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Stop me if you heard this before: the Detroit Lions come back from a huge deficit to win on the road. This week, it happened in Dallas. The Bills, meanwhile, saw their perfect season end in Cincinnati. Stay tuned here for all of Week 4's action, and don't miss our highlight StoryStream.
A Dream Team the Philadelphia Eagles are not, if we have learned anything during the first quarter of the 2011 season. The Eagles allowed 21 unanswered points to the San Francisco 49ers in the second half, putting the final score in favor of the Niners, 24-23. The Eagles are now 1-3 this season.
But Michael Vick sure did enjoy a career game in the loss. Vick threw for 416 yards, obliterating his previous career high of 337 yards. He set that previous record all the way back in 2002, though he came close to breaking it twice in 2010. He had two games of 333 passing yards then.
Vick completed 30 of 46 passes in the game, setting a new record for completions and tying his high mark for attempts in a game. Still, Vick would likely turn in all these personal bests for another victory.
For reactions from the Eagles' perspective, be sure to visit Bleeding Green Nation. For a 49ers' perspective, check out Niners Nation.
New England Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo left Sunday's game against the Oakland Raiders during the second quarter with a knee injury. According to the Boston Herald, Mayo sprained his MCL and could miss as many as six games. Gary Guyton is expected to take Mayo's place in the starting lineup. Guyton had four tackles in Sunday's game.
Mayo has been one of the top Patriots' defenders since he joined entered the league in 2008. He recorded 114 tackles in a 2010 Pro Bowl campaign. However, this season not even Mayo has been able to do anything about the porous pass defense of the Patriots. The team is among the worst in the league.
Without Mayo, the Patriots will need to be even more creative on how to deal with an uncharacteristic struggling defense this season. But this is Bill Belichick we are dealing with, so there's something he's thinking about that we aren't.
For more on the Patriots, head over to Pats Pulpit.
During Sunday's victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson left the game in the second quarter after he went down to the ground without any contact. Johnson caught a pass from Matt Schaub before he fell during mid-run and was absent for the remainder of the game.
At the time, the injury first appeared to concern his knee, but it eventually turned into a hamstring injury. After the game, Texans owner Bob McNair told reporters that Johnson had pulled his hamstring:
"He is going to get an MRI and we’ll see. He pulled a hamstring and hopefully it won’t keep him out too long, but we’ll just have to see on that one."
Head coach Gary Kubiak wasn't as definitive as McNair, saying that the injury is "hamstring related."
Johnson caught four passes for 36 yards before the injury. Johnson did return to the sidelines during the fourth quarter, but he was without pads. He has 25 receptions for 352 yards, which is leaps and bounds ahead of his fellow receivers. Tight end Owen Daniels is second on the team in receptions and yards with 14 catches for 182 yards. Daniels does lead the team with three touchdown receptions.
Visit our Texans blog Battle Red Blog for more on Andre Johnson.
While Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan had previously thought Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson wasn't as good as Dallas' Dez Bryant and Miles Austin, Sunday's performance by Johnson forced Ryan to eat crow.
Johnson came through when it counted the most, catching two touchdown passes during the team's fourth quarter comeback for the 34-30 win. Both times Johnson made leaping grabs. Be sure to check them out here and here. The latter one gave the Lions their first and only lead, as well as the only one that mattered: the final score.
Johnson's stat line is becoming all too familiar with his touchdown grabs. Through the first four games, Johnson has caught two touchdowns each time for a total of eight so far. He is on pace for 32 touchdown catches, which would shatter the single-season record. Randy Moss is the current record holder with 23 touchdown receptions during the 2007 season.
For more reactions from the Cowboys, be sure to check out Blogging the Boys. For more on the Lions, check out Pride of Detroit.
The Pittsburgh Steelers could be without quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for next week's game against the Tennessee Titans. Roethlisberger injured his left foot toward the end of the Steelers' 17-10 loss to the Houston Texans. He had X-rays of his foot taken and said that he doesn't know if he'll be able to play next week, according to Scott Brown of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Roethlisberger was 16-of-30 for 206 yards and one interception. That pick came on his last throw, ending the game in favor of the Texans.
Should Roethlisberger be unable to play, Charlie Batch will start for the Steelers. He was under center for three games during the 2010 season while Roethlisberger sat out the first four games of the season due to suspension.
Behind the Steel Curtain, our Steelers blog, is certainly ready to weather whatever the results of the X-rays and the MRI show:
We're used to seeing Roethlisberger play through pain, of course, and just last year he admirably fought through an injured foot to lead his team to the Super Bowl. We'll see what the results of the X-ray show, but Steeler Nation has been conditioned to expect the sturdy Roethlisberger to play with whatever ailments he's fighting through.
However, Steelers fans there do understand the prospect of giving Roethlisberger time to heal.
For more on the Steelers, check out the SB Nation blog Behind the Steel Curtain.
The Miami Dolphins lost starting quarterback Chad Henne for the majority of their Sunday game after he injured his left shoulder. During the first quarter against the San Diego Chargers, Henne received the ball while in shotgun formation. He attempted to hand the ball off to Lex Hilliard, but it never took place. Trying to create something, Henne scrambled until he was knocked to the ground, injuring his left shoulder. Watch the play develop here:
The injury to his non-throwing shoulder forced Henne to miss the rest of the game, though he did stay in pads on the sidelines. Matt Moore relieved him and finished the game with 17 completions on 26 attempts and 167 yards.
Henne left the stadium with his arm in a sling, according to Ben Volin, and wants to play through the injury. The Dolphins have a bye this coming week before a Monday Night Football showdown with the New York Jets in Week 6.
For more on the Dolphins, head over to The Phinsider.
Four weeks into the season, the NFL standings are still packed tightly at the top of several divisions. Only two teams remain undefeated. Four teams continue looking for their first win, including the Colts who play the Buccaneers on Monday Night Football tonight. Here's how things stand in the NFL.
The Buffalo Bills failed to give themselves a one-game lead in the AFC East race yesterday. Buffalo lost on the road to Cincinnati in one of the smallest crowds ever seen at Paul Brown Stadium. At the same time, New England won in Oakland to tie the Bills at the top the division. The Jets, who have now lost two in a row, are one game behind, and have a big game against New England next week. Miami is a sad looking 0-4, with no hope in sight.
Baltimore leads the AFC North at 3-1, coming off a defensively fueled win over the Jets last night. With Pittsburgh (2-2) ailing, the Ravens might have a strangle hold on the division title. The Ravens have a bye next week.
The AFC South belongs to the Colts and Peyton Manning in any normal year, but with Manning sidelined and the Colts winless, this is hardly a normal year. Houston got tough with the visiting Steelers yesterday and came up with a big win. Now at 3-1, Gary Kubiak's team is tied with the Tennessee Titans for the division lead. Tennessee beat Cleveland yesterday, and travels to Pittsburgh next week. Houston host the Oakland Raiders.
Philip Rivers threw for more than 300 yards yesterday as the Chargers had little trouble with the Dolphins. San Diego - or is it Los Angeles? - owns a one-game lead over the Raiders for the AFC West. Kansas City picked up their first win over the winless Vikings this week, while Denver gave up 49 points to the Packers.
In the NFC there are the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers with unblemished records and offenses that can explode for 30 or more points any week of the year. Detroit played the game of the week yesterday, beating Dallas with a fourth quarter comeback. Can the Packers and the Lions stay undefeated until their Thanksgiving showdown? Chicago started to put things back together yesterday with a win over the Panthers. Minnesota is all about rebuilding this season.
Neither win was a pretty one, but the Washington Redskins and New York Giants both beat NFC West opponents yesterday to stay tied at 3-1 on top of the NFC East. Tony Romo went back to being a lightening rod, throwing two interceptions that were returned for touchdowns in the Cowboys' loss to the Lions this week. The biggest story in this division is the nightmare that was supposed to be the "Dream Team" in Philadelphia. The Eagles lost at home to the 49ers, and they travel to Buffalo next week. New York continues their tour of the NFC West, hosting the Seahawks, and getting the chance to get a lead on Washington who has a bye.
New Orleans handled the Jaguars on the road for a 3-1 record and the NFC South lead. Tampa Bay will try to continue what looks like a surprise season tonight as they host the Colts. After beating Atlanta last week, the Buccaneers could tie with the Saints for the division lead with a win tonight. Atlanta is hardly out of it with a win in Seattle yesterday. Cam Newton is keep things entertaining for the Panthers, but they just don't look like contenders. The division picture could look the same next week with New Orleans at Carolina, Tampa at San Francisco and Atlanta hosting the Packers in prime time.
Bet you didn't know that the NFC has a fourth division? They do, called the NFC West. The team that was supposed to walk away with this division, the St. Louis Rams, might be the worst team in the NFL. The Rams are winless, and scoring an average of 11.5 points per game. San Francisco leads the division with a 3-1 record. Arizona and Seattle are sandwiched between with one win each.
The backflip is one of my favorite celebrations. If done right, it can be an incredibly display of athleticism and skill. If done wrong, it's never not funny, and usually results in an awkward looking fall or face-plant.
Marion Barber's attempt at a backflip on Sunday was of the latter variety. Sure, he almost got it all the way around. But almost doesn't count when doing backflips, and usually results in a spectacular face-plant.
Rob Ryan's breath probably smells like Nikes by now after jamming his foot knee-deep into his mouth. Earlier this week, the Cowboys' defensive coordinator said the following about Detroit's Calvin Johnson:
"We work against better receivers with Miles Austin and Dez Bryant. They are probably two of the premier receivers in football, but this guy is right there," Ryan said. "He's almost that good. He's excellent."
Johnson, of course, caught not one but two highlight-worthy touchdowns against Ryan's defense, sparking the biggest collapse in Cowboys' history. After the game, the Lions had some fun at Ryan's expense.
Eli Manning brought his New York Giants back in the fourth quarter for a 31-27 win over the Arizona Cardinals in the desert. But it was a controversial call late in the game that will linger on Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt's mind in the coming days.
Referees ruled that Victor Cruz gave himself up on a catch that gave the Giants a first down late in the fourth quarter, rendering a possible fumble after Cruz fell to the ground null. And referees told Whisenhunt he couldn't challenge it, giving the Giants the ball deep enough in Arizona territory for Manning to find Hakeem Nicks for the game-winning touchdown pass.
Nicks had 10 catches for 162 yards, and Manning threw for 321 yards and two scores in the New York victory, which came despite Beanie Wells' 138 yards and three touchdowns on the ground for the Cardinals. Kevin Kolb threw for 237 yards for the Cardinals in the loss, and Larry Fitzgerald snared eight of those catches for 102 yards.
For more on the Cardinals, head over to Revenge of the Birds; for more on the Giants, check out Big Blue View. For the latest updates on Week 4 NFL action, be sure to follow this StoryStream.
The Atlanta Falcons built a big halftime lead in Seattle, but managed to avoid the collapses that NFC rivals Philadelphia and Dallas dealt with earlier on Sunday despite a second half rally by the Seahawks, holding on to win on the road, 30-28.
Seattle chipped away at Atlanta's 24-7 halftime advantage steadily in the second half, but couldn't get closer than the final margin after scoring to draw within two points midway through the fourth quarter, and a 61-yard field goal attempt by Steven Hauschka in the dying seconds didn't even come close to being good.
Matt Ryan threw for 291 yards and a touchdown for the Falcons, while Tarvaris Jackson threw for 319 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions in the losing effort. Michael Turner had two rushing touchdowns for Atlanta.
The Falcons improved to 2-2 with the win, while the Seahawks fell to 1-3 with the loss.
For more on the Falcons, head over to The Falcoholic; for more on the Seahawks, check out Field Gulls. For the latest updates on Week 4 NFL action, be sure to follow this StoryStream.
Here's Deion Sanders accurately describing the Tony Romo show as of late while deciding the two should probably see other people.
@DeionSanders
DeionSanders Romo I'm getting off this emotional roller coaster. I'm done! Truth
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It was a field goal fest in San Diego, but Philip Rivers' steady hand helped the San Diego Charges outlast the Miami Dolphins. And having Vincent Jackson to catch his passes helped, too.
Rivers threw for 307 yards and a touchdown to Jackson, who had three catches for 108 yards in the first half before leaving with an injury, as the Chargers cruised to a 26-16 victory.
The Chargers also got a touchdown run from Mike Tolbert, and Ryan Mathews accumulated 149 combined rushing and receiving yards.
Chad Henne left early for Miami due to injury, forcing Matt Moore into the game in his stead. While neither threw for a touchdown, both Dolphins quarterbacks found the time to throw an interception, and the Miami running game gained just 72 yards.
Chargers kicker Nick Novak kicked four field goals; Miami's Dan Carpenter had two three-pointers for the Dolphins.
The Chargers moved to 3-1 with the win, and left Miami 0-4 with the loss.
For more on the Dolphins, head over to The Phinsider; for more on the Chargers, check out Bolts From the Blue. For the latest updates on Week 4 NFL action, be sure to follow this StoryStream.
The New York Giants came back to beat the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday evening, thanks to a late Eli Manning touchdown pass to Hakeem Nicks. But it was what happened before the touchdown pass that ignited controversy, and perhaps changed the outcome of the game. As Victor Cruz made a catch over the middle, he stumbled to the ground, then dropped the ball before he was touched down. Arizona recovered, only to have the officials rule Cruz down, allowing the Giants to keep possession.
Watch the video after the jump and judge for yourself. Was this a fumble and did the refs blow the call?
The New York Giants saw a slim 10-6 halftime lead slip away in large part due to Arizona Cardinals running back Beanie Wells. Wells scored three rushing touchdowns in the second half, but Eli Manning wasn't going to let the game slip away like that.
Instead, Manning threw for two touchdowns in less than a minute to put the Giants up, 31-27. His second touchdown throw, the game-winner, was a nice 29-yard throw to Hakeem Nicks. Rookie cornerback Patrick Peterson was burned by Nicks on the play, but he'll live and learn. Check out the catch after the jump.
In a rematch of the infamous "Tuck Rule" playoff game from 2001, the New England Patriots used the potent Tom Brady-to-Wes Welker connection and a surprisingly strong running game to score an easy 31-19 victory over the Oakland Raiders.
Brady wasn't fantastic — he completed a paltry 16 of 30 throws for just 226 yards, far off his typical numbers — but he found Welker time and again to decimate the Oakland defense. Welker hauled in nine catches for 158 yards and a touchdown, his third game of more than 150 receiving yards in the 2011 NFL season.
The Patriots had almost as much success on the ground, though, as Stevan Ridley and BenJarvus Green-Ellis each topped 75 yards rushing for the Patriots.
Jason Campbell threw for 344 yards and a touchdown in the loss, and Oakland rushers combined for 160 rushing yards. But Campbell's two interceptions helped torpedo any chances the Raiders had of keeping this one close after the Patriots opened a 24-10 lead early in the third quarter.
The Patriots are 3-1 after the victory, while the Raiders fall to 2-2 with the loss.
For more on the Patriots, head over to Pats Pulpit; for more on the Raiders, check out Silver and Black Pride. For the latest updates on Week 4 NFL action, be sure to follow this StoryStream.
Aaron Rodgers gave the Green Bay Packers enough points to beat the Denver Broncos in a first half offensive explosion at Lambeau Field. And then Rodgers and the Packers kept scoring, running away with a 49-23 rout.
Rodgers threw for 408 yards and four touchdowns — one each to Jordy Nelson, Greg Jennings, James Jones, and Donald Driver — while shredding Denver's secondary, and added two more touchdowns on the ground, as Green Bay built on a 28-17 halftime lead for a convincing win. Rodgers became the first player since 1960 to throw for 400 yards and four touchdowns and add two rushing touchdowns, according to ESPN Stats and Info.
Beyond Rodgers, though, the Packers were more than Denver's match. Green Bay's defense allowed three Kyle Orton touchdown passes, but also picked off the embattled Broncos quarterback three times, with Charles Woodson returning one interception for a touchdown. And though the Packers conceded 384 yards to the Broncos, they limited the Denver offense to just four third down conversions in 11 attempts.
In the Broncos' losing effort, Eric Decker caught two of Orton's touchdown passes, Brandon Lloyd had eight receptions for 136 yards, and Willis McGahee gained 103 rushing yards.
Green Bay moves to 4-0 with the victory, and Denver falls to 1-3 with the loss.
For more on the Packers, head over to ACME Packing Company; for more on the Vols, check out Mile High Report. For the latest updates on Week 4 NFL action, be sure to follow this StoryStream.
Running back Beanie Wells directed the Arizona Cardinals to a second half comeback against the New York Giants, but the Giants are close to their own late comeback. The Cardinals led, 27-24, but Eli Manning had a late TD pass for the 31-27 lead.
Wells, though, couldn't be stopped during the second half of the game. Down 10-6 to start the third quarter, the Cardinals saw Wells score twice in the quarter. His first was a one-yard run to cap a 78-yard drive. His second came as a result of an Eli Manning fumble. David Carter sacked and stripped the ball from Manning. Wells then completed two runs for a total of five yards and a touchdown.
He has 26 carries for 130 yards and three rushing touchdowns. Can he help the Cardinals come back once again?
For more on the Cardinals, check out Revenge of the Birds. For more on the Giants head over to Big Blue View. Follow the rest of Week 4 of the regular season at SB Nation NFL.
The New England Patriots are dominating the Oakland Raiders today. Not content to let Tom Brady and Wes Welker have all of the spotlight for their historic efforts today, New England defensive lineman Vince Wilfork got in on the fun with a fourth quarter interception on Raiders' quarterback Jason Campbell.
Wilfork gobbled up a Campbell pass intended for Darren McFadden, and wobbled out 19 yards after the interception. Check out the video of Wilfork's INT in all of the fat guy interception glory after the jump.
Note to every person of even moderate political stature: comparing sports to war is the most perilous of metaphor, and will result in bad things if your eloquence game is not on point.
It suffices to say that former Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell's eloquence game was not on point when he was asked about what the Eagles need on a Sunday postgame show.
Whatever took Vincent Jackson out of the San Diego Chargers' game against the Miami Dolphins, it couldn't have been too severe. He was out to start the second half thanks to a lower body injury, but he's returned to the game late in the third quarter. The Chargers are currently up 23-13 on the struggling Dolphins, so it's unlikely that Jackson is anything but healthy and at no risk of aggravating his injury further. The Chargers extended their lead to two scores without Jackson on the field, so there's no reason to risk him if he's not completely fine.
Chad Henne is out of the game for the Dolphins and Matt Moore is actually having a very good day, so Jackson might be needed shortly. For the time being, the Chargers are in control.
For more on the Chargers head over to Bolts From The Blue. For more on the Dolphins, check out The Phinsider. Follow all Week 4 NFL action over at SB Nation NFL. Be sure to check out highlights from the day's games here.
Everyone knew after last week that New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker was having a special start to his season. Today, against the Oakland Raiders, Welker made that a matter of historical fact.
As pointed out by Bill Barwell of Grantland, Welker has surpassed Terry Glenn in history books for the best yardage total after four games.
@billbarnwell
Bill Barnwell Wes Welker is off to the best four-game start in NFL history. 616 yards and counting. Previous record-holder was Terry Glenn (544 in ‘99).
’embedly_timestamp’>Oct 02 via TweetDeckFavoriteRetweet
We should point out that the Patriots are still playing as this is being typed. Welker had 217 yards on 17 catches last week against the Buffalo Bills. So far today against Oakland, Welker has 158 yards, one touchdown on nine receptions.
Despite a stinging last minute loss last week to the Bills, New England is setting all kinds of records this season. Tom Brady had 1,327 passing yards through the first three games of the season, an NFL record for passing yardage through three games. With 226 passing yards today, so far, Brady could be in the history books again by the end of the season, and Wes Welker will likely be there with him.
Aaron Rodgers is very good at football. It might have something to do with the football-shooting cannon that doubles as his right arm.
That touchdown throw to James Jones was Rodgers' third touchdown pass of the day. Combined with his 375 yards and two rushing touchdowns, it is likely that Rodgers has scored infinity points in every fantasy league on the Internet today. Oh, and the Packers lead the Broncos, 42-17, in the third quarter, after this pass.
Vincent Jackson has an injury, but no one knows exactly what it is at the moment. The Miami Dolphins and San Diego Chargers are currently involved in a close game, and it's likely that this injury is going to keep it close. According to Miami Dolphins beat writer Omar Kelly, the injury is either a foot or groin injury. In any event, Jackson is questionable to return in the second half, and he's a huge loss for the Chargers.
Jackson's having a great start to the season and he had an absolutely monster first half, catching three passes for 108 yards and a touchdown. Phillip Rivers has gone to him for some big plays already and the Chargers aren't exceptionally deep at wide receiver.
For more on the Chargers head over to Bolts From The Blue. For more on the Dolphins, check out The Phinsider. Follow all Week 4 NFL action over at SB Nation NFL. Be sure to check out highlights from the day's games here.
Not sure how a group of defensive backs manages to lose Vincent Jackson -- not by a just a step or two, but 15 yards -- but that's just what the Miami Dolphins did. Jackson found himself streaking down the middle of the field with no defenders in sight, and took full advantage with a lengthy touchdown in the first quarter of the San Diego Chargers game.
It wasn't just that Miami lost him, though. Jackson had enough time to fall down, get back up, then watch as a Miami player slipped off him as he walked into the end zone.
I'm with Greg Jennings: who leaves Greg Jennings open?
The Green Bay Packers' defense doesn't exactly look up to their defending champions status - save for a pick six that was gifted to Charles Woodson - but they're still up by a score of 28-17 on the Denver Broncos thanks to Aaron Rodgers and their offense. Rodgers' stats from the first half are absolutely ridiculous, and if he keeps up this pace his team won't really need to do much on the other side of the ball.
Rodgers is 18-23 for 259 yards and two touchdowns, with no interceptions. He's also been very effective at making plays with his feet on the rare occasion that he can't find anyone to throw to, rushing for 21 yards and a touchdown on five rushes. A good chunk of his passing yards came on two bombs, one to Greg Jennings and another to Jordy Nelson for a touchdown.
For more on the Packers head over to Acme Packing Company. For more on the Broncos, check out Mile High Report. Follow all of the NFL Week 4 action over at SB Nation NFL.
It does not look good for Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Following his team’s 10-17 loss to the Houston Texans in the matinee games today, Roethlisberger received an x-ray on his foot. He was later seen leaving the game on crutches and wearing a walking boot.
There are already questions about his availability for next week’s game when the Steelers host the surging Tennessee Titans.
@TribTotalMedia
Pittsburgh Trib#Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has X-rays on foot; not sure about suiting up for Titans next week. http://t.co/vpFdRPiV
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Decimated by injuries, Pittsburgh’s offensive line has been a huge problem all season for the defending AFC champs. Today, they allowed five sacks on Roethlisberger, and the quarterback was pressured throughout the entire game. He completed just 16 of 30 passes for 206 yards and no touchdowns. He threw an interception on his last throw of the game.
Pittsburgh also lost running back Rashard Mendenhall to hamstring injury during the game.
Pittsburgh would like to get both players healthy before facing the Patriots in week eight, but even upcoming games against Jacksonville and Arizona could be difficult without their starting quarterback.
The Green Bay Packers are the reigning Super Bowl champions. They have Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, half of your fantasy league's fourth round at wide receiver, and a defense that features Charles Woodson and Clay Matthews. They are also coached by a guy, Mike McCarthy, who does things like call a surprise onside kick in the first quarter against a woeful Denver Broncos squad.
This was supposed to be the week the Philadelphia Eagles turned it around. Didn't work out that way. Facing a mediocre San Francisco 49ers team at home, the Eagles fell to 1-3 after blowing a 20-point lead and dropping a 24-23 decision on Sunday.
The last person who deserves to be criticized for this one is Michael Vick. The much maligned Eagles quarterback actually had a pretty spectacular game, throwing for a career high 416 yards and two touchdowns and rushing for 75 more yards. But it wasn't enough to help the Eagles overcome another lackluster performance from their defense and some costly turnovers.
Vick threw one interception, Ronnie Brown fumbled at the goal-line and Jeremy Maclin fumbled in the game's closing minutes as the Eagles were driving toward a potential game-winning score.
Alex Smith was allowed to carve up the Eagles for 291 yards, most of which came in the second half, and Frank Gore rushed for 127 yards on just 15 carries and scored the game-winning touchdown. The 49ers are now 3-1 and have won two straight road games.
Gore's late touchdown allowed the 49ers to come back from what had been a 23-3 deficit early in the second half. But Smith was able to throw a pair of touchdowns to Josh Morgan and Vernon Davis to get the 49ers back into the game.
For the latest updates from Week 4 of the NFL, be sure to follow this StoryStream. For stats of the game, check out SB Nation's stats page. For reactions from the Eagles' perspective, be sure to visit Bleeding Green Nation. For a 49ers' perspective, check out Niners Nation.
The Green Bay Packers' offense is cruising against the Denver Broncos, but they could be without one of their key players for the rest of the day. Wide receiver Donald Driver was helped off the field early in the second quarter following an Aaron Rodgers rushing touchdown, on which he was hit by Brian Dawkins. Driver appears to have picked up a knee injury, and the team is calling his return questionable.
The good news for the Packers is that they're deep at the position. Both Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson have already ripped off big plays, while James Jones and Randall Cobb are also contributing. The presence of those four will help minimize the impact of Driver's loss for the Packers, but it's obviously still not good for a team to lose their all-time leading receiver.
For more on the Packers head over to Acme Packing Company. For more on the Broncos, check out Mile High Report. Follow all of the NFL Week 4 action over at SB Nation NFL.
The St. Louis Rams continued to make their case as the worst team in the league with their fourth straight loss on the season. They dropped to 0-4 with a 17-10 loss to the Washington Redskins today.
Washington struck early with a six-yard touchdown pass from Rex Grossman to Santana Moss in the first quarter. Grossman completed 15 of 29 passes with one touchdown and one interception on the day. Washington did the bulk of their damage on the ground. Ryan Torain had 135 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries against the league's worst run defense.
On defense, the Redskins had little problems stopping a short-lived Rams comeback in the second half. Brian Orakpo sacked Sam Bradford 2.5 times, and the Redskins defense had six sacks total on the day. Rookie Ryan Kerrigan forced a Bradford fumble that Barry Cofield recovered for Washington.
Steven Jackson was back to full speed for the Rams, but his return did little to stimulate a stagnant offense. Jackson was limited to just 45 yards on 17 carries. St. Louis kept the refs busy, drawing ten penalties in the game. Dropped passes were again a problem for the Rams' receviers. Mike Sims-Walker had a rough day in particular, dropping three according to unofficial press box tallies.
The Rams will continue their soul searching with a bye next week before facing the Green Bay Packers. Washington also has a bye next week, and a date with the Philadelphia Eagles the week after that.
For more on the Redskins, head over to Hogs Haven. For more on the Rams, check out Turf Show Times.
It's not a fat guy touchdown, but we'll take it! The Green Bay Packers are in control early against the Denver Broncos, thanks in part to a pick six by Charles Woodson. The Broncos were already in some trouble after getting torched by Jordy Nelson fora 60-yard bomb, but Kyle Orton dug an even bigger hole for his team. Video is after the jump.
Matt Hasselbeck threw three first-half touchdown passes to give the Tennessee Titans a 21-6 lead. Safety Jordan Babineaux added another touchdown on a third quarter interception return as the Titans easily handled the Cleveland Browns for a 31-13 road win.
Hasselbeck completed ten of 20 passes for 220 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, giving Seahawks fans nightmares about the way his old team tried to low ball him. Jared Cook had 93 yards on just two passes, including an 80-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter. In a sign that the Titans could be a force to contend with in the AFC South, running back Chris Johnson looks to have finally gotten over the hump. He topped 100 yards rushing for the first time this season, racking up 101 yards on 23 carries.
Cleveland quarterback Colt McCoy had a jaw-dropping 61 passing attempts on the day. The second-year quarterback completed 40 of those for 350 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Running back Peyton Hillis was back on the field today, but limited to just 10 carries as the Browns tried to erase a significant deficit in the second half. Hills ran for 46 yards after missing last week with strep throat. Montero Hardesty had seven rushing attempts.
The Titans travel to Pittsburgh next week, looking for their fourth win against a Steelers team that lost today in Houston. Cleveland has a bye next week before resuming play in week six against the Oakland Raiders.
For more on the Titans, visit Music City Miracles. To get the lowdown on the Browns, check out Dawgs By Nature.
Just when you think it's OK to count the Detroit Lions out, they start throwing it up to Calvin Johnson and erase yet another big deficit. This time, the victim was the Dallas Cowboys, who built a 27-3 lead in the fourth quarter before falling 34-30 on Sunday. The Lions are 4-0, despite trailing in three of their first four games this season.
Once again, credit really should go to the Johnson, and to a lesser degree quarterback Matthew Stafford. The two youngsters combined on two touchdowns, both of them in the fourth quarter. It was Johnson's NFL record fourth straight game with at least two touchdowns. He now has eight touchdowns just four games into the season.
Prior to their comeback, the Lions were not looking very good. While last week, they started their comeback at halftime, this time they entered the fourth quarter still trailing by 13 points and had still not scored an offensive touchdown. Their only two touchdowns, up to that point, had been interception returns. One by Bobby Carpenter and the other by Chris Houston.
But as if simply switching on a light, the Lions turned it around. On both of Johnson's touchdowns, Stafford basically lobbed it up and let his 6-foot-5 wide receiver out jump his competition.
In stark contrast, Tony Romo seemed to shrink as the game wore on. The much maligned quarterback threw three touchdowns to help the Cowboys build a 27-3 lead, but ended the game with three interceptions. Two of them were returned for touchdowns and the third set up the Lions' go-ahead touchdown.
For the latest updates on Week 4 of NFL action, be sure to follow this StoryStream. For stats on this game, see SB Nation's stat page. For more reactions from the Cowboys, be sure to check out Blogging the Boys. For more on the Lions, check out Pride of Detroit.
The Miami Dolphins turned to Matt Moore early in the first quarter of Sunday's matchup with the San Diego Chargers after losing Chad Henne to an apparent shoulder injury. Henne landed hard on his left shoulder and appeared to be in a significant bit of pain as he headed to the sideline.
It's unclear whether or not Henne will return or what, exactly, is ailing him, other than the apparent left shoulder injury. Henne had completed two of five passes for just five yards early in Sunday's matchup, which the Dolphins now lead, 7-0.
We'll be back with more on Henne's injury and status for the rest of the game as it becomes available.
For more on the Chargers head over to Bolts From The Blue. For more on the Dolphins, check out The Phinsider. Follow all Week 4 NFL action over at SB Nation NFL. Be sure to check out highlights from the days games here.
Here are some of our favorites videos and GIFs from Week 4's early games:
• Michael Vick evades a sack, throws touchdown.
* Was Dez Bryant supposed to be injured? He sure looked healthy catching this TD.
• Devin Hester returns a punt for a touchdown, gets silly in the end zone.
• Jared Cook's slow, methodical 80-yard touchdown.
• What was Ronnie Brown trying to do on this play? Besides fumbling, of course.
• If A.J. Green isn't Andy Dalton's best friend, he should be after making this circus catch.
• Heath Miller likes to tip early and often.
• Tony Romo throws a Pick 6 against the Lions ...
• ... and Tony Romo throws another Pick 6 against the Lions.
• Calvin Johnson will drink your milkshake.
• Calvin Johnson likes milkshakes. He's coming back for seconds!
Earlier in the week, as criticism of the Bears woeful pass protection reached a fever pitch, running back Matt Forte lobbied for more work in the Bears' offense. That's exactly what Chicago did today as they broke out for 34 points to get their second win of the season.
Forte carried the ball 25 times for a total of 205 rushing yards and a touchdown. He racked up more than 50 yards on the Bears' first drive of the game, a drive in which they did not pass the ball once. Cutler finished the day with just 17 pass attempts, completing nine of those for 102 yards and an interception. Even more of a relief for the Bears, Cutler was sacked just once.
The Bears also got a big contribution from Devin Hester. He returned a punt for a 69-yard touchdown in the second quarter. That score also put Hester in the record books with his 11th punt return touchdown, a new league record.
Ron Rivera's return to Soldier Field was hardly a total disappointment. Rookie quarterback Cam Newton passed for 374 yards, one touchdown and one interception. His interception was returned by D.J. Moore for a Bears' touchdown. Newton hit Steve Smith for 8 receptions and 181 yards. The rookie quarterback also added two rushing touchdowns to round out his performance.
Chicago travels to Detroit next week for a touch matchup against an undefeated Lions team that erased a 24-point deficit today with two pick sixes on Tony Romo. Carolina, now 1-3, returns home for a game against the New Orleans Saints.
The New Orleans Saints came into Jacksonville looking for a win in Week 4 over a team starting a rookie quarterback. The Jaguars didn't provide much resistance, never leading in the Saints' 23-10 victory.
Drew Brees got the Saints off to a fast start, leading the Saints on touchdown drives that put New Orleans up 14-0 early in the second quarter. Blaine Gabbert and the Jags pulled within 14-10 at the half, but did little in the second half as New Orleans tacked on three John Kasay field goals for the final 23-10 margin.
Brees threw two interceptions, but also finished with 351 yards and a touchdown to Jimmy Graham, who led all players with 10 catches and 132 receiving yards. Darren Sproles led the Saints with 75 yards on seven carries, and Mark Ingram added 55 rushing yards.
Gabbert had an awful day, throwing for just 196 yards and completing just 16 of his 42 attempts, but he did find Zach Miller for the Jaguars' touchdown. Maurice Jones-Drew had 84 rushing yards in the losing effort.
The Saints move to 3-1 with the win, and have rebounded nicely from their season-opening loss in Green Bay. Jacksonville falls to 1-3 with the loss.
For more on the Saints, head over to Canal Street Chronicles; for more on the Vols, check out Big Cat Country. For more coverage of Saints vs. Jaguars, hit the event page. For the latest updates on Week 4 NFL action, be sure to follow this StoryStream.
This seemed like the perfect week for the Philadelphia Eagles to start getting their season back on the right track. Facing a San Francisco 49ers team that has not looked as good as their 2-1 record at home had the appearances of the kind of game they should win. Instead, they find themselves in a dogfight.
The 49ers scored on a 12-yard run by Frank Gore with 3:28 left to take their first lead, erasing a 17-point deficit along the way. That finished off a 77-yard drive that lasted eight plays.
On the ensuing possession, the Eagles were driving toward what could have been a game-winning score, but Jeremy Maclin fumbled near midfield after picking up a first down. Now, they face the prospects of starting 1-3 unless they can get the ball back.
If they do lose, it won't be Michael Vick's fault. Vick has thrown for a career high 416 yards, tossed two touchdowns and rushed for 75 yards.
For the latest updates on Week 4 of the NFL, follow this StoryStream.
The Buffalo Bills had established themselves as the NFL's comeback kings early in the 2011 NFL season. And then the Cincinnati Bengals handed the Bills their first loss of the season with their own second half rally.
Andy Dalton led the Bengals back from a 17-3 halftime deficit — partly caused by his two first half interceptions — and Mike Nugent kicked a game-winning 42-yard field goal as time expired to give Cincinnati a 23-20 victory over the previously unbeaten Bills.
Dalton threw for 298 yards and a touchdown, making the most of his 18 completions in 36 attempts, and also ran for the game-tying touchdown with under five minutes to go. But he wasn't a one-man show: Cedric Benson racked up 104 rushing yards for the Bengals, and Dalton found fellow rookie A.J. Green four times for 118 yards.
Meanwhile, the Bills, often explosive during their 3-0 start, struggled to make things happen on offense, especially in the second half. Fred Jackson had 66 rushing yards and Buffalo's lone offensive touchdown, but Ryan Fitzpatrick managed just 199 yards on 20-for-34 passing, and the Bills had just one play of over 30 yards.
With the loss, the Bills fall to 3-1; the Bengals move to 2-2 with the victory.
For more on the Bills, head over to Bufalo Rumblings; for more on the Bengals, check out Cincy Jungle. For more coverage of Bills vs. Bengals, hit the event page. For the latest updates on Week 4 NFL action, be sure to follow this StoryStream.
The big news first: It's time for a new status update on the Arian Foster injury watch. He looks just fine. After a hamstring injury limited Foster to 33 yards through the first three weeks of the NFL season, the Texans running back is running wild vs. the Steelers, racking up 155 yards in Houston's 17-10 win.
As for the game, the Texans could have lost it easily. Wide receiver Andre Johnson went down in the first half with a hamstring injury, taking out their primary offensive weapon. And at other times, it seemed they wanted to lose. Houston wiped out two return touchdowns with penalties.
Just as important for Foster and the Texans, is the workload he was able to handle. Foster has carried the ball 30 times. Not only is this a good sign for his recovery, it was also much-needed after Houston lost Johnson. If Johnson has to miss time, the Texans will need Foster to carry the offense.
In a battle of two of the NFL's most disappointing teams, the Kansas City Chiefs did just enough to beat the Minnesota Vikings, 22-17. And Matt Cassel provided the spark — by making sure he didn't stamp out the Chiefs' efforts with mistakes.
Cassel threw for 260 yards and a touchdown, a spectacular 52-yarder to Dwayne Bowe, in Kansas City's win. And he played well despite an argument with Todd Haley in which the quarterback and the Chiefs coach had to be separated, throwing no interceptions and completing 18 of 29 passes despite an ineffective Chiefs running game.
Bowe had five catches for 107 yards, and Chiefs kicker Ryan Succop booted five field goals. Donovan McNabb threw for 202 yards and two touchdowns in the loss, but also threw an interception. Adrian Peterson rushed for 80 yards for the Vikings, and Percy Harvin had a combined 109 yards on nine touches for Minnesota.
The win lifts the Chiefs to 1-3 on the season, and the Vikings fall to 0-4 with the loss.
For more on the Vikings, head over to Daily Norseman; for more on the Chiefs, check out Arrowhead Pride. For more coverage of Vikings vs. Chiefs, hit the event page. For the latest updates on Week 4 NFL action, be sure to follow this StoryStream.
Pittsburgh Steelers running back left his team’s game against the Houston Texans after scoring a third quarter touchdown. According to reports he has a hamstring injury and his return to the game is questionable.
@JosinaAnderson
Josina Anderson#PBA: #Steelers RB Rashard Mendenhall has a hamstring injury. Return Questionable.
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The Steelers have turned to backup running backs Isaac Redman, who has done most of the work since Mendenhall left, and Mewelde Moore.
Mendenhall left with nine rushes for 25 yards and a touchdown with Pittsburgh trailing the Texans by a score of 17-10. Prior to this game, Mendenhall had 148 yards and one touchdown in three games. He was averaging a career-low 3.0 yards per carry.
Check for updates following the game, after the team has had the chance to examine the injury further. Mendenhall played in all 16 games for the Steelers last year and the year before that, topping 1,000 rushing yards in both seasons. Pittsburgh has struggled with injuries this season, most notably along their offensive line.
The Detroit Lions finally found the end zone in the third quarter, taking advantage of a Tony Romo mistake and returning the interception for the touchdown. Then this happened.
via cjzero.com
Kind of a metaphor for the Lions' day so far.
Chicago Bears punt returner Devin Hester returned a second quarter punt to give the Bears another touchdown. That 69-yard punt return touchdown was Hester’s 11th career punt return touchdown, which put him in the record books, for the most punt return touchdowns in NFL history.
That was Hester’s first return touchdown of the season. Last year, he had three scores on punt returns. This was just Hester’s fourth punt return of the season.
A three-time Pro Bowler, Hester had a big kick return today against the Panthers, taking the ball 73-yards to set up a quick Matt Forte touchdown in the second quarter.
Hester’s return touchdown precipitated this barrel roll in the end zone. That move, while entertaining, got him a flag for excessive celebration from the officials. They don’t call it the “No Fun League” out sheer randomness.
The Bears lead the Panthers by just four points, 24-20, in the third quarter.
Tim Tebow will play quarterback for the Denver Broncos against the Green Bay Packers today — sort of. According to FOX Sports' Jay Glazer, the Broncos' back-up-slash-lightning rod is expected to take snaps at quarterback in some packages within the Broncos' offense today.
Also reported that plan today is to get Tebow into game at QB in certain packages
One possible interpretation of that: the Broncos are looking to solve their serious red zone woes with the deployment of Tebow as a potent run-pass option near the goal line. Tebow's got a few red zone touchdowns in his NFL career, and has also been a strong runner in short yardage situations dating back to his days as a college great at Florida.
But while Tebow was used sparingly in those roles under Josh McDaniels in 2010, John Fox has stuck with starter Kyle Orton throughout the Broncos' slow start in 2011, despite the hue and cry in support of Tebow from a large percentage of Denver's fan base.
For the latest updates on Week 4 NFL action, be sure to follow this StoryStream.
Good news for Texans and their fans (and fantasy owners everywhere): Houston is calling the Andre Johnson injury a hamstring strain. That means it is not a knee injury. This is encouraging news, even if Johnson does not return to Sunday's game vs. the Steelers.
ESPN's John Clayton reported the news via Twitter:
@ClaytonESPN
John Clayton Texans are calling Andre Johnson's injury hamstring, not knee. Return still questionable.
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The Andre Johnson injury occurred in the first half when he collapsed without any contact from a Steelers defender. If the injury is in fact to the hamstring, that's great news for Johnson, who has had knee trouble in his career. Here's video of the injury:
For more on the injury, check out the original update from the NFL Week 4 storystream.
The Kansas City Chiefs are having a rough season. In today's game against the Minnesota Vikings, head coach Todd Haley and starting quarterback Matt Cassel got into a tussle. The engaged in a verbal sparring match, and had to be separated by La'Ron McClain before things got out of hand.
This is a subtle derp, but a derp nonetheless.
Via AlfieBCC
The "arrows" on the numbers on the near side of the field are pointing the wrong way.
It's been awhile since Devin Hester scored on special teams, so excuse him if he made up for lost time with a downright silly TD celebration. Check out the GIF below the jump, and cross your fingers that he doesn't end up missing time in the second half with a sore neck.
Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson suffered an injury on Sunday in the first half against the Steelers. After receiving a pass, Johnson collapsed without any contact as his knee appeared to give out underneath him.
Johnson sat out practice on Wednesday dealing with a sore knee. Scroll down for an animated GIF of the injury via Mocksession's Tim Burke.
@JosinaAnderson
Josina Anderson Andre Johnson is walking off the field with a limp.
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The Texans offense will be hard-pressed to replace the production they get from Johnson, one of the finest wide receivers in the NFL. The burden on the offense is especially difficult because they are also concerned with monitoring the carries of running back Arian Foster, who is still returning to full strength after suffering an injury of his own. Foster is already around 20 carries in the first half.
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For more on the Texans, check out Battle Red Blog. For more on fantasy football, check out Fake Teams.
An injury in the Houston Texans backfield could once again shift the dynamics in their rushing attack. Running back Ben Tate has left Sunday's Steelers vs. Texans tilt with a groin injury.
Tate had spelled Arian Foster at times this season while the Texans' feature back dealt with injury. With Foster back, Tate was still expected to get double-digit touches as a change of pace back. With his questionable return, that is now in doubt.
@HoustonTexans
Houston Texans RB Ben Tate has left the game with a groin injury. His return is questionable. #Texans
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For fantasy football players, the Texans backfield remains something to keep an eye on. And if Foster re-aggravates an injury, things could get really interesting.
Cam Newton scored a one-yard rushing touchdown on the first play of the second quarter to make it 7-10 in Chicago. Chicago got on the board when D.J. Moore intercepted Newton and returned it for a score. Prior to that Chicago used the ground game on a drive that ended with a field goal.
On the next Chicago drive, Matt Forte scored a touchdown on a 17-yard run to make it a 17-10 Bears’ lead.
Chicago has leaned on the run hard today. Forte has seven carries for 85 yards and a touchdown. Marion Barber has two carries for 12 yards, and even Jay Cutler scrambled for two yards on Chicago’s first offensive drive, which featured all running plays.
Cutler has just one pass, a 15-yard strike to Roy Williams, through nearly seven minutes worth of possession. Carolina will be looking to their rookie quarterback to pull them back into the game.
Follow all the action from week four in the NFL in this story stream.
Dez Bryant continues to show signs that his quadriceps injury is behind him. The second-year receiver made a nice leaping 25-yard touchdown catch to give the Dallas Cowboys a 7-0 lead over the Detroit Lions on Sunday.
Bryant was listed as questionable before the game, but was declared fit and given the start. Judging by the way he worked his way around Lions cornerback Chris Houston on the catch, he looks to be doing just fine.
Bryant has been battling injuries much of the year, but now has two touchdowns and seems well on his way to having a third quality game. He did miss the Week 2 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers, but has managed to make eight catches so far this year.
Despite making just two starts a year ago, he still managed to make six touchdown grabs and rack up 561 yards on 45 carries. He appears well on his way to surpassing those numbers this year.
For the latest updates on Week 4 of the NFL, be sure to follow this StoryStream.
It looks like the Steelers could really use linebacker James Farrior if they are going to have a chance this afternoon against the Texans. Farrior left the game in the first quarter with a "stinger," according to the Houston Texans official Twitter account. The good news for the Steelers is that Farrior is expected to return.
The Steelers defense struggled on the Texans first possession of the game, a methodical 11-minute drive in which running back Arian Foster carried the ball nine times for 41 yards. The drive led to a led to a touchdown and a 7-0 lead.
The Steelers run defense is allowing 85 yards a game, currently good for 23rd in the NFL. This season Farrior had 12 tackles and a sack through three game. Sunday, he already had two tackles in the first quarter.
For more on the Steelers, check out the SB Nation blog Behind the Steel Curtain. For more on the Texans, head over to Battle Red Blog.
Can you believe it's already Week 4? We have a full slate of games today, including a couple of unlikely unbeatens putting their records to the test during the early games with Detroit traveling to Dallas and the Bills going to Cincinnati.
The late games feature a couple of gems, as well, including a potential shootout in Oakland between the Raiders and Patriots. Stay tuned for the Sunday night contest between the Jets and the Ravens.
Here's the Week 4 schedule:
1:00 p.m. (ET)
Carolina Panthers vs. Chicago Bears
Buffalo Bills vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Tennessee Titans vs. Cleveland Browns
Detroit Lions vs. Dallas Cowboys
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Houston Texans
New Orleans Saints vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Minnesota Vikings vs. Kansas City Chiefs
San Francisco 49ers vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Washington Redskins vs. St. Louis Rams
4:05 p.m. (ET)
New York Giants vs. Arizona Cardinals
Atlanta Falcons vs. Seattle Seahawks
Denver Broncos vs. Green Bay Packers
New England Patriots vs. Oakland Raiders
Miami Dolphins vs. San Diego Chargers
8:20 p.m. (ET)
Rex Ryan will make his triumphant return to the place he called "home" for ten years when the New York Jets meet the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. As with any another game week Ryan couldn't let this one go by without getting his digs in, reminding the Ravens that his team has gone to the AFC Championship game the last two years while the Ravens have fallen short.
"Now, we haven't won the AFC championship game, but we've got there two years in a row. The Ravens haven't. So you can throw that one right back at them as well."
For those keeping score, however, the Ravens currently own the last laugh, having beaten the Jets in their last meeting in the 2010 season opener. Offensively and defensively both teams match up nearly identically. Both offenses share a predilection towards a run-heavy philosophy whenever possible, but both aren't afraid to trust the arms of their improving young quarterbacks if need be. See: 48 and 44 pass attempts for Joe Flacco and Mark Sanchez respectively last week.
And, of course, both teams define themselves defensively more than anything else. The Ravens are allowing just 84 yards a game on the ground behind a stout defensive front led by DT Haloti Ngata and LB Ray Lewis. Perhaps more importantly they have found a pass rush behind a rejuvenated Terrell Suggs, who has four sacks through three games. The Jets have disappointed against the run, allowing 136 yards per game early on. The secondary, led by Darrelle Revis, is outstanding once again, however, with the unit picking off five passes to just two touchdowns allowed this season.
The Ravens enter the game as 3.5-point favorites, though don't count on the Jets taking any notice. Ryan knows that if his team wants to take that one step further into the Super Bowl, it will need to prove itself in games like this. No matter what, you should expect an emotional, physical game from both teams.
Game Date/Time: Sunday, October 22; 8:20pm ET
Location: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD
TV Schedule
NBC
TV Distribution Map: The506.com
Radio Schedule
Ravens: 98 Rock, WBAL-1090 AM
Jets: 1050 ESPN
For more on the Ravens head over to Baltimore Beatdown. For more on the Jets, check out Gang Green Nation. Follow all of the action of Week 4 in football at SB Nation NFL.
Surprisingly, both the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns both sit at 2-1 after three weeks of play. Neither is widely considered to be a legitimate playoff contender, but someone has to leave this game with a 3-1 record, and at that point, they're instantly part of the conversation.
Both Colt McCoy and Matt Hasselbeck looked impressive last week, but they could stall in Week 4. While neither of these teams has an elite defense, both have done a good job limiting their opposition's passing yards thus far. Both teams have not been great at stopping the run, however, so expect both teams to try to run the ball. Peyton Hillis is just coming back from injury and Chris Johnson has struggled to start the year, but both could have big days.
Game Date/Time: Sunday, October 1, 1:00 P.M. ET
Location: Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
TV Schedule
CBS
Announcers: Marv Albert, Rich Gannon
TV Distribution Map: The506.com
Radio Schedule
Titans: WGFX 104.5 FM
Browns: WMMS 100.7 FM
For more on the Titans, check out Music City Miracles. For more on the Browns, check out Dawgs By Nature. Follow the rest of Week 4 at SB Nation NFL.
The New Orleans Saints continue their quest for a division title against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, and the Saints are heavy favorites going up against a rookie quarterback making just his second career start. David Garrard was cut in preseason and Luke McCown has been benched, meaning that the reigns have already been handed over to rookie Blaine Gabbert. He avoided big mistakes in Week 3 against Carolina, but still looks very much like a rookie.
He has a spectacular running back behind him in Maurice Jones-Drew, and he'll make life tough on the Saints. Though Drew Brees and the Saints offense should be able to put up enough points that MoJo's numbers don't matter, they'll still have to come up with a gameplan to contain him.
Game Date/Time: Sunday, October 2, 1:00 P.M. ET
Location: EverBank Field, Jacksonville, Florida
TV Schedule
National: FOX
Announcers: Sam Rosen, Chad Pennington
TV Distribution Map: The506.com
Radio Schedule
Jaguars: WYGM 740 AM
Saints: WWL 870 AM
For more on the Jaguars head over to Big Cat Country. For more on the Saints, check out Canal Street Chronicles. Follow the rest of Week 4 of the regular season at SB Nation NFL.
After a narrow loss on the road last week, the Houston Texans will look to rebound at home this week against the Pittsburgh Steelers. It's a tall order, a team that is still looking for its first ever playoff appearance against last year's AFC champs.
The casual observer would never know that the Texans have been without last season's rushing leader Arian Foster for all but a few snaps this season. Ben Tate has more than 300 yards filling in for Foster, and the Texans are one of the league's five best rushing teams thanks to a physical style of play. Foster returns to action this week.
Pittsburgh struggled against the Colts in prime time last week. The offensive line had few answers for the pass rush, and Ben Roethlisberger was sacked three times. He already has four interceptions on the season after throwing just five picks all last season. Despite that, he needs just three more touchdown passes to have 150 in his career.
Offensive struggles aside, the Steelers defense has been its usual stingy self. Dick LeBeau's pass defense is allowing a league-low average of 164 yards per game average and just 263 total yards per game, second-best in the league. That should make for a great matchup against a Texans team averaging more than 400 yards of offense per game.
Game Date/Time: Sunday, October 2, 1:00 p.m.
Location: Reliant Stadium, Houston, TX
TV Schedule: CBS
Announcers: Greg Gumbel, Dan Dierdorf
Get the complete week 4 NFL schedule here. For more on the Steelers, check out Behind the Steel Curtain. For more on the Texans, check out Battle Red Blog.
Ron Rivera's return to Solider Field is a much heralded event. Rivera, now the head coach of the Carolina Panthers, was unceremoniously dismissed as the Bears defensive coordinator after the 2005 season, when the Bears lost the Super Bowl to the Colts. Rivera was with the Bears the last time they went to the Super Bowl in 1985, and he isn't one to downplay the significance of his return.
Some people would say it's just another game; no it's not. They're all big, but this has a little personal meaning for me because it's Chicago.
With all due respect to Rivera, the big story in Carolina is rookie quarterback Cam Newton. Icon and entertain, Newton proved to be a pretty good football, passing for more than 400 yards in his first two games and earning his first win last week.
The Bears are a team nearing crisis. Quarterback Jay Cutler is on pace to sacked a record number of times this season, assuming he makes through the rest of the year healthy. After topping the Packers for the NFC North title last year, Chicago is sitting at 1-2 with little more than finger pointing to show for their season so far.
Game Date/Time: Sunday, October 2, 1:00 p.m.
Location: Soldier Field, Chicago, IL
TV Schedule: Fox
Announcers: Thom Brennaman, Brian Billick
Check out the entire week 4 NFL schedule here. For more on the Panthers, head over to Cat Scratch Reader. For more on the Bears, check out Windy City Gridiron.
Tom Brady and the New England Patriots average a stunning 540 yards of offense per game. Brady's 1,327 passing yards are the most by anyone in NFL history over three straight games. Despite that, Brady looked all too human last week in the Patriots' loss against the Bills. His four interceptions last week matched his season total from last year.
Oakland is running wild on the ground thanks to NFL rushing leader Darren McFadden. The Arkansas product has 393 rushing yards on the season and three touchdowns. He scored twice last week and ran for 171 yards as the Raiders upset the Jets. Oakland is averaging 185 rushing yards per game.
Raiders defensive end RIchard Seymour did not want to be traded to Oakland in 2009. Though he has been mostly quiet about the rematch with the team he played for eight seasons, he will relish the chance to exact a little revenge by adding to his 2.5 sacks collected so far this season.
Game Date/Time: Sunday, October 2, 4:15 p.m.
Location: O.com Coliseum, Oakland, California
TV Schedule: CBS
Announcers: Kevin Harlan, Solomon Wilcots
View the complete NFL week 4 schedule. For more the Patriots, check out Pats Pulpit. Check out Silver and Black Pride for the Raider fans' view.
After playing a pair at home, Buffalo takes the biggest surprise in the NFL on the road this week. The Bengals dropped a close one to the 49ers last week in Cincinnati, in front of the smallest crowd for a Bengals' home opener in thirty years. A win over the upstart Bills might help bring a few more fans to the stadium.
Many wonder if the Bills are not susceptible to the classic trap game this week, after a stunning comeback win against the New England Patriots last week. Comebacks have become a way of life for the Bills; last week's comeback win made them the first time in NFL history to erase an 18-point deficit for two consecutive wins.
Bengals rookie quarterback Andy Dalton struggled last week. He completed 17 of 32 passes for 157 yards and a 40.8 quarterback rating.
Game Date/Time: Sunday, October 2, 2011, 1:00 p.m.
Location: Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, OH
TV: CBS
Announcers: Andrew Catalon, Steve Tasker
Check out the complete NFL week 4 schedule here. For more on the Bills, head over to Buffalo Rumblings. For more on the Bengals, check out Cincy Jungle.
Dallas gutted out a big win on Monday night against Washington. Tony Romo and DeMarcus Ware hope to ride that momentum into a tough matchup against the Detroit Lions.
Both team bring high-powered offenses to the field. Detroit and Dallas are both averaging more than 400 passing yards per game. Detroit wide receiver Calvin Johnson became the first player in NFL history to have at least two receiving touchdowns in his first three games of the season.
Dallas will be looking to pass rusher DeMarcus Ware to hassle Matt Stafford. Ware leads the NFL with five sacks, and now has 85 sacks through his first 100 career NFL games. He is second only to Hall of Famer Reggie White, who totaled 105 sacks in his first 100 games. Detroit has their own sack specialist in second-year defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.
Game Date/Time: Sunday, October 2, 2011, 1:00 p.m.
Location: Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, TX
TV Schedule: Fox
Announcers: Troy Aikman, Joe Buck
View the complete NFL Week 4 schedule here. For more on the Cowboys, visit Blogging the Boys. Check out Pride of Detroit for all things Lions.
To almost no one's surprise, the St. Louis Rams are off to a 0-3 start. The trouble is, Sunday's game against the Washington Redskins was identified as their first really winnable game and it no longer looks quite as winnable.
Rex Grossman has continued to look less awful than many predicted he'd be, even after the Redskins perfect start was derailed by a late loss to the Dallas Cowboys last week. Grossman has largely been able to avoid the crippling mistakes that have defined his career up until this point, as he's completed just around 60 percent of his passes, thrown for at least 250 yards and tossed at least one touchdown in every game this year. His three interceptions are more than he'd like, to be sure, but one a game is hardly the end of the world.
Based on the early returns, the Rams defense shouldn't give him too much more trouble. They are allowing more than 425 yards and 32 points per game, all reasonably well distributed throughout their three games.
Game Date/Time: Sunday, Oct. 2, 1 PM
Location: Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Mo.
TV Schedule
National: Fox
Announcers: Chris Myers, Tim Ryan
TV Distribution Map: The506.com
Radio Schedule
Redskins: ESPN 980
Rams: WXOS (101.1 FM)
For more on the Redskins head over to Hogs Haven. For more on the Rams, check out Turf Show Times. Follow the rest of Week 4 of the regular season at SB Nation NFL.
It's pretty safe to say there weren't many people who looked at this game in the preseason and figured it would be the San Francisco 49ers heading in with a better record than the Philadelphia Eagles. Of course, this is the NFL were parity rules and surprises are around every corner.
Michael Vick has so far garnered more attention for his complaints about lack of protection from NFL referees than he has for his play and the Eagles find themselves at 1-2 after two straight losses. On the plus side, they are piling up yardage, especially on the ground where they are averaging 182 yards per game. The big problem has been a defense that has allowed an average of 25.7 points, including 64 points in the past two weeks.
The 49ers haven't necessarily looked good compiling a 2-1 record, but coming off the kind of recent history they've seen, they are surely not worrying too much about how they got here. It should be at least somewhat concerning that they are averaging a paltry 213.7 yards per game.
Game Date/Time: Sunday, Oct. 2, 1 PM
Location: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pa.
TV Schedule
National: Fox
Announcers: Ron Pitts, Jim Mora Jr.
TV Distribution Map: The506.com
Radio Schedule
49ers: KNBR/BONE
Eagles: 94WIP
For more on the 49ers head over to Niners Nation. For more on the Eagles, check out Bleeding Green Nation. Follow the rest of Week 4 of the regular season at SB Nation NFL.
Eli Manning has improved every week this season and last week had a real breakout game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The New York Giants quarterback tossed four touchdowns and was an economical 16-of-23 for 254 yards while leading the way in a 29-16 romp over their division rivals. For a quarterback who's been loudly questioned despite a Super Bowl ring and solid career numbers, a performance like this can only serve to help bolster his standing.
The test this week against the Arizona Cardinals does not look as tough on paper, but road games are never easy. Even after allowing just 171 yards to the rather awful Tavaris Jackson last week, the Cardinals are still allowing an average of 275 passing yards per game. They would seem ripe for torching by Manning.
On the positive side, the Cardinals continue to get solid performances from Kevin Kolb. In three games he's thrown for 812 yards and five touchdowns, including a impressive back-pedaling strike to Larry Fitzgerald last week. They'll be hoping running back Beanie Wells is back after missing last week's game.
Game Date/Time: Sunday, Oct. 2, 4:05 PM
Location: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz.
TV Schedule
National: Fox
Announcers: Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, Tony Siragusa
TV Distribution Map: The506.com
Radio Schedule
Giants:
Cardinals:
For more on the Giants head over to Big Blue View. For more on the Cardinals, check out Revenge of the Birds. Follow the rest of Week 4 of the regular season at SB Nation NFL.
Hard to say who's 0-3 start is worse between the Minnesota Vikings and the Kansas City Chiefs. While the Vikings have blown big leads in all three of their games, the Chiefs have lost by an average of more than 27 points. Safe to say, no one really envies either fan base right now.
Of the two, the Vikings seem more capable of possibly turning this into a respectable season, but they'll need to stop coughing up leads. Last week they were up 20-0 before falling 26-23 to the Detroit Lions in overtime. In Week 2, they were up 17-0 before losing 24-20 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Just for good measure, they were also up 17-7 at halftime before losing to the San Diego Chargers in Week 1.
After giving up 89 points in their first two weeks, last week was at least a step in the right direction for the Chiefs. They never led against the Chargers, but at least the 20-17 loss looked respectable and Matt Cassel easily had his best game of the year, tossing a pair of touchdowns and completing 15 of 22 passes.
Game Date/Time: Sunday, Oct. 2, 1 PM
Location: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Mo.
TV Schedule
National: Fox
Announcers: Gus Johnson, Charles Davis
TV Distribution Map: The506.com
Radio Schedule
Vikings: KFAN/KTLK
Chiefs: KCFX-FM 101.1
For more on the Vikings head over to Daily Norseman. For more on the Chiefs, check out Arrowhead Pride. Follow the rest of Week 4 of the regular season at SB Nation NFL.
The Denver Broncos, 1-2, will take on the undefeated Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Sunday. Coming off a loss to the Matt Hasselbeck-led Tennessee Titans, the Broncos will be considered significant underdogs against an explosive Aaron Rodgers-led offense.
First things first for the Broncos will be getting healthier across the board. DE Elvis Dumervil, CB Champ Bailey and LB D.J. Williams could all return this week, providing a massive boost to the defense. Unfortunately the offense should still be without Demaryius Thomas and Eddie Royal, and is still dealing with a gimpy Knowshon Moreno. Even when healthy, it's tough to imagine the Broncos' offense keeping up with a Packers' offense ranked fifth in the league scoring 33 points per game.
Of course, injuries were a major issue for the Packers this time last season, too. Their relatively good health this season makes them an easy favorite to make a repeat trip to the Super Bowl. Starting with Jermichael Finley, who missed nearly all of 2010. Finley is arguably the best tight end in the game right now, with Antonio Gates struggling to overcome a foot injury. Finley is coming off a monster game against the Bears, catching seven passes for 85 yards and three touchdowns. When paired with a receiving corps filled with deep threats, Finley's size and athleticism makes him a pitch-pefect red zone target.
The Packers are 13-point favorites according to the oddsmakers, and there is plenty of reason for the big line. A win by a hamstrung Broncos squad would be considered a major upset in a young NFL season. With the Packers coming off an important win over the Bears, the possibility of a letdown is there, however.
Game Date/Time: Sunday, October 2; 4:15pm ET
Location: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI
TV Schedule
CBS
TV Distribution Map: The506.com
Radio Schedule
Packers: WTMJ, Statewide Radio Network
Broncos: AM 850 KOA, KJMA 92.1, KMXA 1090
For more on the Packers head over to Acme Packing Company. For more on the Broncos, check out Mile High Report. Follow all of the NFL Week 4 action over at SB Nation NFL.
The San Diego Chargers won last week, but considering they entered the game as 15-point favorites, their three-point win over the Kansas City Chiefs can be seen as somewhat of a disappointment. The Miami Dolphins simply looked bad, losing 17-16 despite outgaining the Cleveland Browns 369-280 in total yardage. Both teams have played well at times, but mistakes have kept them from living up to their full potential in the early going.
The Chargers had to hold off a late comeback attempt from the Chiefs despite dominating the game statistically. Philip Rivers struggled with two interceptions and no touchdowns while Antonio Gates sat with a nagging foot injury. Ryan Mathews had a big day, at least, racking up 98 yards yards and two touchdowns in the win. Still, there has to be some concern in San Diego as the Chargers, despite being 2-1, look much like they did last year: Great on paper but disappointing on gameday.
The Dolphins are 0-3 despite an offense that has performed better than expected. The team ranks in the top half of the league in both rushing and passing yards per game. The recent emergence of rookie Daniel Thomas has to be considered extremely encouraging as well. Unfortunately, they rank in the bottom half on defense, giving up over 104 yards rushing and 311 yards passing per contest.
The Chargers should be favored comfortably. The game is in San Diego and the team still has hopes for the Super Bowl, which is more than the Dolphins can say at this juncture. The Chargers haven't looked that different from the team that missed the playoffs last year, however. To change that peception, they will need to start putting teams away with emphasis, something they can accomplish this weekend.
Game Date/Time: Sunday, October 2; 4:15pm ET
Location: Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, CA
TV Schedule
National: ESPN
TV Distribution Map: The506.com
Radio Schedule
Chargers: KIOZ 105.3 FM, KLSD 1360 AM
Dolphins: WBGG, WINZ
For more on the Chargers head over to Bolts From The Blue. For more on the Dolphins, check out The Phinsider. Follow all Week 4 NFL action over at SB Nation NFL.
The Atlanta Falcons will take on the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink field in an early battle of the birds. Both teams are 1-2 on the season, though on paper this should be the Falcons' game to lose.
Coming off a 13-3 regular season record in 2010, the Falcons are hoping to contend for a Super Bowl. Those hopes have been tempered somewhat by the slow start, especially last week's 16-13 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Still, an offense featuring Matt Ryan, Roddy White, Julio Jones and Michael Turner should be one of the league's best, even if they haven't brought it every week quite yet.
The Seahawks made the playoffs last year, though with a 7-9 record no one is talking Super Bowl just yet. Still, last week's win over the Arizona Cardinals was encouraging, even if it wasn't exactly impressive. The offense struggled once again, racking up just 261 total yards behind another shaky performance from Tarvaris Jackson and mediocre output from the running game. The defense stepped up in big way, however, holding Arizona to 10 points and forcing two interceptions.
Atlanta will be the favorite in this game, though in front of raucous Seattle crowd it would be foolish to count the Seahawks out, especially now that they finally have some wind in their sails.
Game Date/Time: Sunday, October 2; 4:05pm ET
Location: CenturyLink Field, Seattle, WA
TV Schedule
FOX
TV Distribution Map: The506.com
Radio Schedule
Seahawks: 710 AM ESPN, 97.3 FM KIRO
Falcons: AM 790 The Zone, STAR 94.1
For more on the Seahawks head over to Field Gulls. For more on the Giants, check out The Falcoholic. Follow all Week 4 NFL action at SB Nation NFL.
Tony Romo Brushes Off Jerry Jones As Cowboys Blow Lead
by Joel Thorman
The Dallas Cowboys have had a weird season. They blew a 14-point fourth quarter lead for the first time in franchise history in Week 1, went to overtime and won in Week 2, kicked a fourth quarter field goal to win in Week 3 and now, in Week 4, blew a 24-point second half lead against the Detroit Lions.
After the Week 3 game, Tony Romo was praised as a "gutsy" quarterback who led the Cowboys to victory despite rib and lung injuries.
It's pretty amazing how quickly things can change.
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Oct 03 12:07p