NFL Week 4 Reaction

Last night ended Week 4 of the NFL Season and through the month of September, the division leads look like this: 

AFC: New England, Baltimore, Houston, & San Diego

NFC: Atlanta, Arizona, Minnesota, Philadelphia 

The AFC looks like the usual suspects except San Diego because Peyton Manning and The Broncos haven't gotten off to the best start. But in the NFC, Arizona is 4-0 and Minnesota leads the division when everybody else had them dead last. 

Let's get to the games and we're gonna start with the game of the day in my opinion.

Miami 21

Arizona 24

I was going to go with Atlanta and Carolina, but I just loved this game a lot more. Unbeaten Arizona at home with a 3-0 record hosted Miami, and it was supposed to be easy, right? Wrong. 

Miami opened up a 13-0 lead with their defense led by Cameron Wake dominated Kevin Kolb and Co. early on. Miami took the lead into halftime, but when the third started, Arizona quickly responded with a TD in the second half and another one in the fourth quarter. The action was nonstop because on the next play, Ryan Tannehill launched a bomb to Hartline for 80 yards to take a 21-14 lead in the fourth. Hartline had over 250 yards receiving and Miami was looking to end the streak of Arizona.

But Kolb and The Cardinals weren't about to lose their first game yet. Kolb went down the field and mounted an impressive drive to end the game with a TD to Andre Roberts to tie to the game and send it into OT. In OT, Arizona's defense took command and allowed Kevin Kolb to drive his offense down the field and allowed the game winning FG. Great game, great ending. Miami played great and Tannehill had over 400 yards passing, but Arizona took control and came back to go 4-0. They are definitely one of the biggest surprises of the season and with St. Louis on the schedule next week, they have a chance to go 5-0.

Carolina 28

Atlanta 30

If there was any doubt that Atlanta is the best team in the NFC, this should answer it. They came back from 10 down against a determined Carolina team at home. But I feel like a portion of the blame should be on Cam. On 4th and 1, he fumbled and blows the chance to end Atlanta's streak. But this game comes down to the defense. Carolina is up 28-27 with a minute left in the fourth quarter and Atlanta has the ball at the 1. On the first play, Atlanta launches a 58 yarder down the field that falls right into the hands of Roddy White. As a defense, you can NOT allow that kind of play to happen. As soon as I saw that, I knew it was game over. Matty Ice kept converting and they set up the game winning FG to end the game.

Atlanta goes to 4-0 and they look like the real deal. Their defense has gotten extremely better and can compliment their offense and their team has learned to blow out the good teams and scramble to win the close games as well. The Falcons look the best in the NFC, but then again, it is early. They go on the road to face The Redskins next week. The Panthers have to rebound and host Seattle.

New Orleans 27

Green Bay 28

0-3 New Orleans on the road against Green Bay. Green Bay started off the game playing like the Packers that we all knew. They jumped to 21-7 lead on the Saints and it looked like it was going to be a long day. But Brees and Co. were determined to fight back. Brees found Marques Colston in the endzone to cut the lead to 21-14 heading into the half. 

In the third, down 21-17, the Saints knocked Aaron Rodgers out for one play and Graham Harrell came out. All he had to do was orchestrate a simple handoff, but fumbled at the goal line. Saints scored on the next drive to take the lead back. Late in the fourth with Brees and Co. down 27-28, the Saints had the chance to stop Green Bay on third down, but Rodgers made an amazing throw fitting it in a tight window to end the game.

Saints drop to 0-4 and Green Bay goes to 2-2. The Saints offense played well, but once again their defense allowed way too many big plays and when they could've stopped Green Bay, they couldn't. The Saints' defense needs some work because the offense can't do all the work. The Packers rebounded from that controversial ending against the Seahawks and won. Green Bay goes on the road to face Indianapolis coming off their bye and The Saints host The Chargers. Their defense better get their act together or else Rivers will torch them. But in front of their hometown on Sunday on Primetime, I expect them to play BIG.

Philadelphia 19

New York 17

Philly has had a good record against The Giants as of late, and tonight looked like it was going to change because Philly hasn't been playing like Philly. After leading 13-10 in the fourth, Eli throws a bad interception to start the fourth quarter. Philly grabbed the lead 19-17 late, and a pass interference call on Ramses Barden backed up Giants kicked Lawrence Tynes and he missed what could've been the game winning FG.

The big story going into this was could Philly's offensive line protect Michael Vick, and they did so impressively as they only allowed one sack. The Giants played a mediocre game. Eli's costly interception in the beginning of the fourth quarter was a serious game changer for The Giants. Eli led his team down the field, but in the end, they couldn't get it done. They obviously miss Hakeem Nicks because without him, Cruz is their offense and they can't be totally dependable on Barden and Dixon, who is a returner turned receiver.

The Giants host The Browns next week. They're already off to a mediocre start and they should bounce back here, but I highly doubt it. The Eagles go on the road  to face Pittsburgh. If they play the way they did against New York, they should have a chance, but then again Pittsburgh is a hard place to play.

Honorable Mentions:

San Francisco - They went into New York and beat The Jets DOWN. I mean 34-0. They clearly have bounced back and did so without breaking a sweat. They host the Bills next Sunday which should be easy work.

Chicago - I had The Bears winning last night's game, but not the way they did. Their defense picked off Romo FIVE TIMES! Not to mention Cutler played one hell of a game. Bears go on the road to face Jacksonville Sunday.

St. Louis - Jeff Fisher is starting to make a BIG difference to this Rams team. Their defense may have faced a rookie QB, but they are getting the job done. They have a HUGE division game against 4-0 Arizona this Thursday. 

New England - Down 21-7 in the third, The Patriots rack up 35 unanswered and win 52-28 over Buffalo. They are ready for Denver coming to town next week.

Denver - Speaking of Denver, they showed how their offense really rolls putting up 37 on Oakland. Their defense allowed 6 points, but then again, it is just the Raiders. They better have their act together because Tom Brady is poised to put on a repeat performance like in the divisional playoff game last year. If they play like they did against Houston, Brady might put up 50 again.

Minnesota - They got a good team up there in Minnesota and made a statement taking down Detroit on their homefield and grabbing the division lead. With Tennessee coming to town next week, they can put a stranglehold on that top spot.

Dishonorable Mentions:

New York - They scored 0 points, allowed an insane amount of rushing yards, Sanchez can't move the ball, and now they lost their best receiver in Santonio Holmes. Their offense is horrible, and I think it may be Tebow Time in New York. The Jets host the Houston Texans next Monday. May god be with them.

Dallas - I mean, what can I really say here. Romo threw five picks, a couple weren't his fault, but Dallas got embarrassed point blank. Dallas is off next week so they have time to get back to the drawing and fix their team cause that was bad.

Tampa Bay - The Bucs had the game in their hands, but they allowed RG3 to march down the field with ease and allow their kicker to kick the game winning field goal. Freeman and Jackson did their job and mounted a great drive to give their team the lead, but their defense let them down. Freeman is a quality QB, but his team won't be going anywhere if his defense can't close out close games. The Bucs also have a bye so they have time to work these kinks out.

Detroit - Definitely not the same team from last season. Their offense isn't as explosive and their defense lacks that aggressiveness they had last season. They better shape up if they wanna get back to the playoffs. The Lions also have a bye week this upcoming Sunday. They better shape up if they want to get back to the playoffs.

Feel free to Comment.



By: Gerald "Showstopper" Prophete


Also, I didn't plan on blogging about the MLB Playoffs because Baseball season hasn't really been that interesting to me as of late. If you guys want us to blog about, let us know and we'll keep you up to speed as the playoffs start this weekend.