Somehow, week 4 is upon us. Here is a glimpse into the craziness from this weekend…
Alex, can I have “Shocking NFL Developments” for 2,000 please?
Despite the odds, the Minnesota Vikings continue to shine. Their defense is allowing the second-lowest points per game, and their offense continues its efficient tear. Sam Darnold is completing 67.9% of his passes and boasts a 4:1 touchdown to interception ratio. The Vikings rush attack has been respectably productive, averaging 4.8 yards per rush.
Question: What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object?
Answer: The Minnesota Vikings blow out the Houston Texans.
C.J. Stroud threw just 5 interceptions throughout his historic rookie campaign last season. On Sunday, Minnesota turned the 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year over twice. Aaron Jones had 148 total yards and a receiving touchdown. The Texans were only able to muster 38 rushing yards.
The Minnesota Vikings will play the Green Bay Packers in what should be an interesting matchup, regardless of who their signal caller is (Jordan Love or Malik Willis). The Houston Texans will get an opportunity to rebound against the struggling Jacksonville Jaguars.
If I had a nickel…
The San Francisco 49ers failed to put their opponent on ice for the second week in a row. Last week, they fell apart against the Vikings, allowing them to continue to gain momentum. This week, they lost to a depleted Los Angeles Rams team.
The 49ers led for 59 of the 60 minutes on Sunday. On paper, they dominated – leading every major statistical category and being headlined by standout statistical performances1 from quarterback Brock Purdy and receiver Jauan Jennings.
San Francisco’s downfall lies within the cracks of the game.
Brock Purdy missed a few crucial throws and was forced to scramble multiple times in the second half due to LA’s intense pass coverage.
The Rams flawlessly executed a fake punt and took advantage of San Francisco’s poor punt coverage to get the ball to the 50-yard line to set up their game-winning field goal.
Additionally, Sean McVay reminded us of his genius, as he out-coached Kyle Shanahan when it mattered most – an increasingly common trend for the 49ers coach.
The 49ers were without Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, and Christian McCaffrey, but the Rams were depleted at receiver, again without Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua.
San Francisco will look to even their record against the New England Patriots who are currently undergoing a quarterback identity crisis. The Rams will see if they can continue to right the ship against Caleb Williams and the discombobulated Bears.
In Desperate Need
The Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys entered week 3 in desperate need of a ‘get right’ win. Dallas ended up giving its fans an all-too-familiar let down loss.
The Ravens controlled the flow of the game all the way until the fourth quarter, where Dallas realized they lose if they score less points than their opponent. By that time, Baltimore commanded a 28-6 lead. Attempting to cement themselves in the history books with a comeback, Dallas would score 19 points and shut out Baltimore. The Cowboys benefitted from a Justin Tucker missed field goal and a successful onside kick in the fourth quarter. However, they would ultimately fall short 28-25.
Dak Prescott completed just 54% of his passes with an inflated 379 passing yards due to the ‘catchup’ nature of the game. Dallas also failed to establish an effective running game, being outran 274 to 51.
Lamar Jackson threw the ball just 15 times2, while Derrick Henry had 151 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns in a vintage performance. Lamar Jackson ran 14 times, totaling 87 yards and a score.
The Ravens have a date with the red-hot Buffalo Bills on Sunday Night Football, and the Cowboys have a fantastic opportunity to set things straight against the New York Giants.
Wrap Up
Injuries and the unexpected have been the name of the game so far. Stayed tuned to follow the progression of this crazy season!