What We Learned From Week 4

Added on Oct 02, 2012 by Scott in

NFL

With one month down in the 2012 NFL season, a clear picture of the contenders and pretenders is beginning to come into focus. It’s not impossible to crawl out of a 1-3 hole nor is it unheard of for a 4-0 team to collapse. That being said, barring some unforeseen and strange occurrences, it’s safe to assume the Texans are on their way to the playoffs while the Saints are looking ahead to 2013. Here’s what we learned in Week 4.

Fabulous Falcons – It wouldn’t be at all surprising if Atlanta racked up 13 or 14 wins. Matt Ryan’s heroics during Sunday’s comeback victory over the Panthers is a positive sign he has matured when the pressure is on. An explosive offense is masking a limited defense, and footie Matt Bryant is a perfect 9 for 9. Of course the real test for the Falcons will come in January, not September.

Cowardly Lions – Don’t look now but the pre-2011 Lions are back. More concerning than the leaky defense has been quarterback Matthew Stafford’s poor start. His throws have been all over the place, especially in the red zone. An upcoming schedule includes trips to Philly and Chicago, and a home tilt with Seattle. They better use the bye week to regroup or things are going to get worse.

Beware the Bolts – Be careful jumping on the Chargers bandwagon, because there’s a good chance it will careen off a cliff before season’s end. Their three wins have come against opponents with a combined 3-9 record, and their only loss was a blowout in Atlanta. In other words, they have a lot to prove.

Kolb to the Rescue – After flopping time and time again for the last two years, Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb has suddenly become reliable. He’s still awful at sensing pressure and prone to mind-numbing blunders, but with little to no help from the run game, he’s getting it done. He has as many touchdown passes as Tom Brady, Eli Manning and Aaron Rodgers. Weird.

Black Hole Sun – The Raiders are once again terrible. They boast the league’s worst rush attack and are yielding 31 points per game. If Al Davis was still kicking, newbie head coach Dennis Allen would probably be out of a job, or at the very least on notice. The good news is Darren McFadden is healthy… for now.

RG III for MVP – Not the real MVP, but the MVP for most entertaining and watchable player in the game. The ‘Skins rookie has been nothing short of sensational, accounting for eight total touchdowns and a pair of wins that never would’ve happened if he wasn’t under center. Yeah, he’s legit.

Same ol’ Romo – Five interceptions at home in the Monday night spotlight? Oh, Tony. Cowboys nation and Jerry Jones have been not so patiently waiting for their poise-challenged quarterback to get some ice in his veins. Time is running out. Romo leads the NFL in picks and keeps making the same mistakes he made five years ago.