Written by Brendon Donohoe
After four weeks into the season, you usually can get a feel for how well your team is going to fair for the season. For better or worse, your expectations for the season have changed. For all you Bengals fans, your Super Bowl expectations are now warranted. For all you Eagle fans, welcome back to Earth. There is still a lot of football to be played, and things can definitely change, but more often than not, what you see is what you are going to get. So temper your expectations…….or just keep doing you. I’m no psychic, just a guy that watches a lot of football. Let’s hop into the recap.
Indianapolis Colts – 16, Jacksonville Jaguars – 13
If you get excited about NFL veterans way past their primes taking on a bunch of rookies and sophomores, then this game was for you! With Andrew Luck out with an injury, it was up to old man Hasselbeck to lead the charge, and boy did he ever. At 40 years young, Hasselbeck somehow played better than Luck has this year. What strange times.
New York Jets – 27, Miami Dolphins – 14
This a tale of two completely different teams. The Dolphins came into the season expecting to make the jump to contender, and instead are arguably the most disappointing team in the NFL. Meanwhile the Jets were hoping to just make a steady improvement after being one of the worst teams in the NFL last year, and instead the Jets look like a playoff team. It is only four games in, but I’m having a hard time seeing things changing to drastically for these two teams
New York Giants – 24, Buffalo Bills – 10
Hey Rex, 17 penalties for 135 yards is how you lose games. Stop praising your players for their “fiery play,” and start acting like a real coach. Actually don’t do that, this is much more entertaining.
Carolina Panthers – 37, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 23
Cam Newton may not be lighting up the stat chart, but he has noticeably improved this year. He has turned the ball over less, cut down on the risky maneuvers, and has acted like a team leader. Jameis Winston, take notes. Oh, and I’ll just leave this gem here.
Philadelphia Eagles – 20, Washington Redskins – 23
Time to reiterate what all of your Eagles friends have been saying. Chip Kelly has ruined this roster. With the right personal, Chip is a pretty good coach. The problem is he got rid of all the right personal, and instead brought in all the wrong personal. LeSean McCoy was a great fit; DeMarco Murray clearly isn’t. Jordan Matthews is good, but he isn’t a number one receiver like DeSean Jackson. Revoke Chip’s ability to make roster decisions, and maybe this ship can be righted.
Oakland Raiders – 20, Chicago Bears – 22
The Raiders were favorites in a game for the first time since 2013…..and they lost. Sounds about right.
Houston Texans – 21, Atlanta Falcons – 48
Dan Quinn has done a marvelous job revitalizing this Falcons team. The defense appears to be leaps and bounds better than it was last year, and his decision to bring in Kyle Shanahan to run the offense has turned the offense back into the juggernaut it once was. I don’t remember the running game being this good in Atlanta since the glory days of Michael Turner. However, while the Falcons are enjoying their return to the top, the Texans appear to be a mess. One of the very few bright spots of this Texans team, J.J. Watt, shared his not so nice opinion on his team’s play, after the game.
Kansas City Chiefs – 21, Cincinnati Bengals – 36
Last year the Bengals started out as one of the best teams in the NFL, before falling back to Earth in week 5. This year may be different. The young guns of this Bengals team all look like they took a massive step forward from last year, particularly Andy Dalton. As for the Chiefs, the only bright side I can come up with is that they get to play the Bears next week.
Cleveland Browns – 27, San Diego Chargers – 30
I’m not sure what to think of this Browns team. You have a defense that SHOULD be playing better, but has been getting crushed. The starting QB is Josh McCown, who has played marvelously, but I feel like Johnny Manziel should be playing. What I do know is that Phillip Rivers is really good, as he put together his best game of the season.
Green Bay Packers – 17, San Francisco 49ers – 3
Remember when the 49ers started off the season with a dominant win against the Vikings? Well since then they are winless and have been outscored by a combined 79 points. I’ll let my man Dennis Green sum up this team for me.
St. Louis Rams – 24, Arizona Cardinals – 22
The Rams are the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of the NFL. Some weeks you get the monster that is Mr. Hyde (Wins against Seahawks, Cardinals), other weeks you get the weakling Dr. Jekyll (Losses against Redskins, Ben Roethlisberger-less Steelers). Not a team I would take bets on.
Minnesota Vikings – 20, Denver Broncos – 23
The Broncos offense may have regressed, but their defense sure has stepped up. That defense is just all around talented. As for the opposition, the Vikings should walk away from this game feeling pretty good despite the loss. Played a very good team down to the wire, on the road. With the exception of week 1, the Vikings have looked very good this year.
Dallas Cowboys – 20, New Orleans – 26
The Cowboys injury report just keeps filling up. With Dez Bryant and Tony Romo already expected to miss extensive time, the Cowboys could not afford to lose more players. Unfortunately for them, luck just isn’t on their side. New WR Brice Butler, veteran LB Sean Lee, and the feel good story of the team, RB Lance Dunbar, all suffered injuries in the game. Hopefully they will have a speedy recovery. As for the Saints, a win is a win I guess.
Bonus Round
MNF Record: 1-1
Detroit Lions – 17, Seattle Seahawks – 26
With Kam Chancellor back, this Seahawk defense is an entirely different monster. It is a defensive monster that will devour this very disappointing Lions offense.
Come back next week for the week 5 recap.
