NFL Week 4 winners and losers: Giants show a lot of fighting

Week four seemed like a positive week, right? I mean, the Giants won resiliently on the road in a harsh environment. It’s a step in the right direction, but the hole is still 1-3 deep. There was a bunch of interesting NFL action and divisional games in the fourth week. The calendar is now turned to October. As the leaves begin to change color, clarity on playoff aspirations begins to materialize.

The Giants and Jets get their first wins of the season, as the Jaguars remain winless after nearly upsetting the Bengals in Thursday Night Football. Detroit joins the Jaguars as they struggled to contain David Montgomery early in the game. Unfortunately, Montgomery left the game with a knee injury. The Chiefs return to a record 500 after beating the Eagles, in a short week, 42-30. Let’s check out this week’s winners and losers.

Winners

Resilience of giants

The Giants were down 21-10 with 7:14 left in the fourth quarter and they found a way to win the football game. I was very critical of the Giants offense and their failure to generate explosive play. Well, they did generate some in their 27-21 overtime win over the Saints.

Daniel Jones sparked the return with a 54-yard touchdown pass to Saquon Barkley (who was phenomenal), who did a great job avoiding defenders and finding the end zone. This play happened because Lorenzo Carter and Azeez Ojulari prevented Alvin Kamara from converting on a third down chance – something the Giants defense struggled with without Blake Martinez.

The Giants were effective on the equalizer. They had an 11-play, 54-yard practice that led to Graham Gano’s 48-yard field goal. The Giants were fortunate enough to win the draw. Then Jones and the offense led the football onto the pitch for a touchdown and a win. The Saints’ defense surrendered 485 yards against the Giants. The most they made over the season was 383 against Carolina.

Daniel Jones went north from 400 yards for the first time in his career. He had never been north of the 300 with Jason Garrett as coordinator.

It was a huge win and a great effort from Jones, Garrett and the rest of the team. Garrett did a great job using the skills of Kadarius Toney. Toney had six catches for 78 yards. The Giants will look to build on that momentum all the way to Dallas where they face the Cowboys 3-1 next week.

Trevon Diggs

Okay, it’s official … Diggs is a very good cornerback. Diggs had an eventful rookie season where he was not always in position and he gave up big catches to talented receivers. It’s not exactly uncommon for this to happen to young cornerbacks, but it has really stabilized under Dan Quinn’s tutelage.

Diggs had an interception in each of his first three games, and he intercepted Sam Darnold twice in Week 4. It’s a long physical cornerback that plays with a chip on the shoulder. He blossoms into a very good player that the Giants will have to contend with for years to come. They will see it up close and personally next week.

Kliff Kingsbury

The Cardinals have an exciting offense – there’s no doubt about it. However, head coach Kliff Kingsbury has been the subject of justified criticism. Many pundits have pointed out that his inexperience is a problem in NFC West – a division with Pete Carroll, Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan as head coaches.

Kingsbury never defeated the Rams. Heading into week four, the Rams were considered the NFL’s most prominent team, following a 34-24 victory over Tom Brady and the Buccaneers. Kingsbury was ready for McVay and Matt Stafford; the Cardinals pounced on the Rams and beat one of the scariest defenses at home 37-20.

The Cardinals are atop NFC West at 4-0. Seattle went to San Francisco and beat the 49ers 28-21. The Cardinals must be in the conversation for the best NFL team after this Rams teardown. The Cardinals will host the 49ers in Week 5.

Tight ends

Sunday was a day for big tight end performances in the red zone. The performance Thursday evening of CJ Uzomah motivated these big threats of reception. Blake Jarwin and Dalton Schultz both found terror in the Cowboys 36-28 victory. Bills tight end Dawson Knox continued his strong start in 2021 with two more touchdowns from Josh Allen. Knox had five catches for 37 yards and those two scores.

Big Mo-Ali Cox got two touchdown passes from Carson Wentz in the Colts’ 27-17 win. Juwan Johnson caught a touchdown pass against Jabrill Peppers in the Saints’ 27-21 overtime loss to the Giants. Noah Fant also had a touchdown in the red zone, as did the great Maxx Williams in the Cardinals / Rams game. The hobbled George Kittle played, but it was Ross Dwelly who caught a touchdown in Jimmy Garoppolo’s first quarter. Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith also scored Sunday Night Football against the Buccaneers.

Tyreek Hill

For two consecutive weeks, the defenses managed to contain the cheetah. The Ravens and Chargers focused their defenses on stopping Hill and they both had victories over the Chiefs. Many have speculated if the Eagles would replicate the plan, as they’re primarily a two-height defense, not getting beaten deep – as we saw against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football.

Hill had eight catches for 70 yards in those two losses. He bounced back a lot. Hill had eleven catches on twelve targets for 186 yards and three touchdowns. The Eagles were consistently defeated by Hill and the arm of Patrick Mahomes. Tyreek Hill is one of the best receivers in the league and he just had a similar performance to his high school takedown from the Buccaneers in the Chiefs’ 27-24 win in Week 12 last season.

Losers

Titans of Tennessee

Losing on the road isn’t uncommon, especially when you’re as exhausted as the Titans are at the catcher, but the Titans had several chances to win this football game, but they failed to do so, leading. to Zach Wilson’s first league win. Tennessee kind of took this game into overtime after an 11-game, 74-yard touchdown when time expired.

It looked like it would be a very “Jet like “ loss. The Jets received the ball in overtime and settled for a field goal at the four-yard line – a definitive victory for the Titans’ defense. The Titans then took the football onto the field and gave their kicker the opportunity to basically settle for a tie, but he missed his field goal by 49 yards.

Losing to the Jets 0-3 with a rookie quarterback and a head coach is painful. It’s the NFL – it’s very competitive. However, watching the Colts hit the road and clinch a solid victory over a respectable team, albeit led by Jacoby Brisset of the Dolphins, just to watch your own team falter against the Jets is, well, disappointing.

AFC South is in trouble this year, and it’s really a two-man race between the Titans and the Colts. This defeat stings, but the Titans will have to regroup on the road against the Jaguars who will have an extended rest. Hopefully they will reunite with Julio Jones for this match. Corey Davis goes north 100 yards and a touchdown was nothing but salt in Mike Vrabel’s injury.

Vikings hope

The Vikings could have been undefeated after beating the Seahawks 30-17 last week at home. A Dalvin Cook fumble cost them the first week against the Bengals, and a failed field goal from Greg Joseph kept them from defeating the Cardinals. They are still up for the playoffs and their roster is good, but many expected a better game against a very strong opponent from the Cleveland Browns.

Cleveland has the ability to control the ball and keep opposing attacks on the sidelines – that’s exactly what they did against the Vikings. Minnesota struggled with the Browns passing rush, faced a dead end Dalvin Cook and just couldn’t do much except his touchdown to Justin Jefferson.

Many were hoping the Vikings ‘offense would offset the Browns’ offensive approach, but Kirk Cousins ​​failed to stay warm. He scored 20 of 38 for 203 yards, one touchdown and one interception. The Browns’ defense is no joke, but many expected more from this attack at home.

The Falcons second half

Starting the second half by allowing a touchdown return is never a recipe for success.

It’s disappointing for everyone in NFC East to watch the Washington football team defeat the Atlanta Falcons in Atlanta. Matt Ryan and the Falcons offense were only able to own the ball for eight games in the fourth quarter before their final five-game practice which ended before Younghoe Koe had a chance to hit the tying basket .

Washington had two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to propel it to 2-2. They had a 10-play, 70-yard drive and a 7-play, 75-yard drive that ended with touchdown receptions from Terry McLaurin and JD McKissic. McLaurin had two that day, and Washington failed on both two-point conversions.

Similar to their Week 2 win over the Giants, Washington’s offense found a way to overcome and secure a late-game victory. Cordarrelle Patterson’s three touchdowns failed to propel Atlanta. The Falcons now fall to 1-3 – their only victory being last week against the Giants.

Ty’son williams

BYU undrafted rookie Ty’Son Williams was likely a healthy scratch for the Ravens’ 23-7 win in Week 4 in Denver. The tea leaves suggest Williams might be in trouble. It was hardly used, in terms of touches, in Week 3 for Baltimore, coming back from a 19-17 victory over the Lions.

Williams played over 50% of the snaps, but only saw five touches. Williams made several rookie type errors early in the season. A few failed passing assignments resulted in Lamar Jackson’s fumble that led to the Raiders ‘victory in Week 1. Williams provides juice and youth to the Ravens’ hobbled backfield – a backfield that lost JK Dobbins, Gus Edwards and Justice Hill. John Harbaugh chose to ride with Devonta Freeman, Latavius ​​Murray and Le’Veon Bell against Williams in week four. If he was in good health, that is not a good sign.

All running backs in the NFL

Sam Darnold leads the league in rushing touchdowns. Darnold added two rushing touchdowns in the Panthers’ Week 4 loss to Dallas. Darnold has five touchdowns; Derrick Henry and Ezekiel Elliot have four touchdowns. Taysom Hill has three, two against the Giants. I’m obviously writing this as a joke, but it’s always crazy to think that Darnold leads the league in rush touchdowns in four games.