The Lions lost their offensive and defensive coordinators from the previous season, and many were quick to write them off after a season-opening 27-13 defeat to the Packers at Lambeau Field.
Not so fast, my friend.
Detroit has since won and covered three straight in dominant fashion, outscoring opponents 124-61, including Sunday’s 34-10 blowout of the Browns as 10-point favorites.
The Lions were a popular public play in an NFL Week 4 that saw favorites go 8-5-1 straight up and 7-7 against the spread entering a “Monday Night Football” doubleheader. Favorites improved to 42-17-1 SU and 32-28 ATS on the season (with two pick’ems and the Packers-Cowboys 40-40 tie on “Sunday Night Football”).
Chiefs Bounce Back, Ravens Slump
Many were also eager to close the curtain on the Chiefs’ dynasty after they dropped their first two games of the season to the Chargers and Eagles while going 0-2 ATS. But Kansas City has rebounded with back-to-back wins and covers, cruising to a 37-20 rout of the Ravens on Sunday as 2.5-point home underdogs.
Baltimore, which is dead last in the league in scoring defense, allowing 33.3 points per game, dropped to 1-3 SU and ATS and saw quarterback Lamar Jackson limp off the field in the second half with a hamstring injury. The Ravens’ only win and cover was against the Cleveland Browns.
One bright spot for Ravens bettors is that Baltimore has a 4-0 over-under record. Overs went 9-5 in Week 4 to improve to 31-31 on the season.
Despite the Lions’ prolific offense, their game stayed under the total of 44.5 by a half point.
Overs Continue to Cash
The Patriots were one of three teams that cashed the popular favorite-and-over parlay. They whipped the Panthers 42-13 as 5.5-point favorites and almost went over the total of 42.5 on their own.
The Falcons beat the Commanders 34-27 to cover as 2.5-point favorites and soar over the total of 43.5 over a Washington team missing quarterback Jayden Daniels and wide receiver Terry McLaurin.
Eagles Emerge Undefeated
The Eagles dealt the Buccaneers their first defeat in the only matchup of 3-0 teams and emerged as one of the NFL’s two remaining unbeaten teams with the Bills. Philadelphia won 31-25, covered as 3.5-point road favorites, and the game flew over the total of 44.
After the Eagles returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown on the final play of their Week 3 game, giving Rams bettors a brutal bad beat, they opened the scoring at Tampa Bay in a similar fashion. Philadelphia blocked a punt and returned it 35 yards for a score, taking a 7-0 lead, and it never trailed after going up 24-3 in the first half. But the Bucs threatened to cover late.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield, who engineered game-winning drives in the final two minutes of Tampa’s first three games, twice drove the Bucs into Eagles territory trailing 31-23 down the stretch. But Tampa turned it over each time, with Mayfield throwing an interception in the end zone on first-and-10 from the Philadelphia 11 midway through the fourth quarter.
Underdogs Roll to Victory
Besides the Chiefs, four other underdogs won outright in the Steelers (+2.5, beat Vikings 24-21 in Dublin), Giants (+6, dealt Chargers their first defeat in 21-18 win in rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart’s first start), Jaguars (+3), dealt 49ers their first loss in 26-21 win) and Bears (+2, beat Raiders 25-24 after scoring a go-ahead touchdown on D’Andre Swift’s 2-yard run with 1:34 left then blocking kicker Daniel Carlson’s 54-yard field goal attempt in the final minute).
The Rams rewarded their backers, who were still reeling from their collapse at Philadelphia, with a comeback win and an unlikely cover in a 27-20 victory over the previously unbeaten Colts as 3.5-point favorites.
Los Angeles scored two touchdowns in the final 3:20 after Indianapolis wideout Adonai Mitchell inexplicably fumbled the ball just before he crossed the goal line with what appeared sure to be a 76-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter.
The Rams tied the game 20-20 on Matthew Stafford’s 9-yard touchdown pass to Puka Nacua on fourth-and-2. After forcing a punt, Stafford hooked up with Tutu Atwell for an 88-yard touchdown pass with 1:33 remaining.
Rest of the Roundup
The Texans won their first game and covered as 7.5-point favorites in a 26-0 beatdown of the Titans, who fell to 0-4 SU and 1-3 ATS.
Buffalo improved to 4-0 but failed to cover 14.5 points as the biggest favorite of the NFL season in a 31-19 home win over the Saints (0-4, 1-3 ATS). New Orleans, which saw its first nine drives end in Bills territory, was in the hunt for the biggest upset of the season midway through the fourth quarter when it was down 21-16 and stopped Buffalo on fourth down at midfield.
The Saints momentarily took the lead when Spencer Rattler’s 17-yard pass to wide receiver Brandin Cooks was ruled a touchdown. But the play was reversed on replay, and New Orleans instead kicked a 35-yard field goal to close the gap to 21-19. But the Bills countered with a touchdown to take a 28-19 lead en route to the victory.