2017 NFL preseason Week 4 predictions

Thursday, 7 p.m. ET 

Plenty of issues on both sides here, with Cincinnati staring down a three-game suspension for the talented but troubled Vontaze Burfict, and Indianapolis dealing with continued uncertainty regarding Andrew Luck's surgically repaired shoulder. Scott Tolzien will get the nod in this one, and head coach Chuck Pagano figures to watch his performance very closely, as it appears there is a very real chance that Tolzien will be under center to start the regular season. Expect Indianapolis to come out a little sharper, especially against Cincinnati's backups. 

Pick: Colts

Thursday, 7 p.m. ET (NFL Network)

Journeyman Josh McCown was named starting quarterback earlier this week, but that hasn't put an end to the intrigue at that position for New York. Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg are still jockeying for the backup job. Petty, though he's dealing with a sprained knee, has lobbied to play, likely hoping to make a second straight statement after registering a perfect quarterback rating against the Giants' second and third-stringers last week. Meanwhile, the Eagles need to figure out whether Nick Foles will be healthy enough to back up Carson Wentz, or if the job will end up belonging to Matt McGloin.

Pick: Eagles

Thursday, 7 p.m. ET

Blake Bortles is the starter for Jacksonville, for better or worse, and likely won't play much, if at all, against Atlanta. The Jaguars' situation is far from ideal, because no matter how much of a vote of confidence Bortles receives from Doug Marrone, a good game in Atlanta from Chad Henne will stir up the controversy yet again. For the Falcons, the goal is much simpler; stay healthy. Needless to say, Matt Ryan isn't looking over his shoulder at anyone.

Pick: Jaguars

Thursday, 7 p.m. ET

With his starter and third-stringer in the concussion protocol, Sean McDermott has a decision to make. Should he let Nathan Peterman play a few series, or guarantee his health and give Keith Wenning, a fourth-year pro out of Ball State, signed primarily to get the Bills through this final exhibition game, all of the snaps? The latter seems more likely, and while that won't do the rest of the Bills' offense any good as far as legitimate preparation, it may be the best course of action. As for Detroit, it's safe to say that Matthew Stafford, the latest QB to hold the title of league's highest paid player, will watch comfortably from the sidelines.

Pick: Lions

Thursday, 7 p.m. ET

Think Aaron Rodgers is happy about Matthew Stafford's new contract? Chances are he is, even if he won't say much on the subject. Rodgers is probably the best quarterback in the league not named Tom Brady, and it stands to reason he'll cash in the biggest before too long. Rodgers won't play because he doesn't need to, but the Rams' best player, all-world defensive lineman Aaron Donald, won't suit up because he's holding out. General Manager Les Snead has said it is unlikely that Donald will play in the season opener unless he reports to the team this week, a scenario that would seriously damage Los Angeles' defense.

Pick: Packers

Thursday, 7:30 p.m. ET

The Steelers have been busy, signing Joe Haden on Wednesday shortly after he was cut by the Browns. Haden figures to immediately slot in as a starting cornerback opposite Artie Burns, a move that may well end Ross Cockrell's time in Pittsburgh. Mike Tomlin has also been unhappy with the play of his tight ends, deeming it "not consistently varsity enough." That was his explanation for the Steelers' acquisition of Vance McDonald in a trade with San Francisco. McDonald's contract suggests that he was brought in to be the featured tight end in a high-powered offense, so it will be interesting to see how much playing time he gets, if any, given that Ben Roethlisberger won't see the field. 

Pick: Panthers

Thursday, 7:30 p.m. ET

Don't expect the Pats to miss a beat after losing Julian Edelman for the season to an ACL tear. Brandin Cooks and Chris Hogan figure to be more than capable of picking up the slack, with Cooks looking like an especially dangerous and versatile target. The Giants' backups, meanwhile, were strafed by Bryce Petty last week. The task this week is much taller, as second-stringers go, with Jimmy Garoppolo looking to impress. Undrafted rookie Austin Carr has had a strong preseason and figures to be a player to watch for New England.

Pick: Patriots

Thursday, 7:30 p.m. ET

One has to think that Kirk Cousins was salivating when news of Matthew Stafford's contract extension broke. Cousins stands to cash in so long as he has a solid season, and the return of tight end Jordan Reed, his most trusted target, can only help in that regard. Though Reed may well need more reps, all reports suggest he will not play in Washington's final exhibition game. For Tampa Bay, the most interesting subplot might well be how kicker Nick Folk, brought in to replace the disastrous Roberto Aguayo, fares in his final exhibition outing. Folk was not good against Jacksonville, but accounted for all of the Buccaneers' points against Cleveland.

Pick: Buccaneers

Thursday, 8 p.m. ET

Having cut loose Joe Haden, the Browns are even younger and cheaper on the defensive side of the ball, but DeShone Kizer's ascension to the starting quarterback spot seems to be the most intriguing story for this team. Kizer may or may not play in the preseason's final tilt, but Cleveland native Mitch Trubisky will start for the Bears. Should Kizer play, it will be interesting to see how long Hue Jackson risks having him out there, as the rookie certainly could use more reps, given his lack of experience and perceived lack of readiness.

Pick: Bears

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Thursday, 8 p.m. ET

Minnesota's biggest issue seems to be its porous offensive line, a unit that did itself no favors in 15 snaps together last week against San Francisco. Head Coach Mike Zimmer has to hope that Riley Reiff and company will need to get their act together in a hurry, because as good as Sam Bradford was last year, durable has not been a word used to describe him throughout his career. As for Miami, Jay Cutler is expected to sit, so Dolphins fans will have to hope that his history with Adam Gase wins out over his relative inexperience with the team. One unsettled area for the Dolphins is cornerback, where Byron Maxwell and Xavien Howard are the presumptive starters, but could see a handful of reserves, among them former Pro Bowler Alterraun Verner, vie for playing time.

Pick: Vikings

Thursday, 8 p.m. ET

Baltimore looks to wrap up an unbeaten run through the preseason, with some undrafted free agent rookies having made strong impressions during training camp and the first three preseason games. Chief among them is Bam Bradley, a linebacker from Pittsburgh, who may well be the next man up at inside linebacker, after Albert Mclellan was lost for the year with a knee injury. For New Orleans, this game merely serves as one more game to wait before Drew Brees and Adrian Peterson, two veterans likely to end their careers in Canton, teaming up together in the backfield during a game that counts.

Pick: Ravens

Thursday, 8:30 p.m. ET

Kansas City acquired former Browns center Cameron Erving in another late-preseason trade, and while Browns fans certainly didn't seem upset to see Erving leave, he may be a better fit with the Chiefs, who might try to use him at a different spot on the offensive line, specifically one where his six-foot-six-inch frame isn't as awkward as it was at center. Meantime, Tennessee's main concern is that fifth overall pick Corey Davis and newly acquired Eric Decker are able to build as much chemistry with Marcus Mariota as possible, given that both only recently returned to practice.

Pick: Chiefs

Thursday, 9 p.m. ET

Paxton Lynch's shoulder injury means undrafted rookie Kyle Sloter will play the overwhelming majority, if not all, of Denver's offensive snaps, with Trevor Siemian being given the night off. Sloter has posted a 140.2 passer rating this preseason, and has at least a chance to make Denver's 53-man roster due to Lynch's injury. Not bad for a guy that wasn't even Northern Colorado's starting quarterback to start his senior season. The Cardinals, meantime, look to merely get out of the exhibition slate healthy, while also getting a longer look at potential third-stringer Blaine Gabbert, who has drawn praise from head coach Bruce Arians.

Pick: Broncos

Thursday, 10 p.m. ET

The 49ers parted ways with Vance McDonald, in a trade that seems as much about getting McDonald's salary off the books as anything else, given what will likely be a relatively short move up the draft board if they and the Steelers have the seasons most pundits expect them to. Los Angeles, meanwhile, will prepare for a season in which Philip Rivers stands taller than ever as the irreplaceable core of their offense, and Joey Bosa looks to make the leap to bona fide superstar on the defensive side. Plus, there is also the battle to see whether or not the Chargers or Rams take clear hold of the number one spot in the hearts of Angelenos.

Pick: Chargers

Thursday, 10 p.m. ET (NFL Network)

There is plenty of intrigue surrounding the backup quarterback job in Seattle, as Trevone Boykin has been shaky, and Austin Davis often very sharp this preseason. The job was Boykin's to lose, and there is little doubt that his skill set is one Pete Carroll would love to have at his disposal should Russell Wilson go down with an injury. Still, Boykin's inconsistency has left the door open, and it isn't out of the realm of possibility that one more strong outing from Davis could net him the job. As for Oakland, if Derek Carr goes down with an injury, they're in enough trouble that the backup quarterback won't matter much.

Pick: Seahawks