Rams versus Vikings best matchup of Week 4

In what was generally a good week of action in the National Football League, minus those weighty roughing-the-passer calls, it was a bad week for Pro Picks. The quality of play vastly improved compared with the opening two weeks of the schedule.

The prognostications, on the other hand, were awful.

Time to rally, and a good option is presented on tonight with the best matchup of Week 4.

The Rams have that look. They rank third in offence, sixth in defence. Their point differential of 102-36 is astounding. They can move the ball on the ground with Todd Gurley, or through the air with Jared Goff, Brandin Cooks and Gurley. Their defence is staunch, led by a powerhouse front.

No weaknesses, right? Not exactly.

Take a look at their cornerback situation, where both starters are hobbled and likely will be absent against the Vikings. Aqib Talib had surgery and Marcus Peters was helped off the field on Sunday.

That means backups on the outside to cover the dangerous pair of Stefan Diggs and Adam Thielen.

“We can call the same calls with those guys. In fact, we did in the [last] ballgame,” defensive co-ordinator Wade Phillips said. “I feel confident in those guys.”

We’re not quite that confident, particularly with Minnesota getting such a nasty wakeup call from Buffalo last weekend.

Minnesota, ranked eighth in the AP Pro32, is a 6 ⁄ -point underdog at the No. 1 Rams. Give us the points. RAMS, 30-28

SUNDAY BALTIMORE (plus 3)

at PITTSBURGH NFL could put this bitter matchup on every Sunday night and it would be entertaining. STEELERS, 30-24

MIAMI (plus 6 ⁄ ) at NEW ENGLAND Lots of excitement in South Beach, dismay at North Station. Everybody calm down. PATRIOTS, 20-19 DETROIT (plus 3)

at DALLAS Can Matt Patricia out-scheme dormant Cowboys as he did the Patriots? COWBOYS, 17-16 PHILADELPHIA (minus 3 ⁄ )

at TENNESSEE Two banged-up first-place teams. Carson Wentz makes the difference. EAGLES, 21-15 TAMPA BAY (plus 3)

at CHICAGO Toughest game to figure on this week’s schedule. BEARS, 24-23 BUFFALO (plus 10) at GREEN BAY Bills won’t catch injury-ravaged Packers napping as they did Vikings. PACKERS, 27-20 NEW YORK JETS (plus 7)

at JACKSONVILLE That loss in Cleveland could plague Jets for a while. JAGUARS, 24-16 SEATTLE (minus 3)

at ARIZONA Cardinals will win a game. Just not this week. SEAHAWKS, 20-13 HOUSTON (plus 1 ⁄ ) at INDIANAPOLIS Texans will win a game. Just not this week. COLTS, 19-16 CLEVELAND (plus 2 ⁄ )

at OAKLAND Raiders will win a game. Yes, this week. RAIDERS, 22-20 NEW ORLEANS (minus 3) at NEW YORK GIANTS Resilient Saints march through Meadowlands. SAINTS, 30-20 SAN FRANCISCO (plus 10 ⁄ )

at Los Angeles Chargers Niners losing Jimmy G is as big a hit as any team has taken this season. CHARGERS, 33-10 CINCINNATI (plus 5 ⁄ )

at ATLANTA Bungles no more, Cincinnati is better than people think. Falcons are hurting. BENGALS, 27-23

MONDAY NIGHT KANSAS CITY (minus 5 ⁄ )

at DENVER Too many points to lay for such a rivalry game, and in the Mile High City. CHIEFS, 24-20

——— 2018 RECORD: Last Week: Against spread (6-9). Straight up (9-7) Season Totals: Against spread (23-22-1). Straight up: (27-19-2)