Vikings Claim Top Spot During Week Four Drama
In the week that saw the Pittsburgh Steelers host a party in Ireland, it was the Vikings fans in Green Bay, Wisconsin who were celebrating a “rub of the green.” The two teams were taking on the Indianapolis Colts and the Green Bay Packers respectively to secure a pristine 4-0 record. Outside of those games, a number of notable injuries occurred that will put some team’s ambitions on hold. Elsewhere, Baker Mayfield has started to settle and emerge as leader for the Bucs.
Steelers Sunk by Colts
The Steelers were outfought in all facets of the game during the first half of their clash with the Colts: their offense failed to fire and the dynamic defense that had helped them win their first three games were outmuscled and outsmarted by both Anthony Richardson and Joe Flacco. The twenty-two year old Richardson and the thirty-nine year old Flacco threw for 239 yards combined and three touchdowns. Justin Fields recovered the Steelers offense and rehabilitated the team with three touchdowns in three possessions: the mistake by Center/QB in their fourth drive seeking the winning score encapsulated this outing. The Steelers are now 0-2 in their Irish watchalongs: will next year be a case for third time lucky? Fields has started to find a rhythm with the offense that may bear fruit.
Colts 27 Steelers 24
Vikings Outlast Packers
The Vikings overcame a late surge from the Green Bay Packers to go 4-0 (Yeah, yeah, tone it down Kev!) They became the in-form team in NFL thanks to a blistering start from Sam Darnold and a rampant Vikings offense. The Vikings raced into a 28 point lead, thanks to three scoring passes from Darnold. He outshone his returning counterpart Jordan Love: who returned from a two game break with an injured MCL. His return was encouraging: throwing for 389 yards and four touchdowns. It was all a little too late: and the Vikings will travel to London with a perfect record.
Packers 29 Vikings 31
Chiefs Ambitions Take Hit
Rashee Rice’s knee injury overshadowed the Kansas City Chiefs’ win over the LA Chargers. Patrick Mahomes threw for 245 yards and one touchdown. When Rice went down he joined the injured Hollywood Crown and Isiah Pacheco: thus heightening the pressure on early season starlet Xavier Worthy. Justin Herbert, again playing through the pain barrier, did his best to complete sixteen of his twenty-seven passes: for 179 yards and one touchdown. It will take the most of Andy Reid’s most dynamic plays to keep the Chiefs on the road to their coveted Three-peat.
Chargers 10 Chiefs 17
Mayfield Steals the Headlines
Baker Mayfield confirmed himself as the main man for the Buccaneers: The Austin, Texas native threw for 347 yards and two touchdowns against an Eagles’ defense powerless to stop him. When not forced to spend time defending comments made about Tom Brady’s impact on the Bucs, Mayfield may now be reaching a maturity and level of consistency that will hopefully see him create the headlines for all of the right reasons.
Eagles 16 Buccaneers 33
It was yet ANOTHER week of drama, chaos and excitement in the NFL: fans of all teams have begun to acknowledge their respective team’s weaknesses and to appreciate their strengths. Here’s hoping that next week brings fewer injuries for the athletes that bring us such enjoyment and evoke such passions! Roll on Week Five!