2011 NFL Week 4 Predictions and Picks

It's time to make my 2011 NFL week 4 predictions and picks. The games kickoff on Sunday, October 2 and will feature an interesting early afternoon matchup between 3-0 Detroit and the Dallas Cowboys. Can the Cowboys break up the Lions? It seems inevitable that Detroit is due for a let down of sorts at some point-but I am not sure if this will be the week. The Cowboys will have all kinds of problems against the Lions blitz and Detroit will walk away with a win and a 4-0 start to the 2011 NFL season. My predictions and picks for this Sunday contest? Lions win 31-20. Stafford hits Calvin Johnson for at least one more touchdown as the duo continues on a torrid pace.

The next game on the schedule pits the Cam Newton show on the road in Chicago. The Panthers have been competitive in each football game, perhaps because of the former Auburn star. The Bears are 1-2 after a tough loss at home to the defending Super Bowl champs. My 2011 NFL week 4 predictions and picks have the Bears rolling in this one 31-16. Matt Forte scores twice and Jay Cutler tosses a pair of touchdown passes. Newton struggles to hit 200 yards passing for the second straight week against a very angry Bears defense. The Panthers running attack shows little signs of life once again and that crushes any chance that Newton will have time to pass-Bears sack Newton three times.

The 2011 NFL week 4 schedule continues with Buffalo at Cincy. Can the Bills win again after knocking off the Patriots? I think the answer here is absolutely. The Bengals will play the Bills close but my gut feeling says there is just way too much offense on the Buffalo side of the ball for Cincy to keep up.
Bills win 26-21.

The Tennesee Titans head into Cleveland to face the Browns also in week 4 of the 2011 season.
Can Chris Johnson finally get things going? It won't be easy but I think the Titans will pull off a tight come from behind win 20-17.

Minnesota is in Kansas City where two teams are desperately in need of a win. The Vikings and Chiefs both played close during week 3-but close isn't enough in the NFL. I think this game could either way and is the most unpredictable of the week-but I think the Chiefs find a way to get it done despite the injuries. Kansas City gets the first win after a rough start and downs the Vikings 23-16.

Washington is in St. Louis during week 4. Can the Rams rebound from a miserable loss to the Ravens? Things aren't going as well as expected in St. Louis and I don't look for that to turn around against Washington. The Redskins find a way to win 24-20.

My 2011 NFL week 4 predictions and picks continue with New Orleans at Jacksonville. All signs and odds point toward a Saints blowout in this one. My gut feeling is the Saints will live up to that with way too much offense. Drew Brees fires 3 touchdown passes and New Orleans cruises 33-13. The Jags offense, despite some hard running from Maurice Jones-Drew, isn't going to get it done against this prolific offensive team.

One of the best games of the week could take place in Houston. The Pittsburgh Steelers, fresh off a 3 point win over Indianapolis, will try to beat an angry Texans team. This is a game I truly believe could go either way-but I think the Texans rebound from their high scoring loss to knock off Pittsburgh 31-22.
Matt Schaub hooks up with Andre Johnson two times for scores. The Steelers Ben Roethlisberger fires 2 touchdown passes but is also picked off 3 times.

San Francisco is in Philadelphia to face the Eagles without Michael Vick. Vick, who broke his right hand, will have to watch his Eagles try to rebound from a loss to the Giants. I think the Eagles have enough strength without Vick to take this one at home 24-10. Look for DeSean Jackson to make things happen and score at least one pivotal touchdown.

The New York Giants are in Arizona for what could be an interesting matchup. The Cardinals could play the upset card in this one but Eli Manning seems to be on a roll of late. I think it will be close but the Giants defense makes too many plays down the stretch and New York emerges with a 19-16 win. Eli throws for 300 yards but struggles to get touchdowns in the red zone.

Atlanta, fresh off a loss to Tampa Bay, is in Seattle to play the Seahawks. Can Matt Ryan and company avoid a 1-3 start? I think the Falcons get things in gear on the road in this one, 24-14. Ryan tosses 2 touchdown passes in the victory.

Miami travels to San Diego to face the Chargers. San Diego has to be wondering what's up after barely squeezing by a struggling Kansas City team. But the Chargers are as good as gold in this one and down the Dolphins 27-10. Ryan Matthews gets 2 more touchdowns to improve his 2011 resume.

New England tries to rebound from a loss at Buffalo with a win in Oakland. The Patriots saw the tape of the Oakland win over the Jets so they have to be impressed. Still, I think Tom Brady can engineer a win-his teams don't often lose back to back games. Brady leads the Pats by Oakland 33-26. McFadden gets 2 touchdowns but less than 100 yards. Brady hits someone other than Wes Welker for 2 touchdowns.

Denver travels to Green Bay where the Packers are trying to goto 4-0. Can the Broncos pull off an upset? Absolutely not. Aaron Rodgers tosses 4 touchdown passes and the Pack continues to roll with a lopsided 33-13 win.

My 2011 NFL Week 4 predictions and picks continue with the Sunday night game featuring the Jets in Baltimore. The Ravens just blitzed the Rams this past week while the Jets are coming off a tough loss at Oakland where some things were exposed. I look for Ray Rice to get 2 touchdowns and the Ravens to hold fort at home with a 23-17 win. Sanchez is going to find things tough against Ray Lewis and company on the road.

The last game on the 2011 NFL week 4 schedule is on Monday night and pits Indianapolis on the road at Tampa Bay. The Colts nearly beat Pittsburgh on Sunday night and made a game of it. I can't imagine Indianapolis will win on the road unless Peyton Manning comes out of the tunnel in dramatic fashion.
The Colts would have a tough game even if Peyton was healthy and suited up against this Bucs defense. Tampa wins an ugly one, 19-13.

That's it for my 2011 NFL week 4 predictions and picks. I'll be back before week 5 to make my picks and introduce the schedule once again. Until then, enjoy your football everybody!