Surprise, surprise, surprise. The NFL is full of surprises week after week. This week, the Lions erase a 24 point deficit to remain undefeated, while the “Dream Team” Eagles give up a 20 point lead to fall to 1-3. Here is what was HOT in Week 4.
The Good:
Aaron Rodgers Blows Up
Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers are on fire. While everyone has been vocally impressed with NFC North Division Rival Detroit Lion’s march to a 4-0 record, the defending Super Bowl Champions has been equally impressive in their 4-0 start thanks in large part to QB Aaron Rodgers.
Rodgers not only posted a career-high 408 yards passing, he tied a personal best tossing four touchdown passes and running in for two more scores. Rodgers is playing with plenty of confidence and barring any injuries, he will have his team primed to return to the Super Bowl.
Welcome Back Arian Foster
After missing last week with a hamstring injury, Houston RB Arian Foster came back in style by running for 155-yards on 30 carries and 1 touchdown. Foster missed Week 1 versus Indianapolis, only had 10 carries in Week 2 at Miami and missed Week 3 at New Orleans, but in Week 4 he did a number on the Steelers, a defensive unit that had only allowed two 100-yard rushers in its past 60 games.
More importantly for Foster, he emerged from the game healthy and ready to resume his rushing dominance the rest of the season, seeing as fellow RB Ben Tate, suffered an injury against the Steelers.
Matt Forte Making Sweet Music!
Who knew the Bears could run the ball this way? Matt Forte did! Forte carved up the Panthers defense by rushing for 205 yards on 25 carries and one touchdown. Forte also added four catches for 23 yards and is proving that he can do it all. The only thing missing is a new big fat contract.
On Monday, in an interview for ESPN Radio, Forte said,
“It’s always going to be a distraction because I’m not a robot; I’m human. I try to put it out of my mind sometimes. I go out every day on the practice or game field I’m focused on playing football, I’m not worried about that. But it is a distraction sometimes and you can’t help but think about it a lot.”
Word to the wise in Chicago, with the kind of season Forte is having, it’s probably a good idea to get a contract extension done soon.
The Bad:
St. Louis Rams Offensive Struggles
The Rams offense has regressed significantly this year. After this week’s performance in where the Rams only gained 172 yards of total offense against the Washington Redskins and only managing to put up 10 points late in the game, the Rams rank 27th in the league in total offense, what’s worse is that they rank 31st in points scored (46). That’s 11.5 points per game.
Sam Bradford‘s receiving targets are not helping out by dropping plenty of well thrown passes. The Rams have a bye this week but then come out of their bye week with road games at Green Bay and at Dallas, two very good defenses that could limit the Rams and further hinder their offensive growth.
Buffalo Bills Fall Back to Earth
Maybe the pressures of leading the AFC East and being undefeated were a little too much to handle for the Buffalo Bills. After taking a 17-3 half-time lead over the Cincinnati Bengals, and a 20-13 lead with 8 minutes left in the game, the Bills offense had two three and outs while the defense allowed the Bengals to score 10 points in the final 8 minutes of the game to drop the Bills out of the undefeated ranks.
With the Eagles and Giants next up on the schedule, the Bills have to make sure they can stand up to the pressure otherwise they will be staring 3-3 in the face.
And The Ugly:
Eagles 2nd Half Collapse
The Eagles fully dominated the San Francisco 49ers for three quarters, but like so many others in the NFL, blew a 20 point lead late in the game to lose 24-23. This so-called “Dream Team” needs a wake up call. Their only win has come against the 0-4 Rams.
Offensively, the Eagles can move the ball with the best of them sporting the forth ranked offense in the league, but their problems are coming on the defense side of the ball. In the past three losses against the Falcons, Giants and 49ers the Eagles defense has allowed 57 points in the second half. After adding Nnamdi Asomugha, Dominique Rodgers-Cromarti and Jason Babin to their defense, this unit was to be the least of the Eagles worries. So much for shut down defense!
Good Romo, Bad Romo
To steal a line from Forrest Gump, “Romo’s like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” Three weeks ago, Tony Romo was a goat in New York. For the past two weeks, he was the gritty tough hero, and for two and a half quarters on Sunday, Romo continued to be the heroic gunslinger until “Bad” Romo reared his ugly head. After helping the Cowboys build a 24 point lead, Romo threw three second half interceptions with two of them returned for touchdowns. Giving up an easy 14 points when you are up by 24 is a very bad thing.
Most of the blame for those interceptions falls squarely on Romo’s shoulders, but with a 24 point lead, head coach, Jason Garrett should have changed up the game plan and ran the ball with Felix Jones, Tashard Choice and DeMarco Murray to run time off the clock. Instead, the Cowboys gave up a historic 24 point lead to lose to Detroit 34-30.
