Detroit Lions (-5.5, 54.5) @ Arizona Cardinals (4:25 pm, FOX) - Detroit’s defense - or lack thereof - will be their undoing. The Lions have allowed 127 points in four games, second only to New Orleans (128). Arizona isn’t far behind, having yielded 117, so look for plenty of scoring.

This is only Arizona’s second home game of the season. They lost the first one, 31-7, to Seattle in Week 2, but, the Lions are a miserable 0-2 on the road, with losses at Buffalo and Carolina, last week’s 32-26 loss to the Panthers dropping them to 2-2. Cardinals might bounce back from their 36-24 loss at the Giants last week, the final score somewhat misleading, as the Cardinals were driving late in the game before the Giants ended it all with a pick-6.

Coin Flip: Detroit

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Cardinals 40 Lions 31

Baltimore Ravens @ Atlanta Falcons (-3, 43.5) (8:20 pm, NBC) - Possibly the toughest call of the week, as the Falcons are on a two-game roll and Baltimore, at 3-1, appears to have lived up to the billing as the team to beat in the AFC North.

Clouding - or perhaps clearing up - the issue will be the absence of Ravens’ starting QB, Lamar Jackson, apparently out with an ankle sprain. Makes it a lot easier to go with hot-handed Atlanta.

Coin Flip: Atlanta

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Falcons 35 Ravens 21

Monday, October 12

Buffalo Bills @ Los Angeles Rams (-3, 54.5) (8:15 pm, ESPN, ABC) - Expect this game to go well over the posted O/U, possibly the highest-scoring game of the weekend. Neither team has demonstrated stoutness on defense, but the offenses are humming.

Buffalo is coming off its first loss of the season, a 29-26 defeat at home to division rival, New England. The Rams rallied to win at Philly, 24-20. These two last met in 2024, with the Rams coming away with a 44-42 home win.

Coin Flip: Los Angeles Rams

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Bills 41 Rams 38