s because nobody shows up to the games. Why the Chargers would leave beautiful San Diego for smoggy L.A. is beyond me. The Bolts bigger issue is that their L.A. brethren, the La-La Land Rams, are a good football team. That means any fans who thought about backing the Chargers probably won’t any longer.
Result: Eagles 26, Chargers 24
New York Giants +4.5 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers -4.5
Talk about a team that can buy a win. What’s up with the New York Giants? The good news is that Eli Manning did all he could to win the game. Eli even rushed for a TD ala Cam Newton and Alex Smith. Eli also threw 2 TD passes. The Giants’ D allowed Jameis Winston to go off with 3 TD passes and 332 passing yards. Even back-up RB Jacquizz Rodgers looked great with 83 yards from 16 carries. It took a final second field goal for TB to beat NYG. Still, the Giants are 0 and 4.
Result: Buccaneers 25, Giants 23
San Francisco 49’ers +6 at Arizona Cardinals -6
One of Arizona’s greatest players of all time, wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, caught a TD pass in overtime to break a 15 to 15 tie. Until Larry’s game winning grab, the Niners and Cards had each kicked 5 field goals. The game was tied 15 to 15. That’s just such an odd score to end a game in regulation.
Result: Cardinals 18, 49’ers 15
Oakland Raiders +1 at Denver Broncos -1
Oakland QB Derek Carr exited the game early due to an injury. Carr is out at least 2 weeks. With Carr out, Oakland did a decent job keeping this game close. The Raiders only lost by 6 points.
Result: Broncos 16, Raiders 10
Indianapolis Colts +12.5 at Seattle Seahawks -12.5
The Colts suffered a major injury in their unbelievably bad loss to Seattle this past Sunday night. Colts’ center Deyshawn Bond is out for the season with a torn quadricep. Bond’s going to need surgery on the quadricep. The Colts haven’t had a decent offensive line for years. Ryan Kelly hasn’t played all season long due to a foot issue. For all intents and purposes Indy doesn’t have a starting center.
Seattle lost RB Chris Carson. Carson had been Seattle’s most effective running back. Even in this game, Seattle’s offense didn’t look great. The Colts’ offense was worse. It accounted for 2 Seattle touchdowns.
Result: Seattle 46, Indianapolis 18
Washington Redskins +8 at Kansas City Chiefs -8
Washington rushed out to a 10 to 0 lead. At halftime, Washington was up 10 to 7. Even in the final few minutes it appeared as if Washington might win the game. KC took a 23 to 20 lead with 43 seconds left. KC ran back a fumble on Washington’s final possession to get the SU and ATS wins.
Result: Chiefs 29, Washington 20