The offensive struggles from the primary week of the NFL season really feel like they have been three months in the past as a substitute of three weeks. Factors have been piled up at a livid tempo through the Week 4 slate of video games. The Miami Dolphins didn’t repeat their Week 3, 70-point efficiency. As an alternative, Josh Allen performed his finest sport of the season and the Buffalo Payments hung almost 50 on the Dolphins.
Two nice defenses confronted off within the Washington Commanders–Philadelphia Eagles matchup. That sport went to extra time after the Commanders responded to an Eagles’ seven-play landing drive with a 12-play march of their very own to tie the rating. The Eagles ultimately gained, 34-31, in extra time.
The Chicago Bears and Denver Broncos are two of the worst groups within the NFL. Watching each groups has been painful. However on Sunday, Bears QB Justin Fields performed one of the best sport of his NFL profession in opposition to the Broncos and the Bears regarded all however assured of the win with 28-7 lead late within the third quarter. However the Broncos stormed again to win, 31-28.
Credit score for all these offensive outbursts is normally given to the quarterbacks, however this week the palms of the go catchers deserve a spherical of applause. Whether or not it was Garrett Wilson giving Zach Wilson confidence by hauling in some robust passes, or Brandon Aiyuk tallying 4 catches of 20 yards or extra, the vast outs placed on a present. Three particularly have been essential in serving to their groups to massive wins.
Stefon Diggs is the important thing to the success of the Payments offense
Josh Allen is without doubt one of the most bodily gifted quarterbacks to ever play soccer. He’s quick, elusive, big, and might make each throw moderately requested of knowledgeable quarterback — and others that would by no means be requested with a straight face. Nonetheless, Allen was not checked out as top-of-the-line gamers within the NFL till the Payments traded for Stefon Diggs previous to the 2020 season.
That kind of dynamic pass-catching risk makes determination making considerably sooner for quarterbacks. With what Diggs brings to the desk, he had each proper to be annoyed through the Payments’ playoff loss final season. They went down, 14-0, shortly to the Cincinnati Bengals, and Diggs had solely caught 4 passes. Nonetheless, it wasn’t for lack of effort on the Payments’ half— he was focused 10 instances.
The Dolphins have been the most popular group within the NFL coming into their Week 4 matchup in opposition to the Payments. The 2 groups went blow for blow early on, however the Dolphins weren’t capable of sustain. Diggs was largely liable for the Payments leaving the NFL’s quickest offense within the mud together with his six catches for 120 yards. Three of these catches have been touchdowns. One was a 55-yarder within the second quarter that put the Dolphins in a double-digit deficit they by no means recovered from.
Diggs getting the ball early and sometimes has seemed to be one of the best recipe for Payments success the final 4 seasons.
A.J. Brown did his half to attempt to preserve the Eagles out of extra time
The sport appeared over when Brown caught a 28-yard landing go with lower than two minutes remaining in regulation. That reception gave Brown eight on the day for 167 yards and two TDs. Eagles followers at Lincoln Monetary Subject doubtless believed that might be his ultimate catch of the day, however a ninth got here in extra time after Sam Howell led Washington on an inconceivable drive through which he threw a landing go to Jahan Dotson as time expired.
Brown beating up the Commander’s secondary all through the day helped spur Jalen Hurts to his finest passing sport of the season — 67.6 completion proportion for 319 yards and two touchdowns.
He sat within the candy spot in zone protection for receptions, ran by means of tackles, and likewise juked and ran previous opposing defensive backs. Brown was the NFL Week 4 chief in receptions and receiving yards — 9 catches for 175 yards. Towards the Commanders he most definitely performed like one of the best vast receiver within the league.
The Puka Nacua present continues
As nice as Nacua had been by means of three video games, one feat had eluded him. Coming into the Los Angeles Rams’ Week 4 matchup in opposition to the Indianapolis Colts, he had but to haul in his first NFL landing go.
The Rams entered the sport 1-2, and falling to 1-3 wouldn’t have been search for their postseason hopes. They moved the ball all day on the Colts, dominating each in time of possession and whole yards. The Rams have been up, 20-0, at halftime, and Nacua was having one of the best sport of his profession with 98 yards and averaging 19.6 yards per reception — considerably larger than his 11.3 common for the season going into the sport. He nonetheless hadn’t caught that landing, although.
QB Matt Stafford bought damage within the third quarter and the Rams’ offense floor to a halt. They managed solely a area objective and the Colts tied the rating at 23 late within the fourth quarter. Whereas the Rams weren’t capable of intestine out a game-winning drive in regulation, they obtained the opening kick throughout extra time and went proper down the sector for a landing — a walk-off 22-yard rating to Nacua.
