The Loop NFL Picks: Week 4

Vikings at Panthers (+3½)

Speculation grows on the East Coast that a Vikings loss could lead them to tank the rest of the season and trade Kirk Cousins to the quarterback-needy New York Jets. The J-E-T-S believe that Captain Kirk would be a slightly better QB option than Zach Wilson, Tim Boyle and 80-year-old Joe Namath.
Pick: Vikings by 3

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – OCTOBER 14: Joe Namath speaks during a Super Bowl III 50th Anniversary celebration during halftime of the game between the New York Jets and the Indianapolis Colts at MetLife Stadium on October 14, 2018 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

Chiefs at Jets (+9½)

Injured quarterback Aaron Rodgers called out his Jets teammates for their very public sideline spats the past couple of weeks. Rodgers knows the much more mature way to air your petty personal grievances is to broadcast them on The Pat McAfee Show.
Pick: Chiefs by 21

FILE – New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) practices before an NFL preseason football game against the New York Giants, Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023, in East Rutherford, N.J. Rodgers will make his first public media appearance, Friday, Sept. 15, since tearing the Achilles tendon in his left foot four snaps into his debut with his new team Monday night.(AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File)

Cardinals at 49ers (-13½)

Former Niners QB Colin Kaepernick wrote to New York Jets management, asking for a job on the team’s practice squad. The letter was passed out to media organizations in an attempt to help Kaepernick’s bid to break the world record for groveling.
Pick: 49ers by 21

FILE – In this Nov. 16, 2019, file photo, free agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick participates in a workout for NFL football scouts and media in Riverdale, Ga. Kaepernick was a second-round draft pick in 2011 who the next year led the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl. By 2016, he had begun kneeling on the sideline at games during the national anthem to protest social injustice and police brutality.  Soon after, he was gone from the NFL, and he has not played since. (AP Photo/Todd Kirkland, File)

Commanders at Eagles (-8½)

Self-proclaimed Eagles fan Taylor Swift very publicly cheered on Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce during last Sunday’s game in Kansas City. This confirmed widespread speculation that Swift still lacks any taste in men.
Pick: Eagles by 15

Taylor Swift, center, attended the Kansas City Chiefs NFL football game against the Chicago Bears with Travis Kelce’s mother, Donna Kelce, at lower left, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)

Broncos at Bears (+3½)

Denver was blown out last Sunday in Miami 70-20, giving up the most points in an NFL game since 1966. It was an even worse day for Phil Mickelson, who lost $10 million after betting on the Broncos plus 49 points.
Pick: Bears by 3

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 24: Essang Bassey #21 of the Denver Broncos dives after De’Von Achane #28 of the Miami Dolphins as Achane scores a touchdown during the fourth quarter at Hard Rock Stadium on September 24, 2023 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

Dolphins at Bills (-2½)

Miami made history in its rout of Denver, as its 726 total yards broke the NFL’s all-time record set by the Los Angeles Rams in their 1951 victory over the New York Yanks. The Dolphins’ blowout was the worst beatdown of the weekend that didn’t involve Deion Sanders’ backside.
Pick: Dolphins by 3

EUGENE, OREGON – SEPTEMBER 23: Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes walks out of the tunnel before their game against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium on September 23, 2023 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Tom Hauck/Getty Images)

Rams at Colts (-1½)

Indy QB Gardner MInshew embarrassed himself last week by stepping out of the back of the end zone, handing Houston a safety. But this greatly increases the likelihood that ESPN will, as it did with Dan Orlovsky, stoop to hiring Minshew as a clownish football analyst.
Pick: Rams by 3

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Gardner Minshew (10) is hit in the end zone after he stepped out of bounds for a safety during the second half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Raiders at Chargers (-5½)

Las Vegas coach Josh McDaniels helped blow last week’s game against Pittsburgh by opting for a late field goal even though the Raiders were trailing by eight points. That call was so moronic that it prompted laughter from the Chargers’ Brandon Staley and Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman.
Pick: Chargers by 7

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels answers questions after a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Patriots at Cowboys (-6½)

The Cowboys, coming off a shocking loss in Arizona, will face off against their old teammate, New England running back Ezekiel Elliott. They’ll no doubt meet up before the game and reminisce about that moment four years ago when Elliott officially went over the hill..
Pick: Cowboys by 7

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 17: Ezekiel Elliott #15 of the New England Patriots looks on prior to a game against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium on September 17, 2023 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Bengals at Titans (+2½)

Joe Burrow and his injured calf got by on Monday night against the Rams. The Cincinnati quarterback should be even safer this week against a Tennessee defense that has proven incapable of causing harm to anybody.
Pick: Bengals by 3

CINCINNATI, OHIO – SEPTEMBER 25: Aaron Donald #99 of the Los Angeles Rams sacks Joe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals during the second quarter in the game at Paycor Stadium on September 25, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

OTHER GAMES

Buccaneers at Saints (-3½)
Pick: Saints by 7

Falcons vs Jaguars (-3½):
Pick: Jaguars by 1

Ravens at Browns (-2½):
Pick: Ravens by 3

Steelers at Texans (+3½):
Pick: Steelers by 2

Seahawks at Giants (-1½):
Pick: Seahawks by 8

GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – SEPTEMBER 24: Rashan Gary #52 of the Green Bay Packers sacks Jameis Winston #2 of the New Orleans Saints during a game at Lambeau Field on September 24, 2023 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

RECORD

Week 3
11-5 straight up
11-5 vs. spread
Season
31-17 straight up (.646)
26-22 vs. spread (.542)

You can hear Kevin Cusick on Wednesdays on Bob Sansevere’s “BS Show” podcast on iTunes. You can follow Kevin on Twitter — @theloopnow. He can be reached at [email protected].

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