What We Learned from NFL Week 4 Winners, Losers, Standouts

Week 4 of the NFL’s 2021 regular season included some close games filled with plenty of winners, some losers, and lots of truly exceptional standouts that we go over game by game.

For anyone who won big this week, congrats on making the right picks.

For everyone else, there’s always next week…good luck!

Winners

• Cincinnati Bengals: move to 3-1 and into a 3-way tie atop the AFC North with the Browns and Ravens
• Bengals QB Joe Burrow: got back-to-back wins for the first time in his two-season NFL career.
• Cincy tight end C.J. Uzomah: caught 5 passes for 95 yards and two touchdowns.
• Jacksonville’s rushing attack: three rushing touchdowns, RB James Robinson with two of those, QB Trevor Lawrence with the other.

Losers

• Jacksonville Jaguars: now 0-4 after losing their 19th game in a row.
• Jaguars’ defense: ranked 29th after allowing almost 29 points per game.

Standouts

• Bengals’ halftime offensive adjustments: they failed to score in the first half, so apparently those adjustments worked.
• Bengals’ rookie kicker (fifth-round pick) Evan McPherson: wins his second game of the season, also beat the Vikings in Week 1.

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Washington Football Team 34, Atlanta Falcons 30

Winners

• Washington Football Team: now 2-2 and in 2nd place of the NFC East.
• WFT quarterback Taylor Heinicke: clutch, with two late fourth-quarter drives.
• Washington star receiver Terry McLaurin caught 6 passes for 123 yards and 2 touchdowns.
• Falcons running back Cordarrelle Patterson: Despite the loss, posted a career-high three touchdowns, all on pass receptions from QB Matt Ryan, who threw for 4 TDs.

Losers

• Atlanta Falcons: move to 1-3 and remain in the NFC South basement.
• The Falcons offense and defense: both failed to make critical plays late in the fourth quarter.

Standouts

• This NFC battle: saw five lead changes in the game.
• Falcons Offense: scored 30 points and didn’t commit a single giveaway yet still lost the game.

Buffalo Bills 40, Houston Texans 0

Winners

• Buffalo Bills: now 3-1 and sit atop the AFC East
• Bills’ defense: forced 5 turnovers – four interceptions and a fumble.
• Buffalo run game: rushed for almost two hundred yards (199).
• Texans’ strong safety Lonnie Johnson: posted Houston’s only takeaway with an interception.

Losers

• Houston Texans: drop to 1-3 but stay tied for second place of the AFC South with the one-win Colts.
• Houston rookie QB Davis Mills: threw four interceptions in the game; he now has five on the season.

Standouts

• Bills fans: It was a rough, rainy day in Buffalo and those in attendance could not have cared less.
• Buffalo Defense: this was their second shutout in four weeks, the first in Week 2 when they beat the Dolphins, 35-0.

Chicago Bears 24, Detroit Lions 14

Winners

• Chicago Bears: won this NFC North showdown, now 2-2 and one game behind the Packers.
• Bears young QB Justin Fields: after getting humiliated by the Browns last week, he returns to Chicago and scores his first career win.
• Chicago running back David Montgomery: has a big day with 23 carries for 106 yards and two touchdowns.
• QB Jared Goff to WR Kalif Raymond: duo scored both Lions’ touchdowns.

Losers

• Detroit Lions: stay winless at 0-4, remain at the bottom of the NFC North.
• Bears on 3rd down: Chicago only managed to convert one of eight.

Standouts

• Bears D: posted 4 sacks in this one, now with 11 total on the season.
• Detroit QB Jared Goff’s knee: the snapped football bounced off it which caused a fumble that was recovered by the Bears.

Dallas Cowboys 36, Carolina Panthers 28

Winners

• Dallas Cowboys: now with a 3-1 record and atop the NFC East.
• Cowboys’ cornerback Trevon Diggs: posted two picks in this game, leads the league with five.
• Cowboys’ new defensive coordinator Dan Quinn: the man has changed the mentality of this Dallas defense
• Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold: rushed for two touchdowns.

Losers

• Carolina Panthers: take the loss and move to 3-1 but still rule the NFC South.
• Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold: flashed back to his former Jets self and threw two interceptions.

Standouts

• Cowboys’ Offense: managed to beat one of the top-3 defenses in league.
• Dallas QB Dak Prescott: leads the league in completion percentage (77.5).

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Indianapolis Colts 27, Miami Dolphins 17

Winners

• Indianapolis Colts: now 1-3 and tied for second in the AFC South.
• Colts running back Jonathan Taylor: carried the ball 16 times for 103 yards and a touchdown, averaging an impressive 6.4 yards a carry.
• Dolphins on Fourth Down: converted both attempts.

Losers

• Miami Dolphins: move to 1-3, still two games behind the Bills in the AFC East.
• Dolphins Rushing Attack: only managed 35 yards on the ground in this one.

Standouts

• Carson Wentz: played hurt (double ankle sprains) and still led the Colts to their first win of the season.
• Dolphins Offense: only scored a single field goal in the first three-quarters of play.

Cleveland Browns 14, vs Minnesota Vikings 7

Winners

• Cleveland Browns: won their third in a row, now 3-1 and tied atop the AFC North with the Bengals and the Ravens.
• Browns CB Greedy Williams: returned to active roster after sitting out last season with a shoulder nerve injury and picked off the highly accurate Vikings QB Kirk Cousins.
• Cleveland’s Two-Headed Rushing Monster: Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt combined for 35 carries for 169 yards and the team’s only touchdown on the day.

Losers

• Minnesota Vikings: start the season 1-3 for the second straight year.
• Vikings QB Kirk Cousins: hadn’t been intercepted / sacked all season, then along came the Browns with two sacks and a pick.

Standouts

• Browns HC Kevin Stefanski’s Big Return: this was his first time back to Minnesota since he used to coach there.
• Penalties: both teams committed seven penalties, costing the Browns 73 total yards and the Vikings 42 yards.

New York Giants 27 OT, vs New Orleans Saints 21

Winners

• Giants QB Daniel Jones: impressive play with a career high of 402 passing yards, 2 touchdowns, and a pick.
• Saquon Barkley: Giants dual threat back carried the ball 13 times for 52 yards and a TD plus caught 5 passes for 74 yards and another score.
• New York Receiver Kenny Golladay: led the team with 6 catches for 116 yards.
• Saints Backup QB Taysom Hill: ran for two of New Orleans’ three touchdowns.

Losers

• New Orleans Saints: drop to 2-2 and a game out of first in the NFC South.
• Saints Backup QB Taysom Hill: threw New Orleans’ only interception.

Standouts

• New York Pro Football Teams: both the Giants and the Jets got the OT win today, the first time that’s ever happened.
• Caesars Superdome: Saints finally play at home for the first time because of Hurricane Ida.

New York Jets 27 OT, Tennessee Titans 24

Winners

• New York Jets: now 1-3 but still at the bottom of the AFC East.
• Jets Wide Receivers: Corey Davis caught four balls for 111 yards and a touchdown and Jamison Crowder had 7 receptions for 61 yards and a touchdown.
• Titans RB Derek Henry: despite the loss still posted respectable stats – 33 carries for 157 yards and a touchdown.

Losers

• Tennessee Titans: lost in overtime, now 2-2 and still atop the AFC South.
• Titans Placekicker Randy bullock: missed the 49-yard field goal that would have tied the game in overtime.

Standouts

• New York Pro Football Teams: both the Jets and the Giants got the OT win today, the first time that’s ever happened.
• First Career Win: Jets Rookie QB Zach Wilson gets first pro win; Jets HC Robert Saleh gets first career win as head coach.

Kansas City Chiefs 42, vs Philadelphia Eagles 30

Winners

• Kansas City Chiefs: snap a 2-game losing streak and go to 2-2, trail in AFC West.
• Chiefs QB Mahomes: was on fire throwing for 5 touchdown passes, though he did throw an interception in this one, already his fourth of the season.
• Receiver Tyreek Hill: the speedy Cheetah caught a 55 yard touchdown bomb while making 11 receptions for 186 yds and 3 touchdowns.
• Kansas City Run Game: the team had 200 yards rushing, with Clyde Edwards-Helaire carrying the ball 14 times for 102 yards.
• Eagles Jalen Hurts: the young quarterback completed 32/48 passes for 387 yards and two touchdowns in the loss plus eight carries for 47 yards.

Losers

• Philadelphia Eagles: now 1-3 and two games out of the NFC East.
• Kansas City Chiefs: won the game but still sit at the bottom of the AFC West.
• Chiefs Defense: they have been giving up 31 points per game.

Standouts

• Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid: after a Week 3 hospital scare, faced his former Eagles team in Week 4 and gets the win.
• Josh Gordon: troubled deep threat receiver will reportedly play with Mahomes and the Chiefs next week.

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Arizona Cardinals 37, Los Angeles Rams 20

Winners

• Arizona Cardinals: now 4-0 and in sole possession of the NFC West.
• AZ QB Kyler Murray: could not be contained, completed 24/32 for 268 yards and 2 TDs with no interceptions while carrying the ball 6 times for 39 yards.
• Cardinals’ Offense: so far have had 30+ points and 400 yards of offense in all four games of the season.
• Rams Offense: posted 401 total yards despite the loss.

Losers

• Los Angeles Rams: lose their first game of the season, now 3-1 and a game behind the Cardinals in the NFC West.
• Rams Defense: could not seem to get off the field on third down, allowed Cards to convert 8/13 of them.

Standouts

• Cardinals Finally Beat the Rams: Los Angeles had been 8-0 over the Cards until this one, with Arizona picking up their first win vs Rams since 1/1/17.
• Undefeated Arizona: the 4-0 Cardinals are the last undefeated team in the NFC.

Seattle Seahawks 28, San Francisco 49ers 21

Winners

• Seattle Seahawks: now 2-2 but still two games behind the Cardinals in the NFC West.
• Seahawks QB Russell Wilson: has never lost three in a row, completed 16 passes for 149 yards and 2 touchdowns with no interceptions plus a rushing touchdown for the win.
• San Fran Rookie QB Trey Lance: started 2nd half after Jimmy G left the game, completed 14 passes for 165 yards and a TD with a pick plus 7 carries for 41 yards.
• 49ers WR Deebo Samuel: 8 catches for 156 yards and 2 touchdowns in the loss.

Losers

• San Francisco 49ers: fall to 2-2 and sink to the bottom of the NFC West.
• Seahawks RB Chris Carson: 13 carries, held to just 2.3 yards per carry.

Standouts

• Seahawks Injuries: Russell Wilson left the game with a calf strain after 49ers linebacker Eli Harold took him down and landed on his left leg.
• 49ers Injuries: Left tackle Trent Williams suffered an elbow injury and Jimmy G left the game with calf injury.

Baltimore Ravens 23, Denver Broncos 7

Winners

• Baltimore Ravens: snagged their third win and join the 3-1 Bengals and Browns atop the AFC North.
• Ravens QB Lamar Jackson: guess the guy can actually throw, completing 22-of-37 for 316 yards and a touchdown.
• Lamar Jackson to Marquise Brown: duo connected for 4 receptions for 91 yards plus a 49-yard touchdown bomb.
• Broncos Rookie Free Safety Caden Sterns: posted two sacks on the day.

Losers

• Denver Broncos: lost their first game of the season, now 3-1, but still hovering atop the AFC West.
• Broncos Backup QB Drew Lock: comes into the game for the injured Bridgewater and throws an interception in the loss.

Standouts

• Baltimore Rushing Attack: the Ravens have had 42 consecutive games with 100+ rushing yards from 2018-21, second only to Pittsburgh with 43.
• Broncos Teddy Bridgewater Injured: Denver’s QB left the game late in first half with a concussion, now in concussion protocol.

Green Bay Packers 27, Pittsburgh Steelers 17

Winners

• Green Bay Packers: win three in a row, now 3-1 and high atop the NFC North.
• QB Aaron Rodgers: attention doubters and haters, the future Hall of Famer and last year’s MVP still likes winning, tossing two touchdown passes and running in for another.
• Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt: despite the loss, still posts two sacks in the game.

Losers

• Pittsburgh Steelers: now the 1-3 Steelers are in last place in the AFC North.
• QB Ben Roethlisberger: his final throw of the game is an interception.

Standouts

• Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers: his second touchdown pass to Randall Cobb moved him into a 6th place tie with the great Dan Marino on the all-time touchdown passing list with 420 passing TDs.
• Big Ben’s 400th: Ben Roethlisberger posted his 400th career passing TD despite Steelers’ horrible O-line play.
• Roethlisberger vs Rodgers: Big Ben won round one in 2009, but Rodgers won round two over a decade ago during Super Bowl XLV as well as round three here on Sunday.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 19, New England Patriots 17

Winners

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers: win ‘The Return’ and move to 3-1, now sitting atop the NFC South with the 3-1 Carolina Panthers.
• Tampa Bay Receivers: Mike Evans and Antonio Brown made this defensive struggle exciting, both with seven catches, Evans for 75 yards and Brown for 63.
• Bucs’ Placekicker Ryan Succop: after missing an earlier 36-yarder, Succop nailed the game winner, a 48-yard boot made possible by Brady’s impressive two-minute drill.
• Patriots Wide Receiver Jakobi Meyers: the high school quarterback thrilled the hometown crowd by completing 2-of-2 passes for 45 yards.
• Patriots Fans: showed true sportsmanship and class by welcoming Bucs’ Brady back to Foxboro.

Losers

• New England Patriots: lose their third game of the season, sit 1-3 at the AFC East bottom with the Jets.
• Patriots Placekicker Nick Folk: with less than a minute to go, he missed the potential game-winning field goal with a thunderous ‘Doink’ to the left upright.

Standouts

• Bucs GOAT QB Tom Brady: now with 80,362 career passing yards, officially passing former record holder Drew Brees during this game.
• Free Agent Cornerback Richard Sherman: Bucs sign him on September 29 for a one-year deal worth $2.25 million and in his first game with Tampa Bay he leads the team with 7 tackles.