NFL Week 4 reaction: Notes and observations
It’s time for some NFL Week 4 reaction, led by the Arizona Cardinals earning a huge win and the Dallas Cowboys continuing their rise.
– The Dallas Cowboys are the clear, clear favorite in the NFC East. Although the Washington Football Team is only one game behind Dallas in the standings, the gulf between the two teams is clear. The Cowboys beat the Carolina Panthers 36-28 on Sunday at AT&T Stadium, handing Sam Darnold and Co. their first loss of the season. Dak Prescott was terrific again, throwing for 188 yards (8.5 YPA) and four touchdowns. If the defense can continue being just a reasonable unit, look out.
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– In the NFC North, you can start printing the banner. The Green Bay Packers won their third straight by clobbering the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-17 in a game nowhere near as close as the final score indicates. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was in total control, going for 248 passing yards and two touchdowns while Green Bay ran for 131 yards. More importantly, the Packers held Pittsburgh to 282 yards and 17 first downs while forcing two turnovers. Meanwhile, the rest of the North? Yikes.
– The Tennessee Titans have to be physically ill. Even without star receivers Julio Jones and A.J. Brown, the Titans were favorites to beat the previously winless New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Somehow, Tennessee blew multiple leads and needed a late touchdown to force overtime before allowing a field goal and then missing one at the gun, losing 27-24. It’s a disaster in terms of getting a good seed come the AFC playoffs.
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– Give the Arizona Cardinals ample credit. Many believed the Cardinals were a somewhat weak 3-0 after barely getting by the Minnesota Vikings and Jacksonville Jaguars over the past two weeks. Then, on Sunday, Arizona put up 37 points on the Los Angeles Rams and their vaunted defense, winning by 17 points at SoFi Stadium. If the Cardinals beat the San Francisco 49ers next week at home, they’ll pick up another game on either the Rams or Seattle Seahawks, who face off on Thursday.
– The Miami Dolphins are facing a crisis point. After losing to the Indianapolis Colts, the Dolphins are 1-3 after winning their opener on the road against the New England Patriots. Without quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for at least one more week, Miami takes on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road this Sunday. A brutal, brutal spot for a team in major trouble.
