Week 4 Free NFL Picks: NY Jets @ Baltimore Ravens Sunday Night NFL Week 4 Vegas Odds, Free Picks, and Expert Predictions on NBC 10/2/11: After making the playoffs a year ago, the Baltimore Ravens (2-1) and New York Jets (2-1) both have their sights set on bigger things in 2011-12. However, up-and-down play from both teams will leave the loser of Sunday night’s game in Baltimore at the .500 mark a quarter of the way through the season. While there is still plenty of time left, the Ravens and Jets need to start establishing an identity if their Super Bowl dreams are going to turn into a reality.
The last two seasons, New York has made it to the AFC Championship Game on the strength of defense and its running game. However, the Jets have been struggling in both areas this season. The normally stout run defense was shredded by Darren McFadden in a surprising loss to Oakland last weekend. More concerning is the fact that running back Shonn Greene has been unable to establish the ground game. Veteran back Ladainian Tomlinson has too many miles on his legs to be a feature back, and if Greene can’t turn things around, the Jets could be in trouble down the road.
Running the ball isn’t going to get an easier against a Baltimore defensive unit that is among the best in the NFL. Defensive tackle Haloti Ngata has been plugging up the middle all season, allowing a strong linebacking group led by Ray Lewis to make plenty of plays. With Greene barely averaging more than three yards per carry, the Jets could be forced to go to the air in order to find offense once again.
Fortunately for the Jets, quarterback Mark Sanchez has stepped up in the face of the issues with running the ball. Tight end Dustin Keller and receiver Santonio Holmes have both been consistent options, and Tomlinson has been a nice weapon out of the backfield. That being said, the Ravens secondary is almost as good as the team’s front seven, especially safety Ed Reed. Reed is like an extra offensive player when he gets his hands on a fumble or an interception. He seems to make one big play almost every game, and against an improving but still unpolished QB like Sanchez, opportunities for a big play or two could present themselves.
On offense, the Ravens will look to ride running back Ray Rice to victory. After McFadden ran wild last weekend, Rice has to be salivating at the chance to do the same. Added firepower in the passing game with rookie receiver Torrey Smith and newly addition Lee Evans has allowed quarterback Joe Flacco to keep defenses honest with the deep ball. The improved balance on offense should only help Rice going forward. If Flacco shines early, Rice could put the game away in the second half.
Despite being billed as a physical team that prides itself on pushing opponents around, the Jets haven’t exactly done that this season. Sanchez and the passing game have been providing most of the offense, and the defense has looked vulnerable. Meanwhile, the Ravens have already shown they can push around the same Pittsburgh Steelers team that bounced New York from the playoffs a year ago. Ray Lewis and company should be able to shut down the struggling Jets’ running game and make the offense one dimensional, and this Baltimore unit is good enough to make Sanchez pay. Powered by their defense, the Ravens should be able to take this one.
Prediction: Baltimore Ravens (-4) Cover the Spread
Free NFL Football Picks and Predictions: Baltimore -4
| Week 4 NFL Football: NY Jets @ Baltimore Ravens Date: 10/2/011 Time: 8:30 PM EST on NBC Vegas Odds – Favorite: Baltimore -4.5Total: Over/Under 43.5 |
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