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Written by Niv Rai 10/06/2024
Week 4 of the NFL season has been full of great games, and exciting play. Here's a summary of the main highlights and games this week.
Ravens 35, Bills 10
Let's start off with Baltimore versus Buffalo.The Ravens took control of the game against the Bills with key turnovers and strong offensive plays. A failed Bills trick play resulted in a fumble recovered by Baltimore, and Lamar Jackson extended the lead to 28-10 with a rushing touchdown. After a missed field goal by Tyler Bass, Derrick Henry fumbled at the goal line, but fullback Patrick Ricard recovered for a touchdown. The Bills, trailing 35-10, brought in backup quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. Josh Allen completed 16 of 29 passes for 180 yards and no touchdowns, while Jackson threw for 156 yards, two touchdowns, and added another on the ground. Henry rushed for 199 yards, including an 87-yard touchdown—the longest in Ravens history. Despite a few mistakes, the Ravens maintained control and secured the victory.
Raiders 20, Browns 16
Now let's move to Las Vegas at the Allegiant Stadium. The game unfolded dramatically, starting with Cleveland's strong performance in the first quarter, where QB Deshaun Watson moved the team downfield effectively to establish a 10-0 lead. In the second quarter, the Raiders executed a trick play to reach the end zone and get on the board. The third quarter saw Las Vegas intercept a pass near midfield, abruptly halting the Browns' drive, and then score on their next possession, taking a 20-10 lead. In the final quarter, Browns DE Isaiah McGuire knocked the ball out of RB Zamir White's hands, and Rodney McLeod Jr. recovered it, returning it for a touchdown, though kicker Dustin Hopkins missed the extra point. With the score at 20-16 late in the game, Cleveland faced a fourth-and-3 at the Las Vegas 9-yard line. The Raiders, despite missing All-Pro pass rusher Maxx Crosby, managed to sack Deshaun Watson, securing the win for the home team.
Chiefs 17, Chargers 10
The game began with the Chargers scoring first when WR Ladd McConkey made an acrobatic catch in the back of the end zone, and they nearly turned the tide further by picking off Patrick Mahomes, narrowly avoiding a turnover despite a near disaster that injured Kansas City receiver Rashee Rice during the play. In the second quarter, Mahomes connected with Xavier Worthy for a significant 54-yard touchdown, ending the shutout and closing the gap to three points. In the third quarter, a Chiefs field goal tied the game, and Kansas City took its first lead with six minutes left as Kareem Hunt, in his first game since rejoining the team, contributed 23 yards on the drive before Samaje Perine scored on a 2-yard run. The Chiefs scored 17 unanswered points to secure the win, marking their sixth consecutive victory over their AFC West rivals from LA.
49ers 30, Patriots 13
The game started with the 49ers taking a 6-0 lead in the first quarter, easily converting their first two possessions into field goals, largely thanks to the chemistry between Brock Purdy and Brandon Aiyuk. In the second quarter, George Kittle increased the lead with an impressive catch in the end zone, evading three Patriots defenders, while 49ers linebacker Fred Warner intercepted Jacoby Brissett at New England's 35-yard line and returned it for additional points. In the third quarter, Brandon Aiyuk made a crucial diving catch on third down, and Purdy connected with Deebo Samuel for a 53-yard gain, setting up the Niners' first score of the second half. Late in the fourth quarter, Nick Bosa capped off the dominant win by sacking Brissett, stripping the ball, and recovering it, sealing the 49ers' 30-13 victory over the Patriots.
Commanders 42, Cardinals 14
The Commanders triumphed over the Cardinals with a score of 42-14, beginning with a strong performance from rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, who was the second overall pick in this year’s draft. In the second quarter, the Commanders took the lead early, aided by running back Jeremy McNichols' impressive footwork. Meanwhile, Kyler Murray moved the Cardinals downfield, attempting to keep them competitive, but the drive ultimately stalled, and the Commanders went into halftime leading 17-7. In the fourth quarter, Daniels found veteran receiver Terry McLaurin in the back of the end zone, extending their lead to secure a 28-point victory. Daniels completed an impressive 26 of 30 passes, making history as the first quarterback in NFL history to achieve at least 85 percent completion in two consecutive games with a minimum of 15 attempts each.
Vikings 31, Packers 29
Ahead of the game, Green Bay legend Brett Favre revealed he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. In a show of support, Packers quarterback Jordan Love, returning from a knee injury that had sidelined him for two games, wore Favre's iconic No. 4 jersey.
In a thrilling matchup, the Vikings edged out the Packers with a final score of 31-29, beginning with a strong performance from Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold, who hit wide receiver Jordan Addison for a 29-yard touchdown on Minnesota's opening possession. The Vikings kept the momentum going into the second quarter, where Darnold and Addison connected for their second score of the day. Later, Justin Jefferson made a contested catch in the end zone, helping the Vikings maintain their lead. The Packers finally got on the board just before halftime when Jordan Love found wide receiver Jayden Reed at the goal line. In the third quarter, Packers safety Xavier McKinney made a crucial interception to keep the Vikings at bay. However, midway through the fourth quarter, the Vikings returned the favor with a pick of Love, ultimately sealing the road win, despite the Packers rallying with 22 points in the final quarter to narrow the gap in what had initially looked like a blowout.
Falcons 26, Saints 24
In the first quarter, the Falcons started with a punt on their opening possession, but the Saints' Rashid Shaheed muffed the return, allowing KhaDarel Hodge to recover the ball in the end zone for a quick touchdown. In the second quarter, Saints quarterback Derek Carr was intercepted near midfield by Falcons linebacker Troy Andersen, who returned it 47 yards for a touchdown, putting Atlanta back in the lead. The Falcons added a field goal after Darnell Mooney made a dazzling catch from Kirk Cousins early in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, the Saints regained the lead with a 1-yard rushing touchdown from Alvin Kamara, capping off a nine-play drive, but Atlanta quickly responded with a game-winning 58-yard field goal from Younghoe Koo, marking the longest field goal of his career and in the history of Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Bears 24, Rams 18
In the second quarter, Bears running back D'Andre Swift made a significant impact by rushing for 27 yards, helping to maintain Chicago's momentum before halftime. The Bears capped off the drive with a field goal to take a 10-6 lead. Late in the third quarter, Bears quarterback Caleb Williams connected with wide receiver DJ Moore for a 9-yard touchdown, marking the duo's first score of the season and extending their lead. In the fourth quarter, Swift sealed the victory for the Bears with an impressive 36-yard touchdown run, keeping Chicago on track for the win at home against the Rams.
Bengals 34, Panthers 24
Straight into the first quarter, Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton quickly moved the team downfield against his former squad, but Cincinnati's defense held firm, stopping Carolina on fourth-and-goal. On the following possession, Dalton was intercepted by Bengals safety Vonn Bell. In the second quarter, with the score tied at 7, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow connected with wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase for a 63-yard touchdown, regaining the lead for Cincinnati. As the third quarter came to a close, Panthers receiver Diontae Johnson caught a crucial touchdown pass, keeping the game within reach, but it ultimately wasn’t enough, and the Bengals secured their first win of the season.
Broncos 10, Jets 9
In a tightly contested matchup, the Jets and Broncos battled for supremacy. In the second quarter, Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers connected with Mike Williams for an impressive 21-yard pass as Williams maintained control while being pushed out of bounds. This big play extended the Jets' drive, culminating in a field goal that gave New York a 6-0 lead at halftime. In the third quarter, Broncos quarterback Bo Nix got his team on the board by finding Courtland Sutton on third down. Denver added a field goal in the fourth quarter and held on for the win after the Jets missed a potential game-winning field goal in the final seconds.
Texans 24, Jaguars 20
In an exciting clash between AFC South rivals, the Texans edged out the Jaguars in a nail-biting finish. Jacksonville opened the game with a touchdown following a muffed punt, but Houston quickly responded with a highlight-reel score when they snapped the ball to star wideout Stefon Diggs, who rushed into the end zone for a 6-yard touchdown, marking his first career rushing score. As the game progressed, Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud continued to find his rhythm, completing several passes to keep the chains moving, and Houston took a 17-13 lead into halftime. The Jaguars fought back in the third quarter, with Tank Bigsby setting them up in the red zone again. However, Houston's defense made a critical stop, stuffing Trevor Lawrence on fourth-and-1 to start the fourth quarter. The teams traded punts until just under three minutes remained, when Stroud went to work, scrambling for a first down before connecting with Nico Collins for a 26-yard pass. Stroud capped off the drive with a go-ahead touchdown pass to Dare Ogunbowale, securing the Texans' 24-20 victory and marking his eighth career game with multiple touchdown passes and no interceptions, tying him with Lamar Jackson for the most ever by a player 22 years or younger.
Colts 27, Steelers 24
In a closely contested matchup, the Colts managed to hold off a late surge from the Steelers to secure a 27-24 victory at home. Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson started strong but was forced to leave the game twice in the first quarter, leading to backup Joe Flacco stepping in. Flacco quickly made an impact, connecting with Josh Downs for a crucial 25-yard gain that helped set up a score in the third quarter. The Steelers initially struggled but fought back in the fourth quarter, with Justin Fields scrambling for one touchdown and throwing another to tight end Pat Freiermuth. However, their comeback attempt stalled on their final drive at their own 41-yard line, where Fields looked for Van Jefferson on fourth-and-11, but the pass fell incomplete, sealing the win for the Colts.
Final Remarks
As the NFL heads into Week 5, the standings reflect a mix of impressive performances and struggles among teams across the league. The Kansas City Chiefs lead the AFC West with an undefeated record of 4-0, while the Buffalo Bills, at 3-1, are maintaining a strong position in the AFC East. The Houston Texans are also making waves, sitting atop the AFC South with a 3-1 record. In the NFC, the Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks are both performing well, with the Vikings leading the NFC North at 4-0. Meanwhile, teams like the Jacksonville Jaguars and the New England Patriots are facing significant challenges, with both struggling to find their footing at 0-4 and 1-3, respectively. As we look ahead to Week 5, teams will need to assess their strengths and weaknesses to improve their standings and make a statement early in this season.
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