The list of winless teams was down to only two as the victorious Colts, Giants and Jets all moved up in the NFL Power Rankings.
Another week and once again, the action around the league featured plenty of late heroics and more overtime contests. There were also some milestones when it came to a few veteran quarterbacks. Only the Lions and Jaguars were still seeking their first win of 2021. And there was a change at the top of the NFL Power Rankings.
The team had some extra time to prepare for the first-place team in the AFC East but that didn’t seem to matter. The Texans managed eight yards of total offense in the first half and just 109 for the entire game.
David Culley’s squad finished with more turnovers (5) than points (0) while the Bills rolled up 450 total yards. Rookie quarterback Davis Mills was sacked five times, had four of his passes stolen and finished with just 87 yards through the air.
The team opened up a 14-0 lead on Thursday night at Cincinnati and Urban Meyer’s club played turnover-free football. Jacksonville’s defense struggled to stop Bengals’ quarterback Joe Burrow.
The Jaguars led 21-14 early in the fourth quarter when James Robinson ran for his second touchdown of the night. But Cincinnati scored the final 10 points, including the deciding field goal on the final play of the game. Jacksonville has lost 19 straight contests.
Following a 0-2 start, the Falcons could get back to the .500 mark with a victory over visiting Washington. It was a back-and-forth affair and veteran Matt Ryan would throw for 283 yards and four touchdowns – three of those to jack-of-all-trades Cordarrelle Patterson.
But Dean Pees’ defensive unit gave up 412 total yards and the team couldn’t protect a 30-22 fourth-quarter lead. The Falcons allowed 32-plus points for the third time in four games.
The Birds welcomed the defending AFC champion Chiefs and one-time head coach Andy Reid to the City of Brotherly Love. The team was pushed around by the Cowboys on Monday night and this tilt wasn’t much different as the Philadelphia defense surrendered 471 total yards and six offensive TDs.
Jalen Hurts and the Eagles played turnover-free football. The second-year pro threw for 387 yards and a pair of scores but was sacked three times.
A year ago, the Lions allowed the second-most points in a season in NFL history. Entering the Week 4 meeting with the Bears at Lambeau Field, they had permitted 95 points – tied for the most in the league.
Chicago had few issues moving the ball against Aaron Glenn’s defense, especially in the first half as Detroit allowed 200 total yards. Detroit spotted the Bears a 21-0 lead and eventually made a game of it. And the Lions are the NFC’s lone winless team.
The franchise formerly known as the Titans hosted the team currently known as the Titans as Robert Saleh’s club looked to bounce back from a shutout loss at Denver. The Jets totaled a mere 20 points during their 0-3 start.
But rookie quarterback Zach Wilson took advantage of Tennessee’s shaky defense – throwing for 297 yards and two TDs (1 interception). Saleh’s team was totaled a combined 17 points in the fourth quarter and OT for the victory.
Big Blue made its way south to the Big Easy for the first time since 2015 looking for their first win of 2021. The club struck first and took a 7-0 second-quarter lead when Daniel Jones threw a 52-yard touchdown pass to speedster John Ross.
The Giants’ much-maligned signal-caller was picked off once but threw for 402 yards and two TDs. Running back Saquon Barkley scored on a 54-yard reception. And in overtime, his six-yard score won the game.
The team had dropped two straight games following an opening weekend at Foxborough. And quarterback Jacoby Brissett would make his second straight start, this time against one of this former teams.
But Miami’s ground game managed only 35 yards and the Dolphins’ signal-caller couldn’t carry the load as Brian Flores’ offense was limited to only 203 total yards. And the team’s defensive unit had few answers for Carson Wentz and Jonathan Taylor.
Kirk Cousins and the Minnesota offense had not been the problem in the early stages of 2021. But after averaging a brisk 29.0 points per game in their first three contests, Mike Zimmer’s team was limited to a single touchdown and just 255 total yards.
The Vikings sacked Browns’ quarterback Baker Mayfield three times. Zimmer’s defensive unit was pushed around by the Cleveland offensive front to the tune of 184 yards on the ground on 38 carries.
Ron Rivera’s team was on the road for the second straight week and hoped to avoid the debacle that was a 22-point loss at Buffalo. It proved to be quite the shootout and quarterback Taylor Heinicke more than held his own vs. veteran Matt Ryan.
The Washington signal-caller threw for 290 yards and three scores. Down 30-28 late in the fourth quarter, he connected with running back J.D. McKissic for a 30-yard touchdown with 33 seconds to play.
Frank Reich’s winless club headed to South Florida without All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson (via NFL.com’s Michael Baca) and in search of their first win of the season. But the Colts’ ground attack still rolled up 139 yards – 103 and a touchdown by second-year running back Jonathan Taylor.
Meanwhile, the Indianapolis defense held the Dolphins to 35 yards rushing and 203 total yards. And former Colts’ quarterback Jacoby Brissett was sacked three times.
Losers of two straight games entering their interconference meeting with the Packers, Mike Tomlin’s team got off to a good start at Lambeau Field. Ben Roethlisberger found Diontae Johnson for a 45-yard score less than five minutes into the game.
But the Steelers’ defense was kept on its heels by a balanced Green Bay attack. Once again, Pittsburgh failed to rush for at least 100 yards. And Roethlisberger committed a pair of very costly turnovers.
Off their first loss of the season and a heartbreaking one at that, the Niners took on their divisional rivals from the Pacific Northwest. Kyle Shanahan’s club jumped out to a 7-0 lead but the Seahawks would score the next 21 points and took control of the game.
Rookie Trey Lance replaced an injured Jimmy Garoppolo and threw a pair of TD passes to Deebo Samuel. The 49ers outgained the visiting Seahawks, 457-234, but committed two costly turnovers.
The team’s Week 1 home loss to Arizona appeared to be a distant memory as the Titans rebounded with solid wins over the Seahawks and Colts. They took on the struggling Jets and by game’s end, running back Derrick Henry had rolled up 157 yards on the ground and one score.
But the Titans settled for too many field goals early and former Titan wideout Corey Davis had his way with his former team. And Randy Bullock missed a 49-yard field goal in OT.
It has been an up-and-down start for Sean Payton’s team, which hosted the 0-3 New York Giants on Sunday. Running back Alvin Kamara ran for 120 yards, Jameis Winston threw for 226 yards and one score and was no sacked. And the Saints took care of the football.
But the league’s sixth-ranked defensive unit couldn’t get to Giants’ quarterback Daniel Jones. And when the smoke cleared, the Saints allowed 485 total yards and fell in overtime.
There was plenty of excitement in the air as the Patriots hosted Tom Brady and the defending Super Bowl champions. Tampa Bay moved the ball in the first half but 227 total yards added up to a pair of field goals.
New England’s defense gave up plenty of yards but gave up only one touchdown. Mac Jones carried the offense as the Pats finished with minus-1 yards rushing. Nick Folk’s potential game-winning field goal hit the left crossbar.
On Saturday, head coach Matt Nagy opted to give rookie Justin Fields the start at quarterback for a Bears’ team that had struggled on offense in its first three games regardless of who was pulling the trigger. He would pass for 209 yards, fumbled once (no turnover) and threw one interception.
Unsung David Montgomery ran 23 times for 106 yards and two scores and second-year wide receiver Darnell Mooney caught five passes for 125 yards.
Pete Carroll’s team had dropped their previous two games and given up a combined 63 points in losses to the Seahawks and Vikings. And they fell behind, 7-0, in the first quarter at San Francisco.
But it was Russell Wilson to the rescue as he overcame three sacks and threw touchdown passes to D.K. Metcalf and Freddie Swain. He and Alex Collins both ran for one score. Including the postseason, Seattle is 14-2 in its last 16 games in this rivalry.
For the second time in four contests, Zac Taylor’s team won on the final play of the game. But the Bengals didn’t make it easy on themselves as they trailed the Jaguars, 14-0, at intermission.
Second-year quarterback Joe Burrow rallied the club and finished the night with 348 yards through the air and a pair of touchdowns – both to tight end C.J. Uzomah. And rookie kicker Evan McPherson would hit the game-winning 35-yard field goal as time expired.
Six days after putting 41 points on the board against the rival Eagles, Mike McCarthy’s surging team hosted the 3-0 Panthers. The Cowboys actually trailed by one point at intermission, 14-13, but the team then scored the next 23 points of the game and then held on for its third consecutive victory.
Dak Prescott threw for only 188 yards but for four touchdowns. And the rejuvenated Dallas’ ground attack amassed an impressive 245 yards on the ground.
The Broncos looked to make four straight wins to start the season as they hosted the Ravens. Vic Fangio’s club jumped out to a 7-0 second-quarter lead when Teddy Bridgewater connected with Noah Fant for a three-year score.
But the veteran quarterback would not play in the second half and Denver was done scoring for the day. Bridgewater and Drew Lock (1 interception) struggled on third down and were sacked a combined five times.
Off to their best start since their Super Bowl 50 season in 2015, the Panthers made the trip to Arlington. Matt Rhule’s team entered Sunday with a NFL-high 14 sacks but didn’t get to Dak Prescott. The Panthers had allowed a combined 30 points during their 3-0 start.
However, that changed in a hurry as Dallas rolled up 433 total yards and 36 points. Sam Darnold threw for 301 yards and a pair of scores but was picked off twice and sacked five times.
A year ago, this team found ways to squander double-digit leads. But late last season, the Bolts began finding ways to win. After dropping seven of their first 10 contests a year ago, the Chargers are 6-1 in their last seven games dating back to Week 14 of 2020..
Justin Herbert continues to impress but the team’s run defense has been an issue. Head coach Brandon Staley has shown lots of confidence in his team. Wideout Mike Williams has been impressive.
The leaders in the NFC North entering Week 4 welcomed the Pittsburgh Steelers to Lambeau Field for the first time since 2013. And it was a balanced offense that took apart the visitors. Aaron Rodgers threw for 248 yards and two scores – both to Randall Cobb.
Matt LaFleur’s attack ran 72 plays (33 running, 39 passing) and Green Bay ran for 131 yards – 81 of those by second-year pro A.J. Dillon. Rodgers has thrown for eight scores in his last three games.
Sean McVay became the Rams’ head coach in 2017 and in his first four seasons he had never lost to the Arizona Cardinals. But was there a bit of a letdown following last week’s victory over the reigning Super Bowl champions?
The Los Angeles’ defense appeared helpless against Arizona’s offense and allowed a disturbing 465 total yards. The Rams also gave up the football twice and while failing to come up with a takeaway in losing their first game.
The Chiefs had dropped their last two games prior to visiting Eagles on Sunday. Andy Reid’s team trailed 10-7 after one quarter but was up by eight points by halftime.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes did throw another interception but he more than offset that with 278 yards through the air and five scores – three to wide receiver Tyreek Hill. The latter caught 11 passes for 186 yards. But on the downside, the Kansas City defense allowed 461 total yards.
John Harbaugh’s team spotted the undefeated Broncos a 7-0 lead in the second quarter before shutting out Vic Fangio’s club the rest of the way. Quarterback Lamar Jackson overcame three sacks and would light up the Denver secondary for 316 yards – including a 49-yard TD strike to Marquise Brown.
Don Martindale’s defense sacked Teddy Bridgewater and Drew Lock a combined five times. The Ravens won their third consecutive game.
Kevin Stefanski’s team proved it could win a different way as the Cleveland defense kept the explosive Vikings under wraps throughout the afternoon. The Browns limited the home team to 255 total yards and a mere seven points.
Nick Chubb (100) and Kareem Hunt (69) combined for all but 15 of the team’s 184 yards on the ground and the former scored the team’s only touchdown. Baker Mayfield was sacked three times and was under duress.
Following their Week 3 overtime victory over the Dolphins (via Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk), the franchise is off to its best start since its last Super Bowl campaign in 2002. Much-maligned quarterback Derek Carr continues to thrive with head coach Jon Gruden.
The defense still has its issues but coordinator Gus Bradley has his unit playing physical football. And the Raiders are the AFC’s only unbeaten team heading into Monday night.
It was homecoming in Foxborough, sort of. The defending Super Bowl champion Buccaneers were in town as legendary quarterback Tom Brady made his made his return to New England. His 269 yards passing made him the NFL’s all-time leader in that category.
But the Bucs were more about field goals than touchdowns on this evening. Leonard Fournette finished with 138 total yards from scrimmage and Bruce Arians’ team escaped with a victory.
The club made its way to Los Angeles looking to slay the dragon known as Sean McVay. The Cardinals hoped to snap an eight-game losing streak to the Rams that saw them outscored a combined 251-91 in those contests.
But this turned out to be a complete reversal of fortunes as the Cardinals rolled up 465 total yards – including 216 yards on the ground. Kyler Murray threw touchdown passes to A.J. Green and Maxx Williams. An impressive win.
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The defending AFC East champions scored a combined 83 points in their previous two games prior to hosting the Houston Texans. And the Bills mad easy work of their latest foe as Sean McDermott’s club decisively won the total yardage battle, 450-109.
Josh Allen did throw for two scores but fumbled once (no turnover) and served up an interception. Meanwhile, Devin Singletary and the Buffalo ground attack rolled up 199 yards rushing in the win.