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NFL Week 4 winners and losers: 49ers gain momentum at perfect time originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
As September comes to a close, NFL teams are starting to understand themselves.
The fourth week of the 2024 NFL season has already brought several surprises, last-second surprises and more.
Here are all the winners and losers from Sunday’s Week 4 action:
WINNER: 49ers bounce back
After an embarrassing collapse last time out against the Rams, the 49ers returned to the win column. It wasn’t the prettiest loss, but it was a loss nonetheless as San Francisco beat the New England Patriots. 30-13 at Levi’s Stadium. Brock Purdy threw for 288 yards, a touchdown and an interception on 15-of-27 passing, while Jordan Mason rushed for 123 yards and a score on 24 carries.
There were some nervy moments for San Francisco on special teams and more injury concerns (Fred Warner, Jordan Elliott, etc.), but it was an important result to gain momentum heading into a tough stretch.
Jacoby Brissett and the running game completely lacked real penetration for New England as the offensive line’s woes persisted.
WINNER: The Vikings keep rolling
The Minnesota Vikings don’t stop winning.
Sam Darnold came out firing at Lambeau Field on Sunday as the Vikings took a 28-0 lead over the Green Bay Packers. Jordan Love, returning from a sprained MCL, helped the Packers get within 28-22 early in the fourth quarter. But Minnesota responded with a field goal to put the game out of reach and seal a 31-29 victory.
Darnold was 20 of 28 for 275 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. He now has 11 touchdowns in four games for the undefeated Vikings, who will travel to London next week for a date with the New York Jets. Love and the Packers are 2-2 after his four-touchdown, three-interception performance.
LOSER: The Eagles can’t stand the heat
He Philadelphia Eagles‘The season has ended in Tampa Bay in two of the last three seasons. It wasn’t over on Sunday, but it was another empty trip to Florida for the Birds.
The Buccaneers earned a 33-16 victory over the Eagles after taking a 24-0 lead in the first 23 minutes. Baker Mayfield finished the game with 347 passing yards and three total touchdowns as Tom Brady watched his successor slice and dice Philadelphia’s defense. Temperatures felt over 100 degrees during the close game.
Tampa Bay is now 3-1 and in sole possession of the NFC South lead, while the Eagles fell to 2-2.
WINNER: Bengals on the board, finally (AND JAGS?)
How much did the Cincinnati Bengals need him?
Joe Burrow and company earned their first win of the season on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. While it wasn’t technically a must-win, it might as well have been. Only one team in history (the 1992 Chargers) has ever started 0-4 and made the playoffs.
The Bengals held their own against the Panthers, who had just pulled off a surprise win in Week 3 under Andy Dalton. Burrow had 232 passing yards and two touchdowns in the 34-24 victory. With a game against the division rival Baltimore Ravens available in Week 5, the Bengals finally have some positive momentum.
LOSER: Offensive in New Jersey
It was difficult to get points and yards in the Denver Broncos vs. Jets.
In the end, the Broncos took a shocking 10-9 road victory. Rookie quarterback Bo Nix had -7 passing yards on 15 attempts at halftime, but the offense did enough in the second half to win. Nix finished 12 of 25 for 60 yards and a touchdown, but the Jets’ offense was even worse at a rainy MetLife Stadium.
Aaron Rodgers finished 22 of 42 for 225 yards, but three field goals were all the Jets could muster when Greg Zuerlein missed a 50-yard field goal in the final minute to seal the loss. Both teams are now 2-2 heading into Week 5.
WINNER: Who needs offensive touchdowns?
The Atlanta Falcons offense did not score a touchdown. The Atlanta Falcons still beat the New Orleans Saints 26-24.
Younghoe Koo kicked a career-high 58-yard field goal with two seconds left to secure the victory in what was a strange game. Atlanta scored its only touchdown on a muffed punt by Rashid Shaheed and a 47-yard pick-6 by Troy Andersen, and Koo added four field goals.
The Falcons are now 2-2, even with the Saints, as a battle with the division-leading Bucs looms in Week 5.
WINNER: Caleb Williams
It wasn’t a Jayden Daniels-type performance, but Caleb Williams did enough to quiet the noise.
He chicago bears The quarterback was 17 of 23 for 157 yards and a touchdown in Sunday’s 24-18 win over the Los Angeles Rams. It was a solid all-around performance for the Bears, who moved to 2-2. Matt Eberflus’ defense forced two turnovers and the offense didn’t turn the ball over.
For the Rams, the injuries are becoming too much to overcome. Sean McVay’s team is 1-3 with his old friend Matt LaFleur and the Packers visiting SoFi Stadium in Week 5.
LOSER: Cardinals suffer revenge
Former Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury returned to Arizona and helped the Washington Commanders put on a clinic in an impressive second consecutive victory. Rookie Jayden Daniels turned in another efficient passing game, going 26 of 30 for 234 yards, one touchdown and one interception, along with 47 rushing yards and a score on eight carries.
Brian Robinson Jr. added 101 rushing yards with a score, while RB2 Jeremy McNichols added two more rushing touchdowns.
Arizona, meanwhile, mustered little to nothing as Kyler Murray was held to 142 yards on 16-of-22 passing for a touchdown, which went to rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. The Cardinals need more conviction against healthier opponents.
LOSER: Last three quarters without goals
He The Angels chargueros found themselves in a strong position with a 10-0 first quarter lead at home against the Kansas City Chiefs. But solidity is not enough when Patrick Mahomes is on the other side.
Kansas City ended up coming back to win 17-10 as Los Angeles failed to score in the final three quarters. In-form Justin Herbert completed 16 of 27 passes for 179 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions, while JK Dobbins struggled on the ground with 32 yards on 14 carries.
Travis Kelce had his best game of the season after a worrying start, recording seven catches for 90 yards while Kareem Hunt became RB1 with 14 carries for 69 yards. The Chiefs are one of the few undefeated teams left at 4-0.
WINNER: Win without stars
The Raiders entered a matchup against the Cleveland Browns without their two best players on both sides of the ball. Davante Adams and Maxx Crosby were missed due to injuries, but Las Vegas came out ahead with a 20-16 victory after losing to the Panthers last time out.
DJ Turner and Tre Tucker put up valiant scores on their only rushing attempts of the game as Gardner Minshew struggled, although Deshaun Watson wasn’t much better.
Watson threw for 176 yards on 24-of-32 passing with one touchdown and one interception while Jerry Jeudy stood out with six receptions for 72 yards. Jerome Ford had 58 rushing yards on 10 carries, but most of that came on one play late in the fourth quarter.
