Week 4 of the NFL season has been a proper treat. The Buffalo Bills made the Miami Dolphins' offense look tame. There were close finishes abound, including a thrilling OT win for the Philadelphia Eagles to remain undefeated. There were also some, uh, less impressive games. The Atlanta Falcons and Chicago Bears could use some soul-searching.
It's still early, but not that early. Teams are starting to run out of that excuse. The Bears aren't struggling out of the gates, for example. They're struggling. The Philadelphia Eagles aren't off to a strong start. They're really freakin' good.
As we canvass the league for another round of winners and losers, bear in mind that simple truth. With each passing week, signs turn into facts and trends become mathematical proof. We are approaching the point where you have to get comfortable with your team, for better or worse.
NFL Week 4 winner: Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs
When the Buffalo Bills lost to the Cincinnati Bengals in the playoffs, Stefon Diggs famously yelled at Josh Allen on the sideline and stormed out of the arena after the game. There were doubts about his future with the team and his connection with Allen. There were even doubts about Buffalo's ability to remain in contention amid such discord.
Well, those doubts were overblown. The Bills are fine. Buffalo routed the high-flying Miami Dolphins on Sunday afternoon, 48-20, with Allen completing 21-of-25 passes for 320 yards and four touchdowns. Three of those touchdowns went to Diggs, who caught 6-of-7 targets for 120 yards. Diggs essentially outscored the Dolphins.
The Bills have won three straight after that disheartening Week 1 loss to the Aaron Rodgers-less Jets. Buffalo is very much alive, and don't look now, but those pesky Bengals are falling apart. My, how the times change.
NFL Week 4 loser: Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase
Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase made beautiful music at LSU. Over the last few years, they have made beautiful music in Cincinnati. The Bengals fell to 1-3 on the season with an ugly 27-3 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, however, and the once sacred connection at the heart of the Bengals' offense felt more fractured than ever before.
It was another pedestrian game for the never-pedestrian Chase (seven receptions on nine targets for 73 yards). Burrow was operating at dumpster-fire levels once again, completing 20-of-30 passes for 165 yards.
The calf injury is the real culprit here. Burrow hasn't suddenly forgotten how to play football, but the Bengals were supposed to contend this season. It's hard to contend after a 1-3 start.
After the game, Chase's frustration when talking to reporters was visible.
Cincinnati is running out of time to figure this out. It may be time to let Burrow rest and chalk up 2023 to a disappointing gap year.
NFL Week 4 winner: Jake Elliott
Is there a more reliable leg in football?
Jake Elliott, the ultimate pro at kicker, aced a 54-yard field goal in overtime to seal the Philadelphia Eagles' 34-31 victory over the Washington Commanders. The kick moves Philadelphia to 4-0, the first team in the NFL to reach that mark. The Dolphins' loss today means there isn't a single undefeated team left in the AFC.
NFL Week 4 loser: Chase Claypool
The Chicago Bears granted Chase Claypool's trade request after his combative Week 3 comments to the media. The deep threat has been entirely ineffective in the Bears' offense (four receptions on 14 targets) and he was quick to blame the coaches.
A Week 4 battle with the equally ghastly Denver Broncos isn't the best litmus test, but the Bears' first week without Chase Claypool went rather swimmingly on offense. The team managed 471 total yards, with Justin Fields completing 28-of-35 passes for 335 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception. Addition by subtraction?
Claypool has tainted his reputation in league circles and the offense — coincidentally or not — looked a thousand times better as soon as he was left on the inactive list. The Bears still managed to choke away the lead and drop to 0-4, but at least the offense showed signs of life.
NFL Week 4 winner: C.J. Stroud (and Texans' defense)
C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans are 2-2 after a stunning and unexpected blowout of the Pittsburgh Steelers. There are other factors at play, including a Kenny Pickett injury in the second half, but the Texans are looking increasingly threatening under new head coach DeMeco Ryans.
Stroud has been the best offensive rookie in football. He completed 16-of-30 passes for 306 yards and two touchdowns, finding a fruitful connection with Nico Collins (seven receptions for 168 yards and two scores). All the hubbub about that football I.Q. test looks mighty ridiculous in hindsight. It's still early, yes, but Stroud has strung together four admirable performances out of the gate. That's not common for a rookie QB.
Houston's defense also held the Steelers to six points. Most of the blame will fall on Pittsburgh OC Matt Canada, but the Texans' defense put constant pressure on the QB after a week of conversation around how much pressure Stroud would face from Pittsburgh's front line. How the tables turn...
NFL Week 4 loser: Desmond Ridder
The man is not good. Plainly speaking, the Atlanta Falcons have the worst QB in the NFL right now. At least Justin Fields can scramble on a bad day. Ridder looks stiff in the pocket, he's telegraphing throws, and he's far too reticent to chase big gains down the field. Either that, or he doesn't have the arm strength. Maybe it's both.
Atlanta finally has a good defense and there's no shortage of talent on the offensive end. Bijan Robinson is every bit the Swiss Army knife he was billed as. Drake London and Kyle Pitts are big, athletic targets. And yet, none of that really matters if the QB can't execute. The Falcons' entire apparatus is hamstrung until Ridder suddenly improves or a QB change is made.
The Taylor Heinicke buzz is growing louder and louder...
NFL Week 4 winner: Kyren Williams and Puka Nacua
The Los Angeles Rams beat the Indianapolis Colts in walk-off fashion on a beautiful dime from Matthew Stafford to Puka Nacua. The fifth-round pick continues to make Cooper Kupp feel irrelevant. That's not the case, of course, but damn is this kid good. He finished the game with nine receptions on 10 targets for 163 yards and a score.
It was also a big night for newly minted RB1 Kyren Williams, who received 25 carries to the tune of 103 yards and two touchdowns. With the Cam Akers era in the rearview mirror, the second-year back out of Notre Dame is primed for a significant sophomore leap and the status of fantasy football savior.
Los Angeles isn't the juggernaut of old, but there's quality young talent on the roster despite a shortage of draft capital following the high-spending Super Bowl era.