As the 2023-24 NFL season enters its fourth week, the league’s landscape continues to take form, and the results start to feel like they matter a little more.

For example, Thursday Night Football pits the 2-1 Detroit Lions against the 2-1 Green Bay Packers for first place in the NFC North. The 4-0 Miami Dolphins and 3-1 Buffalo Bills will also be playing for first place in the AFC East.

Otherwise, teams like the Los Angeles Chargers, Minnesota Vikings, Cincinnati Bengals, and Denver Broncos are facing make-it-or-break-it points. A 1-3 or 0-4 start is pretty hard to come back from, but it’s possible for each of these teams that came in to the season with high aspirations.

How will the Week 4 play out? Read on for my 2023-24 NFL Week 4 Picks, and if you’d like to debate or discuss any predictions, join the conversation with @SakSports on Twitter.

Picks Record

Week 3 Picks: 8-8

Week 1: 9-7

Week 2: 12-4

Week 3: 8-8

Overall: 29-19 (60%)

Thursday Night Football

Detroit Lions (2-1) at Green Bay Packers (2-1): In a Thursday Night Football matchup for first place in the NFC North, the modern pecking order remains established from last season: the Detroit Lions are better than the Green Bay Packers, and it’s been a while since you could say that. Lions win 27-23

Sunday Games

The 2-1 Atlanta Falcons and 1-2 Jacksonville Jaguars will square off in London in Week 4. (Photo: Behind the Steel Currai

Atlanta Falcons (2-1) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-2) Game in London: The Atlanta Falcons got exposed as not the greatest 2-0 in a 20-6 loss to the Lions last week, while the Jacksonville Jaguars got exposed as a team that could lose to the Houston Texans, being shocked 37-17. Still, the Jaguars are better constructed, and also have plenty of London experience. Jaguars win 20-13

Sak Sports Blog Game of the Week Miami Dolphins (4-0) at Buffalo Bills (3-1): Last season’s early Dolphins-Bills matchup came down to the wire, and this one shouldn’t be too much different. Miami is firing on all cylinders, and while the Bills blew out the Commanders last week, Buffalo could be suffering from the syndrome where they blow out bad teams but can’t quite beat the great ones. Dolphins win 35-27

Denver Broncos (0-3) at Chicago Bears (0-3): Besides the loser inching one step closer to USC QB Caleb Williams in the 2024 NFL Draft, I don’t even know what to expect. High-scoring? Low-scoring? This game could easily go either way. Broncos win 17-16

Baltimore Ravens (2-1) at Cleveland Browns (2-1): Baltimore is banged up at wide receiver (with Odell Beckham Jr. and Rashod Bateman expected to be out) and just came off an overtime loss to the the Colts. The Browns are playing better than expected: as much as I see the Ravens as a superior team overall, Cleveland steals this one. Browns win 24-20

Cincinnati Bengals (1-2) at Tennessee Titans (1-2): Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals still haven’t gotten “back on track,” but they got closer to the track with last week’s MNF win over the Rams. The Titans have shown brief flashes through three weeks, but we’re embarrassed 27-3 last week in Cleveland. Bengals win 24-16

Los Angeles Rams (1-2) at Indianapolis Colts (2-1): The 2023 Los Angeles Rams are worlds better than last year’s team, but only have a 1-2 record to show for it. The Colts are an upstart 2-1, and while they may be a pleasant surprise this season, 3-1 is pushing it. Rams win 30-20

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1) at New Orleans Saints (2-1): The Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2-0 start came to a halt against the defending NFC Champion Eagles, but there’s still a competitive squad behind Baker Mayfield. I like the Derek Care New Orleans Saints too, but injuries piling up early, as well as the blow of last week’s loss, will hold the Saints back at home. Buccaneers win 26-17

Washington Commanders (2-1) at Philadelphia Eagles (3-0): The Philadelphia Eagles kept it close with the Patriots and even the Buccaneers for a bit despite winning both games and starting 3-0. But I think Jalen Hurts’ offense is ready to unload on this Commanders team that just lost 37-3 to Buffalo. Eagles win 42-22

Minnesota Vikings (0-3) at Carolina Panthers (0-3): For the third straight week, the Minnesota Vikings will play in a winless matchup (yes, counting 0-0) but luckily, the Carolina Panthers aren’t as tough of a challenge as last week’s Los Angeles Chargers. Vikings win 30-21

Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1) at Houston Texans (1-2): C.J. Stroud is the real deal, and the Texans finally gave him some support in a 37-17 win over the Jaguars last week. But Kenny Pickett and the Pittsburgh Steelers have looked sharp in back-to-back wins. Steelers win 27-26

Las Vegas Raiders (1-2) at Los Angeles Chargers (1-2): Don’t let the identical records fool you: the Los Angeles Chargers obviously have the better team here. Los Angeles is even in the Top 10 in point differential through three weeks, despite a losing record. Chargers win 33-17

New England Patriots (1-2) at Dallas Cowboys (2-1): After last week’s shocking loss to the Cardinals, the Dallas Cowboys can’t overlook Max Jones and the New England Patriots. Cowboys win 34-26

Arizona Cardinals (1-2) at San Francisco 49ers (3-0): Josh Dobbs and the Arizona Cardinals shocked the NFL with last week’s upset win over the Cowboys, but the San Francisco 49ers are just too talented… everywhere for one of the worst teams in the league from last season to keep up. 49ers win 36-17

Sunday Night Football

(Jason Hanna/Getty Images)

Kansas City Chiefs (2-1) at New York Jets (1-2): Obviously, a once highly-anticipated meeting between Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers has been postponed once again, but hey, at least we get Taylor Swift, right? Chiefs win 38-19

Monday Night Football

Seattle Seahawks (2-1) at New York Giants (1-2): The 2-1 Seattle Seahawks are still kind of gaining their footing this season after last season’s wildcard run. The New York Giants, another NFC wildcard team from last season, have played one good half of football through three weeks. Seahawks win 34-24

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