2021 NFL picks, score predictions for Week 4

Cleveland Browns (2-1) at Minnesota Vikings (1-2)

Sunday, October 3, 1PM PT

This isn’t my upset of the week, but some might see it as a rather bold prediction of sorts. And while most would probably agree that the Cleveland Browns are a better team at this point, I urge you to consider how the Vikings’ season has gone so far.

In their two losses, they were narrowly edged in overtime and lost because their kicker couldn’t make a chip shot. That’s a rather insignificant gap between 1-2 and 3-0. Even when Dalvin Cook went down with an injury, Alexander Mattison stepped up and filled the role admirably. And then there’s Kirk Cousins, who is quietly putting together an MVP-caliber campaign of his own.

Yes, the Minnesota defense has been worse than you’d expect from a Mike Zimmer-led group. It won’t be easy for them to slow an offense featuring Baker Mayfield, Nick Chubb, Odell Beckham Jr. and Kareem Hunt. But they’ve got their own dangerous offense that can score a few touchdowns when it wants to.

This one could end up being the game of the week, with plenty of scoring and a dramatic finish. The Vikings get the ball in the final minutes and Justin Jefferson hauls in a game-winning touchdown to move Minnesota to .500.

Prediction: Vikings win 37-34 | Spread: Browns (-2)