Patriots going undefeated? First roadblock ahead ...
It's Week 4 and the NFL already is nearing its quarter point of the season. Before we dive in, enjoy thes:
- Our list of the 50 best broadcasters in NFL history.
- Antonio Brown is still on Twitter. Eric Weddle has had enough.
- Week 4 picks: Can Saints hand Cowboys their first loss?
- Perfection in a picture: Gardner Minshew meets Uncle Rico.
- JLo & Shakira at the Super Bowl? Yes, please. And here's top acts since 2000.
Now for a closer look at the action:
Week 4's best and brightest
About last night: Eagles 34, Packers 27 -- Philadelphia picked up a huge road win, doing so by gouging Green Bay's defense for 176 yards rushing. Nigel Bradham's interception in the end zone in the final minute preserved the win for the Eagles. The game wasn't without its scary moments, as Packers RB Jamaal Williams and Eagles CB Avonte Maddox both were taken off the field on a stretcher.
Quick look at Week 4:
- Game of the Week: Dallas Cowboys at New Orleans Saints -- There could be a lot of #points scored in this one, as the Saints have allowed more than 300 yards passing a game this season. Dak Prescott already has passed for 920 yards and nine touchdowns this season.
- Sneaky-Good Game of the Week: Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals -- Russell Wilson on one side, Kyler Murray on the other. That sounds like fun!
- Sunday Ticket Game of the Week: Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens -- Cleveland got all the preseason hype, but it's been Baltimore that's been the most impressive AFC North squad. The Browns are entering a pivotal juncture in their season.
- Survivor Pool Game of the Week: Los Angeles Chargers at Miami Dolphins -- The Dolphins are barely trying and, as a result, are making life easy for those participating in survivor pools. Full disclosure: The previous picks have been been the Ravens (Week 1), Texans (Week 2) and Vikings (Week 3).
- Potential Roadblock No. 1 to 16-0 for Patriots: New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills -- Just look at the Patriots' schedule, there are perhaps five potential obstructions to a perfect regular season. The first of which comes against the 3-0 Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y.
- Dud of the Week: Jacksonville Jaguars at Denver Broncos -- This game's only redeeming quality is that the mustachioed Gardner Minshew II will be playing in it.
TOP PICS: Eagles-Packers | Cheerleaders | NFL at 100
Week 4 essentials: Picks, rankings and more
- Week 4 picks: Paste BN Sports' panel of experts has provided fans with the great public service of making prognostications for every NFL game this weekend.
- Power rankings: See how each team stands entering Week 4. You might be able to predict which teams are rated No. 1 and No. 32.
- Backup QB rankings: Which teams have the best contingency plans if/when their starting quarterback gets hurt?
- Inside the Cowboys' gameplan meeting: A Friday get together between Dallas OC Kellen Moore and QB Dak Prescott is proving vital. The planning meeting has the Cowboys' offense running on all cylinders.
- Dumbfounded in D.C.: The Washington Redskins are 0-3. And they are 139-183-1 since Dan Snyder purchased the team in 1999. Our Mike Jones wonders if there is a light at the end of the tunnel for the Burgundy & Gold.
- Russell Wilson opened doors for Kyler Murray: When Murray was measured at the same measurements as Wilson, drafting him wasn’t such a gamble anymore.
- Browns' season hangs in the balance: After an offseason of hype, the Browns are a disappointing 1-2. It's up to Baker Mayfield and Freddie Kitchens to turn things around, writes Mike Jones.
- Mayfield fires back at Rex Ryan for 'overrated' jab: Mayfield had his own zinger ready when the former NFL coach and current ESPN analyst took a swipe at the Browns QB.
- Cowboys using 3 letters to prep for Teddy Bridgewater: The Cowboys D won't face Drew Brees this week, but three letters are fueling their game plan for Bridgewater.
- Ravens star: We 'got tired' of hearing Browns hype: Earl Thomas and his Ravens teammates weren't impressed by all the hype Cleveland received heading into the seson.
- Patrick Mahomes along can't get Chiefs a Super Bowl title: The Chiefs are piling up yards and points, but all that production will mean little if Kansas City doesn't claim the title, writes Jarrett Bell.
- Mike Leach's influence spreading in NFL: Leach's quarterbacks often led nation in passing yards in college but seldom stick in the NFL. Is that about to change?
- Secret deodorant trolls Buccaneers kicker: After Matt Gay missed a potential game-winning field goal on Sunday, Secret ran an ad featuring Carli Lloyd that trolled him.
Fantasy football: Get your lineup right
As always, we're here for you, helping you out with your most important weekly decision: Setting that fantasy football lineup.
- Fantasy rankings for Week 4: For your convenience, these position-by-position rankings were updated for this week's games.
- Fantasy things to know for Week 4: Listen up, especially if you've jumped on the Danny Dimes bandwagon. Can Daniel Jones have a big day against the winless Redskins?
- Waiver wire: If you're not actively investigating which players are available, you're doing fantasy football wrong. Here are some players who -- if not already on somebody else's team -- you should consider picking up.
- Studs, duds and sleepers: Here we examine players with good matchups (Will "The Thrill" Dissly), bad matchups (T.J. Hockenson) and non-stars you might want to consider starting (Vernon Davis).
- Fantasy QB rankings for Week 4: From No. 1 (Patrick Mahomes) to No. 30 (Joltin' Joe Flacco), see how the quarterbacks stack up from a fantasy perspective.
- What does Melvin Gordon's return mean? Not much for Week 4, but the end of Gordon's holdout will have a profound impact if you've been riding that Austin Ekeler fantasy train.
- Sizzlers and fizzlers: Consider this your weekly fantasy football stock report.
Week 4 schedule
(All times Eastern)
Bye week: New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers
Thursday
Sunday
Tennessee Titans at Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Washington Redskins at New York Giants, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Los Angeles Chargers at Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Oakland Raiders at Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Carolina Panthers at Houston Texans, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Kansas City Chiefs at Detroit Lions, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m. (CBS)
New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Los Angeles Rams, 4:05 p.m. (FOX)
Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals, 4:05 p.m. (FOX)
Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears, 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
Jacksonville Jaguars at Denver Broncos, 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
Dallas Cowboys at New Orleans Saints, 8:20 p.m. (NBC)
Monday
Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers, 8:15 p.m. (ESPN)
#NFL100
As the NFL celebrates its 100th season, we are unveiling our all-time 100 lists:
- Greatest players ever for every team: The Paste BN Sports Network unveils the best players for each NFL team.
- 100 greatest teams in league history: 1962 Green Bay Packers. 1972 Miami Dolphins. 1985 Chicago Bears. 1994 San Francisco 49ers. 1999 St. Louis Rams. 2013 Seattle Seahawks. 1920 Akron Pros. Which is the greatest ever?
- Greatest players ever by jersey number: From No. 00 Jim Otto to No. 99 J.J. Watt, these are the best players at 100 different uniform numbers.
- Greatest players from HBCU programs: The HBCU schools have a storied history and have produced many Pro Football Hall of Famers. These are the 100 greatest NFL players from HBCU programs.
- 100 biggest draft busts ever: The NFL draft has an extensive history of top picks who would only be remembered as busts.
- NFL's best and worst uniforms ever: Throughout the NFL's history, there have been some fantastic uniforms, and there are some that have been widely scorned.
- 100 greatest fantasy football performances: Going all the way back to its humble origins in 1962, these are the best fantasy seasons ever produced.
NFL Facebook group: Join now!
If you love talking football (and who doesn't, amirite?), we have the perfect spot for you. Join our Facebook Group, The Ruling Off the Field, to engage in friendly debate and conversation with other football enthusiasts and our NFL insiders.
Life at the bottom
You've come this far, so this is your reward. Here are the halftime performers for every Super Bowl since 2000.
Enjoy your football-filled weekend!
Want to keep this conversation going? Head to Facebook, and/or give a Twitter follow to your friendly neighborhood football guy who put together this newsletter, @jimreineking.