Best NFL Games This Week | Week 4
This NFL season is really proving to be a doozy so far. With teams like the Philadelphia Eagles flying high and the Minnesota Vikings not having won yet, it’s become difficult to predict what will happen in any particular game.
This weekend promises to be no different, with a number of fantastic matchups ahead of us as teams seek to either continue their forward momentum of turn their seasons around. Let’s have a look at what’s in store for us.
Miami Dolphins (3-0) at Buffalo Bills (2-1) - Sunday Oct 1, 1:00pm ET
Who would have thought that the Miami Dolphins would be tied for top spot in the NFL after 3 games? With quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in the form of his life, Miami have won games against the Los Angeles Chargers, the New England Patriots, and last weekend absolutely destroyed the Denver Broncos 70-20.
Scoring 70 in a game is a rare feat in the NFL, and Tagovailoa’s arm was the key, throwing for 4 touchdowns and completing 23 of his 26 passes. After an indifferent season last year, he really is showing why he has been so hyped up in his career.
Their acquisition of Tyreek Hill from Kansas City in March 2022 has finally come good, with the 6-time Pro Bowl wide receiver playing excellently in their wins so far this season. If the Dolphins are going to seriously challenge for a Super Bowl this season, he will be key to their chances.
However, they come up against a Buffalo Bills side this weekend that have roared back after losing their first game to the New York Jets. Impressive victories over the Las Vegas Raiders and the Washington Commanders (winning 37-3 in the latter) have steadied the ship somewhat, and they will be looking to upset the high-flying Dolphins.
In their favor is the form of Stefon Diggs, who caught for 111 yards in their win over the Commanders. His pace and trickery opens up channels for other receivers and Josh Allen’s famous running ability more than most wide receivers in the league, and he will be crucial in this game.
Another interesting aspect of this game is the leaky Dolphins defense. Despite trouncing the Broncos, they did let in 20 points, and they have shown a weakness at the back. Josh Allen will be licking his lips at the opportunity to exploit it, and the result will hinge on that particular battle more than any other.
New England Patriots (1-2) at Dallas Cowboys (2-1) - Sunday Oct 1, 4:25pm ET
In this battle of two of the most famous and well-followed teams in the NFL, the Dallas Cowboys host the New England Patriots this Sunday.
The Cowboys have won 2 of their first 3 games, but they suffered a disappointing loss last time out against an Arizona Cardinals side that wasn’t expected to provide much of a threat. Their 28-16 loss exposed cracks in their defense that previously looked impregnable, especially in their 40-0 demolition of the New York Giants in Week 1.
Tony Pollard did rush for 122 yards against the Cardinals in the only bright spot for Dallas, and his powerful running will be key against the Patriots if they want to bounce back immediately.
Quarterback Dak Prescott will also be hungry to show that his interception and poor completion percentage against Arizona was just a blip, and he has generally been in fine form for the past year or so. Expect a reaction this weekend.
New England, on the other hand, have lost 2 of their first 3 games, but those losses have come against the unbeaten Miami Dolphins and Philadelphia Eagles. Their 15-10 win against the New York Jets in their previous game showed more of what they can do, especially on the defensive end.
However, quarterback Mac Jones has not played well so far, and even in their win against the Jets only threw 15-29. He did throw for a touchdown, but he will need to be much more accurate if he wants to cause damage to this Cowboys defense that will be fired up after their lacklustre performance against Arizona.
Kansas City Chiefs (2-1) at New York Jets (1-2) - Sunday Oct 1, 8:20pm ET
After a shocking loss on opening night to the Detroit Lions, the Kansas City Chiefs have turned it round in the past two weeks. They have won games against the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Chicago Bears, and their strong defense from last year has returned with a bang.
Obviously, at the heart of their team is superstar quarterback and face of the league Patrick Mahomes. Their Super Bowl win last year was in large part down to his brilliance, and he has been terrific in the last two games, throwing for 272 yards and 3 touchdowns against the Bears in particular.
Their matchup this weekend is an away game at the New York Jets, who have recently lost huge summer signing Aaron Rodgers to injury for the whole season. If he had been fit, this would have been a fascinating matchup against two of the most notable quarterbacks in the league, but as it stands, the Jets will field last season’s quarterback Zach Wilson.
The Jets have actually played much better than their 1-2 record suggests, with a massive win over the Buffalo Bills in Week 1 being followed by disappointing losses to the Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots. However, we can definitely say that they have had a tough start, and they will likely provide stubborn opposition to Kansas this weekend.
It is undeniable, though, that the Chiefs will go into this matchup as clear favorites. Their attacking creativity and versatility should prove too much for a Jets defense that let in 30 points against the Cowboys. It’s also hard to imagine Wilson fooling the Kansas defense enough to cause much damage.
Although we did say the same about the matchup between the Chiefs and Lions, and look how that turned out.
Author: Dan Anderson