#NFL2022 - Week 4 in Review

Welcome to the Week in Review. LOL Brittania!








[TNF] Miami Dolphins @ Cincinnati Bengals


The Narrative: It’s a battle of “it wasn’t a fluke”: The Dolphins look to prove their defensive throttling of Buffalo wasn’t just an outlier. The Bengals look to show that their first two lackluster weeks were the fluke and their handling of the Jets (Where Joe Burrow was mostly untouched) was the real them.

There’s also the creeping question that maaaybe Tua should sit out this game, as he looked rather “Um.. Concussion Protocol plz?” out there at times..


The Outcome: And the horrifying sight of Tua lying on the ground, basically in rictus, should cost more people their job than the “unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant” that evaluated Tua and cleared him for action.

I’ve often said that Mike and Kyle Shannahan running out a clearly-injured RGIII in 2012 (basically costing him his career) should’ve been a fireable offense. Every member of the Dolphins coaching and medical staff should miss a check for every game Tua misses, minimum. And for once, I have to disagree with Bomani Jones, who said he cuts the team and coaches slack, as they were going by the word of the aforementioned (and now-fired) consultant.

Sometimes you have to go by the eyeball test, and watching him in the Buffalo game said “Dude’s hearing bells. Sit him and live to fight another day.”


And the Tua near-tragedy took all the focus away from the Bengals coming back around to form: Joe Burrow was sacked just once (with three QB hits) and found his deep ball (Hitting Tyler Boyd, Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase with 35+ yards passes).


Teddy Bridgewater held his own in relief of Tua, throwing for 193 and a TD playing for most of the second half. They’ve already stated Bridgewater will be under center @ the Jets next week. Probably longer. Good luck to him and Tua.


Bengals 27, Dolphins 15


[London] Minnesota Vikings @ New Orleans Saints


The Narrative: Another London game that looked good on release day turns to Meh by the time Gameday comes around. Well-traveled vet Andy Dalton gets the start for the Whodats, subbing for injured, largely-ineffective Rapey McCrablegs. The Vikes are what they are (And what they keep swearing they aren’t, year after year).


Speaking of; Does this count as a prime time game?


The Outcome: Wasn’t the cleanest game ever, but our friends in the UK were treated to a competitive, down-to-the-last-play affair, where Will Lutz double-doinked a 61-yard game-tying attempt as time expired. Justin Jefferson snapped out of his mini-slump, gaining 147 yards on 10 catches. Dalton came in for 236 and a TD on 20/28 passing.

The Saints offense still looks for all the world like a roster built to compensate for Drew Brees’ limitations, not one with any sort of identity of it’s own. I don’t know if this Saints team is capable of taking the lid off the offense and going deep, no matter who’s under center. No Michael Thomas or Alvin Kamara didn’t help, to be sure.


And our boy, Kirk, was okay in quasi-prime time (25/38 for 273, 1 and 1).


Vikings 28, Saints 25



Cleveland Browns @ Atlanta Falcons


The Narrative: It’s a battle of top five rush attacks and replacement QBs as league leading rusher Nick Chubb goes against #3 Cordarrelle Patterson. First one to 24 wins.


The Outcome: The Falcons decided to party like it was 1979 and beat Cleveland at their own game, rushing for 202 team yards. Patterson (9-38, 1 TD) was third on the team behind Tyler “Who” Allgeier (10-84) and Caleb “Who-er” Huntley (10-56, 1 TD).. Marcus Mariota had 19 total attempts (139 yards with a pick). His counterpart, Jacoby “This is one long tryout for someone else in 2023” Brissett, had 234 yards and a pick. Nope, not a single passing TD to be had. In 2022.

Nick Chubb went 19-118 and a score in the losing effort.


Eight games left until the REAL hate for the Browns can begin!


Falcons 23, Browns 20


Washington Deadnames @ Dallas Cowboys


The Narrative: Cooper Rush and #DemBoyz look to continue the hotstreak vs. a Washington team falling apart figuratively and literally. Dallas hasn’t allowed a 200+ yard passer so far, and Carson Wentz is no Tom Brady or Joe Burrow.


The Outcome: Slow and steady wins the race again for Dallas. Rush had 223 and 2 scores on 15/27 passing and has yet to have a turnover.Michael Gallop had two catches for 23 yards, including a 9-yard score, in his return from injury.


Lost in the glow of Rushamania is the Dallas D’ putting in work: They haven’t given up a 20-pt game all season and haven’t surrendered more than 17 in their current win streak.. They pushed Carson “Remember when I was a legit MVP candidate?” Wentz into his worst performance of the young season (25/42 for 170, 1 TD, 2 INTs, QBR of 23.3).


Here’s how “no hope” the Deadnames are: Thanks to a horrible 22-yard Bryan Anger punt, Washington had a 1st-and-10 on the Dallas 30. Even with a defensive holding call giving them a first on the Dallas 11, they walk away with no points (Turnover on downs). In fact, here’s how their possessions went after a FG pulled them to 15-10: punt, T.O.D., INT, T.O.D., end of game.


Dallas starts a stretch next week that will define their season: a two-game road swing to the defending champs (Whom they haven’t beaten since they returned to LA) and Philly followed by a home game vs. a Lions team likely hungry for a big road upset (and capable of getting it). And THAT gets followed up by a two-game NFC North road swing to Green Bay and Minnesota. Dak looks to return in the midst of that run. While Rush’s limited upside means there’s no question Dak will retake the starting job, the calls for Rush will not doubt start the moment Dak stumbles.


Also #FuckDanSnyder. #SellTheTeamAlready


Cowboys 25, Commanders 10


Seattle Seahawks @ Detroit Lions


The Narrative: “Take Us Seriously” is the name of the game. Neither team looks to be world beaters at the moment, but “respectability” is (or should be) an attainable goal.


The Outcome: The good news for Seattle. They got the win. Geno Smith looked as good as he ever has (320 and 2TDs). Rashaad Penny had an equally big game on the ground (17-151, 2TDs).

The bad news? Their defense got carved up by a Lions team missing several key offensive starters (including D’Andre Swift and Amon-Ra St. Brown). Jared Goff finished with 378 and 4 TDs.

But a win’s a win and the Seahawks ain’t giving this one back.


Seahawks 48, Lions 45 (SCORIGAMI!)


Tennessee Titans @ Indianapolis Colts


The Narrative: Two AFC South title contenders (with iffy QB play) looking to get out of second gear. Neither team has shown anything consistent enough to hang their hat on.


The Outcome: Ryan Tannehill lives to start another day! Granted, he was there seemingly to keep the Colts defense honest and away from stacking the line vs. King Henry (22-114, 1 TD). Win or lose, Tannhill is a couple more performances like this (17/24 for 137) from being Malik Willis’ backup.


Matty Ice had his best game as a Colt in the loss, hitting 10 different receivers en route to a 356 yard, 2 TD day. But the Horsies shot themselves in the foot repeatedly in keeping up with a Titan team ripe for the picking. Two Colt fumbles led directly to 14 Titan points and a third (recovered) fumble snuffed out a Colts red zone trip.


It’s telling about how weak the AFC South is that, at 1-2-1, the Colts are still well in the thick of things in the division.


Tians 24, Colts 17


Chicago Bears @ New York Giants


The Narrative: The “Justin Fields Is A Bust” watch is on in earnest. Saquon Barkley and the Giants continue to show they’re to be taken seriously.


The Outcome: The Giants played the second half without Daniel Jones (ankle) and the fourth quarter without backup Tyrod “Still Employed” Taylor (concussion protocol)


The Bears still couldn’t beat them.


The Bears couldn’t stop the Giants rushing attack (262 total yards, including 68 ad 2 scores from Jones and 146 from Saquon Barkley). The Bears couldn’t generate any offense against a defense daring Justin Fields to beat them (126 of Fields’ 177 yards passing came on four catches). It it Fields’ lack of pro-level ability? Is it bad coaching? Is it bad skill players?

At this point, “All of the above” seems like the most likely answer. Something they’re going to need to sort out if they want to salvage anything out of Fields.


Giants 20, Bears 12


Jacksonville Jaguars @ Philadelphia Eagles


The Narrative: 2022 might as well be subtitled “Urban Meyer Was Worse Than We Thought” as far as the Jags are concerned. Jalen Hurts and the Eagles are piling up wins ahead of the big Week 6 divisional face off with Dallas.



The Outcome: For all the talk of Hurts’ big plays, it’s the Iggles’ defense that’s doing the heavy lifting, forcing five turnovers out of Trevor Lawrence (4 fumbles and an INT) and putting the clamps on James Robinson and Travis Ettienne (a combined 61 yards on 16 carries).

And yet, the Jags were within one score for most of the game. Hard to say whether or not (or how much) the heavy rains helped or hindered either team.

We’ll see what the young Eagles are made of when they have their first true test of the season¹ when they travel to the desert for an afternoon tiff with the Cardinals. Hurts vs. Murray sounds like fun, NGL.


Eagles 29, Jaguars 21

1. Yes, I am dismissing Minnesota. What of it?

New York Jets @ Pittsburgh Steelers


The Narrative: It’s pretty much understood that showing progress is more of a priority for the J-E-T-S (Same! Old! Crap!) than wins and losses. Especially when it comes to QB Zach Wilson. And this is probably Mitchell Trubisky’s last chance to show he can move the ball and score points. The Steelers can do bad with the young guy.


The Outcome: We’ve switched Pittsburgh’s Mitch Trubisky with Kenny Pickett. Let’s see who notices!




That’s that ol’ New QB spark!


Coach Omar Epps has avoided immediately announcing the switch to Pickett. He should REALLY consider also replacing OC Matt Canada. His game plans are as basic and vanilla AF; As if Najee Harris is the only skill position player he actually had confidence in.


Mike Tomlin has never had a losing season as Steelers HC. They’re gonna have to act fast to keep that from changing this season. (Hell, by mid-November).


Jets 24, Steelers 20.


Buffalo Bills @ Baltimore Ravens


The Narrative: It’s a heavyweight showdown between what are arguably the two early MVP favorites Josh Allen and RB8.


The Outcome: Once again, rain robbed us of seeing two of the leagues best go truly toe-to-toe. The Nevermores had the Bills 20-3 late in the second quarter, then proceeded not to score again. Tied at 20 late in the 4th, RB8 was picked off on a 4th-and-goal try by Jordan Poyer, resulting in a touchback that gave the Bills the ball at their 20, rather than the 4 had the pass gone incomplete.

One clock-eating drive later, Tyler Bass kicks it true from 21 and the Ravens squander their second 20-pt lead of the season (having lost the Miami shootout in similar fashion).


The win did cost the Bills WR/KR Jamison Crowder, out indefinitely with a broken ankle.


Methinks “White Dante¹” rises a couple of notches on the MVP meter.

Bills 23, Ravens 20

1. $1 to Bomani Jones for the Josh Allen nickname.

Los Angeles Chargers @ Houston Texans


The Narrative: The names on the jerseys change, but the aura of suck remains for both teams.


The Outcome: Oh, Austin Eckler. He’s still a thing, right? Eckler scored 2 rushing TDs on 13-60 rushing, interfering with the Charger coaching staff’s efforts to cripple Justin Herbert. ¹


Dameon Pierce continues to be a low key bright spot for the scrappy Texans, rushing for 131 yards, including a 75-yard scoring run. Get this bunch a real WR1² and they might be able to do some things.


Chargers 34, Texans 24

1. If you can’t trust Chase Daniel to handle the Texans, why have him on the roster? Let Herbert heal!
2. Like the one they traded for a stick of gum a couple of years ago...

Arizona Cardinals @ Carolina Panthers


The Narrative: The Cards look to keep piling up wins ahead of their usual second half swoon (Seriously: The Cards under Kingsbury and Murray don’t warrant attention until at least late October). The seat under Matt Rhule keeps getting hotter and hotter. As it should (When the offense looks identically bad under multiple QBs, the problem’s probably not the QBs).


The Outcome: I can’t imagine how PJ Walker feels right about now. The guy in front of you is playing like THIS:




And they’re not even thinking about pulling him for you.


As Christian McCaffrey says to himself “I put myself through rehab for this?”


Cardinals 26, Panthers 16



New England Patriots @ Green Bay Packers


The Narrative: Discount Double Check continues his quest for a legacy outside of That One Super Bowl. The Pack continues their quest to find their WR1. Bill Belichick seems to be getting surlier and saltier with every setback his team suffers (This time losing Mac Jones to injury (again)). And I’m here for it. #TeamFuckDarthHoodie


The Outcome: Did I say “Losing Mac Jones?” I meant “Losing Mac Jones AND Brian Hoyer.”


Hoyer got knocked out of the game on the Pats’ second drive, leaving things up to rookie Bailey Zappe (yes, really)¹


Seriously, folks; I can’t figure out how the Packers didn’t win by 20, let alone got dragged to OT. Even with Rodgers’ atrocious first half (4/11 for 44, with a pick-six)

1. Fourth-rounder out of Western Kentucky #GoHilltoppers

Packers 27, Patriots 24 (OT)


Denver Broncos @ Las Vegas Raiders


The Narrative: Will the Broncs #LetRussCook. At this point, the question might be “Can they cook at all?” At this point, the Raiders are only behind the Chargers and Browns on the “Deserves All The Bad Things” hierarchy.


The Outcome: The Bronco’s offensive incompetence reached legend status on Sunday. With the exception of Amik Robinson’s fumble return TD, every Broncos possession was a scoring drive or a three-and-out.

Guys, you don’t pay a QB $200 mil just to make the guy he replaced look like Elway in his prime.

Meanwhile, the Silver & Black just said “Fuck It” and fed the ball to Josh Jacobs, who repaid the confidence with 144 yards and 2 scores.


Raiders 32, Broncos 23


[SNF] Kansas City Chiefs @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers


The Narrative: At this point, the Chefs seem to be fighting the perception that the Bills (and possibly Ravens) have surpassed them than any of their opponents. Also at this point: I estimate the ratio of “Fans Cheering For Brady to Turn It Around” and “Fans Cheering For Brady to Crash And Burn” is 1::1.



The Outcome: Patrick Mahomes is a Madden Build-A-Player given flesh.




And I was stunned to see Brady threw for 385 and 3 scores. Because to the naked eye, Brady looked downright pedestrian. Maybe it was because he got those stats via pure attrition , as the Bucs just completely abandoned the run (six rushing attempts for the game. AS A TEAM).




Is this the year Father Time finally catches TB12? It’s still early, but you can hear the footsteps.


Chiefs 41, Buccaneers 31

[MNF] Los Angeles Rams @ San Francisco 49ers


The Narrative: The bloom is fully off the Niner rose. Can they turn it around and get back on the winning track or are they just another stepping stone for the Rams to defend their crown?



The Outcome: Okay, do y’all suck or nah?

I’m talking to both of you!


But seriously, L.A.: Re-sign OBJ. The Allen Robinson experiment has been a capital-B Bust and no one else has stepped up to be Cooper Kupp’s #2. Tyler Higbee has been solid at the TE slot, but this team needs someone to take the top off of defenses.


Niners 24, Rams 9 (Undercard: Bobby Wagner 1, Streaker 0)