We’ve finally arrived at the finish line — preseason Week 4. There are no more Friday night tilts, no more Saturday specials and certainly nothing going on this Sunday. Preseason Week 4 is all happening Thursday night with a full slate of 16 games as bubble players struggle to keep their NFL dreams going. Plenty of those guys will be suiting up for the Cleveland Browns when they travel to Detroit to take on the Lions. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. EST and the game will be broadcast nationally on the NFL Network.
Cleveland Browns at Detroit Lions (-1, Over/Under 36.5)
Cleveland Browns (2-1)
The Browns roll into this game after a downright shameful 5-0 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles last week. When people look back at Hue Jackson’s tenure in Cleveland, no one will mention a Week 3 preseason game, but it summed up the problems with the Browns’ head coach and most of his staff.
Baker Mayfield led Cleveland in passing, finishing 8-of-12 for 76 yards and an interception. Tyrod Taylor was better statistically, going 11-for-16 for 65 yards, but neither guy looked good.
Who did look good on offense? The Browns running backs, that’s who. Rookie Nick Chubb rushed 14 times for 46 yards and free-agent acquisition Carlos Hyde carried the ball seven times for 45 yards.
As for the defense, how much was it Cleveland’s prowess verses how inept Nick Foles and the Philadelphia offense looked? We probably won’t know until the regular season begins, but Myles Garrett looked unblockable. He recorded three tackles and two sacks in his short work. In all, the Browns defense sacked Philadelphia seven times and got one safety.
Like last week, the oddsmakers just can’t get a handle on this Browns squad. They were -2.5 in Week 1 against the Giants and won, 20-10. In Week 2, they were a two-point favorite over the Buffalo Bills and fell 19-17. Last week, they were again a two-point dog, only to win what was probably the worst football game played on any field at any level in North America by five.
Related: Preseason Betting Guide
Detroit Lions (1-2)
Detroit comes into this game off its first preseason win, a 33-30 shootout victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Quarterback Matthew Stafford was 9-of-18 for 113 yards in the most action he’ll see of the preseason. He was also sacked three times and since he’s not a guy that loves to hold onto the ball, that’s got to be a concern for head coach Matt Patricia.
In this game, you’ll likely only see Matt Cassel and Jake Rudock as they battle it out for the No. 2 spot. If Cassel doesn’t secure it, he’ll likely be cut. Cassel was 7-of-11 for 60 yards and a touchdown against the Bucs. Rudock was 9-of-12 for 58 yards and a touchdown.
At running back, LeGarette Blount got 11 carries for 45 yards and will likely be the starting back ahead of Ameer Abdullah and rookie Kerryon Johnson. Adjust your fantasy rosters accordingly.
Defensively, the Lions can’t feel good about this preseason at all, especially considering they hired a defensive coach. They gave up 30 to Tampa Bay, 30 to the New York Giants and 16 to the Oakland Raiders. That might not look like much, until you consider it’s the highest point total the Raiders offense has produced all preseason.
Detroit covered in Week 1 against the Raiders, lost as a three-point favorite against the Giants in Week 2 and upset the Bucs in Week three as a two-point dog.
The Pick
Jackson is still trying to talk himself out of starting Baker Mayfield in Week 1 and, if I’m placing my bets, won’t. That means we’ll see plenty of the No. 1 overall pick in this one against what has to be one of the worst, depth-wise, defenses in the league. I like the Browns in the upset and, for some reason, the over. Browns 24, Lions 20
