NFL. Week Four Tips – Copybet
Week 3 of the NFL season provided the usual array of dramatic comebacks, defensive masterclasses and a few surprise blowouts. Week 4 promises even more intrigue as playoff hopefuls look to build momentum and struggling contenders face must-win scenarios.
Sunday’s headline clash is a heavyweight AFC contest between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens, who have both made stuttering starts to the season.
The action starts when the Seattle Seahawks travel to Arizona for a divisional showdown with the Cardinals that could shape the NFC playoff picture.
Here are our best bets for Week 4.
Arizona Cardinals vs Seattle Seahawks
Thursday Night Football kicks off with a clash between two teams trending in opposite directions.
Seattle bounced back from a Week 1 loss with consecutive wins, including a statement 44-13 demolition of the New Orleans Saints last Sunday.
New Seahawks QB Sam Darnold has settled into an offensive system that plays to his strengths outside the pocket, while Kenneth Walker III remains a reliable force on the ground.
Moreover, the Seahawks’ defence is allowing less than 16 points per game and their special teams unit came up with some momentum-shifting plays again last week.
Arizona, meanwhile, are without top rusher James Conner and have struggled to move the chains with any consistency. Kyler Murray’s improvisation can only take them so far against a disciplined Seattle pass rush.
The Seahawks have won four straight in Arizona and should extend that streak under the national spotlight.
Detroit Lions vs Cleveland Browns
The Lions rallied from 21-17 down in the third quarter to beat the Ravens 38-30 in the anticipated shootout between two of the fastest-scoring teams in the league last week.
Back at Ford Field, where the Lions averaged 35 points per game last year, Detroit faces a Cleveland Browns team that upset Green Bay last week.
However, the AFC North team still ranks bottom-five in yards per play and rely too much on their opportunistic defence.
Cleveland has struggled to contain explosive plays and now come up against one of the league’s most dynamic attacks, who can beat you through the air with Amon-Ra St. Brown or grind you down on the ground with Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery.
Detroit should cover comfortably.
Kansas City Chiefs vs Baltimore Ravens
Winners of two NFL MVP awards apiece, Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson are both looking to kickstart their respective teams' seasons when the Chiefs host the Ravens at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday evening.
Kansas City have lacked their usual juice so far and look to have been slowed by age, injuries and key offseason departures.
Down a couple of defence-stretching wide receivers, opponents have felt able to stack the box and stop the Chiefs from establishing their rush attack.
Sunday’s game could be their big chance to change all that as they meet a Ravens team that gave up 224 rushing yards to the Lions last time out.
Injuries to Nnamdi Madubuike (neck) and Kyle Van Noy (hamstring) have slowed Baltimore down up front too and they currently rank dead-last in the league when defending the run according to some metrics.
Mahomes leads the Chiefs in rushing yards and has seven of the team's 11 carries of 10+ yards, so he could surpass his 22.5 rushing-yard spread on Sunday.
Dallas Cowboys vs Green Bay Packers
Sunday Night Football pits two storied franchises against each other, but it’s the Packers who look in better shape right now.
Micah Parsons goes up against his former teammates on his return to Arlington and you can bet he will be fired up to show the Cowboys owner and fans what they are missing.
Dallas are dealing with some key injuries already, with star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb probably out with a high ankle sprain and center Cooper Beebe landing on the injured reserve list after spraining his ankle in the team’s Week 2 victory over the New York Giants.
The Cowboys have lost two straight and have looked out of sync offensively, while Green Bay’s defence has quietly forced six turnovers in three games.
Expect a feisty contest, with the Packers pulling away late to win by at least a touchdown.
New York Jets vs Miami Dolphins
The first part of this week’s Monday Night Football doubleheader brings together two AFC East rivals desperate to register their first win of the season.
The Jets have had an up-and-down month so far, with new quarterback Justin Fields showing promise in their opening week defeat to the Steelers before getting knocked out by injury.
Backup QB Tyrod Taylor almost led them to a remarkable comeback win in Tampa last Sunday, but the Buccaneers rallied to win it in the dying moments.
The Dolphins, meanwhile, are coming off a defeat to the Buffalo Bills in which Tua Tagovailoa threw a couple of interceptions.
Both teams could struggle to put points on the board if they remain true to form, with the under looking playable at 43.5.