# NFL Week 4 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [September 27, 2018, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-4/822072 "2018-09-27T23:40:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-4/822072/1 "2018-09-27T23:40:55Z")
**Thursday** Minnesota at Los Angeles Rams (-6.5) **Sunday Early** Cincinnati at Atlanta (-5) Tampa Bay at Chicago (-2.5) Detroit at Dallas (-3.5) Buffalo at Green Bay (-10.5) Philadelphia (-3) at Tennessee Houston at Indianapolis (-1.5) Miami at New England (-7.5) New York Jets at Jacksonville (-9) **Sunday late** Cleveland at Oakland (-2.5) Seattle (-3) at Arizona New Orleans (-3.5) at New York Giants San Francisco at Los Angeles Chargers (-9.5) **SNF** Baltimore at Pittsburgh (-3) **MNF** Kansas City (-3.5) at Denver ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-4/822072/2 "2018-09-27T23:54:35Z")
The Panthers broke the seal and signed Eric Reid. Great move by them as they needed secondary help pretty badly. Opens the door for a Kap comeback to San Fran? ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2018, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-4/822072/3 "2018-09-28T01:46:38Z")
First game watching Goff and the Rams. I thought Goff was the best QB his draft year and he has looked great this game. The Vikings defense is no pushover, and Goff’s ball placement is really impressing me. Good or him. And I love how much the resurgence of the Rams shows just what a shitty NFL coach Jeff Fisher was. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2018, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-4/822072/4 "2018-09-28T14:21:23Z")
As of this morning the Browns are getting 1 at Oakland. I’d still take it, I think they’ll win. I didn’t watch the game last night, but glanced at the box score because I had a couple guys on my fantasy team. What were there, about 900 passing yards combined? Thought the Vikings defense was supposed to be legit, what happened? ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2018, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-4/822072/5 "2018-09-28T16:28:56Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > I didn’t watch the game last night, but glanced at the box score because I had a couple guys on my fantasy team. What were there, about 900 passing yards combined? Thought the Vikings defense was supposed to be legit, what happened? Remember the Bills beat them last week, 27-6. _THE BILLS._ I’m thinking they took a step back from last season. ---
**Author:** ![Clawdio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d07c76/32.png) [@Clawdio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clawdio)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2018, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-4/822072/6 "2018-09-28T18:07:47Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > I didn’t watch the game last night, but glanced at the box score because I had a couple guys on my fantasy team. What were there, about 900 passing yards combined? Thought the Vikings defense was supposed to be legit, what happened? I think primarily its the sum of a lot of small things that individually may not be a huge impact, but all taken together… death by 1,000 cuts: Terence Newman retired as a player to become a member of the coaching staff. Brian Robison was released (currently unsigned). The Everson Griffen situation. Newman & Robison were certainly past their prime but were good role players on a good defense. Griffen could still be considered a star, however, and I would doubt he’ll rejoin the team in the near future (and did not play against the Bills or Rams). ---
**Author:** ![mcgato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac8455/32.png) [@mcgato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mcgato)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2018, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-4/822072/7 "2018-09-28T22:35:20Z")
Also with the Vikings, their early schedule went: home 49ers at Packers home Bills at Rams (on Thursday) at Eagles I figured that a 2-3 record would come out of that, with wins against the 49ers and Bills. The schedule gets much easier after that, but I am concerned with their defense. I think they looked past the Bills and paid for it. My biggest concern is the numerous pass plays where there is no defender within 20 yards of the receiver. One Bills pass, the receiver ran 40+ yards after the reception with no defender within 20 yards of him. Something similar happened against the Rams. Just weird from one of the best defenses from last year. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2018, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-4/822072/8 "2018-09-30T17:32:43Z")
Week 4 byes must suck. Especially for Washington after that nice win over the Packers ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2018, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-4/822072/9 "2018-09-30T18:28:33Z")
Akiem Hicks gets booted out of the game for bumping an official. Dumb, dumb, dumb. Bears probably won’t miss him too much, but he’d better hope it’s just a hefty fine from the league. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2018, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-4/822072/10 "2018-09-30T19:19:35Z")
Damn, Tyler Eifert is just snakebitten. Dislocated ankle, he’s done for the year. Again. Bengals v Falcons is a shootout bigtime though. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2018, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-4/822072/11 "2018-09-30T19:51:05Z")
I’m at a baseball game. Checking the scores, I see New England is sick of people saying they’re “done.” ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2018, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-4/822072/12 "2018-09-30T20:39:03Z")
That field in Oakland is a mess. Apparently their plan for defending against Mayfield was to make his receivers slip around in a swamp. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2018, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-4/822072/13 "2018-09-30T20:54:25Z")
Browns are loaded at RB. I think at least 50% of incompletions Mayfield has thrown this year have hit receivers in the hands. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2018, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-4/822072/14 "2018-09-30T21:45:16Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > Browns are loaded at RB. > > I think at least 50% of incompletions Mayfield has thrown this year have hit receivers in the hands. LOL, what is that now, like 5 INC passes on 20 ATT’s? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2018, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-4/822072/15 "2018-09-30T22:05:52Z")
Goddamn it, Colts, you should not have gone for it on 4th down inside your own territory with seconds left and with the game tied in overtime. Punt it as far away as you can, and play for the tie! ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2018, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-4/822072/16 "2018-09-30T22:27:12Z")
I am enthused for the inevitable “Mitch Trubisky emerges as a great QB” and “Mitch Trubisky is a stud” comments that will follow his beating up on a horrible team. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2018, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-4/822072/17 "2018-09-30T23:14:07Z")
Defensive TD taken away from the Browns by a baffling early whistle. If they end up losing that’s going to be hard to take as the reason. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2018, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-4/822072/18 "2018-10-01T00:09:18Z")
The Browns were up by 8 and ran for a first down with 1:30 left when the Raiders were out of time outs, but the officials took the unusual step of altering a spot by a few inches after measuring that it was a few inches short even though the video certainly did not conclusively show that was the right spot. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2018, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-4/822072/19 "2018-10-01T00:31:07Z")
Not a run of the mill screwjob either, this is getting jobbed. [Not just me saying it](https://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/9kbfd5/post_game_thread_cleveland_browns_111_at_oakland/e6xv44x/). Browns run on 3rd down, need a first down to win. Ref spots the ball a little short. Another ref comes and marks it even shorter of where it should be. They measure it. It’s a first down anyway. They decide, at this point, to review the play automatically. Despite video evidence supporting it’s a first down (and definitely not conclusively suggesting otherwise), they come out and spot the ball even shorter than either of the two refs that spotted it put it in the first place. The sequence of events was weird (measure, then decide to change it) and then that sort of spotting-the-inches thing almost never gets overturned on replay. There was no evidence at all that compelled this one to be. The game was over - Browns could come kneel it. Refs just flat out took it away. Yeah, yeah, they still could’ve won after that, but how many fucking times do you have to win a game? This was after they blew a play dead when Carr got the ball knocked out of his hand on first contact and would’ve been returned for a defensive TD. That one didn’t end up being as critical because it wouldn’t have directly lead to the win like the other one. Horrible. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2018, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-4/822072/20 "2018-10-01T00:51:18Z")
I try not to be conspiratorial about refs. I understand they make poor judgements in the heat of the moment, it’s a tough job. But you have to wonder - having all the time in the world, just to see the tape support (or at least not contradict) that their spots for Hyde were actually significantly behind his actual spotting - they reviewed it, gave no explanation (their explanation may as well have been “we wanted to give the Raiders the ball back”, and just overturned it contrary to pretty much every precedent, you gotta wonder how a slow motion ref trainwreck like that happened, and if it had some motivation. Maybe the NFL doesn’t want its Golden Gruden starting 0-4? I don’t know. I don’t need to invoke conspiracy theories, I guess, it’s just that it was such a slow motion screwjob that it looks deliberate. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-4/822072.md?page=2)