“Pick ‘Em or Kick ‘Em”™: FGT VS. Urban Sports Scene 2023 Week 4 NFL Picks

September 28, 2023

By the Football Garbage Time Staff

If you followed last year, you won over 60% of your picks, and we aim to do even better this year.

And if you’ve been following us, you know that we here at Football Garbage Time have gone head-to-head against Wally, Will and Ray at Urban Sports Scene on our NFL Picks for the last 6 seasons. Why? Because they’re awesome competitors, they KNOW their sports, and, heck, they’re just good guys! This year we’ll have their picks up right HERE, so keep it tuned in, to both us and them, because we’ll be picking all season all long.

Without further to do, here we go:

Week 4 Games

Ha Kung Wong’s Picks

Ha Kung’s Thoughts:

After a 64.7% record two seasons ago, I ended last season 63.3% (178-103). So that’s eight years in a row with over a 60% pick rate. I also ended up 16-4 for Locks of Week (80%) and 8-12 for Upsets of the Week (40%) which is also eight years in a row of Locks being over 70%. I was 11-5 in Week 3 as I slowly make up for a rough start and am now 27-21 (56.3%) overall for the season. Unfortunately, I missed my Lock of the Week (Jaguars) and Upset of the Week (Titans) meaning I’m 67% for both Locks and Upsets so far. But there are plenty of weeks to go!

Let’s get to that Lock (for Survivor Leagues) and Upset for Week 4…

Lock of the Week ➡ Kansas City Chiefs (-9.5) over New York Jets

In Week 3, the NFL news that broke the internet had nothing to do with the NFL at all, as everyone’s favorite fantasy football tight end, Travis Kelce, was seen with apparently everyone’s favorite pop star, Taylor Swift. That being said, Swift is said to be traveling to watch Kelce score TDs on the Jets vaunted but flawed defense this week, so you know that Mahomes will be pushing the ball downfield as much as possible to make Kelce look good (looks like we’ve all gotten back to high school). Mahomes even admitted after the game trying to get Kelce a TD because Swift was in the box watching. On the other side of the ball, the Jets offense is terrible with least number of yards (225.0) and points (14.0) per game this season. Lock in the Chiefs.

Upset of the Week ➡ Chicago Bears (+3.5) over Denver Broncos

Do I feel confident about this upset? Heck no. But the Broncos defense looks abysmal as they allowed a whopping 70 points to the Miami Dolphins in Week 3. The Broncos have now allowed the most rushing yards (177.7) and points (40.7) per game to opposing teams. The Bears aren’t good, heck they may not even qualify as simply bad, but one thing they like to do is run the ball. This is the perfect get-right game for Justin Fields to showcase what he does best, run the ball and avoid throwing it. Feeling a little daring? I like the potential for an upset here.

Joanne Kong’s Picks

Scott King’s Picks

Scott’s Thoughts:

Still grinding out the weeks. There are some tough games this week mixed in with some blowouts. The lines are even tougher. Still looking to keep above .500 until some things come into focus. Need a good game by the Lions, but hard to pick against Green Bay at home.

Wole’s Picks

Wole’s Thoughts:

Check out Wole’s thoughts on his picks in the recent Urban Sports Scene Podcast!

Ray’s Picks

Ray’s Thoughts:

Check out Ray’s thoughts on his picks in the most recent Urban Sports Scene Podcast!

Will’s Picks

Will’s Thoughts:

Check out Will’s thoughts on his picks in the most recent Urban Sports Scene Podcast!

Kaiden’s Picks

Ryan’s Picks

Coming Soon!

George’s Picks

George’s Thoughts:

Everyone else is going to tell you about the great games being played this week but befitting my poor performance last week let me be the one to break down the two toilet bowl games this week.

Denver at Chicago: Chicago hasn’t given up 70 in a game, but they haven’t been very close to winning either. There one real chance at Tampa Bay turned into a defensive touchdown for the Bucs. On the other hand, the Broncos were just a few plays away from being 2-0 when they got to Miami. Lost to the Raiders by a point and led Washington by 18 halfway through the second quarter. Both teams were pounded into gristle last week but it’s Denver who will bounce back and give the under-fire Sean Payton some much needed relief. And if you want to get real brave and get a bad team out of the way, use them in the eliminator this week.

Minnesota at Carolina: Now admittedly some of this depends on Bryce Young’s availability. Not to say the Panthers can’t win with Andy Dalton but I’d like to see Young in a situation where Frank Reich lets him cut it loose because they need to get points. The Panthers have a really good front, but is that enough to contain the Vikings offense? I say no. Minnesota’s defense is terrible but that’s not why they lost to the Eagles or Chargers (games they should’ve won). They lost those games because the offense either turned the ball over or made other terrible mistakes late. I’m banking on Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson making a lot of connections and Minnesota to get into the W column. If the Vikings didn’t knock you out week 1 and you want to get brave. Use them here.

As for the rest. The safe eliminator pick is San Francisco (if you haven’t used them already) followed by Dallas (if they didn’t knock you out last week).

Also, I like Tampa Bay to bounce back better from their loss than New Orleans who blew a 17-0 4th quarter lead. And Houston to take down fraudulent Pittsburgh for their second consecutive win.

UPDATE: With Anthony Richardson in, George is switching his IND pick to LAR.