Another week of NFL football is in the book folks. We saw the usual poor officiating, costing a team the game. We saw a game turned into something of a half a–ed animated cartoon. We saw a winless team, make a big comeback to get their first win of the season. We saw a rookie continue to make his mark.

Here is the Week 4 NFL Wrap-up.

Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers.
See my previous article about this game.
https://welikesportzpc.com/2023/09/29/lions-dominate-the-packers-on-thursday-night-football/
Up next: Detroit gets Carolina at home. Green Bay plays at Las Vegas.

Atlanta Falcons vs Jacksonville Jaguars. Game was played in London, England
Jaguars win 23-7.
Falcons QB Desmond Ridder threw 2 INTs, including a Pick-6 by Jaguars CB Darious Williams. Jacksonville LB Josh Allen had 3 sacks in the game. It wasn’t all bad for ATL though. Rookie HB Bijan Robinson had 105 yards on 14 carries.
Jacksonville improves to 2-2, while Atlanta falls to 2-2.
Up next: Jacksonville plays Buffalo in London. Atlanta gets Houston at home.

Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns
Ravens won 28-3.
Browns QB Deshaun Watson didn’t play because of a shoulder injury, so 5th round rookie QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson got his first career start. To say it didn’t go well would be an understatement. He finished 19/36 for 121 yards with no TDs and 3 INTs. His counterpart Ravens QB Lamar Jackson had 2 passing TDs and 2 rushing TDs on the day.
Baltimore improves to 3-1, while Cleveland falls to 2-2.
Up next: Baltimore plays at Pittsburgh. Cleveland has a bye.

Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills
Bills won 48-20.
The high-flying Dolphins ran into a brick wall. The Bills defense had 4 sacks and 9 QB hits, keeping them out of the endzone most of the game. Buffalo QB Josh Allen had himself a day, finishing 21/25 for 320 yards and 4 TDs. WR Stefon Diggs had 3 of those TDs and added 120 yards receiving on 6 catches.
Buffalo improves to 3-1, while Miami falls to 3-1.
Up next: Buffalo plays Jacksonville in London. Miami gets the New York Giants at home.

Denver Broncos at Chicago Bears
Broncos won 31-28.
QB Russell Wilson threw 3 TD passes in the 2nd half to help Denver overcome a 21-point deficit to comeback and steal this win from the Bears. Chicago QB Justin Fields had the best day of his NFL career going 28/35 for 335 yards with 4 TDs and 1 INT. Broncos K Will Lutz nailed a 51-yard FG with 1:46 left on the clock to give them the lead, and CB Kareem Jackson sealed the win with an INT and getting the Broncos their first win of the season.
Denver improves to 1-3, while Chicago remains winless, falling to 0-4.
Up next: Denver gets the New York Jets at home. Chicago plays at Washington on TNF.

Cincinnati Bengals at Tennessee Titans
Titans won 27-3.
The ugly start for Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals continues. The frustration spilled over into the locker room when star WR Jamar Chase was interviewed. “I’m always f–king open” he told reporters. Titans HB Derrick Henry 22 carries for 122 yards and a TD. He even threw for a TD in the win.
Titans improve to 2-2, while Cincinnati falls to 1-3.
Up next: Tennessee plays at Indianapolis. Cincinnati plays at Arizona.

Los Angeles Rams at Indianapolis Colts
Rams won 29-23 in OT.
Los Angeles jumped out to a 23-0 lead mid-way through the third quarter. Indianapolis battled back to tie the game behind QB Anthony Richardson’s 3 TDs (2 passing, 1 running), with less than 2 minutes left in the game. Rams rookie WR Puka Nacua continued his early season success catching balls for 163 yards and the game winning TD.
Rams improve to 2-2, while the Colts fall to 2-2.
Next up: Los Angeles gets Philadelphia at home. Indianapolis gets Tennessee at home.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs New Orleans Saints
Bucs won 26-9.
Three turnovers and a stout Buccaneers defense, led by DT Vita Vea who had 2 sacks, made scoring almost impossible for the Saints. Tampa Bay QB Baker Mayfield continues to play well, finishing the 25/32 for 246 yards with 3 TD’s and 1 INT.
Buccaneers improve to 3-1, while the Saints fall to 2-2.
Up next: Tampa Bay has a bye. New Orleans plays at New England.

Washington Commanders at Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles won 34-31 in OT.
It a back-and-forth divisional dogfight, Eagles K Jake Elliott drilled a 54-yard FG to win it in overtime. WR A.J. Brown had his best game of the season with 9 catches for 175 yards and 2 TDs. LB Nicholas Morrow had himself a hellava game with 11 tackles, 3 sacks and a forced fumble.
Eagles improve to 4-0, while the Commanders fall to 2-2.
Up next: Philadelphia plays at Los Angeles Rams. Washington gets Chicago at home on TNF.

Minnesota Vikings at Carolina Panthers
Vikings won 21-13.
This game was all about defensive plays. Panthers S Sam Franklin set a franchise record, taking a Cousins INT 99 yards to the endzone. It was Carolina’s only TD of the game. Not to be completely outdone, Minnesota LB D.J. Wonnum took Bryce Young fumble 51 yards to the house. It was Vikings S Harrison Smith that outshone everyone. Finishing the game with 14 tackles, 3 sacks, the forced fumble and 3 QB hits.
Vikings get their first win the season, improving to 1-3, while the Panthers remain winless at 0-4.
Up next: Minnesota gets Kansas City at home. Carolina plays at Detroit.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Houston Texans
Texans won 30-6.
Houston QB C.J. Stroud continued to show why he’s the front runner for OROTY, finishing 16/30 for 306 yards with 2 TDs and 0 INTs. WR Nico Collins had a great game, catching 7 balls for 168 yards and both TDs passes.
Texans improve to 2-2, while Pittsburgh falls to 2-2.
Up next: Houston plays at Atlanta. Pittsburgh gets Baltimore at home.

Las Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers
Chargers won 24-17.
Raiders rookie third-round QB Aidan O’Connell got his first NFL career start, filling in for an injured Jimmy G. It came with a warm, hard-hitting welcome by Chargers LB Khalil Mack. The ten-year veteran had a whooping 6 sacks. That’s right. 6 sacks in a single game. He added 10 tackles and 2 FF’s.
Chargers improve to 2-2, while the Raiders fall to 1-3.
Up next: Los Angeles had a bye. Las Vegas gets Green Bay at home.

New England Patriots at Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys won 38-3.
OK, here’s the obligatory “Dak Stats”, 28/34 for 261 yards and 1 TD. Now let’s get to the real story, the Cowboys defense. LB Leighton Vander Esch scored on a 11-yard fumble return, and CB DaRon Bland had a 54-yard INT return, both for touchdowns. Patriots benched starting QB Mac Jones for Bailey Zappe.
Cowboys improve to 3-1, while the Patriots fall to 1-3.
Up next: Dallas plays at San Francisco. New England gets New Orleans at home.

Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers
49ers won 35-16.
SF QB Brock Purdy was his usual sufficient self, going 20/21 for 283 yards and 1 TD. WR Brandon Aiyuk had 148 yards receiving on 6 catches. HB Christian McCaffery continues to be the MVP fronter runner. He had 20 carries for 106 yards and 3 TDs, along with 7 receptions for 71 yards and 1 TD.
49ers improve to 4-0, while Arizona falls to 1-3.
Up next: San Francisco gets Dallas at home. Arizona

Kansas City Chiefs at New York Jets
Chiefs won 23-20
Let’s be honest here. The officials gave this game to KC, and the whole world saw it. Those “penalties” were total bull squirt.
Jets QB Zach Wilson came to play and he played well. 28/39 for 245 yards and 2 TDs. Chiefs superstar QB Patrick Mahomes finished 18/30 for 203 yards with 1 TD and he threw 2 INTs.
Chiefs improve to 3-1, while the New York Jets 1-3.
Next up: Kansas City plays at Minnesota. The New York Jets play at Denver.

Seattle Seahawks at New York Giants
Seahawks won 24-3.
This was easily the worst performance by an offensive line, that I’ve ever seen in my life. Giants QB Daniel Jones was sacked 11 TIMES! I also learned that Jones is one tough SOB.
The Seahawks defense just teed off. Led by LB Bobby Wagner who had 17 tackles and 2 sacks. Rookie CB Devon Witherspoon 7 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 PD, 3 QB Hits and 1 INT, that he took back 97 yards for a touchdown.
Seahawks improve to 3-1, while the Giants fall to 1-3.
Next up: Seattle has a bye. New York plays at Miami.

– Sean McKenzie

Photo courtesy of Wallpaper Cave

Stats courtesy of ESPN