NFL 2024-25: Week 4

The Game Room
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In Week 3, a number of teams (6, by my unofficial count) earned their first victory, while another 4 teams suffered their first loss. Seahawks, Steelers, Bills, Vikings, and Chiefs are still undefeated, while the Jags, Bengals, and Titans remain winless. Since 1979, only six teams that started 0-3 have made the playoffs. Nervous time in Cincinnati.

Last night’s victory by Washington over the Bengals marked the third time in 3 weeks that the biggest underdog for the week won the game outright. In Week 1, the Patriots were +8 against the Bengals and won 16-10. In Week 2, the Raiders were +9 against the Ravens and won 26-23. And last night the Commanders were +7.5 against the Bengals and won 38-33. This week, the biggest underdog is again the Patriots, who are +10 against the 49ers. Just in case you’re looking for an upset.

On Thursday, two NFC East teams look to even their records when Dallas visits the Giants. In other divisional matchups this week, Chiefs face the Chargers, Packers host the Vikings, and Texans host the Jags. Bills and Ravens meet on Sunday night in a battle of AFC heavyweights. Again, there are two Monday night games.

This week’s games. All spreads taken from DraftKings on Tuesday, September 24 at 9:40 am CT.

Thursday:

Cowboys @ Giants (+4.5)

Sunday early:

Vikings @ Packers (-2.5)
Broncos @ Jets (-7)
Steelers @ Colts (+2)
Bengals @ Panthers (+4.5)
Rams @ Bears (-3)
Eagles @ Bucs (+2.5)
Saints @ Falcons (-2)
Jaguars @ Texans (-6)

Sunday late:

Patriots @ 49ers (-10)
Commanders @ Cardinals (-3.5)
Chiefs @ Chargers (+8.5)
Browns @ Raiders (-1)

Sunday night:

Bills @ Ravens (-2.5)

Monday night:

Titans @ Dolphins (+1)
Seahawks @ Lions (-4)

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Uh oh, worried for my Ravens.
Am I the only person who loves GMFB’s Kyle Brandt’s Angry Runs?

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Huge game for the Seahawks to show whether or not their 3-0 start is legit or not.

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Yes, Lions are a great test.

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Oh wow, I just had a senior moment there.

Imagine 5 years ago saying the Lions under Matt Patricia would be a great test of a team.

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LOL, right?

And on top of that, replacing Matt Stafford with Jared Goff!

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It’s a little over-the-top. Always reminds me of this Doonesbury strip.

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My favorite moment in the NFL this past weekend is Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank inducting … himself … into the Falcons Ring of Honor.

Blank’s Falcons have 0 Super Bowl wins and a career .500 winning percentage (179-178-1) since taking over the Falcons from nepo baby Taylor Smith.

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On the other hand, they can boast of having the most epic Super Bowl meltdown ever seen. That’s certainly something!

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Dan Campbell is taking a hardline approach to dealing with his roster.

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Blank is an appropriate surname for that…

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Does he realize that his players aren’t literally lions?

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I think it will be fascinating to see if teams treat next years’ preseason any differently than they did this year. After the massive decrease in offensive success in the first few weeks, the importance of reps to young QBs, the slowness of getting guys who held out into football shape, the changes in coaching strategy in the offseason, and the difficulty of jelling on offensive lines, I think it would behoove many teams to stop treating preseason games as a unacceptable injury risk and more like a way to actually prepare your team for the real season. I’m not saying play your starters for full games, but at least give them more time to learn systems/get reps rather than waiting for a couple games into the season for guys to get into shape.

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Pretty good passing in this Cowboys @ Giants game. There were only four incompletions in the first half. Dak was like 14 of 16 for 164 while Jones was 13 of 15 for I think around 130. Second half is more of the same. The big problem for the Giants is that they are trading field goals for touchdowns. Still within two halfway through the 4th down 17 to 15. Go Giants!

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Very efficient passing, indeed.

I’ll be interested in seeing the stats on the air yards and aggressive throw percentage tomorrow, because outside of a couple throws early in the game, it’s been pretty effin’ boring to me. Each team’s defense is willing to give up the underneath stuff, but once they get even within spitting distance of the red zone, the offenses stall. A lot of self inflicted problems with penalties too. I did miss a good chunk of the first quarter though.

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Aubrey missed the first 50+ yard FG attempt of his career.

Still all good in the end though, game ended in a Daniel Jones INT.

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The Giants might have had a chance if Nabers were on the field for that last drive, but not a great chance. Still. Ball in your hand down by 5 is a winnable scenario.

I’m just happy to see competent play from the Giants. Particularly their offensive line, at least in pass blocking.

I wasn’t really expecting a win; Giants never beat the Cowboys in the regular season.

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Watching the Packers (Boy, is it painful), the scroll at the bottom had this that made me smile: Bo Nix, 5-10, for -9 yards. Ouch.

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Eagles, Packers and Steelers all getting routed…for now.