NFL 2022: Week Four Score and Seven Years Ago

The Game Room
1

This season is not what I had expected so far. Lots of surprises in the first 3 weeks. Which is one of the things that makes NFL football so fun and exciting. The Dolphins and Eagles are undefeated, while the Super Bowl Bengals and #1 seed last year Titans are 1-2. Sure some things are still the same: the Bears’ QB situation is a mess, Josh McDaniels still sucks as a head coach, even just average offensive line play is undervalued, and Jimmy G is depressing Niners fans. But is it really true that the Jaguars might be … good? That Jalen Hurts is … a very good passer? That Tom Brady … isn’t? That the Lions have a … good offense? Time will tell.

Not a lot of news this week. Injuries (Joey Bosa and Rashan Slater going on IR really hurts the Chargers’ chances), cover-up of obvious injuries (Yeah, sure, Miami. It’s Tua’s “back” that caused this), and Hurricane Ian might change the schedule/location of the Tampa Bay game.

And this week is the first with a super-early game when the Saints and Vikings play in London. I LOVE these games. Rolling out of bed, getting a cup of tea, reading the Sunday paper, and watching NFL football while everyone else is still asleep and there are no demands on my time. It’s glorious.

Without further ado, here’s your games:

THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Miami Dolphins CIN -4 (-110)

SUNDAY

8:30 am (London Game)

New Orleans Saints vs. Minnesota Vikings NO +2.5 (-110)

Early

Houston Texans vs. Los Angeles Chargers HOU +5 (-110)
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars PHI -6.5 (-110)
Atlanta Falcons vs. Cleveland Browns ATL +1.5 (-120)
Detroit Lions vs. Seattle Seahawks DET -4.5(-110)
New York Giants vs. Chicago Bears NYG -3 (-115)
Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders DAL -3 (-120)
Indianapolis Colts vs. Tennessee Titans IND -3.5 (-105)
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New York Jets PIT -3.5 (-110)
Baltimore Ravens vs. Buffalo Bills BAL +3 (-110)

Late

Carolina Panthers vs. Arizona Cardinals CAR -1.5 (-110)
Las Vegas Raiders vs. Denver Broncos LV -2.5 (-120)
Green Bay Packers vs. New England Patriots GB -9.5 (-110)

SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL (Maybe)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Kansas City Chiefs TB +2 (-110)

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams SF -2.5 (-110)

One thing that stands out is just how much the lines move/adjust to news of injuries. The Chargers line dropped a point and a half because of a massive amount of injuries. The Packers/Patriots line went up 4 points after news of Mac Jones’ injury. It’s an interesting market out there for people who know injury statuses.

I never, ever thought I’d say this, but I’m really excited to see the Jaguars/Eagles game. I haven’t seen either team play yet this year, and they’re both surprising/exciting team. Add in the Doug Pederson revenge narrative, the chance to see if Jalen Hurts is actually a good passer, and the development of Trevor Lawrence, and it could be the game of the week, rather than the usual game of the weak. I always knew Urban Meyer, in addition to being a fetid pile of human waste, was a bad coach, but seeing the Jags this year just makes the point better than I ever could.

The Bengals/Dolphins game should be a good watch too. The Dolphins on a short week, after an exhausting game for the defense, and the Bengals resurgent, I’m all in on the Bengals this week. It’s a shame the line changed so much due to Tua’s uncertainty.

I’m also glad the Sunday morning game is Saints/Vikings, which should be an interesting matchup. Will Kirk Cousins think it’s a highly watched game, and therefore suck, or will be just be another game, where he can be a competent, to very good QB. I think Justin Jefferson may go for 200+ yards this game, except the Saints defense is pretty good.

The night games have enough to keep me interested too. A great week of football.

So, do you enjoy the Sunday am games? How’s your teams’ health? Which sleeper do you like in fantasy this week (Romeo Doubs?) Which player prop is getting your attention (Jefferson over 6.5 receptions)?

Let’s hear from you.

2

Not a fan of the London games. I usually sleep in on Sundays, and am not really in the mood for sports in the morning. But maybe I’ll try.

My team, the Washington Commanders, are floundering. QB Wentz was sacked nine times last week. You can’t blame it all on the O-line. Throw the ball Carson!

Some good matchups this week - KC - Tampa Bay (assuming it is able to be played) and Buffalo - Baltimore.

3

NFL just announced that the Chiefs/Bucs game will be played in Tampa.

Even as a Chiefs fan, I’m a bit surprised that KC is favored.

4

I’ve picked the Lions every week, with predictable results. But I’m feeling luck this time.

And only three weeks in, I hearby renounce my preseason pick of the Chargers to go all the way. Injuries have killed them, but I think it’s more than that.

5

The Raiders are the only 0-3 team in the NFL. Every team that has beaten them has a 1-2 record.

6

Was just discussing in a hockey group if preseason games in the NHL should be eliminated or severely limited and I have wondered if the NFL preseason cutbacks mean we are likely to see teams stumble out of the gate. The Packers especially have absolutely laid an egg in their first two openers since the preseason schedule was cut back.

Edit, not a fan of the London games either, they mess with fantasy and pick 'em. But, I can understand how nice they must be for people who will often have multiple obligations during the Sunday afternoon and evening games. And, with Thursday games every week now, I usually set all my fantasy stuff and pick em leagues earlier and go back and adjust Sunday. There usually aren’t as many game decision players to mess with fantasy for London games

7

The number of pre-season games don’t matter. The fact that starters don’t/barely play is what’s important.

8

Damn. I hope Tua will be OK. And I hope it’s not the result of his non-concussion, concussion.

9

I did not need to see Tua’s hands those last three times they replayed it.

10

Is that career ending?

11

Exactly. Not like Rodgers would have gotten any more snaps if there were more preseason games.

That plus fans are charged the same for preseason tickets as regular season to watch backups and soon to be roster cuts.

12

Yes, let’s just fucking replay it over and over and over and still talk about his “back” injury.

13

It’s way too early to speculate. No idea what the nature of the injury is yet.

14

decorticate posturing

15

I’ve seen it reported that he’s conscious and has movement in his extremities at the hospital, so that’s at least a good sign.

16

Tua shouldn’t have been out there after Sunday, and someone’s head needs to roll. For that matter, fuck the NFL for having football on Thursday nights.

17

As Telemark says, depends on what actually happened.

Based on my son’s two concussions in a month (high school basketball practice, oddly enough) - he should be out for at least a couple of weeks and if he is smart the season.

18

Unfortunate phrasing: Exhibit A

19

Aaron Rodgers hasn’t played in a preseason game since 2018.

Agreed. In Miami’s Sunday game against Buffalo, the Bills had the ball for almost 41 minutes and ran 90 plays. Four days later, the Dolphins defense was again on the field.

20

Thursday night games have become notorious for being generally lousy football. The truncated preparation schedule doesn’t give teams a lot of time to install and practice a game plan, nor does it give players a lot of time to physically recover from the previous game.

As a result, coaches hate Thursday games, as do players. But, the league loves them, as it’s an expansion into another night of the week, and thus, more money. Thus, I suspect they are here to stay.