2024 NFL Week 4: Top Takeaways for Every Game

2024 NFL Week 4: Top Takeaways for Every Game0 of 3

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The first three weeks of the 2024 NFL season have gone completely according to script—except for the parts that haven’t.

It’s no surprise the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills are undefeated. but not many expected the Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers to join them.

We had a good idea the Tennessee Titans, Carolina Panthers and New England Patriots would struggle this year. Sure enough, they are a combined 2-7. But the Baltimore Ravens Dallas Cowboys and Cincinnati Bengals are also a combined 2-7—which we didn’t see coming quite so much.

In the NFL, nothing is for certain. Every week, there will be teams that pull off upsets while others lay an egg.

The Week 4 schedule features no shortage of fascinating matchups: A big-time NFC North showdown between the Vikings and the Packers, a playoff rematch between the Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers and a Sunday night battle between AFC powers in the Bills and Baltimore Ravens.

Bleacher Report NFL analysts Gary Davenport, Kristopher Knox, Maurice Moton and Brent Sobleski have come together to review all that happened in Week 4: The teams that showed up, the clubs that came up short and all things in between.

Let’s get started with an NFC East matchup at MetLife Stadium between a Giants team we expected to struggle and a 1-2 Cowboys team we didn’t.

Dallas Gets the Win It Needed, But Problems Remain1 of 3

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Dallas Cowboys 20, New York Giants 15

After the Dallas Cowboys lost back-to-back games at home, it wasn’t hard to figure out their top priority in Week 4: They just needed to win the game.

Given their dominance of the New York Giants, it’s not surprising that they eked out a 20-15 victory at MetLife Stadium to get back to .500. It was the 14th time in the last 15 meetings that the Cowboys have beaten the Giants.

However, Thursday’s game likely said more about how bad the Giants are than how good Dallas is. For a Cowboys team with Super Bowl aspirations, many of the same problems that have plagued the franchise recently were still in evidence—and there don’t appear to be easy answers for them.

If there was any doubt that the Cowboys are completely one-dimensional offensively, it was put to rest here. They again struggled running the ball, managing just 80 yards and averaging 3.5 yards per carry.

Then there’s a defense that was savaged the past two weeks by the New Orleans Saints and Baltimore Ravens. Yes, Dallas kept New York out of the end zone and shut down the run after disastrous outings the past two weeks, but it was actually outgained in the game.

That’s just…ouch.

There is also the uncertain status of edge-rusher Micah Parsons, who was carted off the field in the fourth quarter. For a defense already struggling, losing the three-time Pro Bowler for any amount of time could be devastating.

All the Cowboys showed Thursday night is that they continue to own a “rivalry” with an inferior team. Dallas is still a one-dimensional pass-heavy team with a shaky defense.

This Is Who the New York Giants Are with Daniel Jones at QB2 of 3

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Dallas Cowboys 20, New York Giants 15

It’s been forever and a day since the New York Giants beat the Dallas Cowboys. The last time Daniel Jones faced them, the G-Men were shelled by 40. But heading into Thursday’s game, he told reporters he’d learned from those setbacks and these Giants were ready.

“I’ve played more, seen more, studied and improved,” he said. “Obviously, didn’t go great last time, but we’re confident, it’s a new team. We’re a new team, they’re a new team, and we’re excited for the opportunity.”

After New York went to Cleveland and won last week, there was a spark. Maybe these Giants really are different.

They are not.

You can make the argument that the Giants actually outplayed the Cowboys in several areas Thursday night.

However, while Jones didn’t make any back-breaking mistakes, he also couldn’t get his team into the end zone. In fairness, a non-existent run game did him no favors, but the 27-year-old missed multiple throws deep that could have changed the complexion of the contest.

For as great as wide receiver Malik Nabers has been the past few weeks, his stat line in Week 4 tells you everything you need to know about Danny Dimes.

The rookie caught 12 passes—for 115 yards. Wan’Dale Robinson pitched in with 11 catches for 71 yards.

The offensive line isn’t good, but it’s better. The secondary remains a mess. It’s not all on Jones, but this was a winnable game lost because of New York’s limitations at quarterback.

Until that changes, the Giants’ long-term fortune looks gloomy.

Week 4 Schedule3 of 3

Patrick MahomesDavid Eulitt/Getty Images

Here’s a look at the rest of the Week 4 slate.

Sunday, September 29

New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons: 1 p.m.Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears: 1 p.m.Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers: 1 p.m.Pittsburgh Steelers at Indianapolis Colts: 1 p.m.Denver Broncos at New York Jets: 1 p.m.Philadelphia Eagles at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 1 p.m.Cincinnati Bengals at Carolina Panthers: 1 p.m.Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Texans: 1 p.m.Washington Commanders at Arizona Cardinals: 4:05 p.m.New England Patriots at San Francisco 49ers: 4:05 p.m.Cleveland Browns at Las Vegas Raiders: 4:25 p.m.Kansas City at Los Angeles Chargers: 4:25 p.m.Buffalo Bills at Baltimore Ravens: 8:20 p.m.Monday, September 30

Tennessee Titans at Miami Dolphins: 7:30 p.m.Seattle Seahawks at Detroit Lions: 8:15 p.m.