NFL Week 4: What we learned
The fourth week of the NFL season is in the books (save for Monday night), and we learned plenty. At the quarter pole of the campaign, there are some conclusions that we can draw.
- Some teams are absolutely cooked
The New York Giants and Los Angeles Chargers were both supposed to be in the playoff mix and perhaps even make a January run. Instead, they are a combined 0-8 and looking at the business end of potential firings and high draft picks. The good news? These two teams play each other at MetLife Stadium in Week 5, so somebody has to get a win. The bad news? Los Angeles could be sitting four games back of the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West by Monday’s end, while the Giants are three games off the pace set by the Philadelphia Eagles.
- The Patriots can’t play any defense
Yes, Bill Belichick is a genius. Yes, we are used to seeing Belichick figure things out, especially on that side of the ball, where he made his bones as a two-time Super Bowl champion coordinator with the Giants under Bill Parcells.
However, there is no quick solution for the Patriots. The front seven is absolutely horrendous outside of Dont’a Hightower. The Patriots are both slow and suffering from a lack of talent on defense, a horrid combination. To this point in the season, New England has allowed more points and more yards than any other team. The Patriots have played Alex Smith, Drew Brees, Deshaun Watson and Cam Newton, and allowed 300+ passing yards to all of them. It’s ugly, and that won’t be changing soon.
- Â Raiders are not Super Bowl contenders
The Oakland Raiders were a trendy pick to reach the Super Bowl this year, but that appears tone a pipe dream. Oakland lost 16-10 against the Broncos in Denver, and did so without much more than a whimper. The Raiders only ran for 24 yards, the second week in a row they were held under 50 rushing yards. Marshawn Lynch looks old, the defense looks inept and Derek Carr looks like an average quarterback, something advanced stats foretold.
- The Detroit Lions are for real
If not for a controversial call reversal at the end of their Week 3 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, the Lions could very well be 4-0. Instead, they have to settle for 3-1 after being the Minnesota Vikings, 14-7, at U.S. Bank Stadium. While the Vikings were without Dalvin Cook in the second half and Sam Bradford for a third straight week, Detroit was terrific in a tough place to play, earning a divisional win. The Lions will challenge the Green Bay Packers throughout the season in the NFC North.
