NFL Week 4: Deep Dive on the Drama, Dominance, and Disasters

AFC Showdown: Chiefs 37, Ravens 20

The Story: A highly anticipated clash quickly turned into a one-sided statement by Kansas City and a catastrophic afternoon for Baltimore.

• Mahomes Back to MVP Form: Patrick Mahomes was surgical, throwing for a season-high 270 yards and four touchdowns, hitting the 250 career TD mark faster than any QB in NFL history (116 games). The return of wide receiver Xavier Worthy, who tallied 83 scrimmage yards, opened up the offense for big plays that had been missing. The Chiefs scored on seven of their first eight drives.
• Baltimore’s Injury Nightmare: The Ravens’ afternoon was defined by an avalanche of high-profile injuries, most notably Lamar Jackson (hamstring) leaving the game in the second half. The defense also lost key pieces in the first half, with LB Roquan Smith (hamstring) and CB Marlon Humphrey (calf) both ruled out, leaving the unit vulnerable to the Chiefs’ attack.
• Key Play: A spectacular, twisting, one-handed interception by Chiefs LB Leo Chenal off a Lamar Jackson pass set the tone for Kansas City’s defensive pressure and helped turn the tide completely in the Chiefs’ favor.

The Epic Tie: Packers 40, Cowboys 40 (OT)

The Story: A dramatic Sunday Night Football contest that had everything—high-octane offense, stunning mistakes, and a frantic overtime period—ended in a stalemate.

• Love and Doubs Connect: Jordan Love kept the Packers in the game with pinpoint accuracy, connecting with wide receiver Romeo Doubs for three touchdown passes. Running back Josh Jacobs delivered a workhorse performance, amassing 157 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns.
• Prescott’s Resurgence: With CeeDee Lamb sidelined, Dak Prescott was outstanding, completing 77.5% of his passes for 319 yards and three touchdowns. Wideout George Pickens stepped up as the new WR1 with 8 catches for 134 yards and two scores, showing he can be a legitimate primary target.
• The Finish: The game-tying score came with seconds left in overtime, as the Packers’ kicker connected on a long field goal, capping a game where both teams’ defenses struggled—Dallas has now allowed 31+ points for three straight weeks, and the Packers gave up 489 yards.

Upset of the Week: Giants 21, Chargers 18

The Story: The winless Giants found a spark in their rookie QB, handing the undefeated Chargers their first loss of the season.

• Rookie QB Rises: In his first NFL start, QB Jaxson Dart provided the Giants’ offense with the mobility and energy it needed. Though his passing yardage was modest (111 yards), he ran for a touchdown on the opening drive and avoided turnovers, which was enough for the victory.
• Giants’ Defense Dominates: The Giants’ defensive front terrorized Justin Herbert, pressuring him on nearly half of his dropbacks. CB Andru Phillips sealed the win with a crucial interception that set up the game-winning touchdown drive.
• Chargers’ Collapse: The Chargers looked flat from the start, and their struggles were magnified by an offensive line decimated by injury, most notably the loss of rookie OT Joe Alt. Running back Omarion Hampton was a monster (128 yards, 1 TD), but the offense abandoned the run too often in crucial moments.

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