By Lucas Camacho
There was no shortage of action this week. Football is a wild roller coaster ride (without the upchucking unless you ate too much at a tailgate party). It’s still early in the season, but some teams may have found their rhythm, some are still looking for theirs, and others need to smash the panic button. Before we get too much into Week Four, let’s look back at the previous games.
PATRIOTS 3 – JETS 24
Last year in his first home start, Aaron Rodgers, future Hall of Fame Quarterback, went down so quick and shattered so many hope and dreams…you’d think you were watching a bad reality show. Fast forward to Thursday, all of that pain and anguish is in the past as the Rodgers led the Jets past the Patriots to start this year’s campaign at 2-1. It was another remarkable and masterful performance by Rodgers, who threw 27 for 35 passing for 281 yards and two touchdowns. As the Jets seem to rise, the Patriots seem to be in free fall. It may have been pure luck or just a bad outing that allowed the Patriots to score that huge upset victory over the Bengals to start the season. Now they’re 1-2 and looking for answers in the post-Bill Belichick era. The answer is not Drake Maye, who did get some playing time in this game (but only because the game was out of reach). Not only do I not thinking highly of him, you have to think about what kind of protection he’ll have. Starting QB Jacoby Brissett was sacked five times and hit 15 times in the game, while Maye was sacked twice in his lone drive. The Patriots look too vulnerable at the offensive line to think a change at quarterback will do anything.
PACKERS 30 – TITANS 14
It is certainly a surprise to see the Packers doing so well with Quarterback Jordan Love still hurt. It may be a combination of both the stellar play of the Packers…and that their opponents are just hopeless (I personally believe it’s definitely both). The Packers dominated on the road to go 2-1 to start their season. Replacement Malik Willis showed his skills by rushing himself six times for 73 yards and a touchdown. Praise the defense for stepping up BIG these last two weeks. As for the Titans, it’s the same old story. Turnovers continue to plague the Titans, who are winless through their first three games. Quarterback Will Levis added three turnovers in this game, bringing his total up to eight. Hope seems to be fading for the Titans, and there doesn’t seem to be any light at the end of the tunnel. One thing is for sure: Will Levis is on the hot seat if the Titans crash and burn this season.
BRONCOS 26 – BUCCANEERS 7
I need to use this phrase for this part of the recap: HOLY MOLE HOLES! Where did this come from? I don’t know, but somehow the Broncos won big in a major upset over the Buccaneers. Rookie Quarterback Bo Nix certainly had his confidence boosted by this performance, throwing 25 for 36 passing for 216 yards and no touchdowns (although he did rush in a touchdown himself). As for the Buccaneers: the question must be…what happened? The Buccaneers set themselves up for a great start, but they just could not get it going in this game. It didn’t help that they were missing Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey from their defense line. Add the interception that Baker Mayfield threw in the first quarter that was returned to the Buccaneers’ 9-yard line adds up to an early 17-0 hole that they should have climbed out of. This better have been a one off…or else this could be trouble for the Buccaneers going forward.
EAGLES 15 – SAINTS 12
This was no pretty, and it certainly was stressful, but the Eagles managed to escape with the win on the road in a battle where the offense failed to show on both sides. The only one who seemed to be doing anything on offense was Running Back Saquon Barkley, who plowed through the Saints’ defense 17 times for 147 yards and two touchdowns. Let me be clear about one thing: this does not solve the Eagles’ problems. All of their points came in the fourth quarter, and there was the legitimate possibility that they could have been shut out in this game. Coach Nick Sirianni has a lot of eyes on him now, and not for good reasons. As for the Saints, it was bound to happen that their offensive trend was going to finally stop…and it certainly did. Going into the final quarter, the Saints had a 3-0 lead (which means that Los Angeles Dodgers players Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Teoscar Hernández out scored TWO football teams on Sunday before the fourth quarter). The Saints never seemed to get going after losing one of their key linemen, Erik McCoy, to a groin injury in the early part of the game. We’ll have to see how the Saints respond as they face a division rival next week.
TEXANS 7 – VIKINGS 34
I knew that we would have some 3-0 and 0-3 teams. I will confess that I did not expect the Vikings to be a 3-0 team (I expected the other way). Maybe it’s the apparent rebirth of Sam Darnold, who threw 17 for 28 for 181 yards passing and four touchdowns. Maybe it’s the rebirth of the Vikings’ defense under coach Brian Flores. Of course, my two cents worth is the fact the Vikings have the aid of (the fully healthy) the top receiver in the NFL, Justin Jefferson. Or it could be a combination of all three. Former Quarterback Robert Griffin III said in a post on Linkedin that “Sam Darnold in a stable environment with weapons is a damn good QB. Just further proof that more coaches and organizations in the NFL know how to mess up a QB than how to develop one.” (Sounds bitter…but he’s right.) As for the Texans, they need help with their offensive play-calling. Their air attack looked yucky again, and it didn’t help that they didn’t have Running Back Joe Mixon. The communication breakdown and the penalties also kill any offensive drive. Of course, the defense bears some responsibility for the Texans, but then again…you try and contain the best wide receiver in the NFL and see how YOU do. In all honesty, the Texans need to clean up their offense, because it makes no sense to see a team with so many weapons at CJ Stroud’s disposal to come away with only 7 points. I do believe the Texans are a team to be reckoned with, but there are some issues that need fixing, plays that need to be changed, and signals to be straightened out. Otherwise, the Texans are never going to get a shot at knocking off the Chiefs off their throne.
BEARS 16 – COLTS 21
One step forward…and two steps back for the Bears. This was a much better game for Caleb Williams, passing 33 for 52 for 363 yards and two touchdowns (although he did throw two interceptions). However, all the Caleb Williams magic in the world is not going to help until they clean up their play calling. I also argue they need to better protect him. But most importantly, the Bears need to lean into the budding friendship that started before this year’s NFL Draft between Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze. The former rivals connected six times for 112 yards and a touchdown. They can do so much more if the Bears let them and give them that chance. As for the Colts, it’s about time the defense showed up. It’s becoming clear that passing isn’t Anthony Richardson’s best skillset, so the Colts opted for the ground game. Richardson passed only 20 times, with ten being caught, for 167 yards (and picked off twice), but he also rushed for 24 yards. However, Jonathan Taylor was the star, as he rushed 23 times for 110 yards and two touchdowns to take a lot of pressure off of Richardson. Let’s see if the Colts have finally found their groove (or if this was just a fluke).
GIANTS 21 – BROWNS 15
Here we go again: HOLY MOLE HOLES! The team I never thought would ever get a win did. One thing I will say the Giants did right was letting Malik Nabers off his leash. The rookie caught 8 passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns. This was a much-needed win for the Giants, who face a daunting gauntlet for the next part of their schedule. That includes a big primetime matchup on Thursday against the dreaded Cowboys. As for the Browns, the situation at the offensive line is troubling enough that they need to hit the panic button. The Browns lost three linemen to injuries: Wyatt Teller, James Hudson III, and Jedrick Wills Jr. This was an utter disappoint for the Browns. They should have performed better against a team considered the league’s worst, especially at home. Given the fact that the Browns’ offensive line is on their last legs, and that they are struggling to stop a defensive blitz, this might get ugly for the Browns very soon if they don’t do something quickly.
CHARGERS 10 – STEELERS 20
Leading up to this game, the Steelers were keen on having a big offensive breakout considering how few points they’ve scored this season (they only scored one touchdown in the first two weeks). 20 points doesn’t sound like a lot, but it was enough to win this week. Justin Fields threw 25 for 32 for 245 yards and a touchdown, but he did throw an interception. I would say the Steelers finally have a chance to break the dam, as it were, next week. However, they will be facing a Colts team that may have found their defensive stride. As for the Chargers, I think they’ll be the first 2-1 team that I can think of in recent memory to smash the panic button. Star Quarterback Justin Herbert went down again, and we saw what happened last year to the Chargers without Herbert at the helm. I read an analyst’s take on the game and was asked how he would describe the game for the Chargers in two words. He used the words “injury-laden afternoon.” While maybe that isn’t exactly two words, he’s right; Herbert went down along with Joey Bosa, Joe Alt, and Rashawn Slater. The Chargers will have to rely on whoever is healthy and hope they can get a lack luster performance out of their next opponent…oh, never mind, they’re playing the Chiefs next week. Under the best of circumstances, the Chargers do have the potential to go toe-to-toe with the defending champs, but not if their team is full of injured players, especially if one of those players is Herbert.
49ERS 24 – RAMS 27
Time again: HOLY MOLE HOLES! If you thought the Chargers and Browns had injury problems, take a look at the 49ers and the Rams. The missing players for both teams include Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, and Tyler Higbee. Despite falling behind by 14 points, the Rams managed their first win over the Super Bowl favorite 49ers. It was a much-needed bounce back win for the Rams after a punishing 31 point blowout last week. Also, it has become apparent that the Rams and Chargers can’t seem to win on the same day (just look at their records for proof). This might be what turns things around for the Rams, as they look to repeat what they did last year when they overcame a 3-6 start to finish the season with a 7-1 run into the playoffs. Now, in 49ers territory, this team of Super Bowl favorites…are in deep trouble. It may be early in the season, but this isn’t good starting out at 1-2. Samuel and Kittle should be back, and not a minute too soon as the schedule gets rough in October and November for the defending NFC champs. It also didn’t help that they underestimated just how desperate the Rams were for a win. Their defense should have been able to handle the Rams with no Kupp or Nacua (and also because neither of them is named Justin Jefferson, a name now scorned by the people of San Francisco and other places in the league).
PANTHERS 36 – RAIDERS 22
Here’s to hoping this is the last time: HOLY MOLE HOLES! During the offseason, the Panthers brought in veteran Andy Dalton to mentor Bryce Young and fill in as his backup. After the Panthers seemed to be going nowhere, Coach Dave Canales made the shocking news to bench the former number one pick: handing the reins to Andy Dalton. Turns out, Dalton still has plenty left in the tank, throwing 26 for 37 for 319 yards and three touchdowns (which is nearly the number you get out of a video game). Some people aren’t ready to concede that this is the end for Bryce Young’s stint in Carolina, but this doesn’t help his case at all. After all, what’s stopping the Panthers from flipping him to another team to recoup some draft picks? If that happens, Young might benefit from a different environment (please go back and refer to Robert Griffin III’s post about Sam Darnold). As for the Raiders (sorry, DA RAIDERS!), I’m surprised that a team that scored a big statement upset over the Ravens would turn around the next week and lose to a team like the Panthers. Granted, they’re a new team under Andy Dalton, and now we know what the Raiders defense looks like without Maxx Crosby. If the Raiders are going to insist on a next-man-up mentality, the defense needs to be able to hold the line with or without Crosby on the field. This wakeup call is better to have come now for the Raiders as opposed to later as they look to join the Chargers in challenging the Chiefs.
DOLPHINS 3 – SEAHAWKS 24
Two storylines have emerged from this game: one is that the Seahawks are emerging as a legitimate threat, and that the Dolphins are in deep trouble. Geno Smith continues to dazzle this season, throwing 26 for 34 for 289 yards and a touchdown (but he was picked off twice). However, the Seahawks are now facing the injury bug. George Fant is on the IR and Abe Lucas is stuck on the PUP list. They also lost a couple of defensive linemen. The Seahawks have been lucky so far, but that may run out next week against the Lions. As for the Dolphins, the quarterback situation has gone from bad to worse. Skylar Thompson had a terrible game with poor decision making that led to him being sacked 5 times. Tyler Huntley is the next man up with Tua Tagovalioa sidelined for three more games. It’s gonna take a lot of effort and a lot of luck to get the Dolphins through these next few games, the next of which is against the Titans.
RAVENS 28 – COWBOYS 25
This was the matchup of the afternoon between two Super Bowl contending teams desperate for a win. The Ravens nearly had a repeat of last week when they blew the lead in the fourth quarter, but this time they hung on to beat the Cowboys on the road. The Ravens needed this win to avoid a damaging 0-3 start to the season. However, the problem they seem to have been finishing off teams. They had a chance to catch the Chiefs and blew it in week one, and last week saw them blow another fourth quarter lead and lose to DA RAIDERS (last time, I promise)! It’s hard to say if this is what starts to revive the season for the Ravens, but we’ll see next Sunday night. As for the Cowboys, this was a tough pill to swallow. They nearly completed the comeback behind Dak Prescott, who threw 28 for 51 for 379 yards passing and two touchdowns. As of this writing, it is unknown how the Cowboys played against the Giants on Thursday, but the Cowboys will definitely look back at their game against the Ravens with regret.
LIONS 20 – CARDINALS 13
I have notably criticized the Lions in the past for their lack of offense in the second half, but now the Cardinals did it too! Both teams combined to get only one field goal in the entire second half (please refer back to the Saints portion of this recap to remind you the Dodgers, a baseball team, scored more than several NFL teams). Nevertheless, the Lions hung on to avoid starting the season at 1-2. Going into this game, Quarterback Jared Goff needed to cut down on turnovers. He was picked off once in this game and had one interception taken off the board by a reversed call. He ended up completing 18 of 23 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns. Problem is, Goff has been picked off four times so far, and it’s a troubling trend the Lions will have to deal with (besides their horrible second half offense). As for the Cardinals, they need to find a way to get a consistent offense. They went from scoring big against the Bills and Rams to only mustering 13 points against the Lions. Unless they can get consistent, it’s going to be very difficult for the Cardinals to actually pose a serious threat for the division title. That means feeding Marvin Harrison Jr. more, who only managed 5 catches for 64 yards and a touchdown…which is a big step down from his big game last week.
CHIEFS 22 – FALCONS 17
Boy, the Chiefs sure do love riding that edge of the abyss. They escaped again with a win (thanks again to a controversial no penalty call) to stay undefeated. Luck with the refs aside, there is a problem developing with the Chiefs, and it’s the same problem from last year: their offense. In this game, the Chiefs had to settle for three field goals: a surprise for a team that always goes for it on 4th down. Now they have to deal with no Isiah Pacheco at running back, and they aren’t finishing drives. It’s a good thing they’re facing a banged-up Chargers team next week (and seriously, give Xavier Worthy more targets because this dude is a speed demon). As for the Falcons, Kirk Cousins completed 20 for 29 passes for 230 yards and a touchdown while getting picked off once. But that wasn’t enough for the Falcons. Losing two of their offensive linemen will hurt them going forward, as Running Back Bijan Robinson needs holes to get the offense moving and keep the pressure off Cousins. And they better right the ship soon, because the Saints are about to come marching in…
JAGUARS 10 – BILLS 47
We were treated to two games on Monday. The first game featured the Jaguars and the Bills…and it was not close at all. Josh Allen has been so extraordinary at quarterback this year and added to his hot start completing 23 of 30 passes for 263 yards and four touchdowns. It may be a little early to start talking Josh Allen for MVP, but he sure is playing like it. If he can keep this up, then he might end up being the MVP. While the Bills’ quarterback is thriving, the Jaguars’ quarterback is struggling. To be clear, benching Trevor Lawrence is the worst idea. They need to find a way to get him back on track. I argue that his defense is not doing much to help, especially with a depleted secondary. They need their defense healthy to take pressure off Lawrence, and they better get better soon before they roll into Houston to face off against the reigning Rookie of the Year: CJ Stroud.
COMMANDERS 38 – BENGALS 33
The second Monday night showdown was definitely worth watching. It is unfortunate that Bengals’ fans had to watch their team upset at home by the Commanders. To be fair, Joe Burrow completed 29 of 38 passes for three touchdowns and no interceptions. Respectable numbers, but obviously not enough to get the win. Now, people may say it’s too soon to hit the panic button, but the Bengals are now 0-3, and no team has made the playoffs with a 0-3 start to the season since the NFL made the switch to a 17-game format. The good news is that Cincinnati’s schedule does get easier as the year goes on. But they need to turn things around quick or else suffer further humiliating losses in the future. As for the Commanders, wow and, dare I say it…HOLY MOLE HOLES! Things have turned around under Coach Dan Quinn and with rookie Jayden Daniels at the helm as quarterback. Their new weapons on offense and the offensive genius of Kliff Kingsbury has given the Commanders an explosive offense and enough momentum to have all the league talking. Who knows, this may turn into a magical season for Washington. It’s still too early to entertain that possibility, but it is a possibility.
