High profile homecomings, lopsided laughers, D.C.-area star in the making and the Game of the Century highlight the NFL Week 4 Recap.
2021 NFL Week 4 Recap
1/16
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 04: Free safety Derwin James #33 of the Los Angeles Chargers intercepts a pass intended for tight end Darren Waller #83 of the Las Vegas Raiders during the fourth quarter at SoFi Stadium on October 4, 2021 in Inglewood, California.
(Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Raiders 14
Chargers 28
Monday Night Football was delayed about 30 minutes by lightning — and then the team with a lightning bolt on their helmets dominated the first 30 minutes of the actual game.
Justin Herbert had a dominant first half, the finally-healthy Derwin James had his first takeaway in three seasons and both sides of the ball were supercharged. The Chargers are a team to reckon with and Herbert will forever be Washington’s “what if.”
2/16
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws a pass while pressured by New England Patriots defensive end Chase Winovich (50) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in Foxborough, Mass.
(AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Buccaneers 19
Patriots 17
In rainy New England, Mac Jones outplayed the GOAT in his emotional return to his old house but couldn’t deny Tom Brady a historic sweep of the entire NFL. The Game of the Century didn’t disappoint but the defending champs may be too injured to be as good as we thought and the Patriots may be better than a 1-3 record would imply.
3/16
DENVER, CO — OCTOBER 3: Anthony Averett #23 of the Baltimore Ravens intercepts a pass intended for Courtland Sutton #14 of the Denver Broncos in the fourth quarter of a game at Empower Field at Mile High on Oct. 3, 2021 in Denver, Colorado.
(Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
Ravens 23
Broncos 7
Look, I hope Teddy Bridgewater completely comes back from this concussion — but it kind of feels like the opening for Denver to justify a trade for Aaron Rodgers in the offseason.
And Baltimore’s dominance on the ground now includes a 43rd straight 100-yard rushing game, which ties the record set by rival Pittsburgh’s Steel Curtain teams in 1974-77. It would be fitting if the Ravens break the record in prime-time against the Colts.
4/16
Green Bay Packers’ Randall Cobb catches a touchdown pass in front of Pittsburgh Steelers’ Minkah Fitzpatrick during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in Green Bay, Wis.
(AP Photo/Mike Roemer)
Steelers 17
Packers 27
Pittsburgh may not be ready for the panic button but nothing screams “CODE RED” like Steelers Twitter starting to clamor to bench a beatdown Ben Roethlisberger for the underachieving Dwayne Haskins. And a week after being accused of quitting?
Man, things are really getting out of hand fast for the Black and Gold.
5/16
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA — OCTOBER 03: Trey Lance #5 of the San Francisco 49ers runs the ball during the fourth quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium on Oct. 03, 2021 in Santa Clara, California.
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Seahawks 28
49ers 21
Well, San Francisco — you wanted Trey Lance. Now you’ve got him. If the rookie balls out in Arizona to knock off the undefeated Cardinals, he may not see the bench again.
6/16
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray evades the tackle attempt from Los Angeles Rams linebacker Oboe Okoronkwo during the first half in an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif.
(AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Cardinals 37
Rams 20
No words. Just this.
The Cardinals are 4-0.
They are 1st in points, 1st in yards and 2nd in touchdowns in the NFL. pic.twitter.com/dvAgGEwoif
— StatMuse (@statmuse) October 3, 2021
Ok, maybe a few words — Sean McVay was 8-0 against Arizona entering this game. The Cards played like they were sick of it and now they’re atop the best division in the league. This might be the biggest surprise of 2021 to date.
7/16
ATLANTA, GEORGIA — OCTOBER 03: Quarterback Taylor Heinicke #4 of the Washington Football Team passes the ball while under pressure from Dante Fowler Jr. #6 the Atlanta Falcons in the first half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Oct. 03, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia.
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Washington 34
Falcons 30
As disappointing as the Washington defense continues to be (and yes, I’d qualify this as another “not loss” for the Burgundy and Gold), Taylor Heinicke continues to be a pleasant surprise. His clutch performance to snatch a win in his hometown only adds to his growing legend in D.C. Forget this game manager talk — Heinicke is going to have to play more games like this if Washington is even going to hang with the likes of New Orleans, Kansas City and Green Bay. Oh, by the way, that’s the next three games for the WFT.
8/16
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA — OCTOBER 03: Tyreek Hill #10 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on Oct. 03, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Chiefs 42
Eagles 30
Andy Reid’s return to Philly saw his offense return to form for his 100th career win with the Chiefs in the city in which he won more than 100 games with the Eagles, becoming the first coach in NFL history to do so.
Meanwhile, his former team took another deuce after again failing to establish the run — and on the day Philadelphia honored LeSean McCoy, no less.
9/16
Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs (7) intercepts a pass intended for Carolina Panthers wide receiver DJ Moore (2) in the second half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021.
(AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Panthers 28
Cowboys 36
Way too much emphasis is being placed on Dak Prescott’s reemergence and not enough on Travon Diggs’ breakout sophomore season. The Gaithersburg native has a league-best five interceptions in the first four games of the season and looks like a legit star in the making for the team with a star on their helmets.
10/16
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA — OCTOBER 03: Daniel Jones #8 of the New York Giants is chased by Malcolm Jenkins #27 of the New Orleans Saints during overtime at Caesars Superdome on Oct. 03, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
Giants 27
Saints 21
If you thought the roof was on fire in New Orleans before, let the Saints march into Washington and blow another game to a bad NFC East team. I know they just got home from a month away from home, but no amount of voodoo can fix New Orleans if a team that talented drops to the bottom of their division.
11/16
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY — OCTOBER 03: Sharrod Neasman #35 of the New York Jets reacts after a play in the game against the Tennessee Titans at MetLife Stadium on Oct. 03, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Titans 24
Jets 27 (OT)
The Jets entered this game not even averaging a touchdown (6.7 points, by far worst in the league) yet hung 27 on Tennessee? This Titans defense is wasting Derrick Henry’s prime — which, given his high usage, could end abruptly at any minute now.
12/16
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS — OCTOBER 03: Trevis Gipson #99 of the Chicago Bears forces the fumble against Jared Goff #16 of the Detroit Lions in the second half at Soldier Field on Oct. 03, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois.
(Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
Lions 14
Bears 24
Detroit had the better passer (Sunday, anyway), the edge in time of possession and held Chicago to just 1-for-8 on third down conversions — and still lost. Hey, Dan Campbell? You can start working on those kneecaps at any time, my guy.
13/16
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA — OCTOBER 03: Mo Alie-Cox #81 of the Indianapolis Colts catches a touchdown during the fourth quarter while defended by Eric Rowe #21 of the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on Oct. 03, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida.
(Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
Colts 27
Dolphins 17
I know they were playing with a backup quarterback going against his former team, but Miami shouldn’t get beaten so soundly at home by a talented-yet-winless team riding Mo Alie-Cox.
14/16
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) passes as he is tackled by Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Malik Jackson (97) and defensive tackle Malik McDowell (58) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in Minneapolis. The Browns won 14-7.
(AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Browns 14
Vikings 7
Given all the talk of the offensive-minded Kevin Stefanski’s return to Minnesota, it was somehow fitting that the Browns defense is what carried Cleveland to victory over a Vikings team coming off its best offensive performance in years. But Baker Mayfield better bring a better game to L.A. against the Chargers.
Texans 0
Bills 40
Sometimes a GIF is all that can be said about a game. Oof. Even Nathan Peterman is horrified by Davis Mills’ performance.
16/16
Jaguars 21
Bengals 24
Why did the NFL think it was a good idea to schedule this on a Thursday night? Sure, it was a pretty good game but this matchup screams “BURY IT AT 1 O’CLOCK SUNDAY!” Who the hell cares, indeed.
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