The NFL is always unpredictable for four weeks of the season. The Philadelphia Eagles are the only undefeated team at 4-0 and the Houston Texans are the only team without a win in the first four games. The Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks are 2-2, the same record as the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers — two preseason Super Bowl contenders.
White, the league is still trying to figure out who the contenders and contenders are, there’s a lot of overreaction after a Week 4 that saw wild finishes and five games decided by three runs. These are the best reactions from each match in Week 4, and whether these scenarios are overreactions or reality.
The Saints came close to salvaging their season
Overreaction or reality: Reality
It’s hard to be positive about the Saints right now. Andy Dalton, Mark Ingram, Latavius Murray and Taysom Hill occupy quarterback and three running back positions with Jameis Winston, Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas out. That’s an average age of 32.5 in four key positions, trustworthy to lead New Orleans to victory.
This group nearly made it as New Orleans erased a 16-7 deficit to take a 22-19 lead in the fourth quarter. Wil Lutz scored a 60-yard field goal to tie the game at 25-25, only for the defense to give up six plays for 54 yards in just 27 seconds for the Vikings to take a definite lead.
Lutz was just an inch from the right to force extra time from 61 yards out, showing just how desperate the Saints are to win a game. Now New Orleans sits at 1-3 and the win was a ridiculous comeback against the Falcons.
The Saints don’t have the makings of a good team. They desperately needed that basket to bounce back.
Atlanta can make the playoffs behind their rushing offense
Overreaction or reality: Overreaction
The Falcons have rushed for over 200 yards in two of their four games, but let’s not dig the rabbit hole yet and make them a playoff team. The Browns were without three of their four starting defensive linemen (including Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney), allowing running backs Tyler Allgeier and Caleb Huntley to slash them for 140 rushing yards.
Atlanta is .500 and way better than expected, but the Falcons will be tested against the Buccaneers next week. We’ll see if they can keep the ball running at this explosive pace.
Ravens smother AFC North
Overreaction or reality: Reality
Baltimore could easily be 4-0 after four weeks. Instead, the Ravens sit 2-2 and squandered two huge fourth-quarter leads — at home no less.
Sunday was inexcusable as Lamar Jackson threw two interceptions in the fourth quarter and John Harbaugh decided to go for the fourth and 2-yard line goal in a draw late in the fourth quarter. The result was Jackson’s second interception of the game, leading the Bills to use the final 4:09 for Josh Allen to drive them down the field and lead them to victory.
These are games the Ravens need to win. They are in a three-way tie for the lead in AFC North when they should be in control of the division.
Dallas can win NFC East if Cooper Rush starts next two weeks
Overreaction or reality: Overreaction
What Cooper Rush has done in his three starts is impressive, but the three teams the Cowboys have beaten in his starts are a combined 6-6. Commanders and Giants don’t seem like powerhouses, even though the Bengals’ win is getting better week by week.
Dallas has one of the best defensive lines in football, the real engine of the Cowboys’ success over the past three weeks. Rush will face his biggest test against the Rams and Eagles defenses over the next two weeks, a much tougher test than what he saw against Washington and New York.
A split for the next two games keeps the Cowboys in business. This victory must be against Philadelphia.
Geno Smith is the Seahawks’ starting QB for the whole year
Overreaction or reality: Reality
Geno Smith has the highest completion percentage of any four-game quarterback in NFL history (minimum 125 attempts). He is the only player with a 75% completion rate, 1,000 yards and five touchdowns this season and has better numbers than Russell Wilson.
Smith is third in the NFL in passer ratings (108.8) and is a big reason the Seahawks are in the heart of the NFC West run at 2-2. He’s Seattle’s man – potentially even beyond this season if he keeps playing.
Overreaction or reality: Overreaction
We’ll have to see more of sixth-round rookie Jamaree Salyer against better competition at left tackle (sorry Texans), but Justin Herbert looked much more comfortable in the pocket in his second game since joining. fractured his rib cartilage 17 days ago. The Chargers offensive line allowed just one sack and two quarterback hits in the win, as Herbert threw for 340 yards and two touchdowns.
Herbert will improve by the week and the Chargers offensive line will get more continuity, but let’s see how this unit fares against a better pass rush. Sunday was a good start.
Overreaction or reality: Reality
Indianapolis needs Jonathan Taylor to move the chains and control the game in order to win football games. Taylor had just 20 carries for 42 yards Sunday as Indianapolis’ offense was limited to just 17 points.
When Taylor rushes for less than 70 yards, the Colts are 0-2. Tennessee did a great job of stuffing Taylor, forcing Indianapolis to look for other ways to move the ball. The result was three turnovers and an average of 1.7 yards per carry despite 365 yards of attack.
The Colts need a strong performance from Taylor to win games, which doesn’t bode well for their playoff chances.
Saquon Barkley is the best running back in football
Overreaction or reality: Reality
Through four games, yes. Barkley led the Giants to a tough win over the Bears, rushing 31 times for 146 yards as New York finished with 262 rushing yards against a tough Bears defense. Barkley leads the NFL in yards rushing (463) and is second in the NFL in yards per carry (5.5) among running backs with a minimum of 60 carries.
The argument could be made that Nick Chubb is better, but Barkley is playing behind a much worse offensive line. Barkley gets the green light here.
Miles Sanders deserves to be paid this offseason
Overreaction or reality: Reality
Sanders showed he was the No. 1 running back in Sunday’s rainy conditions, rushing 27 times for 134 yards and two touchdowns against football’s No. 1 defense. The Eagles running back runs with conviction, taking what is given to him instead of looking for the big play on every run.
Sanders is third in the NFL in yards rushing (356) and third in yards per carry (4.9) among running backs with at least 60 carries. A vital part of the Eagles’ rushing offense, the Eagles are expected to pay off Sanders as he enters the prime of his career. He’s a perfect fit for what Philadelphia is handling on offense.
Overreaction or reality: Overreaction
Kenny Pickett’s debut didn’t go as well as expected. Pickett completed 10 of 13 passes for 127 yards and three interceptions as he entered the game for Mitchell Trubisky in the second half, quieting the crowd who wanted him in the game. Pickett still moved the ball in the second half, as the Steelers had 171 yards and 14 points.
The three interceptions are what doomed Pickett, but he managed to put Pittsburgh in the end zone. Trubisky didn’t do that in his seven possessions on Sunday — against the Jets. Mike Tomlin is still expected to return to Pickett next week and give him a week of work with the starters.
Overreaction or reality: Overreaction
It would be a reality, but who are the Panthers going to at this rate? There are no better options for Carolina, and Ben McAdoo’s offense just isn’t creative enough for a player to succeed.
The passing game stinks all around – and Baker Mayfield plays a huge part in that. Mayfield completed just 15 of 27 passes for a touchdown and two interceptions against four or fewer runners, a terrible sign for a veteran quarterback.
Carolina has to roll with Mayfield, but Matt Rhule will probably hit the panic button. His work is already in play.
The Packers are the best team in the NFC
Overreaction or reality: Overreaction
Green Bay will always be in the Super Bowl conversation with Aaron Rodgers as the Packers find ways to win despite their issues at wide receiver. Allen Lazard makes all the difference in the passing game and Roméo Doubs becomes a reliable target.
The defense makes key plays, especially keeping the Packers in the game when the offense falters. Right now, Green Bay’s offense is too inconsistent to be the best in the NFC, especially when struggling for a half against a bad Patriots team.
The Packers are a very good team, but there is work to be done.
Josh McDaniels needs to go more to his star players
Overreaction or reality: Reality
It’s funny when Josh McDaniels gives the ball to Josh Jacobs and Davante Adams, the Raiders win. Jacobs had 28 carries for 144 yards and two touchdowns as he chipped away at a Broncos defense that looked great in the first three weeks. Adams had nine catches for 101 yards on 13 targets.
Giving the ball away on those first two downs produced (the Raiders were 7 of 14 on third down) and a season-high in points. Jacobs and Adams are the money players McDaniels need to turn the Raiders’ season around.
The formula worked this week. The Raiders should start over.
The Chiefs are the best team in the AFC
Overreaction or reality: Reality
No contest here. Kansas City dismantled a Tampa Bay defense that ended its competition all season, using Patrick Mahomes and his genius to score 41 points over the Buccaneers. The Chiefs thought Tampa Bay had the best defense in the league, but they rushed for 189 yards and Mahomes only got hit six times.
The Chiefs lost last week to the Colts due to errors, uncharacteristic of an Andy Reid team. The Buffalo Bills are definitely in this conversation, but the Chiefs have Mahomes and Reid. That puts Kansas City above the edge.
It’s Kansas City, Buffalo – than everyone else.