NFL Nation reporters give their picks for Week 4, including whether the Chiefs and Falcons can stay undefeated.
NFL Nation reporters predict the outcomes and scores for Sunday’s and Monday’s Week 4 games.
PickCenter
We still don’t know for sure how much to trust the Saints’ defense, since that unit’s big turnaround in Week 3 came against struggling quarterback Cam Newton. But New Orleans should get top cornerback Marshon Lattimore back from a concussion. And Miami’s offense also has been off to a slow start this year, with just six points in a loss to the Jets last week. Also, the Dolphins’ pass defense has actually allowed a higher completion percentage to opposing quarterbacks (79 percent) than the Saints (73 percent). Saints 30, Dolphins 25 — Mike Triplett
The Dolphins are allowing opposing quarterbacks to complete 79 percent of passes this season. Miami’s pass coverage has been shaky, and that’s not good facing future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees. This game has the makings of a shootout, and the Saints‘ passing game is too dynamic for Miami to keep up. Saints 28, Dolphins 21 — James Walker
PickCenter
Had Tyrod Taylor and Zay Jones connected on a last-second touchdown pass in Week 2, the Bills would enter this game 3-0. We’ll find out whether Buffalo is for real against the undefeated Falcons, who rank third in ESPN’s Football Power Index — 17 spots higher than the 2-1 Bills at No. 22. The past three games in which Matt Ryan faced a Sean McDermott-coached defense in Carolina, he completed 78 percent of his passes for 1,086 yards, 7 touchdowns, 1 interception and a 131.1 quarterback rating. With the NFL’s top defense in terms of points allowed (12.3), McDermott will have something to prove against Ryan. Falcons 28, Bills 20 — Mike Rodak
The Falcons haven’t played their best game, yet they’re still 3-0. The Bills boast the league’s top-scoring defense at 12.5 points per game and haven’t allowed a touchdown reception, but they haven’t seen the type of offensive firepower the Falcons present. Julio Jones, who said he’s fine coming off a back injury, should get his first touchdown of the season. And the running back tandem of Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman — who’ve guided the Falcons to a 7-0 record when combining for 200 yards — should give the Bills fits. Defensively, the Falcons need to hold LeSean McCoy in check. Falcons 28, Bills 13 — Vaughn McClure
PickCenter
The palpable tension in the Steelers‘ locker room coming off the anthem mess is a problem. Perhaps that tension will galvanize them, but it seems to be swinging the other way, at the worst possible time. Couple that reality with the Ravens‘ stronghold over Pittsburgh in M&T Bank Stadium and the Steelers are poised to drop to 2-2. The Steelers haven’t scored more than 20 points in Baltimore since 2012 and average 12.3 points over their past three games there. Expect an inspired effort from Ben Roethlisberger, but it won’t be enough. Ravens 21, Steelers 17 — Jeremy Fowler
The Ravens have beaten the Steelers four consecutive times at M&T Bank Stadium, and Roethlisberger has thrown four touchdown passes and seven interceptions in his past five games in Baltimore. Baltimore’s defense will have plenty to prove after getting humiliated against the Jaguars. Ravens 24, Steelers 17 — Jamison Hensley
PickCenter
In a battle of 0-3 teams, somebody has to win, right? There’s no reason that shouldn’t be Cincinnati, which took a step forward against the Packers but couldn’t close out the game. The Bengals aren’t as bad as their record. They often play Cleveland close, but the Bengals‘ talent should win out here. Bengals 24, Browns 17 — Katherine Terrell
It would be nice to say this is the week the Browns get their win, except last week was supposed to be that week and the Browns rang alarm bells with a poor game. The defense has had trouble with Antonio Brown and T. Y. Hilton and now gets A. J. Green and a Bengals team desperate to avoid embarrassment. Bengals 24, Browns 13 — Pat McManamon
PickCenter
This will be the Rams‘ biggest test of the year — on the road against a Cowboys team that won 13 games last season. Dallas‘ offense hasn’t hit full throttle yet, but it should soon. The Rams‘ defense is better than it has shown the past two weeks while allowing a combined 806 yards to the Redskins and 49ers. But the Cowboys will be a little too much to handle here. Cowboys 31, Rams 21 — Alden Gonzalez
The Cowboys are coming off a short week. The Rams are coming off a 10-day break. Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips would like to make a statement against the team that fired him in the middle of the 2010 season. Jared Goff spent last year hearing how the Rams should have selected Dak Prescott. This game will be another grind-it-out affair but one in which we see Ezekiel Elliott finally look the way he did a year ago since he’s facing the 29th-ranked run defense. Cowboys 23, Rams 20 — Todd Archer
PickCenter
The Titans haven’t won at Houston since the 2011 season. Coach Mike Mularkey said those „in a row“ streaks have to stop at some point. It stops Sunday as the Titans neutralize Deshaun Watson ’s legs and make life difficult for him with exotic blitzes and diverse looks. Tennessee’s three-headed running attack of DeMarco Murray, Derrick Henry and Marcus Mariota is the NFL’s second-leading rushing offense, and the Titans will do enough to slow down Houston’s trio of dominant pass-rushers. Titans 27, Texans 17 — Cameron Wolfe
One key to the Texans‘ back-to-back AFC South titles is how well they have played in the division, including going 5-1 in 2016. Sunday’s game against the Titans is important in the playoff race, because if they lose to Tennessee at home — for the first time since the 2011 season — they would start 0-2 in the division. The Titans will be a tough test, but Deshaun Watson will continue to improve, and the Texans’ defense will rebound from the loss to the Patriots. Texans 24, Titans 20 — Sarah Barshop
PickCenter
Even in Sunday’s loss to Atlanta, the Lions have looked like one of the better teams in the NFL. Minnesota’s defense will be a big issue — particularly with its pressure on Matthew Stafford, but the ninth-year quarterback has shown better timing and elusiveness this year than in years past. Injuries are a concern — particularly with 11 guys, including seven starters, practicing on a limited basis or not practicing at all at least one day this week. Minnesota, though, has its own injury worries at quarterback. Good teams find ways to win games even when they are injured, and since most of the Lions‘ injuries seem to be ones in which guys are still going to play, that should give Detroit just enough to beat the Vikings in a close game. Lions 24, Vikings 21 — Mike Rothstein
Minnesota is ranked No. 2 in total offense without Sam Bradford the past two weeks. It looks like Bradford might be out another week, so a number of factors are going to matter for Case Keenum to repeat what he did in Week 3. Luckily, the Vikings have two of the top producing wide receivers, and when it comes to defending Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs, the Lions won’t want to leave them one-on-one. Detroit’s secondary looked really good last week with three interceptions (a feat also accomplished by Minnesota against Jameis Winston), but overall, Minnesota’s defense is better. The Lions don’t pose much of a rushing threat, but Minnesota will want to slow Matthew Stafford from the beginning and force turnovers to get the offense back on the field. Vikings 23, Lions 14 — Courtney Cronin
PickCenter
The Panthers have moved the ball successfully in the first three games. They rank second in the league in time of possession at 34:01 per game. They just keep shooting themselves in the foot in the red zone. Cam Newton will have an opportunity once again to correct that against the league’s last-place defense in terms of yards allowed, and Christian McCaffrey had what one could call his breakout game with 101 yards receiving against New Orleans. This will come down to whether the defense, ranked No. 1 in the league, can keep Tom Brady and the Patriots‘ offense out of the end zone more than a couple of times. That doesn’t seem likely. Patriots 27, Panthers 24 — David Newton
For a Patriots team that has allowed 95 points through three games — its highest total in its first three games since 1994 — Carolina might be the right foe to get back on track. The Panthers have scored just 45 points in three games this season, and Cam Newton isn’t running like he used to, which coach Ron Rivera called his “new reality.” Patriots 33, Panthers 17 — Mike Reiss
PickCenter
Consistency has been the theme of the week for the Jaguars. They’ve had two blowout victories sandwiched around a blowout loss and need to put together back-to-back good games if they’re really going to be a contender in the division. They’re a road favorite for the first time since Week 10 in 2011 mainly because of their defense, which ranks in the top 10 in takeaways, total yards, passing yards and sacks. The Jets may be without RB Matt Forte, and that would be a big loss. Jaguars 21, Jets 13 — Mike DiRocco
The Jets were terrific last week, but let’s hold the parade. This still is a team with many deficiencies. Their best chance to win is to be physical and run the ball, as the Titans did in Week 2, but the Jets have yet to demonstrate a consistent rushing offense (only 89 yards per game). They also could be without leading rusher Matt Forte. This will be an ugly, low-scoring game that will hinge on a key turnover and a long run by Leonard Fournette.
