Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers got the ball rolling in Week 4 with a blowout win over the Chicago Bears. Seeing Rodgers throw for four touchdowns was just what the Packers wanted to see, though all the injuries they suffered took their tolls.
There are many good matchups on the schedule in Week 4. Some hot seats may get warmer depending on how games go, while other teams could continue staking their claim towards playoff spots through the first quarter of the season.
Here’s a look at 15 key questions for the rest of the NFL Week 4 slate.
1. Will the Giants finally get in the win column?
The Giants started out the season with back-to-back embarrassing losses, but they showed some signs of progress in Week 3. For starters, they actually found the end zone a few times. They also clawed their way back into a game they were losing 14-0 early. Had it not been for a 61-yard field goal from a rookie kicker, New York may be 1-2 right now instead of 0-3.
The good news for the G-Men is they play a Buccaneers team on Sunday that looked horrible against the Vikings, who were starting backup quarterback Case Keenum last week. The bad news is they’re on the road again, and winning on the road is always tough in the NFL. If the Giants can’t find a way to win, their chances of making the playoffs are history.
2. Can the Patriots’ defense get its act together?
Bill Belichick is known for being a defensive mastermind, yet his defense through the first three games of 2017 has been historically bad. The Patriots are dead last in the NFL in both points allowed (31.7 per game) and yards against (461 per game). Their offense has been good enough to compensate for the defensive ineptitude, but that isn’t a formula for long-term success.
Cam Newton and the Panthers come to Foxboro on Sunday. Carolina’s offense has been shaky this season. It would be a bad sign if the Patriots allow them to do what Kansas City, New Orleans and Houston did before them.
3. Will Cam Newton ever return to his MVP form?
Newton had a down year last season after he took home the NFL MVP award in 2015. He’s not the first player that has happened to, but he looks even worse through the first three weeks of the 2017 season. Newton, who underwent offseason shoulder surgery but insists he is healthy, has posted a passer rating of 69.7 over Carolina’s first three games. He has just two touchdown passes compared to four interceptions.
We just finished telling you how bad the Patriots’ have been on defense, and Newton gets to face that unit in Week 4. If he continues to struggle against a defense that has allowed 31.7 points and 461 total yards per game, Panthers fans should really start to worry.
4. Did the Ravens leave their foul stench in London?
Baltimore’s performance against the Jaguars in London last week was one of the worst in franchise history. After opening the season with impressive divisional wins over the Bengals and Browns, the Ravens were absolutely annihilated by the Jaguars, 44-7. Joe Flacco played the worst game of his career, completing just 8-of-18 passes for 28 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions.
With a home game against the rival Steelers in Week 4, the Ravens will have to prove they can leave an abysmal performance in the past. Their game against the Jags was one where you should just throw out all the game film and forget it ever happened.
5. Are the Bengals on the verge of total destruction?
The Bengals probably aren’t going to make the playoffs this season after their 0-3 start, but they have a potential get-right game against the Browns in Week 4. After not scoring a touchdown through their first two games, Andy Dalton and company were a big surprise last week when they led the Packers most of the game at Lambeau Field before losing in overtime last weekend. The results weren’t ideal, but there were plenty of things Cincinnati should be able to build off of.
A loss to the lowly Browns would all but guarantee that Marvin Lewis is finally going to lose his job, and he likely wouldn’t be the only one.
6. Is the Rams’ offense for real?
The 2-1 Los Angeles Rams have been one of the biggest surprises in the early part of 2017. They have averaged an NFL-best 35.7 points per game and are coming off a dramatic shootout win over the 49ers. With 31-year-old head coach Sean McVay calling the shots, second-year quarterback Jared Goff has a passer rating of 118.2 and has thrown just one interception in three games. Todd Gurley has also shown signs of returning to his rookie form. In Week 3, he eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark for the first time since 2015. If L.A. can find a way to keep it going at Dallas, McVay will be the early favorite for Coach of the Year.
7. Can Jameis Winston get his season on track?
The Buccaneers may have been thrown for a loop when a hurricane forced them to take their bye in Week 1, and they were able to beat the Bears in Week 2 despite Winston not playing his best. Last week, Famous Jameis was downright terrible in a 34-17 loss to the Vikings. Winston threw three interceptions and put his team in a tough position from the start. For a guy many picked as a breakout candidate with DeSean Jackson now at his disposal in addition to Pro Bowler Mike Evans, Winston is not off to the greatest start.
