NFL Takeaways: Week 4
Photo courtesy of Big Ten Network & SB Nation
I won’t lie to you.
I spent most of this past Sunday preparing for the Mariners final game of the season and being stressed out about that.
So a lot of the early game takeaways are mostly based off of bits and pieces I saw.
But what’s more journalistic in 2021 than watching 4 minutes of something and having baseless claims based on what you saw?!
Topical!
Anyway. Here’s what we learned.
Bengals defeat Jaguars 24-21
My takeaway after Thursday night? The Jags put up a solid fight on the road.
That’s all I wanted to see. Some fight. That would give me confidence in the future?
My takeaway today? The Jags are a mess and Urban Meyer needs to go quickly.
But that’s what happens when you skip the team flight back home so you can fondle college girls….
And if you don’t know this story, I’m not going to link the video cause gross. But it’s out there. You can find it.
Washington defeats the Falcons 34-30
Telling me Washington is 2-2 before the season? Yeah, I’d believe you entirely.
Telling me that they’re still 2-2 despite losing Fitzpatrick and the defense regressing from one of the leagues best to one of the worst? Yeah, that wouldn’t make sense.
As for the Falcons, what else did you expect?
It’s not their fault at this point. It’s yours.
Lower your expectations and they won’t let you down.
Bills defeat Texans 40-0
I don’t know. I’m not sure Davis Mills is the answer.
Bears defeat Lions 24-14
The Bears had a solid gameplan for Justin Fields second ever start.
Ride on the back of David Montgomery, and let Fields play a little more conservative.
He doesn’t need to be a superstar yet. He just needs to do enough. And he did!
Unfortunately, the Bears lost Montgomery to a knee injury for multiple weeks, so Fields will need more responsibility to BEAR.
Get it?!
Cause the Bears…
Please don’t stop reading I’m sorry.
Cowboys defeat Panthers 36-28
Growing up is learning to not hate the Cowboys, no matter how easy Skip Bayless makes it, and to respect that they are a good team with a great quarterback and a star corner.
They’re flashy. Flashy is fun!
Colts defeat Dolphins 27-17
Turns out the Dolphins AREN’T better without Tua.
I know people have questions about Tua. That’s fine.
But it was crazy to think the Dolphins would still be good without him.
Browns defeat Vikings 14-7
This was the most impressive win of the Browns season for me.
The Browns offense is explosive, and they have a tremendous play caller.
Well, the offense was horrific against a very good Vikings team on the road. That’s a bad recipe.
Doesn’t matter. Browns win.
What a weird sentence…
Giants defeat Saints 27-21
Stop trying to make Taysom Hill happen.
At least at quarterback. There is a place for Hill. I wouldn’t ever question that.
Not at quarterback. Leave that to Jameis.
Jets defeat Titans 27-24
Remember earlier when I said all I want to see from a bad team like the Jags or Jets is some fight?
They can lose tons of games. But I want to see growth.
I saw growth from Zach Wilson and the Jets.
It wasn’t perfect by any means, but Wilson made some terrific throws to give the Jets a win.
Now they need to keep that momentum going against their next opponent.
Which is the Falcons. So they likely will.
Chiefs defeat Eagles 42-30
The Chiefs defense is back to what it was in 2018.
That’s not great!
Seahawks defeat 49ers 28-21
Trey Lance came into the game in the second half, and the Niners finally found an heir to Colin Kaepernick.
Well, sort of.
Lance is a dynamic runner. Any time he ran, I was worried.
But Kaepernick was a good thrower. Lance isn’t. Yet, anyway.
He’s still very, very raw.
But the Niners need to play him and get him reps. That’s how he’ll get better.
Plus, Jimmy G ain’t it. Which I tried to tell y’all years ago.
As for the Seahawks, the only two games they’ve won are the two games the defense wasn’t a trash pit.
It was also the two games they faced Carson Wentz and Jimmy Garoppolo so. Do with that what you will.
More or less, there are a clear top two in the NFC West right now.
Cardinals defeat Rams 37-20
And here they are!
Do I think the Cardinals are 17 points better on the road than the Rams? No, not really.
The Rams had a HUGE win last week, and this sort of let down game happens after huge wins all the time. It’s why I expect the Rams to be pissed heading into Seattle this Thursday.
But the Cardinals aren’t a joke.
Not only is the offense dynamic, the defense is much improved and very impressive.
They have a great chance to be serious contenders.
Ravens defeat Broncos 23-7
Vic Fangio should stop being upset about a 5 yard run and be more upset about the dumb “IN-COM-PLETE” chant the Broncos do after every incompletion.
It’s infuriating.
Packers defeat Steelers 27-17
Ben Roethlisberger was in tears on the sideline after getting destroyed in the playoffs by the CLEVELAND BROWNS and still thought “yeah I can probably come back for one more season.”
No, Ben. No you can’t.
Throw in Dwayne Haskins. See if you have something there.
Big Ben is a hall of fame quarterback. But it’s time to pull the plug on his career as a Steeler. It’s not good enough anymore.
Buccaneers defeat Patriots 19-17
People can talk about if Mac Jones was good or not. I don’t care.
I just want to know why Bill Belichick thought kicking a 56 yard field goal in horrible weather conditions and giving the ball back to Tom Freakin’ Brady with a minute left was a smarter decision than trusting Mac Jones to get 3 yards.
That’ll just never make sense to me.
Chargers defeat Raiders 28-14
Justin Herbert is really, really good.
That’s all I have to say about that one.
