2024 NFL Week 4: Top Takeaways for Every Game
The first three weeks of the 2024 NFL season have gone completely according to script—except for the parts that haven't.
It's no surprise the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs are undefeated. The same can't be said about the Minnesota Vikings.
In the NFL, nothing is for certain. Every week, there will be teams that pull off upsets while others lay an egg.
Things kicked off with a win but no real answers for the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night. It ended with a back-and-forth thriller between the Detroit Lions and Seattle Seahawks that capped a Monday night doubleheader.
In between, there was no shortage of intriguing developments.
We saw another big-time NFC North showdown between the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers, a playoff rematch between the Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and a statement win by the Baltimore Ravens.
Bleacher Report NFL analysts Gary Davenport, Kristopher Knox, Maurice Moton and Brent Sobleski have come together to review all that happened in Week 4: The teams that showed up, the clubs that came up short and all things in between.
Tennessee Titans 31, Miami Dolphins 12
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The Titans' Quarterback Controversy Has Begun
The Tennessee Titans finally got in the win column with a decisive victory over the Miami Dolphins. Interestingly, it was a backup quarterback who got them there.
It's entirely fair to say that the Titans had been held back by second-year quarterback Will Levis and his propensity for mistakes. Coming into Monday night, the Kentucky product had turned the ball over eight times with at least two giveaways in every game this season.
Considering two of Tennessee's three losses came by one score, the impact of Levis' mistakes was huge.
Levis had another terrible interception on Tennessee's opening drive. On the next dive, he suffered a shoulder injury while attempting to dive for the first down.
Though Titans head coach Brian Callahan said during halftime that Levis would play if healthy, it was Mason Rudolph's offense the rest of the way.
While Rudolph, the longtime Steelers backup who was acquired in the offseason, didn't have a stellar performance (9-of-17 for 85 yards), he played the game-manager role to perfection. The 29-year-old was calm and collected. He operated the offense with efficiency, and he took care of the football.
Having the steadier Rudolph under center allowed the Titans to take over the game with an aggressive defense and with some hard running from Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears.
Callahan told reporters after the game that Levis will be the starter when healthy, but there's likely to be a lot of quarterback discussion in Tennessee over the next two weeks—the Titans are on bye in Week 5.
We've seen Rudolph take an opportunity and run with it before. He replaced Pittsburgh backup Mitch Trubisky late last season and ultimately kept former starter Kenny Pickett on the bench through the playoffs—even after Pickett was healthy enough to return from his ankle injury.
Will Rudolph get a similar chance in Tennessee? Let the speculation begin.
Tyler Huntley Isn't The Answer as Dolphins Continue to Navigate Tua Tagovailoa's Absence
Let's start by saying that the long-term health of Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) is more important than anything football-related. The 26-year-old has had three diagnosed concussions in the NFL, and Miami won't put him back on the field until/unless it's safe to do so.
"The team is not rushing its recently crowned franchise quarterback back from another traumatic head injury," ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques wrote on September 17. "Tagovailoa will seek opinions from multiple independent neurologists before returning to the field."
If Tagovailoa's absence is going to be an extended one, Miami must explore new options at the game's most important position.
The Dolphins went with backup Skylar Thompson against the Seattle Seahawks last week, and he was replaced by Tim Boyle following a chest injury. Neither quarterback played well, and their combined performance yielded just three points.
This week, the Dolphins turned to Tyler Huntley, who was signed off of Baltimore's practice squad after Tagovailoa's injury. While his scrambling ability did add a new element to the offense, the results were again underwhelming.
With Huntley under center, Miami's offense delivered just 180 yards and 12 points.
The Titans dared Huntley to beat them deep, and he couldn't. He had one clear shot at Tyreek Hill on a third-quarter home-run ball but overshot the mark. The vast majority of his other attempts were of the short variety, and Tennessee smothered them.
Head coach Mike McDonald has tailored his offense to the skill set of Tagovailoa, who was never going to be easy to replace. The Dolphins, though, have now taken a look at their third option, and. it would seem that they don't have a viable replacement for Tagovailoa on their roster.
Detroit Lions 42, Seattle Seahawks 29
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The Lions Finding an Offensive Rhythm is Scary Stuff for the Rest of the NFC
Though the Detroit Lions came into Week 4 with a 2-1 record, they had largely been winning by leaning on their eighth-ranked defense. Detroit had done a good enough job of moving the ball between the 20s, but putting points on the board was a struggle.
The Lions ranked just 16th in scoring through the first three weeks of the season. It was a surprise, and clearly unacceptable, after Detroit fielded a top-five scoring offense a year ago.
"It's coming," offensive coordinator Ben Johnson said on Friday, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. "We're just too talented a group to not have more production and more points than what we've had and so it's just a matter of time before we break through."
Detroit's offensive breakthrough did indeed come during Monday night's win over the Seattle Seahawks.
The Lions leaned into their powerful offensive line and talented running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. Quarterback Jared Goff had a ridiculously efficient night (18-of-18 for 292 yards, 2 TDs) finding soft spots in Seattle's defense instead of trying to force the ball to No. 1 receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown or star tight end Sam LaPorta.
Eventually, Goff found a home-run play by connecting with Jameson Williams on a crosser that the receiver took for a 70-yard touchdown.
While the Lions didn't shut down the Seahawks defensively, their defense does appear better than it was a year ago. Now that the offense is starting to catch up, Detroit is the NFC threat it was expected to be before the start of the season.
Seahawks May Have Given Fans a Playoff Preview
Seattle came into Monday night with an undefeated record, but it was difficult to draw any firm conclusions about where the team stood in the NFL hierarchy.
The Seahawks had beaten the Denver Broncos in Bo Nix's first NFL start, a bad New England Patriots team and a Miami Dolphins squad that was missing its starting quarterback.
On Monday, Seattle saw its first true test against a Detroit team that made the NFC title game a year ago. While the Seahawks couldn't pull out the victory—and they certainly won't bask in a moral one—they provided reasons to believe that this might not be the last time they see the Lions.
Head coach Mike Macdonald, formerly the Baltimore Ravens' defensive coordinator, won't be thrilled with his defense's performance—though, to be fair, it was without key players in Boye Mafe, Uchenna Nwosu, Jerome Baker, Leonard Williams and Byron Murphy II. He should be pleased, however, with the fight his team showed after going down 14-0 in the second quarter and 21-7 at halftime.
A lesser team might have folded early, but after intermission, Seattle answered virtually every punch the Lions threw. The Seahawks never got closer than an eight-point deficit, but every member of the team gave an admirable effort until the very end.
Geno Smith (395 passing yards, 38 rushing yards, 1 TD) had another terrific game, marred only by a game-sealing interception on Seattle's final desperation drive. The offense got a big boost from running back Kenneth Walker III, who missed the previous two games with an oblique injury but returned to provide possibly the top play of the season so far:
While Detroit's offense was phenomenal, Seattle actually had more yards (516) and first downs (38) than the Lions. Had only a few more balls (or, perhaps, calls) bounced the Seahawks' way, the outcome might have been very different.
Macdonald has made this a well-coached team with a playoff mentality, and Seattle will be a factor in the postseason race.
Indianapolis Colts 27, Pittsburgh Steelers 24
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Less Cautious Approach Necessary to Maximize Indianapolis QB Anthony Richardson
The Indianapolis Colts lost Anthony Richardson to a hip injury during the first quarter of Sunday's 27-24 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Despite being ruled out of the contest during halftime, the sophomore quarterback remained on the sideline in full uniform.
An overly cautious approach shouldn't be taken with Richardson. This isn't to say that head coach Shane Steichen should overrule medical personnel. But he needs to be on the field when cleared.
While Joe Flacco is a true veteran and diced up Pittsburgh's top-ranked defense on third down, the 39-year-old also severely limits Indianapolis' scheme, which became obvious.
First, the Steelers could create pressure, particularly along the offensive interior, because Flacco doesn't have the movement skills to evade pressure. With the game on the line, Pittsburgh derailed the Colts' final drive (not including kneeling out the clock) with a sack. If not for a botched snap during the Steelers' final possession, the outcome of the contest could have been completely different.
Second, Flacco's immobility changes the math for the entire offense. Richardson may not be an efficient passer. The longtime veteran certainly has an edge there. Yet the run game began to stall with Flacco behind center. Richardson is a legitimate running threat who helps create lanes for his backs. Steichen's offense is predicated on these possibilities.
Everyone knew coming into this season the Richardson experience was going to have its ups and downs. However, the best version of the Colts will only come if he's on the field and providing everything he does as an athlete with a huge arm.
Justin Fields Is the Pittsburgh Steelers' Starting Quarterback
It's difficult to watch the Steelers play and not think that Justin Fields is the team's present and future at the game's most important position. Even with a poor start and some head-scratching plays, the Steelers still had a chance to win Sunday primarily because of Fields' play.
The sequence of events that happened during Pittsburgh's final possession doesn't fall on Fields.
Rookie center Zach Frazier snapped the ball early on first down, which led to a 12-yard loss. Running back Najee Harris didn't get out of bounds on third down. Instead of calling the team's final timeout to allow his offense to reset for the fourth-down play, head coach Mike Tomlin allowed the clock to run and the unit didn't look fully prepared for the moment.
Fields' play was far from perfect. His fumble, which was caused by the ground while he tried to run around and avoid pressure, was ugly. At the same time, Pittsburgh wouldn't have been in the game if not for the quarterback's running skills and a few ropes he threw in the second half. In total, Fields provided 367 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns.
As the Steelers' younger option, the 25-year-old should remain in the lineup even when Russell Wilson is finally cleared because he provides the most upside and long-term potential. He's also earned the spot.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers 33, Philadelphia Eagles 16
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield Enters Early MVP Conversation
A strong performance after a down week signals a good football player. The NFL swings quickly, with every weekend reset. What happens one week doesn't necessarily portend what will happen the next.
Case in point, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looked like they got caught in a trap game last week against the Denver Broncos. The Broncos dominated the contest a week after Tampa beat the Detroit Lions, who are considered a Super Bowl contender from the NFC side of the ledger.
Baker Mayfield threw for only 163 yards during that Denver contest. Otherwise, he's been stellar this season, to the point where he should be a part of the MVP conversation after four weeks of play.
Some may view this conversation as premature. It's not.
Mayfield threw for 347 yards and provided three touchdowns during Sunday's 33-16 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.
Mayfield and the Buffalo Bills' Josh Allen are the only players with five or more passing touchdowns and multiple rushing touchdowns. The former is also second in the league with eight touchdown passes.
The Buccaneers, meanwhile, are 3-1 and sitting atop the NFC South standings. The Buccaneers look legit and Mayfield is leading the way. In a season where everything seems turned upside-down, the idea of Mayfield being an MVP candidate falls right in line.
Philadelphia Eagles Season Will Be Ruined by Slow Starts
The old saying goes, "It's not how you start. It's how you finish." Well, the cliché doesn't exactly ring true for the Eagles.
Philadelphia has been brutal out of the gates in each of this year's games. During Sunday's contest, the Eagles only managed 10 yards in the first quarter. Nick Sirianni's squad trailed by 24 points before the offense got going at all. It's been a trend all season.
As The Score's Brenden Deeg noted, the Eagles have allowed 347 yards and 20 points in the first quarter through four games. Conversely, Philadelphia has totaled 161 yards and no points.
Usually, offenses can get the ball moving quickly because they're still operating off the scripted plays through the first drive or two. Clearly, the Eagles don't have a good approach to start the game under offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.
Yes, injuries play a part. Everyone in the league is dealing with injuries, though. The Eagles can't continuously place themselves in a hole and expect to be competitive.
Denver Broncos 10, New York Jets 9
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Broncos Are Building Road Warrior Mentality That Will Uplift Culture
In Year 2 under head coach Sean Payton, the Denver Broncos can change the losing culture with signature wins, and they already have two under their belt.
On the road, the Broncos have upset the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Jets in back-to-back weeks, holding those teams to 16 points combined.
Denver's offense is still a work in progress with rookie quarterback Bo Nix under center, but he doesn't have to carry the load with a stout defense on the other side of the ball.
The Broncos won't win football beauty pageants with their victories, but they're a battle-tested team with a young quarterback who has room to grow under Payton.
Nix threw his first touchdown pass on Sunday, and Denver is building a winning mentality around him.
Aaron Rodgers' Late-Game Limp Is a Wake-Up Call for Jets' Offensive Line
The Jets lost 10-9 to the Broncos, but they have bigger concerns as they look ahead to October.
Late in the game, Aaron Rodgers fell hard and limped for the remainder of the contest. Though he finished the outing, the 40-year-old quarterback may feel the lingering effects of his fourth-quarter spill to the ground.
The Jets' offensive line performed poorly. Rodgers took five sacks, and the unit committed multiple penalties.
At this stage in his career, Rodgers isn't going to survive behind a subpar offensive line. Even if he's able to shake off whatever hampered him on Sunday, Gang Green must tighten up its protection, or else it'll see another losing season.
Houston Texans 24, Jacksonville Jaguars 20
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Jaguars Must Fix a $275 Million Problem at Quarterback
This past offseason, the Jacksonville Jaguars signed quarterback Trevor Lawrence to a five-year, $275 million extension, and they're not getting their money's worth from his production.
In every game this season, Lawrence has completed less than 58 percent of his passes and thrown for fewer than 220 yards.
While Lawrence's box-score passing numbers look OK aside from his 54 percent completion rate, he missed some key throws throughout the contest that could've helped Jacksonville beat Houston.
Lawrence would've had big-play completions to wideouts Brian Thomas Jr. and Christian Kirk if he was more accurate on Sunday. The Texans also stuffed him on 4th-and-goal to stay alive for a comeback.
At 0-4, the Jaguars are one of two winless teams, so Doug Pederson will feel the temperature rise on his head coaching seat, but he's not responsible for Lawrence's off-target throws.
Perhaps Pederson has to significantly simplify the game plan to help Lawrence find a rhythm to take the heat off both of their backs.
Nico Collins Is Moving into the Elite Wide Receiver Discussion
Nico Collins doesn't have the star power and cachet of household names like Justin Jefferson, Ja'Marr Chase, CeeDee Lamb and Tyreek Hill, but he's on par with those playmakers in production.
Entering Week 3, Collins led the league in receiving yards per game (112.7). On Sunday against the Jaguars, he recorded a single-game career high of 12 catches, racking up 151 yards and a touchdown.
The Texans have arguably the league's top wide receiver trio, but Collins is clearly their No. 1 playmaker.
Collins signed a three-year, $72.8 million extension this past offseason, and it already seems like a bargain.
Atlanta Falcons 26, New Orleans Saints 24
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Saints Need Their Defensive Leadership Back Ahead of Matchup with Chiefs
The New Orleans Saints didn't lose this game because their defense gave up a ton of points and yards. Cornerback Paulson Adebo committed a costly pass interference penalty late to put the Atlanta Falcons in a position to kick the game-winning field goal.
However, looking ahead, the Saints should cross their fingers and hope that linebacker Demario Davis and safety Tyrann Mathieu recover from their injuries to suit up against the Kansas City Chiefs next week.
On Sunday, Davis missed the first game of his career with a hamstring injury. During the contest with Atlanta, Mathieu exited with a groin issue. Linebacker Willie Gay also suffered a hand injury.
On the road, the Saints will need all hands on deck against the reigning champions because if they fall short, it would be a third consecutive loss after a red-hot start.
Younghoe Koo Is Falcons' Most Reliable Finisher Until Kirk Cousins Finds His Rhythm
The Falcons beat the Saints without scoring an offensive touchdown, but they still put 26 points on the board because of their defense and special teams.
Younghoe Koo split the uprights on a career-long 58-yard field goal. He made four field goals and two extra-point attempts.
In four games, Atlanta only has five offensive touchdowns, and Kirk Cousins has just as many touchdown passes as interceptions (four).
Though it's too early to panic about the Falcons' $180 million investment in Cousins, the offense isn't in sync yet and needs help from the defense and special teams.
Fortunately for the Falcons, Koo has made all his field goals (nine) and extra-point attempts (six) this season. He's the most reliable closer on this team until Cousins and the offense find a rhythm.
Chicago Bears 24, Los Angeles Rams 18
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Bears Can Build Some Confidence for Caleb Williams by Sticking with Ground Game
The Chicago Bears may have found the perfect shift in offensive identity during their win over the Los Angeles Rams.
Through three weeks, Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams has, well, played like a rookie. The No. 1 overall pick in April's draft won his first NFL start, though he was aided significantly by Chicago's defense.
Williams came into Week 4 completing 59.3 percent of his passes with only two touchdowns, four interceptions and a 65.3 quarterback rating.
It had seemed like the Bears were perfectly positioned to support Williams with a stout defense, some top-notch veteran receivers and a strong running game—Chicago signed Pro Bowl running back D'Andre Swift in free agency.
The defense, which came in ranked eighth overall, had held up its end of the bargain. However, new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron struggled to get the ground game going before Sunday.
Chicago came in ranked 22nd in rushing attempts, 31st in yards per carry and 31st in rushing yards.
Against the Rams, though, the Bears sparked their ground game with a two-back approach, using Swift and Roschon Johnson—who logged one fewer carry on Sunday than he did in his two previous appearances combined.
As a team, the Bears tallied 131 yards and 4.7 yards per carry. Their previous season high was just 84 rushing yards.
By maintaining a consistent ground game and offensive balance, the Bears finally put Williams (17-of-23 for 157 yards, 1 TD) in a favorable situation. The result was his best game as a pro to date and win No. 2.
A commitment to the running game must be a big part of Chicago's focus moving forward.
Week 6 Bye Can't Come Soon Enough for the Rams
As was the case two years ago, injuries have already been a problem for the Rams. Los Angeles entered Sunday's game without key players like Puka Nacua, Cooper Kupp, Steve Avila, Jonah Jackson and John Johnson III.
Now, injuries weren't exclusively to blame for L.A.'s 24-18 loss in Chicago. The Rams finished just one of five scoring drives with a touchdown and missed a field goal. Quarterback Matthew Stafford lost a fumble and also threw a game-sealing interception late in the fourth quarter.
However, it's entirely fair to believe that the Rams would have won with a healthy offensive line and at least one of their top two offensive playmakers.
The Rams had more first downs than Chicago, more net yards and fewer penalties. They also won the time-of-possession battle by a full two minutes.
Turnovers made a big difference in this game, but L.A.'s inefficiency in scoring position and inability to protect its quarterback were even more impactful. Stafford (20-of-29 for 224 yards, 1 INT) got good production out of pass-catchers like Tutu Atwell and rookie Jordan Whittington. However, he was consistently pressured by Chicago's defense in key situations.
While Nacua may not return until midseason, the Rams can hope to get a few players back after their Week 6 bye. They'll have to steal a game at home against the Green Bay Packers to get there with any momentum. If a team in the NFL needs to rest and regroup, it's this one.
Cincinnati Bengals 34, Carolina Panthers 24
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It's Still Too Early to Say the Bengals Are Back
Pretty much the entire NFL world expected the Cincinnati Bengals to be contenders with a healthy Joe Burrow under center in 2024. That largely remained the case after yet another slow start to the season—rough starts have been a trend in Cincinnati during the Zac Taylor era.
However, the Bengals' 0-3 start was wildly unexpected. While Cincinnati did finally get in the win column against the Carolina Panthers, this wasn't the sort of performance that should herald its return to Super Bowl contention.
On the positive side, Joe Burrow had a terrific rhythm with Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins early. Cincinnati also got some decent production out of Chase Brown, Zack Moss and the ground game.
However, the Bengals defense, which came in ranked 27th in points allowed, still looks like a liability.
Cincinnati surrendered 375 yards of offense and allowed the Panthers to run a whopping 70 plays.
Burrow also made a critical mistake early in the fourth quarter, throwing a pass directly to the defense under heavy pressure. His miscue gave Carolina some much-needed life late in the game.
The Panthers have found some offensive life in quarterback Andy Dalton, but they're not the sort of title contender Cincinnati will need to get past if it hopes to make a postseason run.
Beating Carolina by 10 points doesn't change the fact that Cincinnati is 1-3 and a long way from where most expected it to be.
The Panthers Will Probably Turn Back to Bryce Young This Season
Dalton was far from awful on Sunday. He threw for 220 yards with two touchdowns and an interception—which occurred when his arm was hit during a pass attempt. However, he didn't play well enough to beat the visiting Bengals, and neither did Carolina's defense.
While the Panthers won fairly decisively against the Las Vegas Raiders last week, Sunday's loss shows that this isn't a team ready to win with any consistency. That's why there's a very good chance that second-year quarterback Bryce Young will see the field again in 2024.
While Carolina has looked like a much more competitive team with Dalton under center, the Panthers have no plans to trade the 2023 first overall pick—at least publicly.
"That's not something we are really considering," head coach Dave Canales said, per Steve Reed of the Associated Press.
Any trade involving Young is unlikely to happen until the offseason. Carolina will probably want to get one more look at the Alabama product before then.
The change to Dalton isn't enough to make Carolina a surprise playoff contender in the NFC. A few extra wins shouldn't be more important than deciding whether Young can still have a future with the Panthers.
If Young returns from his sideline break and continues playing as poorly as he did before his benching, it'll officially be time for Carolina to start focusing on its quarterback options in the 2025 draft.
Minnesota Vikings 31, Green Bay Packers 29
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Vikings May Have to Reevaluate Their Long-Term QB Plan
The Minnesota Vikings signed Sam Darnold this offseason as the bridge to a quarterback-to-be-drafted. That rookie ended up being Michigan product and 10th overall pick J.J. McCarthy., who was subsequently lost for the year with a preseason meniscus tear.
McCarthy's injury ensured that Darnold would be the quarterback of the present. After Sunday's 31-29 win over the rival Green Bay Packers, Minnesota may have to consider the possibility of him being the quarterback of the future too.
Darnold entered Week 4 with a 117.3 passer rating and a league-high eight touchdown passes. He was largely excellent once again in Green Bay, finishing 20-of-28 for 275 yards, three touchdowns and an interception.
The 2018 first-round pick, who was largely written off in recent seasons, is finally playing up to his potential and is still only 27 years old. He has certainly benefited from Kevin O'Connell's offense and having Justin Jefferson as a No. 1 target.
The Vikings won't simply turn the page on McCarthy, of course. They used a first-round pick to get him, and they have him on a rookie contract for at least the next four years. They could choose, however, to develop him over the next couple of years instead of handing him the keys in 2025.
Much will depend on the cost of retaining Darnold, as he's playing his way into being one of the most coveted free agents of 2025. Yet, keeping him will have to be considered if Darnold helps lead the Vikings on a deep playoff run—which, at this point, feels entirely possible.
Jordan Love's Health Is No Longer Packers' Biggest Concern
Quarterback Jordan Love missed just two games after suffering an MCL sprain in Green Bay's season opener. It felt like an early return for Love, especially since the Packers were playing winning football with backup Malik Willis under center.
Unsurprisingly, Love wasn't particularly sharp early on against the Vikings. He struggled to push off of his left leg, didn't appear to have great velocity on many of his throws and made a couple of poor decisions that became bad interceptions before he caught fire.
Love finished with 389 passing yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions. Had he started faster, the Packers might be sitting at 3-1.
The good news for Green Bay is that Love should get progressively healthier and sharper moving forward. The bad news is that Green Bay's defense put the Packers in a massive hole.
The defense did have a few bright moments—safety Xavier McKinney had his fourth interception in four games, while Keisean Nixon forced a sack-fumble on a blitz—but it was ineffective far too often. Bad coverage, poor tackling and penalties opened the floodgates for Minnesota's offense.
Standout corner Jaire Alexander missed the game with a quad/groin injury, but it's not as if his absence initiated a sudden collapse. The Packers came into Week 4 ranked 20th in yards allowed, and their two wins came against second-year quarterbacks Anthony Richardson and Will Levis.
Love's health will be under watch going forward, but Green Bay can't expect to be a contender if it doesn't tighten things up defensively.
Washington Commanders 42, Arizona Cardinals 14
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If the Commanders Can Build Things Defensively, They Will be a Playoff Threat
The Washington Commanders' first win of 2024 (over the New York Giants) felt like a nice story. Their 38-33 win over the Bengals on Monday night felt like a coming-out party for rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.
Sunday's win over the Arizona Cardinals felt like something different entirely.
Daniels was largely great again, though he did throw an interception. He found the end zone through the air and on the ground, again, and he continues to build chemistry with veterans like Terry McLaurin and Zach Ertz.
There was a lot more working for the Commanders than just their quarterback, though. Washington completely dominated on the ground and in the trenches, which allowed the offense to impose its will on Arizona.
The Commanders also made some key plays on defense, and those have been a rarity this season. Washington came into Week 4 ranked 29th in total defense and 30th in points allowed. It had just four sacks on the season.
Against the Cardinals, though, Washington surrendered just 14 points. It held the Cardinals to just four third-down conversions on 11 tries, forced a fumble and sacked Kyler Murray four times.
Daniels appears to be something special, and the Commanders have put plenty of offensive pieces around him. If head coach Dan Quinn can build on what his defense did on Sunday, Washington will be playing meaningful football in December and January.
The Cardinals Need to Find an Identity to Be Better Than Last Season
Arizona showed some positive signs after Murray's return from a torn ACL in 2023. The Cardinals went just 3-5 with him under center, but they were 1-8 without him. The hope was that with a full offseason for Murray, several more months between the quarterback and the injury, and a new No. 1 receiver in rookie Marvin Harrison Jr., the Cardinals would be ready to reenter the playoff mix.
They're not.
The Cardinals appeared to be on the verge of turning a corner in Week 2. After they played a close game against the Buffalo Bills in their opener, they battered the rival Rams 41-10.
However, Arizona suffered a seven-point loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 3 and was utterly outplayed in every phase by Washington on Sunday. Harrison (5 catches, 45 yards, 1 TD) had another solid day, while running back James Conner went over the century mark on the ground.
Murray (16-of-22 for 142 yards, 1 TD) wasn't terrible, but he certainly couldn't keep pace with Daniels. Unfortunately, the Cardinals feel like a team that has a few stars—and they were missing a big one in tight end Trey McBride (concussion)—and little else to hang their hat on.
Arizona's defense had no answer for Kliff Kingsbury's offense, while its offensive line struggled against a pass rush that has underwhelmed for most of the season. Perhaps most importantly, offensive coordinator Drew Petzing struggled to find a cohesive plan that went beyond getting the ball to Conner or Harrison and hoping for the best.
That's a problem because teams will undoubtedly game-plan for Harrison moving forward. Murray can be great at times, but he has yet to win anything of note at the NFL level.
While Arizona's offense played well heading into Week 4 (seventh overall), its defense was still a middling unit (17th overall, 19th in points allowed). Neither looked good against Washington, and the Cardinals are 1-3 entering a difficult stretch.
Arizona's next two games will be on the road against the 49ers and Packers. A 1-5 start is a very realistic possibility.
San Francisco 49ers 30, New England Patriots 13
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Jordan Mason Living Best Life Without Christian McCaffrey in San Francisco 49ers' Lineup
If someone were to tell you a San Francisco 49ers running back is leading the league in rushing after Sunday's afternoon slate and has three 100-yard rushing games, you probably wouldn't be surprised.
After all, Christian McCaffrey is the game's best running back.
But you may be shocked to discover the previously mentioned person isn't McCaffrey, who's dealing with Achilles tendinitis and isn't expected back until at least early November, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
Jordan Mason, who signed with the 49ers as an undrafted free agent two years ago, has fit in nicely to fill McCaffrey's shoes.
During Sunday's 30-13 victory over the New England Patriots, Mason ran the ball 24 times for 123 yards. He's averaged over 5.0 yards per carry in three of the four contests. He also added 37 receiving yards in his latest outing. According to the Associated Press' Josh Dubow, Mason's 447 rushing yards are the third-most ever by a former undrafted free agent through the first four weeks of play.
With Mason leading the way, the Niners offense can operate at peak efficiency. At its core, the Shanahan scheme is based on the zone running attack. No one has done a better job at devising a run game than San Francisco's head coach/offensive play-caller. But it runs far more smoothly when it features a back capable of punishing opponents in the run game.
Mason provides exactly what San Francisco needs right now.
New England Patriots' Offensive Woes Center on Lack of Talent
It's not the X's and O's; it's the Jimmys and Joes. Well, the Patriots lack the talent to elevate their offensive scheme and threaten opposing defenses. No one on New England's roster makes a defense think twice or worry about potentially losing a matchup.
Jacoby Brissett is a serviceable quarterback, but he's nowhere near capable of making everyone around him better. A running back, Antonio Gibson, led the way Sunday with 67 receiving yards. No one else on the roster had 30. Rhamondre Stevenson is a physical runner with a fumbling problem. The offensive line isn't holding up and allowing too many hits on the quarterback.
"Just keep getting up," Brissett told reporters when asked how much punishment he can take. "It's all I can do. It's all I can keep doing."
The most talented offensive player on New England's roster is on the bench for whenever the organization wants to unwrap this year's third overall draft pick, quarterback Drake Maye.
The meeting with the Jacksonville Jaguars in London three weeks from now may be the ideal time to pull the trigger on Maye's first start since they currently feature a bottom-three defense.
Even with Maye in the lineup, don't expect things to dramatically change. It's already obvious that New England's offensive rebuild is a multiyear process.
Kansas City Chiefs 17, Los Angeles Chargers 10
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Kansas City Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy Must Step Up in Rashee Rice's Absence
The Kansas City Chiefs fought their way to a 17-10 victory over the rival Los Angeles Chargers. But the win proved to be costly.
Kansas City's leading target, Rashee Rice, left the contest and didn't return after suffering an injury during a Chargers' interception return where quarterback Patrick Mahomes rolled into the wide receiver's legs. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said during the telecast that the injury is "not good."
Until an official diagnosis comes to light, an early assumption is that Rice will miss significant time based on Reid's frank response.
Entering Sunday's contest, Rice had 17 more targets than anyone else on the roster, including tight end Travis Kelce. Kelce will always be Mahomes' most reliable target. Yet the Chiefs find themselves in a similar situation as last year, when the offense lacked a true WR1. Rice really came on strong late in the regular season through the squad's Super Bowl run.
This year's first-round draft pick, Xavier Worthy, must turn it on sooner. Worthy's speed has allowed him to flash and make big plays through the first four games, including a 54-yard touchdown during Sunday's contest.
More importantly, Mahomes looked to Worthy with the game on the line. On 3rd-and-6 with 2:22 remaining, the two connected on a 15-yard pass that secured the win. Rice's absence will be felt in the lineup. He's turned into an excellent target, particularly after the catch. But Worthy has the ability to emerge as Kansas City's top threat in the passing game.
"Hopefully we can get him back at some point this season, but if not, other guys gotta step up," Mahomes said. "That's what football is about. I think we've got a lot of good guys out there that can go out there and make plays."
Jim Harbaugh's Approach as Los Angeles Chargers Head Coach Is Flawed
Jim Harbaugh has always believed in playing a physical brand of football by dominating in the trenches and simply overwhelming opponents. It's not going to work while leading the Chargers when things aren't perfect.
In the NFL, nothing is ever perfect.
Over the last two weeks, injuries have accumulated. Neither of Los Angeles' starting offensive tackles—Rashawn Slater and rookie Joe Alt—played on Sunday. The Chargers don't have the type of depth where they can absorb losses to their offensive front. As a result, they've lost back-to-back games in which opponents wore them down as the games continued.
The run game hasn't been effective. Los Angeles averaged 3.1 then 2.3 yards per carry against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Chiefs, respectively. The play-action game isn't working. The Chargers lack consistency among their outside targets. The defense begins to break because the offense isn't doing enough.
Harbaugh has a track record, where his philosophies eventually lead to winning. Right now, the Chargers are hurting in multiple spots and don't have the personnel to execute the coaching staff's plan.
Las Vegas Raiders 20, Cleveland Browns 16
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Banged-Up Browns Are Not Built to Overcome Critical Errors
Entering Week 4, the Cleveland Browns had a laundry list of injuries, specifically on the offensive side of the ball. So they have little margin for error.
On Sunday, Deshaun Watson had a decent outing, completing 24 of his 32 pass attempts for 176 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
However, the Browns hurt their chances of beating the Raiders with a costly turnover and a (controversial) holding infraction that negated Amari Cooper's 82-yard touchdown reception.
In addition to that judgment call, Watson threw a pass that bounced off Cooper's hands and resulted in an interception. Dustin Hopkins missed an extra point, so the Browns had to score a touchdown on their final drive instead of kicking a potential game-tying field goal. Without star edge-rusher Maxx Crosby, the Raiders still generated consistent pocket pressure, sealing the victory with a sack.
Averaging 16.5 points per game with all their injuries on offense, the Browns cannot overcome self-inflicted errors and win games.
Watson, though he had a solid outing on Sunday, hasn't rediscovered his Pro Bowl form, and Cleveland's ground attack has lost its potency without four-time Pro Bowl running back Nick Chubb, who's recovering from a torn ACL.
The Browns need most of the chips to fall in their favor to win, and when they don't, expect them to lose games.
Alexander Mattison Should Be RB1 Over Zamir White in Raiders' Backfield
The Raiders finally saw some potential from its run game. Apparently, they need speed and variety on the ground.
In Sunday's win over the Browns, the Raiders rushed for a season-high 152 yards and two touchdowns, with six ball-carriers other than quarterback Gardner Minshew II logging a rush attempt.
Alexander Mattison led Las Vegas with 60 rushing yards on five carries. Starting running back Zamir White recorded 17 rush attempts for 50 yards. Wideouts DJ Turner and Tre Tucker scored on their lone carries. Tyreik McAllister registered two carries for 11 yards. Tight end Brock Bowers ran the ball once for 12 yards.
Through four weeks, Mattison has been more efficient with his touches than White, who's averaging 3.1 yards per carry and has lost two fumbles.
Weeks ago, Pierce said he wanted White to get 20-plus touches, but Mattison is more deserving of that workload.
Baltimore Ravens 35, Buffalo Bills 10
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Complete SNF Effort from Baltimore Ravens Should Scare AFC Opposition
The Baltimore Ravens are .500 at 2-2, but they've shown a scary ceiling at times in the last two weeks (both wins).
A 35-10 outcome didn't occur by happenstance. The Ravens are figuring it out on the fly and now provide nightmarish matchups with quarterback Lamar Jackson playing well in both phases, a running game on the tracks and rolling downhill and a defense that's playing complementary football.
Jackson is throwing the ball less over the last two weeks because Derrick Henry has become a focal point. A week ago, Henry ran for 151 yards against the Dallas Cowboys. He exploded for 199 against the Bills, including a franchise-record 87-yard touchdown scamper.
Keep in mind, transitions aren't automatic.
Henry is only four games into his Ravens tenure after playing eight seasons with the Tennessee Titans. The offensive line in front of him had to replace three different starters and needed time to jell. On the defensive side of the ball, Zach Orr took over play-calling duties after Mike Macdonald left to become the Seattle Seahawks head coach.
To the last point, Baltimore entered Sunday's meeting with the league's worst pass defense. Aside from Josh Allen's miraculous 52-yard heave while falling out of bounds, the Bills barely had 100 passing yards as a team.
Everything is starting to come together for the Ravens. The transition took a little time. Now, Baltimore looks like one of the AFC's best.
Buffalo Bills rookie WR Keon Coleman Continues to Gain Trust with QB Josh Allen
In a disappointing all-around effort from the Bills, how rookie wide receiver Keon Coleman responded after a clear drop should serve as a silver lining.
It's easy to be disappointed when a young player makes a mistake. In Coleman's case, he dropped a perfectly placed downfield pass when Buffalo still had a chance to make the contest competitive going into halftime.
Two negative avenues could have quickly spiraled out of that situation. Either Coleman gets down on himself and doesn't compete as hard, or quarterback Josh Allen stops looking the rookie's way.
Neither occurred. Instead, Coleman responded in the second half with three catches for 51 yards, including a pair of back-shoulder throws that Allen made confidently and the rookie showed he's ready to grab. They are timing throws where the receiver needs to be in the right spot and ready for the ball. Coleman was up for the task.
Buffalo will need Coleman's continual improvement throughout this season if the franchise is going to reach where it wants to go. The second-half performance proved to be a good sign during a bad outing.
Dallas Cowboys 20, New York Giants 15
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Dallas Gets the Win It Needed, But Problems Remain
After the Dallas Cowboys lost back-to-back games at home, it wasn't hard to figure out their top priority in Week 4: They just needed to win the game.
Given their dominance of the New York Giants, it's not surprising that they eked out a 20-15 victory at MetLife Stadium to get back to .500. It was the 14th time in the last 15 meetings that the Cowboys have beaten the Giants.
However, Thursday's game likely said more about how bad the Giants are than how good Dallas is. For a Cowboys team with Super Bowl aspirations, many of the same problems that have plagued the franchise recently were still in evidence—and there don't appear to be easy answers for them.
If there was any doubt that the Cowboys are completely one-dimensional offensively, it was put to rest here. They again struggled running the ball, managing just 80 yards and averaging 3.5 yards per carry.
Then there's a defense that was savaged the past two weeks by the New Orleans Saints and Baltimore Ravens. Yes, Dallas kept New York out of the end zone and shut down the run after disastrous outings the past two weeks, but it was actually outgained in the game.
That's just…ouch.
There is also the uncertain status of edge-rusher Micah Parsons, who was carted off the field in the fourth quarter. For a defense already struggling, losing the three-time Pro Bowler for any amount of time could be devastating.
All the Cowboys showed Thursday night is that they continue to own a "rivalry" with an inferior team. Dallas is still a one-dimensional pass-heavy team with a shaky defense.
This Is Who the New York Giants Are with Daniel Jones at QB
It's been forever and a day since the New York Giants beat the Dallas Cowboys. The last time Daniel Jones faced them, the G-Men were shelled by 40. But heading into Thursday's game, he told reporters he'd learned from those setbacks and these Giants were ready.
"I've played more, seen more, studied and improved," he said. "Obviously, didn't go great last time, but we're confident, it's a new team. We're a new team, they're a new team, and we're excited for the opportunity.
"After New York went to Cleveland and won last week, there was a spark. Maybe these Giants really are different.
They are not.
You can make the argument that the Giants actually outplayed the Cowboys in several areas Thursday night.
However, while Jones didn't make any back-breaking mistakes, he also couldn't get his team into the end zone. In fairness, a non-existent run game did him no favors, but the 27-year-old missed multiple throws deep that could have changed the complexion of the contest.
For as great as wide receiver Malik Nabers has been the past few weeks, his stat line in Week 4 tells you everything you need to know about Danny Dimes.
The rookie caught 12 passes—for 115 yards. Wan'Dale Robinson pitched in with 11 catches for 71 yards.
The offensive line isn't good, but it's better. The secondary remains a mess. It's not all on Jones, but this was a winnable game lost because of New York's limitations at quarterback.
Until that changes, the Giants' long-term fortune looks gloomy.
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