Bold predictions and NFL picks for Week 4, plus grading Lions and Packers after Detroit’s huge win

Welcome to the Friday version of the Pick Six publication!

We’re going to begin as of late with some giant news: The Detroit Lions at the moment are in SOLE ownership of first position within the NFC North. Sure, it feels like I’m making that up, however I promise, It’s not that i am. The final time the Lions have been by myself in first position got here again in WEEK 2 of the 2017 season, so it is been a very long time coming for enthusiasts in Detroit. 

Thanks to their 34-20 win over Green Bay on Thursday evening, the Lions additionally now have a four-game profitable streak towards the Packers, which is tied for the second-longest in franchise historical past. 

Anyway, we’ve got were given a hectic day as of late: We’ll be recapping Detroit’s win, plus we now have numerous picks for Week 4 and we will be having a look on the 5 groups dealing with essentially the most drive heading into the weekend. 

As all the time, this is your day by day reminder to inform your whole pals to enroll for the publication. It’s the very best reward to get for your favourite football-loving pal originally of the season. To get them signed up, all it’s important to do is click on right here. Alright, let’s get to the rundown. 

1. Today’s display: Best bets for Week 4

If you are a common listener of the Pick Six Podcast or a standard reader of this text, then you understand what we do on Fridays: We make picks. And then simply whilst you assume we are accomplished making picks, we make extra picks. 

For as of late’s display, Katie Mox was once joined by means of Will Brinson in conjunction with R.J. White and Alex “PropStarz” Selelnick — two of our playing gurus over at SportsLine — and the 4 of them presented a few of their best possible bets for Week 3. 

The workforce spent a complete hour handing out picks and we are going to move over a couple of in their best possible bets right here: 

Will Brinson (2-1 in picks we shared right here final week, 6-3 at the season)
Bills (-3) to hide towards Dolphins
Panthers (+4) to hide towards Vikings
Chiefs (-9.5) to hide towards Jets

R.J. White (1-2 in picks we shared right here final week, 3-6 at the season)
Buccaneers (+3) to hide towards Saints
Eagles (-8.5) to hide towards Commanders
Jets crew overall UNDER 16.5 issues (vs. Chiefs)

Katie Mox (2-1 in picks we shared right here final week, 5-4 at the season)
Browns (-2.5) to hide towards Ravens
Vikings crew overall over 25.5 issues (vs. Panthers)
49ers crew overall OVER 29.5 issues (vs. Cardinals) 

As for PropStarz, he passed out a couple of of his favourite props for the weekend, as a result of when your nickname is PropStarz, that is what the folk be expecting. 

• Dolphins at Bills: Gabriel Davis OVER 42.5 receiving yards (-115)
• Vikings at Panthers: Jordan Addison OVER 39.5 receiving yards (-117)
• Broncos at Bears: Jerry Jeudy OVER 52.5 receiving backyard (-115)

PropStarz went 0-3 final week and is now 3-6 at the season. 

To pay attention what the remainder of the most productive bets are for Week 4 — and there are rather a couple of — be sure to click here so you can listen to the entire episode of the podcast. You can also watch the episode on YouTube here. 

2. Thursday evening grades after Lions’ 34-20 win over Packers

Here’s one thing I by no means concept I’d kind: The Detroit Lions are if truth be told residing as much as the hype. Going into the 2023 season, the Lions have been the favorites to win the NFC North and they performed just like the favorites in a dominating 34-20 win over the Packers on Thursday evening. 

Here are our grades from the sport: 

LIONS GRADE: A

This recreation were given off to a rocky get started for the Lions after Jared Goff threw an interception on Detroit’s 0.33 play from scrimmage, but it surely was a blowout for the reason that Lions performed just about best possible soccer after that. The Lions have been particularly excellent within the trenches the place their offensive line beat up at the Packers protection, which helped pave the best way for David Montgomery to hurry for 121 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Lions defensive position was once similarly excellent: The unit put consistent drive on Jordan Love, who was once sacked 5 occasions with 1.5 of the ones coming from Aidan Hutchinson. It’s simplest been 4 weeks, however at this time, the 3-1 Lions seem like one of the vital well-rounded groups within the NFL. 

Lions notes

• Running wild. It’s now not regularly you notice a Lions operating again rush for greater than 100 yards with 3 touchdowns, which is strictly what David Montgomery did. He changed into the primary participant to hit the ones numbers for the Lions since 2000. He additionally changed into simply the fourth participant within the historical past of Lambeau Field to head for no less than 100 yards with 3 touchdowns. Montgomery now has 3 occupation 100-yard video games at Lambeau, which is the fourth maximum in NFL historical past, trailing simplest Walter Payton (6), Adrian Peterson (4) and Barry Sanders (4).  
• Sack masters. With 5 sacks towards the Packers, the Lions have now recorded no less than 5 sacks in consecutive video games for the primary time since 1988. In Week 3, the Lions racked up seven sacks towards Falcons QB Desmond Ridder, which provides them 12 during the last two weeks. The has been the month of Sacktember for them and the ringleader has been Aidan Hutchinson, who tallied 3.5 of the ones 12 sacks. 

PACKERS GRADE: D-

If you simplest acquire 21 yards within the first part of an NFL recreation, you might be nearly all the time going to lose, and that is what Green Bay did towards Detroit. The Packers completely imploded within the first part. On their first 5 possessions, they went three-and-out 4 occasions and the one pressure that did not finish with a three-and-out ended with an interception. Jordan Love has struggled within the first part all season and Thursday was once no other: He went simply 6 of 13 for 50 yards throughout the sport’s first two quarters. Love were given no lend a hand from his offensive line (he was once sacked 5 occasions) and the Packers had no dashing recreation to talk of, which was once in part Matt LaFleur’s fault. For some explanation why, the Packers did not even try to run the ball on their first two possessions. They if truth be told completed the sport with simply 27 yards at the flooring, which was once their lowest dashing output since 2013. The protection was once additionally unhealthy, however it is laborious to be excellent if you end up at the box for 38 mins like Green Bay’s protection was once on this recreation. 

Packers notes

• Packers packed it in for the primary part. The Packers trailed 27-3 on the finish of the primary part, which is notable, as it was once tied for the third-largest halftime deficit ever at Lambeau Field. Over the previous two weeks, the Packers have now been outscored 44-3 within the first part, which is one thing they obviously want to get discovered. The Packers 21-yard overall within the first part was once their lowest overall in any part since no less than 1991. 

If you need to try extra of our takeaways from the sport, make sure you click on right here. 

3. Five NFL teams beneath essentially the most drive heading into Week 4

Some groups will undoubtedly be feeling extra drive than others in Week 4 and that is as it looks like there are a couple of groups in the market who’re in must-win eventualities. Will their season be over in the event that they lose? No, however it is going to almost certainly really feel adore it. 

With that during thoughts, here is a take a look at the 5 groups dealing with essentially the most drive this week: 

• T-1. Broncos (0-3) and Vikings (0-3). We can have lumped all 4 0-3 groups in combination right here, however we determined now not to do this and that is most commonly for the reason that Broncos and Vikings had a lot upper expectancies getting into the season than the Panthers and Bears. The Vikings are the protecting NFC North champions and in the event that they lose to the 0-3 Panthers on Sunday, it could be time to begin a hearth sale in Minnesota. … “Hey Jets, do you want Kirk Cousins? Make us an offer.” As for the Broncos, Sean Payton was once intended to mend the whole lot in Denver, however as an alternative, issues have one way or the other gotten worse. If the Broncos lose to the 0-3 Bears one week after giving up 70 to the Dolphins, that would depart rather the stain on Payton’s training recognition. 
• 3. Giants (1-2). After making the playoff final yr, the Giants were a borderline crisis this yr. They have been outscored 70-12 of their two losses mixed and their simplest win got here in a recreation towards the Cardinals the place they trailed 28-7. The Giants have an opportunity to get their season again on course, but when that is going to occur, they have got to overcome the Seahawks on Monday evening. The drawback there may be that Daniel Jones is 1-11 in his occupation in prime-time video games. If Jones cannot beat the Seahawks, he will fall to 1-12 and numerous other people will beginning questioning why the Giants gave him a $160 million contract (if they are now not questioning that already). 
• 4. Chargers (1-2). When it involves the Chargers, it kind of feels like Brandon Staley is completely at the scorching seat and this crew is all the time beneath drive. That being stated, the drive is actual this week. Although Staley staved off scorching seat communicate with a win over the Vikings, that dialog will get started once more if the Chargers lose to the 1-2 Raiders. 
• 5. Bengals (1-2). With Joe Burrow hobbled, the Bengals want to you’ll want to win the video games they are intended to win and they are appreciated to overcome the Titans on Sunday. The drawback for the Bengals is if they lose in Nashville, they are going to be two video games out of first position it doesn’t matter what for the reason that Browns are taking part in the Ravens and the winner of that recreation will likely be shifting to 3-1. Two video games out after 4 weeks with an injured quarterback would put the Bengals in a horny unpleasant scenario. 

Now that we all know who is beneath essentially the most drive in Week 4, let’s get to our subsequent batch of picks. 

4. NFL Week 4 picks: Jaguars win in London, Texans surprise Steelers

I’m hoping you might be now not bored with studying our picks but, as a result of we now have much more of them coming at you at this time. This batch will likely be coming from NFL senior author Pete Prisco, in conjunction with Will Brinson, Jordan Dajani, Tyler Sullivan and myself. The 5 folks mixed to head 4-1 towards the unfold with our picks right here final week, which was once a pleasing restoration after going 1-4 final week. Overall, we are 9-5-1 with our picks which have been featured within the publication heading into Week 4. 

Here’s how issues are going to paintings: I’m going to provide you with one select from each and every man and then direct you to the remainder of their picks. That approach, for those who like their pick out, you are able to learn the remainder of them, but when they pick out towards your favourite crew, you’ll forget about the remainder of their picks and transfer on. 

• Pete Prisco: Browns (-2.5) 24-16 over Ravens. From Prisco: “The Ravens lost last week to the Colts at home and have been hit hard by injury. The Browns have won two of three behind a dominant defense. That defense will be the difference. Lamar Jackson and the passing game aren’t clicking yet. Browns win it. ” For the remainder of Prisco’s Week 4 picks, make sure you click on right here.
• Tyler Sullivan: Texans (+3) 23-20 over Steelers. From Sullivan: “How can you not be impressed by what we’ve seen from C.J. Stroud over the last few weeks? In my estimation, he’s the best out of the rookie quarterbacks through three weeks and that includes an upset win last week against Jacksonville. … Given the way Stroud has played and my questions still lingering about the Steelers offense, I’ll gladly back the home dog with a field goal in my back pocket.” For the remainder of Sullivan’s Week 4 picks, make sure you click on right here.
• Will Brinson: Buccaneers (+3.5) to hide towards Saints. From Brinson: “Tampa’s defense is capable of preying on mistake-prone quarterbacks and if Jameis Winston is starting, he definitely qualifies as mistake prone. Baker Mayfield will have more time against New Orleans, he’s indoors, and the Bucs will keep this within a field goal.” For the remainder of Brinson’s Week 4 best possible bets, make sure you click on right here.
• Jordan Dajani: Jaguars (-3) 24-20 over Falcons. From Dajani: “Atlanta put up just six points vs. the Detroit Lions last week, and Desmond Ridder has been terrible on the road. He’s 0-3 away from Atlanta in his young career, and the Falcons have averaged just 11.0 points per game in those contests. … I think this could be a get-right spot for Jacksonville.” For the remainder of Dajani’s Week 4 best possible bets, make sure you click on right here.
• John Breech: Broncos 20-17 over Bears (+3.5). This is a large recreation for each groups, however I’ve to assume it is a larger recreation for the Broncos for the reason that simplest other thing embarrassing than giving up 70 issues in an NFL recreation is shedding to the Bears. If that occurs to the Broncos in consecutive weeks, they could as properly simply forfeit the remainder of the season. The excellent news for the Broncos is that I do not believe they will want to forfeit the remainder of the season. For the remainder of my Week 4 picks, make sure you click on right here. 

For extra Week 4 NFL picks, you’ll take a look at out our CBSSports.com picks web page right here. 

5. Bold predictions for Week 4: Jets dissatisfied Patriots

After providing you with some daring predictions final Friday, we concept we would do the similar factor once more this week. Garrett Podell got here up with 5 daring predictions for Week 4 and he is were given some beautiful wild ones that simply would possibly hit. His best possible prediction final week was once that Kenny Pickett would throw more than one landing passes towards the Raiders, which ended up being right kind. That was once daring as a result of Pickett had by no means thrown more than one touchdowns in a recreation ahead of the sport in Las Vegas. 

Here’s a take a look at 3 of Garrett’s predictions for Week 4:  

• 1. Bills dangle the Dolphins beneath 30 issues. “The Bills have a pass defense with the best touchdown-to-interception ratio allowed (two touchdowns to seven interceptions) and the lowest passer rating allowed (54.0) in 2023. Their nine takeaways, 30 points off turnovers and seven interceptions are also the best in the league. Head coach Sean McDermott’s defense has also shown a propensity to make opposing quarterbacks’ days miserable by constantly getting their face. The Bills win their eighth consecutive home game against Miami and send the Dolphins offense back to the world of mortals.”
• 2. Texans dissatisfied Steelers because of C.J. Stroud. “No head coach has taken advantage of rookie quarterbacks like Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, who is 23-4 against rookie quarterbacks. However, Stroud is going to buck that trend. … His 906 passing yards are the third-most through three games in NFL history. Stroud is special, and he will do just enough to outduel Kenny Pickett and the Steelers maligned offense on Sunday.”
• 3. Drake London ratings two touchdowns in London. “London is riding the struggle bus in head coach Arthur Smith’s offense with only one touchdown in his last nine games, but this week, he gets to go up against a Jaguars defense that’s allowing 264.3 passing yards per game, which is the sixth-most in the league. London will be the main beneficiary of this, hauling in two scores in a bounce-back win for the Dirty Birds after their disappointing showing in Detroit against the Lions a week ago.”

Garrett has 5 daring predictions for Week 4 and you’ll take a look at they all by means of clicking right here. 

6. Extra issues: Aaron Rodgers hoping to wait ‘SNF’

It’s been a hectic 24 hours within the NFL, and since it is just about not possible to stay monitor of the whole lot that came about, I went forward and put in combination a roundup for you. 

• Aaron Rodgers taking a look to wait Chiefs-Jets. Taylor Swift may not be the one giant title appearing up on Sunday evening and that is as a result of Rodgers could be on the recreation. According to ESPN, Rodgers desires to wait the sport, however he needs to be medically cleared ahead of he can fly. The Jets QB simply underwent surgical operation on his torn Achilles two weeks in the past. In similar news, Rodgers was once noticed on crutches this week for the primary time since his surgical operation and you can see the photos here. 
• David Bakhtiari most likely out for the season. The news helps to keep going from unhealthy to worse for the Packers offensive lineman. Bakhtiari has been put on IR, this means that he will undoubtedly must leave out no less than 4 video games (The countdown began with Thursday’s recreation towards Detroit). However, it seems his knee harm would possibly if truth be told sideline him for the remainder of the season, according to NFL.com. If that is the case, it is going to imply that Bakhtiari may have neglected 38 video games during the last 3 seasons. 
• Brian Belichick again with the Patriots. The Patriots safeties trainer in any case returned to the crew this week. Belichick were out since previous this summer time when he suffered a serious knee injury that required three surgeries. After a number of months of rehab, Belichick is still walking with a crutch, however he was once in a position to wait New England’s Week 3 win over the Jets.
• Bills protection dominated out for Week 4. Bills trainer Sean McDermott announced on Friday that Jordan Poyer (knee) may not be taking part in on Sunday towards the Dolphins. The lack of Poyer will undoubtedly make issues harder for a Bills secondary that is getting set to head up towards the NFL’s best possible passing offense.