Only five NFL teams remain unbeaten and two of them face off in Week 4.
It’s an unlikely matchup of 3-0 teams when Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs visit Kirk Cousins and the Las Vegas Raiders
on Sunday.
Mahomes and the Chiefs have been here before. It’s his fifth 3-0 start in nine seasons. But the Raiders won three games all of last season to secure the No. 1 overall pick.
Fernando Mendoza has to wait his turn, however.
Cousins and first-year coach Klint Kubiak have turned things around quickly in Las Vegas. This will be a major challenge.
Kenneth Walker III leads the NFL in rushing with 360 yards, giving the Chiefs a balanced offensive attack.
Mahomes is 13-2 vs. the Raiders in his career.
The Chiefs are 4 ½-point favorites. Pro Picks likes Kansas City.
CHIEFS: 27-20
Line: Steelers minus 2 ½
The Steelers finally looked sharp in Mike McCarthy’s offense in a 30-27 win against Cincinnati. Deshaun Watson has played excellent football the past two games, especially in the fourth quarter for Cleveland. The Browns are 10-6 on “Thursday Night Football,” including 9-1 at home. The Steelers have lost four straight in Cleveland.
BROWNS: 22-20
Line: Colts minus 3 ½
The Colts ended a nine-game losing streak and now aim to start a winning one. They need Daniel Jones to play better but the defense stepped up last week against Houston. The Commanders stunned the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks thanks to three turnovers and an impressive performance from backup QB Marcus Mariota. Both teams are 0-1 in London. The Commanders are 6-4 against the spread in their past 10 games.
COLTS: 24-18
Line: Cardinals minus 1 ½
The Cardinals have allowed 67 points and lost two in a row since an upset over the Chargers in Week 1. Yet, Arizona is a road favorite in New York. That’s because the Giants keep losing key players. First, Jaxson Dart. Now, edge rusher Brian Burns. Jameis Winston has to get the offense going. If not, J.J. McCarthy is waiting for his turn with his new team.
GIANTS: 23-20
Line: Texans minus 2 ½
The battle of Texas is a matchup between a pair of underachieving teams. The Cowboys bungled one vs. Baltimore in Brazil. Dallas still is having trouble on defense despite new additions and a new coordinator. Houston went 12-2 after an 0-3 start last season. They have no margin for error. Only the 1992 Chargers rebounded from an 0-4 start to make the playoffs.
TEXANS: 24-20
Line: Packers minus 3 ½
Jordan Love and the Packers were booed at Lambeau Field during an embarrassing loss to Atlanta. They may have more fans in Tampa Bay where the Cheeseheads could outnumber a hometown crowd that’s tired of watching their team lose. The Buccaneers are 2-10 since a 6-2 start last season. Undrafted rookie QB Jalon Daniels will make his first career start filling in for Baker Mayfield. The offense has been woeful with Mayfield so it’s hard to get much worse.
BEST BET: PACKERS: 24-13
Line: Bengals minus 2 ½
Trevor Lawrence has been excellent in Jacksonville’s wins and the Jaguars have allowed the fewest points in the league. Travis Hunter got his first career pick last week. Maybe this week he gets a chance to make an impact on offense. Joe Burrow leads a potent offense for the Bengals but the revamped defense took a step backward last week against Rodgers and the Steelers. Cincinnati has won four straight in the series.
UPSET SPECIAL: JAGUARS: 26-24
Line: Rams minus 3
A questionable pass interference call cost the Rams a win in Denver and the league’s best team on paper has a losing record through three games. But the Eagles struggled against third-string QB Case Keenum and have a short week following a Monday night loss in Chicago. Vic Fangio’s once-formidable defense now seems shaky. Matthew Stafford can expose their weakness. Eagles coach Nick Sirianni is 4-0 vs. Sean McVay.
RAMS: 26-20
Line: Bills minus 6 1/2
The Patriots suddenly have a Drake Maye problem. The NFL MVP runner-up has struggled in the first three games after a rough postseason. Josh Allen and the Bills overcame five turnovers to beat the Chargers. Buffalo can create distance in the AFC East standings with a win.
BILLS: 23-17
Line: Bears minus 3 ½
The Jets are playing better, staying competitive and Geno Smith has put his turnover troubles from last season behind. Keenum earned the right to start another one after a masterful performance against the Eagles. But it could be Tyson Bagent under center for Chicago, which didn’t lose a step offensively without Caleb Williams.
BEARS: 24-17
Line: Ravens minus 11 ½
The Titans have improved on defense under coach Robert Saleh. But they still haven’t won a game. Cam Ward’s ill-advised interception in the end zone cost Tennessee a win against the Giants. Lamar Jackson pulled one out against Dallas. He needs better protection from a patchwork offensive line. Derrick Henry faces his former team.
RAVENS: 26-17
Line: Vikings minus 10 ½
Things were bleak for the Dolphins before they lost their best offensive player, De’Von Achane, for the season. The Vikings are winning games despite an inconsistent offense. Now that Kyler Murray has played his first full game, Minnesota needs more production.
VIKINGS: 23-13
Line: 49ers minus 2 ½
Bo Nix and the Broncos know how to come back. They need a complete game to beat the 49ers. Brock Purdy is off to an excellent start for San Francisco despite a depleted receiving group. Nick Bosa won’t play but LT Trent Williams and WR Mike Evans could return after going out last week. Denver has won 10 straight games against NFC teams.
BRONCOS: 23-22
Line: Seahawks minus 3
The Chargers were supposed to be contenders. But the offense is struggling, Justin Herbert has regressed under coordinator Mike McDaniel and they have to find a way to upset Seattle to avoid 0-4. The Seahawks got a wake-up call against Washington and had their 12-game winning streak snapped. Jaxon Smith-Njigba has been unstoppable with two TD catches in each game so far.
SEAHAWKS: 23-21
Line: Lions minus 3
Detroit’s prolific offense is averaging 31 points per game, but the defense is giving up a league-worst 31.7. Jared Goff will face a depleted defense that likely won’t have its starting cornerbacks. That’s bad news for Carolina. Bryce Young and the Panthers have to win a shootout.
LIONS: 31-26
Line: Saints minus 2 ½
Michael Penix Jr. came back, Bijan Robinson had a big game vs. Green Bay and the Falcons got on the winning track in the first of three straight primetime games. Giving the ball to Robinson is a winning formula for Atlanta. The Saints are 27th against the run. Tyler Shough has eight TD passes but six turnovers for New Orleans, which was competitive in both losses.
SAINTS: 24-23
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Last week: Straight up: 9-7. Against spread: 7-8-1.
Overall: Straight up: 29-19. Against spread: 20-27-1.
Best Bet: Straight up: 2-1. Against spread: 1-2.
Upset Special: Straight up: 1-2. Against spread: 2-1.
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