The unofficial quarter mark of the 2024 season brings a couple of 4-0 groups touring wildly other paths, a renewed competition between two of the league’s banner franchises, the yr’s first London tour, trade speculation and extra.
Our NFL writers Mike Sando, Zak Keefer and Jeff Howe talk about a few of Occasion 5’s easiest storylines and what they’re gazing for Sunday.
The Expenses are coming off a humbling highway loss at Baltimore. The Texans bounced again in opposition to the Jaguars ultimate future however had to triumph over consequences and likewise wanted C.J. Stroud’s overdue heroics. What do you assemble of this matchup between 3-1 groups?
Sando: I’ve favored the Expenses greater than I’ve favored the Texans this season and have a tendency to bias them right here. Buffalo isn’t the primary nutritious crew to lose heavy in opposition to Baltimore.
Keefer: The Expenses indisputably aren’t the primary contender to get abashment through Lamar Jackson and the Ravens (see: the Lions and 49ers ultimate season). I’m keen to put out of your mind this one. The Texans’ problems are relating to. On govern of having routed in Minnesota in a duel Stroud and the offense couldn’t get anything else going, ultimate future’s slender victory over a winless Jaguars crew wasn’t all that reassuring. One primary sickness: offensive consequences. The Texans top the league with 26 accredited consequences up to now — the order false-started 3 times in a row in opposition to the Vikings — and total, the crew has dedicated 40 consequences in simply 4 video games. That’s how groups lose video games on this league, regardless of how proficient the roster. DeMeco Ryans must get this wiped clean up, and speedy.
Howe: We expected the Texans taking a step ahead this season. A part of that occurs through proceeding to do what you probably did neatly a season in the past, and that’s profitable alike video games. So age the Texans don’t have a marquee blowout win on their resume but, their 3 victories are through a mixed 12 issues. They received six in their ultimate seven one-possession video games ultimate season, in order that’s a plus. It’ll be great to peer how they maintain the sort of heavy take a look at, too. The Texans were given blown out through the Vikings of their simplest assembly with a crew that recently has a profitable document, they usually weren’t overly examined throughout the 2023 common season. If the Texans win, this can be a duel they are able to book onto as they push into January, realizing they are able to remove i’m sick an AFC elite. With the Expenses, they almost certainly were given a slight too a long way forward of themselves then that Monday evening beatdown of the Jaguars. I’d be expecting them to go back to mode in opposition to Houston.
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The Chiefs, who meet the Saints on Monday evening, are taking everybody’s easiest shot however nonetheless profitable. How a lot does huge receiver Rashee Rice’s trauma have an effect on them? What do you assemble of the protecting champion’s season up to now?
Sando: Rice used to be a high-volume, low-air-yards manufacturer, however no longer truly a game-changing pressure on this offense as built. The Chiefs’ intensity suffers, however I don’t essentially see them changing into much less fertile via this trauma isolated.
Keefer: I indisputably suppose this makes issues more difficult for an offense that’s nonetheless sputtering a bit of. The Chiefs is also 4-0, however they’re 4-0 through the surface in their enamel, profitable every through one rating or much less, and scoring fewer issues in every successive future. A bit of just like the Patriots within the Invoice Belichick-Tom Brady heyday, Kansas Town appears to be the use of the early a part of the season to determine issues out, particularly on offense, assured that it’ll iron out the problems through the week January rolls round. Travis Kelce, when he’s no longer blanketed through double groups, remains to be a game-changing weapon, and Xavier Significance — who up to now is the quickest participant within the league, in step with Upcoming Gen Stats, averaging a most velocity of 15.85 mph — provides them a goal who can pressure safeties deep. Taking the Saints on this one, despite the fact that.
Howe: On paper, Rice could be the Chiefs’ maximum indispensable offensive participant with out the Mahomes surname. It’s a profusion fritter away. However will it subject? Mahomes and the Chiefs have proved greater than able to turning it on simply lengthy plenty to maintain no matter disaster they come across, whether or not it’s self-inflicted or from an opponent. They’re worse on paper with out Rice. They’ll want others to play games above expectancies. Their margin of error has shriveled. We’ve heard all of it prior to, and the Chiefs conserve getting via it. Issues may just get uneven within the shorten time period, despite the fact that.
The Jets and Vikings meet in London. The place is Sam Darnold for your quarter-mark MVP ballot? What’s the greatest worry for the Jets at the moment coming off an unsightly house loss to the Broncos?
Sando: I don’t suppose Darnold is making standout performs to hold his crew to victory, so I haven’t revealed him as an MVP candidate up to now. But when he one way or the other stayed on era for 44-plus landing passes and the Vikings saved profitable, we’d must re-examine, needless to say. As for the Jets, retaining Aaron Rodgers wholesome might be the most important worry. Rodgers took some heavy hits in opposition to Denver and may just remove extra in opposition to the Vikings.
Keefer: Darnold’s a pleasant tale however the MVP chatter turns out untimely. Josh Allen is extra deserving, and through the top of the season, it wouldn’t amaze me if Lamar Jackson made a powerful case to move back-to-back. He regarded that nutritious Sunday evening. As for the Jets, I think like the primary while of the season hints at what’s to come back: a rocky season the place week-to-week consistency is withered to seek out. The Jets’ two wins are over two of the worst groups within the league — the Titans and Patriots — age their losses have been each unsightly and relating to; they have been routed through the 49ers in Occasion 1, after couldn’t beat a Broncos crew at house in Occasion 4 that used to be initiation a rookie passer who threw for 60 yards. Now they have got a 40-year-old quarterback in Rodgers with a sore knee who’s prepping to play games out of the country in opposition to a blitz-heavy protection. I don’t suppose it will get any higher for the Jets on Sunday.
Howe: Allen and Jackson have been the 2 easiest quarterbacks in September, so I’d get started with them and after filter out a tier i’m sick for Darnold, Baker Mayfield, Jared Goff and possibly two or 3 others who’ve briefly exceeded expectancies. With the Jets, I’m serious about their offensive identification. Rodgers has been nutritious in opposition to two wicked groups and mediocre in opposition to two decent-to-good ones. The offensive order wasn’t nutritious plenty in opposition to the Broncos, both for the go or run duel. And it kind of feels like there’s all the time some form of distraction, together with this future with the cadence tale. I think like a damaged document praising Brian Flores’ protection, however the Jets have a accumulation to triumph over to remove i’m sick the Vikings in London.
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The Colts and Jaguars meet in an AFC South hit. Would you get started Joe Flacco this future, although Anthony Richardson is wholesome? Would you hearth Doug Pederson if Jacksonville loses once more?
Sando: I’d get started Richardson if wholesome and after re-examine over an extended length of week. Relating to Pederson, a powerful group would keep the route via a coarse get started except the mentor had misplaced all credibility internally. This has no longer been a powerful group below proprietor Shad Khan. He turns out to perform extra like a fan than a seasoned government. We wish to see how the crew competes at the ground prior to announcing yet another defeat will have to top to wholesale adjustments. I might wish to see a non-competitive struggle prior to happening that highway.
Keefer: Richardson must play games. He’s nonetheless simplest 8 begins into his NFL occupation and confirmed some contract early in Sunday’s win over the Steelers. He used to be extra correct from the area, ridding his duel of the early season errors that buried the Colts in numerous spots in September. This season is all about reps for Richardson; so long as he’s wholesome, he must be at the ground, so in January this group has a greater sense if he’s the generation or no longer. As for Jacksonville, transferring on from Pederson isn’t the walk, although it loses Sunday to Indianapolis. Take into account: The Jags began 8-3 a yr in the past and have been within the operating for the AFC’s govern seed till Trevor Lawrence were given harm. He’s struggled since, however overreacting wouldn’t handover the younger quarterback neatly. What Pederson would possibly wish to do is break in play-calling tasks once more.
Howe: Richardson and the offense have been off to a pleasant get started prior to he injured his hip. If Shane Steichen believes that crew used to be at the verge of turning the nook, without or with Flacco, it shouldn’t also be up for debate that Richardson will have to be at the ground. However what if Steichen nonetheless has doubts, particularly that Jonathan Taylor’s early involvement helped the offense? If that’s the case, with Taylor’s ankle trauma, Steichen would possibly suppose it’s vital to present Flacco a shot to conserve the Colts within the playoff combine. That’s when the verdict will get a lot harder. As for the Jaguars, they’re in a wicked manner, however firing Pederson at the moment wouldn’t backup Lawrence in any way. Precedence Refuse. 1, shorten of a miraculous playoff push, is to get Lawrence into the most productive playground conceivable for 2025. We’ll see in January if Khan believes Pederson will have to be a part of that equation, however chopping ties previously — except it’s completely vital for bank room functions — can be overeager.
The Cowboys and Steelers remove heart level Sunday evening. Dallas is coping with key defensive accidents to Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence. Justin Farmlands will get started once more for a Steelers crew coming off a deflating loss. What intrigues you about this matchup?
Sando: I’m intrigued to peer how Farmlands fares in opposition to a depleted Dallas protection as Russell Wilson will get more fit. It’s a amusing storyline to observe just because reporting across the Steelers used to be so sturdy heading into the season about Wilson being the sunlit favourite to start out.
Keefer: I believe Sunday evening’s duel may just swerve the Cowboys’ season within the unsuitable course. Past their defensive liabilities, Dallas’ offense has had an excessively asymmetric four-game get started, and now it’ll see probably the most league’s maximum punishing defenses. Pittsburgh ranks first in third-down conversion fee (21.9 p.c) and defensive issues allowed (8.7 in step with duel). And Brandin Chefs received’t play games. A loss would let go the Cowboys at 2-3 heading into video games in opposition to the Lions and 49ers, the 2 groups that met for the NFC championship ultimate wintry weather.
Howe: Groups can run at the Cowboys, and the Steelers received’t say sorry for operating all duel and letting Farmlands be opportunistic in the course of the breeze. I’m additionally curious in regards to the Steelers protection. It allowed a league-low 26 issues via 3 video games however couldn’t ban Flacco and the Colts regardless of a number of probabilities. If the Colts uncovered one thing, I’m to peer if the Cowboys will observe swimsuit.
(Photograph of Josh Allen: G Fiume / Getty Photographs)
