NFL Week 4 Picks!

It is October 1st, and we have hit the quarter pole in the NFL season. October is obviously an important month for everyone in the NFL and every game counts, but surprising teams can still pull off an upset or two and continue their surprising run. Teams that were supposed to contend can slip up even more and put themselves behind the 8-ball as they heads toward the stretch run. Will teams like Chicago and KC continue to surprise? Will the Chargers and Cowboys start to get on a roll? We'll find out a lot of those answers starting this month. October, not only is it the best sports month of the year, is also when football starts to really feel like football. The clocks get turned back, the weather gets colder, and foilage is at its peak. There is nothing like a chilly October Sunday during football season. This week the NFL season starts to take an interesting and definitive turn. Onto to the picks..............

Last Week's Record: 7-9

Overall Record: 26-20-2

(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

Baltimore (+2) over PITTSBURGH: The Steelers defense is back, and they are 3-0 without Big Ben. Charlie Batch certainly won't play that well every week, and these two teams usually play a slugfest. The Ravens win a close one on the road with a late field goal.

CLEVELAND (+3) over Cincy: This is the upset of the week. It doesn't matter who is at QB for the Browns, all they need is Peyton Hillis running the ball (Every Bronco fan just slammed their head on their computer) and Josh Cribbs to get the job done this week. The Bengals offense is terrible, and Carson Palmer looks lost. The Browns get their first win of the season at home this week.

Detroit (+15) over GREEN BAY: The Packers will win this game easily, but look for a Detroit backdoor cover. I am a little concerned about Mike McCarthy and the Packers after their performance on MNF against the Bears. I would be a little nervous about them as they make their supposed Super Bowl run this year.

Carolina (+14) over NEW ORLEANS: The Panthers always play tough when no one expects them to play well. The Saints are coming off a brutal loss at home last week to the Falcons, and Drew Brees got banged up in the process. Look for the Panthers to keep it close.

San Francisco (+7) over ATLANTA: Let's see the Niners are struggling at 0-3 and are desperate. The Falcons are coming off a huge win at New Orleans in overtime. This game has SF-23 Atl-13 written all over it.

Seattle (-1) over ST.LOUIS: I was tempted to pick the Rams at home, but Seattle gets off to a 3-1 start and an early lead in the NFC West. Pete Carroll has the Seahawks believing, and Leon Washington helped Seattle steal that game last week against San Diego. Look for the Seahawks to find a way to win.

New York Jets (-5) over BUFFALO: This has all the makings of a trap game for the Jets, but I just can't trust Ryan Fitzpatrick, even at home. The Jets make his day miserable and roll past the Bills to go to 3-1.

Indy (-7) over JACKSONVILLE: Peyton Manning owns the Jags, and the Colts look like they are back on track. The bottom line with the Colts: They have Peyton Manning and you don't. Colts go to 3-1 with a rout in Jacksonville.

Houston (-3) over OAKLAND: This is a huge week for the Texans. If they want to be considered for real, then they have to win in the Black Hole. In the past, Houston would lose a game like this. Not this year as Houston gets to 3-1 with a convincing win over the Raiders.

SAN DIEGO (-5) over Arizona: Typical Chargers: Lose a close one on the road at KC, destroy the Jags at home, and blow a game at Seattle to start 1-2. The Chargers get back on track this week with a blowout win over the Cards.

Washington (+7) over PHILLY: This is my hunch game of the week. I've got a feeling that Donovan McNabb will play great and everyone on the Redskins will rally around him and play well. Michael Vick has to slip up sometime right? Why not this week? McNabb wins round 1.

NY GIANTS (-3) over Chicago: I'm still not sold on the Bears, and the Packers gave that game to them on MNF. Here is my prediction for Sunday Night: Jay Cutler's stats will look like this: 28-43 339 yards 2 TDs and 3 INTS. Cutler will melt down the stretch as the G-Men right the ship for this week at least.

MIAMI (+1) over New England: The AFC East is going to be fun to watch this year. Here is another great showdown on MNF. The Pats defense has not played well at all the last two weeks and the Dolphins always give them trouble. Chad Henne drives the Fish for a late field goal to win and send the Pats to 2-2

Denver (+7) over TENNESSEE: I never pick the Broncos, but I'm going to go with them this week. It is gut check time for Josh McDaniels. Denver needs a big win on the road to get their season going in the right direction. I could see the following happening on Sunday: Broncos take advantage of some mistakes by Vince Young, they build an early lead by controlling the clock with their short passing game, and then capitalize on the Titan's errors. They take Chris Johnson out of the game because of that lead, and then Denver puts it away late in the fourth quarter. The Broncos pull the upset on the road in the Music City. Final Score: Denver-24 Tennessee-19