NFL roundup: Julio Jones is a freak of nature
By Brad Weiss
Week 4 of the NFL season will come to a close after Monday Night Football, but there was plenty of action to go around on Sunday.
The Atlanta Falcons played host to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, and Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones put up video game-type numbers. The star wideout caught 12 passes for a franchise-record 300 yards, while scoring on a 75-yard touchdown.
Atlanta throttled Carolina by a score of 48-33, as quarterback Matt Ryan set the franchise record with 503 yards passing. For the second straight week, the Falcons have looked like the class of the NFC South.
Across the pond, the Jacksonville Jaguars and Indianapolis Colts battled it out in an AFC South matchup. It was a classic shootout, with the Jags eventually pulling away at the end. Blake Bortles accounted for three touchdowns, including touchdown passes to Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns. The Colts made a late rally to make it interesting, but just did not have enough to overcome the 23-6 lead the Jags held heading into the fourth quarter.
The magic finally ran out for the New England Patriots, as the Buffalo Bills shutout the Pats, 16-0. New England had not been shutout at home since 1993, and had never been shut out at Gillette Stadium. The win was the second in the last 16 trips to Foxborough for the Bills, and was sure to be a sweet one for head coach Rex Ryan. Pats star quarterback Tom Brady returns next week from his four-game “Deflategate” suspension, and New England has to be happy with their 3-1 start.
More on FanSided:
- NFL: 15 Biggest Draft Busts Of All-Time
- NFL Power Rankings: 30 Best Head Coaches Of All-Time
- Top 30 Teams Of The Modern Era
The Denver Broncos ran their record to 4-0 on Sunday, and this time, it was their backup quarterback that got the job done. Starter Trevor Siemian had the team rolling early on, but had to leave the game late in the second quarter with a shoulder injury.
The Broncos inserted first round draft pick Paxton Lynch into the game, and the team did not skip a beat. Denver’s defense is arguably the best in football, and it appears it does not matter who is under center.
Next: NFL Power Rankings: 30 Best QB of All-Time
Finally, the Pittsburgh Steelers got star running back Le’Veon Bell back this week, and he has paid immediately dividends. After the team struggled in a bad loss in Week 3, they appear to have righted the ship with Bell back in the backfield. The Steelers jetted out to a 29-0 halftime lead against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football, and look like a completely different team in Week 4.