Hello readers! Another week of National Football League action has come and gone. The week that was full of drama: high-scoring games, big comebacks, and the dreaded COVID. In this post I'll briefly talk about my take on the NFL's response to COVID-19, and a recap of the week's action. Let's get to work!
COVID-19 & The NFL
I applaud the league for its response as sooner or later, this would happen to the NFL. Two games would get postponed this week, one would be played at a later time, and the other at an undefined time. Whether more weeks will look like this week is unclear, but I feel there will have to be make-up weeks after Week 17 to give teams a chance to play all of their games before the playoffs start.
I question why the NFL would move the Patriots-Chiefs game to a Monday night slot that is usually given to ESPN and not put into a Tuesday night slot where there is no game on. It just seems like a disservice to one of your broadcast partners to lure that game's viewers to a game that CBS will televise nationally. Mind you that most people that have basic cable get CBS as its a national network.
I also question why have that game be played this week and not have the Steelers-Titans game played this week as well. I get that its going to be played when both teams will have a bye week but I'm just not sure why force teams to lose that bye week when they've been preparing for this game this week. Why not have it be played in Week 18 or during the "make-up weeks" that could possibly happen should there be more cases in players, coaches, staff, etc. Just my two cents but it just seems off to me.
Week 4 Recap
Denver 37, NY Jets 28: TW: Broncos, CV: Broncos
In the battle of winless teams, Denver comes out on top. Brett Rypien, Mark Rypien's nephew, made the best of his opportunity to lead the Broncos to a dub. Rypien threw for 242 yards with two touchdowns but also threw three interceptions, one was returned for a pick-six. Melvin Gordon really had a great game for the Broncos running over the Jets for 107 yards with two rushing touchdowns. Tim Patrick was the leading receiver for Denver with 113 yards receiving yards with a touchdown. Sam Darnold would ultimately be on his own for most of the game. He threw for 230 yards with zero touchdown passes. He would rush for 84 yards with a touchdown. The touchdown was from a 46-yard rush from Darnold. How is Adam Gase still your head coach?
Next week:
Denver: @ New England; NY Jets: vs Arizona
TW: 1-0; CV: 1-0
LA Chargers 31, Tampa Bay 38: TW: Buccaneers; CV: Chargers
Patriots, Buccaneers, or some scrub team, Tom Brady will still own the Chargers. Justin Herbert had a good game with 290 yards and three touchdowns and an interception. He would be the leading rusher for the Chargers with 14 yards. Austin Ekeler would leave the game early with an injury. Tom Brady gave us a glimpse of his old self with a 369-yard, five touchdown performance while throwing a pick six in the 2nd quarter. With Leonard Fournette out, Ronald Jones would have to be the one that would pick the load for the Bucs. Jones finished the game with 111 yards rushing. Buccaneers were down 24-7 in the 2nd quarter and would ultimately go on a 31-7 run to finish the game.
Next week:
LA Chargers: @ New Orleans; Tampa Bay: @ Chicago
TW: 2-0; CV: 1-1
Jacksonville 25, Cincinnati 33: TW: Bengals; CV: Jaguars
You got it done Bungles! Gardner Minshew threw for 351 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, further proving that if he had a defense they might actually win games. James Robinson had a good day running the ball with 75 yards but wouldn't score a touchdown in this one. Joe Burrow would finally get that elusive dub to his career. Burrow threw for an even 300 yards with a touchdown and an interception that really wasn't his fault. When I said Joe Mixon was quiet in the Picks post, he must've read it because he balled like crazy. The running back ran for 151 yards with two touchdown runs. He would also score a receiving touchdown with 30 yards to his name. Tyler Boyd had 90 receiving yards, further proving that tight ends are a young quarterbacks best friend.
Next week:
Jacksonville: @ Houston; Cincinnati: @ Baltimore
TW: 3-0; CV: 1-2
Minnesota 31, Houston 23: TW: Texans; CV: Texans
Really, Minnesota? You win when I pick against you. Sigh. Kirk Cousins threw for 260 yards and a touchdown. He would also not throw an interception in this game, first time this season that has happened. Dalvin Cook also ran over the Texans defense for 130 yards with two touchdowns. Vikings Safety Harrison Smith would get ejected after a helmet-to-helmet hit on Jordan Akins. DeShaun Watson would have a rough first half but would get things going in the 2nd half. He finished with 300 yards passing with two touchdowns. David Johnson had a better game in running the ball for 63 yards. Keep telling you Houston, Bill O'Brien has to go. Even saw some fans with paper bags over their heads in this one. HALLEJUAH BILL O'BRIEN HAS BEEN LET GO! ONLY TOOK YOU GUYS ABOUT 9 MONTHS TO DO SAID THING.
Next week:
Minnesota: @ Seattle; Houston: vs Jacksonville
TW: 3-1; CV: 1-3
Seattle 31, Miami 23: TW: Seahawks; CV: Seahawks
So Seattle is 4-0 for the first time since 2013, their Super Bowl winning season. Russell Wilson threw for 360 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Overall good performance from him. Chris Carson would actually play in this game, so much to my thinking that he wouldn't play in this game. Carson would rack up 80 yards with two touchdowns. Ryan Fitzpatrick would ultimately have to carry the Dolphins offense in this one. Fitzpatrick threw for 315 yards while throwing two interceptions and rushed for 47 yards with the only offensive touchdown for Miami. Jason Sanders would go 5 for 5 in field goals in this one. Not even the 100 degree heat index would stop the Seahawks in this one.
Next week:
Seattle: vs Minnesota; Miami: @ San Francisco
TW: 4-1; CV: 2-3
Cleveland 49, Dallas 38: TW: Browns; CV: Cowboys
Oh boy, defense was surely lacking in this one for sure. Baker Mayfield threw for 165 yards with two touchdowns in the game. Jarvis Landry throw a touchdown pass to Odell Beckham Jr on a trick play. The Browns running game was of a plenty in this one. Dernest Johnson would finish with 95 yards rushing while Odell Beckham Jr ran for 73 yards with a touchdown, and Kareem Hunt ran for 71 yards with two touchdown runs of his own. Nick Chubb would rush for 43 yards before leaving the game with an injury. Dak Prescott had one of the best performances in his career with 502 passing yards with four touchdowns and a late-game interception. Ezekiel Elliot wouldn't get too much yardage from the run but would finish with a decent 54 yards. Tony Pollard ran for 16 yards with a touchdown run. Cleveland is 3-1 for the first time since 2001 and quite honestly they have the tools to do something this season. Dallas allowed 307 yards rushing, the most in franchise history in a game. Dallas could end up winning this division and get a home playoff game with a 6-10 record. Just think about that.
Next week:
Cleveland: vs Indianapolis; Dallas: vs NY Giants
TW: 5-1; CV: 2-4
New Orleans 35, Detroit 29: TW: Saints; CV: Saints
Detroit kept it close but really couldn't stop the Saints juggernaut. Drew Brees threw for 246 yards with two touchdowns with an interception in the game. Alvin Kamara and Latavius Murray would rush for 83 yards and 64 yards respectively combining for three touchdowns. Matthew Stafford threw for 206 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. Adrian Peterson would only get 36 yards with a rushing touchdown in the game. Saints fullback Michael Burton had a false positive test for COVID-19, adding to the emotion on New Orleans but they would persevere in this one.
Next week:
New Orleans: vs LA Chargers; Detroit: Bye
TW: 6-1; CV: 3-4
Baltimore 31, Washington 17: TW: Ravens; CV: Ravens
After last week, Lamar Jackson regained his confidence in this game. Jackson threw for 193 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. He would provide the run game for the Ravens with 53 yards rushing, 50 of those yards were from a rushing touchdown. Mark Ingram ran for 34 yards with a touchdown. Dwayne Haskins had a better day at quarterback with 314 yards but didn't throw a touchdown pass but didn't throw an interception either. Haskins did score a rushing touchdown though, while Antonio Gibson rushed for 46 yards with a touchdown. For perspective, Washington is still tied for 1st place in the NFC East with Dallas. They have a 1-3 record. Philly won. They now have sole possession of 1st place in the NFC East with a 1-2-1 record.
Next week:
Baltimore: vs Cincinnati; Washington: vs LA Rams
TW: 7-1; CV: 4-4
Arizona 21, Carolina 31: TW: Cardinals; CV: Cardinals
No Christian McCaffrey, no problem again. Kyler Murray threw for three touchdowns with 133 yards passing. He would rush for 78 yards. DeAndre Hopkins would only get 41 receiving yards in this one. Teddy Bridgewater threw for 276 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Bridgewater ran for 32 yards with a touchdown while Mike Davis ran for 84 yards with a touchdown run of his own. What's the bigger story: Cardinals now 2-2 after going 2-0 or Carolina at 2-2 after starting 0-2? I feel the latter to be honest. Guess having a competent quarterback and scoring in the red zone helps out a bit.
Next week:
Arizona: @ NY Jets; Carolina: @ Atlanta
TW: 7-2; CV: 4-5
NY Giants 9, LA Rams 17: TW: Rams; CV: Rams
The entertaining part of this one was the fight between Jalen Ramsey and Golden Tate after the game was over. Daniel Jones finished the game with 190 yards with an interception. Wayne Gallman and Daniel Jones would both rush for 45 yards in the game. The Giants looked lost without their star running back Saquon Barkley in the lineup. Jared Goff threw for an even 200 yards with a touchdown. Gerald Everett would score the other offensive touchdown for the Rams on a two-yard run. Malcolm Brown would run for 37 yards for the Rams. Guess it doesn't help when both Ramsey and Tate know each other off the field. Tate's sister was in a relationship with Ramsey and the couple went through a bad breakup last year that made Golden Tate upset. The couple had two children.
Next week:
NY Giants: @ Dallas; LA Rams: @ Washington
TW: 8-2; CV: 5-5
Buffalo 30, Las Vegas 23: TW: Raiders; CV: Raiders
Well Buffalo, I didn't think that you would do it, but you did it. Josh Allen threw for 288 yards with two touchdowns. Allen would also rush the ball 3 times with -1 yard with a touchdown in the game. Devin Singletary would rush for 55 yards with a touchdown as well. Derek Carr threw for 311 yards with two touchdowns. Josh Jacobs ran for 48 yards. Carr passed Ken Stabler for franchise career touchdowns with 151. Not a great achievement granted that the Raiders don't have a lot of great names at quarterback in their history but cool regardless.
Next week:
Buffalo: @ Tennessee; Las Vegas: @ Kansas City
TW: 8-3; CV: 5-6
Indianapolis 19, Chicago 11: TW: Colts; CV: Bears
Only two touchdowns were scored in this game. Philip Rivers threw for 190 yards with a touchdown and oddly enough didn't throw an interception in this one. Kudos to him. Jonathan Taylor ran for 68 yards in the game. Nick Foles would get his first start since last season in this game. Foles threw for 249 yards with a touchdown and an interception. David Montgomery ran for a measly 27 yards in this one, obviously the Colts defense stepped up to the challenge.
Next week:
Indianapolis: @ Cleveland; Chicago: vs Tampa Bay (Thursday night)
TW: 9-3; CV: 5-7
Philadelphia 25, San Francisco 20: TW: 49ers; CV: 49ers
The Eagles won this one and have 1st place lead in the NFC East. They have a winning percentage of .375 right now with a 1-2-1 record. Carson Wentz threw for 193 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He also ran in for a touchdown while rushing for 37 yards. Miles Sanders was the leading rusher for Philly with 46 yards. Nick Mullens started again for the 49ers. He started off with 200 yards passing with a touchdown and threw two interceptions before CJ Beathard replaced him and threw for 138 yards. Jerrick McKinnon and Brandon Aiyuk both scored a touchdown each and rushed for 54 and 38 yards rushing respectively.
Next week:
Philadelphia: @ Pittsburgh; San Francisco: vs Miami
TW: 9-4; CV: 5-8
New England 10, Kansas City 26: TW: Chiefs; CV: Chiefs
The Patriots looked lost without Cam in the lineup. Brian Hoyer would get the start for the Patriots and threw for 130 yards with an interception. Jarrett Stidham would replace Hoyer later in the game and wouldn't help New England much with a 60-yard, one touchdown and two interception performance. Damien Harris had a good day running the ball for the Patriots with 17 carries for 100 yards. Patrick Mahomes would prove to be too much for the Patriots defense. Mahomes threw for 236 yards with two touchdowns. Clyde Edwards-Helaire had a good day as well 64 yards rushing but wouldn't score a touchdown in the game. Tyrann Mathieu would score on a pick-six from Stidham.
Next week:
New England: vs Denver; Kansas City: vs Las Vegas
TW: 10-4; CV: 6-8
Atlanta 16, Green Bay 30: TW: Packers; CV: Packers
The 2020 Packers definitely remind you of the 2011 team a lot with their offensive yards and points scored this season. Matt Ryan threw for 285 yards but didn't throw a touchdown or an interception in this game. Todd Gurley would finish the game with 57 yards with two touchdowns. Aaron Rodgers had probably one of his better games this season, finishing with 327 yards with four touchdowns. Aaron Jones rushed for 71 yards in the game. Robert Tonyan produced in a big way with 98 receiving yards with three touchdowns.
Next week:
Atlanta: vs Carolina; Green Bay: Bye
TW: 11-4; CV: 7-8
Since Pittsburgh @ Tennessee will be played later in the season, it won't count as a tie, win or loss. Me and Cardinal Viking will pick the game when it happens.
2020 Week by Week Record:
TW's record:
Week 1: 8-8
Week 2: 15-1
Week 3: 9-6-1
Week 4: 11-4
Total: 43-19-1
Cardinal Viking's record:
Week 1: 10-6
Week 2: 11-5
Week 3: 8-7-1
Week 4: 7-8
Total: 36-26-1
Previous Picking Records:
2017: 167-89
2018: 156-98-2
2019: 151-104-1
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