Hello Cleveland, Week 4 NFL Picks, NBA Award Leans, Raiders Realities, and Boston Despair With Joe House, Tom Pelissero, and Bill’s dad

The Browns are 3-1 after Dustin Hopkins nailed a 56-yard field goal to beat the Steelers on Thursday night, and Bill Simmons is trying to figure out whether Deshaun Watson is actually back. "There were moments when he was moving around like Houston Deshaun," Simmons says. "It was kind of shocking. I didn't even know he had that in him anymore." The episode runs through Week 4 NFL picks, WNBA playoff fallout, NBA award season leans, and a long segment with Bill's dad on the Red Sox's abrupt playoff exit — a conversation that turns into a meditation on how quickly hope can curdle in Boston sports.

The Browns, the Fever, and the Aces

The Cleveland conversation centers on offensive coordinator Todd Monken, whom Simmons credits for reviving Watson. "This guy is calling a game where he understands where his advantages are," Simmons says, pointing to the amplifying effect Monken has had on quarterbacks — they just watched Case Keenum have an out-of-body experience on Monday night. Joe House adds that the Browns nailed two drafts in a row with receivers Cedric Tillman and Jalen Nailor, noting that "the Patriots have been drafting second-round receivers for this entire century and haven't nailed any of them."