NFL picks against the spread are back with a look ahead to the most worthwhile Week 4 matchups in the 2022 NFL regular season.
Week 3 in the new season featured quite a few upsets as teams on the rise — like the Miami Dolphins — stunned establishment elites. And squads that were expected to be contenders — such as the Las Vegas Raiders — suffered another surprise loss and continued to hamper their chances of reaching the playoffs in 2022.
In Week 4, the standout games include a possible offensive firefight on Thursday night when the red-hot ‘Fins take on the Bengals in Cincinnati. AFC South powerhouses in the Titans and Colts clash in Indianapolis at 1 PM ET on Sunday. The Buffalo Bills head to Baltimore to battle Lamar Jackson and the Ravens, plus Bill Belichick and his Patriots head to Lambeau Field to faceoff with Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers.
Also Read: Everything you need to know about the NFL Sunday Ticket
In this latest edition of the column, we will focus on the five games (listed below) that offer up NFL picks against the spread worth your bet.
| Game | Time (ET) | TV |
| Dolphins (+4) @ Bengals | 8:15 PM | PRIME VIDEO |
| Redskins @ Cowboys (-3.5) | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| Bears @ Giants (-3) | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| Cardinals (+2) @ Panthers | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| Rams (+2) @ 49ers | 8:15 PM | ESPN |
Miami Dolphins continue hot streak in Cincy
The Dolphins will enter another Sunday matchup as the underdogs. Last week it was fitting, since they faced a team in the Buffalo Bills that many see as a favorite to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. This week, Miami will battle last year’s Super Bowl representative for the AFC in the Cincinnati Bengals. However, the Bengals are not flying high heading into this game like Buffalo was in Week 3.
Joe Burrow and the boys got their first win of the season last week against the Jets after two poor performances to start the season. However, beating the Jets doesn’t mean the Bengals have returned to elite form, and the Dolphins are as confident as ever after their big win. They are a +4 betting underdog heading into Thursday night. Don’t just expect Tua Tagovailoa and the crew to make it close, look for them to get the W and move the team to 4-0 against Cincy.
New York Giants bounce back versus Bears
The New York Giants had a golden opportunity in facing the Cowboys without Dak Prescott, and at home, last week. However, Daniel Jones and the offense just could not do enough to overcome Dallas’ talented defense. They will face a far more beatable opponent on Sunday in the Chicago Bears.
Justin Fields and Chicago have surprised early in 2022, just like the Giants, and sit with a 2-1 record heading into Week 4. However, wins over the 49ers in terrible weather and then last week against the Texans isn’t quite the caliber of what the Giants have been able to overcome. The G-Men are a -3 favorite and seem primed to bounce back from their Week 3 loss with a strong showing at home against Chi-Town.
Cooper Rush and Dallas Cowboys win a third straight
In spite of being thrown into a difficult position, backup QB Cooper Rush has delivered for the Cowboys over his first two games. He led the team to victory at home against the Bengals, then in a tough road game against the Giants last week and earned a victory with key plays late. While he won’t make fans forget about Prescott, he has far surpassed expectations.
In Week 4, the team will head back to Big D for another NFC East clash against the Washington Commanders as a -3.5 favorite. Considering Carson Wentz’s penchant for mistakes, expect the Dallas defense to force him into several more and Rush to lead the ‘Boys to another win by more than the spread.
Arizona Cardinals earn a W in Carolina
The Arizona Cardinals have been a frustrating group to start the season. While they are certainly not a favorite to win the Super Bowl, they should be better than the 1-2 record they have. A record that could easily be 0-3 if not for some late-game heroics from Kyler Murray to get the team a win in Week 2 against the Raiders. Nevertheless, losses to the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams are nothing to be ashamed about.
In Week 4 they got a beatable foe in the Carolina Panthers, a team that hasn’t been much different in 2022 despite the addition of Baker Mayfield at QB. The Cards are a surprising +2 underdog on Sunday. Don’t expect them to fall to 1-3, as Murray will once again have a performance that helps head coach Kliff Kingsbury keep his job for a little longer.
Los Angeles Rams hand 49ers second straight loss
One of the notable clashes on Sunday will be an NFC championship game rematch between the Rams and 49ers. After a Week 1 loss to the Bills, the Rams have won two straight, but barely survived against the Falcons in Week 2 and smashed the Cards this past Sunday. That could be a sign that the defending champs could be rounding into form a fourth of the way through the season. That is bad news for the 49ers.
On Sunday night, the 49ers’ offense was atrocious against the Broncos. Denver wasn’t much better but they still got the win. Now, with Trent Williams out, there are concerns about San Francisco’s offense heading into Week 4. Surprisingly, LA is a +2 underdog in this matchup. The way things are going after last week that seems like a tasty bet against the spread.
This article was originally published on Sportsnaut.com and is republished here with permission.
