WINNERS
Puka Nacua
Another week, another fantastic performance from Puka Nacua. The Rams’ rookie WR has been terrific this season, and finally grabbed his first NFL touchdown to clinch a win in overtime for his team. In the Week 4 tilt in Indy, Nacua had nine grabs for 163 yards and the score, moving him into second place leaguewide in receiving yards. The only player he’s currently behind right now is Justin Jefferson, and both players are on record-setting paces through the first month.
After starting the season with 25 catches in his first two games, Nacua has been slowed down to 14 in his last two appearances. However, his yards-per-catch has gone up quite a bit, making him a threat in every part of the passing game. In the last two Rams’ games, Nacua’s YPG sits at a very efficient 16.8, which is more than six yards higher than what it was through the first two weeks.
Christian McCaffrey
CMC for MVP? At this point, it’d be pretty tough to not give it to the 49ers running back, who put the team on his back in Week 4 with a four-score performance. McCaffrey has now found the endzone in thirteen straight games for San Francisco, and he’s had more than 115 yards from scrimmage in every game this season.
Among running backs, McCaffrey is currently first in rushing attempts, yards and touchdowns, and second in receptions and receiving yards. This dominant two-way game is what the 49ers were looking for when they traded for him last season, but no one could have guessed that it would work out quite this well. CMC is the best player on the best team in the NFL right now, and he reminded everyone of that on Sunday.
Devon Witherspoon
Devon Witherspoon arrived in a BIG way on Monday night for the Seahawks. After missing the season opener with an injury, Seattle’s fifth overall pick had shown some flashes in his first two games, but Week 4 was his coming out party. Witherspoon was all over the field against New York, collecting seven tackles, two sacks, and a 97-yard interception returned for a touchdown to basically ice the game.
It was a great primetime showing for the defence as a whole, but for the rookie Witherspoon to stand out amongst everyone else shows just how incredibly he performed. If the Illinois product can continue to bring pressure to the quarterback and play well in the secondary, expect to see more games like Monday night’s from this Seahawks defence.
LOSERS
Matt Eberflus
Just when it looks like the Bears might finally have some things figured out, they shock us again. Matt Eberflus’ team was up 28-7 with under a minute left to play in the third quarter against a winless Denver Broncos team. Then, the fourth quarter happened. Although Justin Fields had two turnovers in the last three drives, it really wasn’t the quarterback’s fault this time, as he had his best game of the season by a longshot. Statistically he was terrific, going 28/35 for 335 yards and four touchdowns.
For Eberflus, the biggest mistake came with three minutes left to go at Denver’s 18-yard line. The score was tied at 28, and instead of kicking a field goal to take the lead, Chicago’s head coach decided to go for it on 4th and 1. Then, they took it out of their best player’s hands and handed the ball off on a run that went nowhere. I get trying to go for the win, but when you’re still trying to get your first one and you’re in that situation, just take the points and the lead. The misery continues for the Bears.
Matt Canada
Chicago isn’t the only classic franchise going through some tough times right now. The Pittsburgh Steelers may be 2-2, but things have felt a lot grimmer for Mike Tomlin’s team through the first month of the season. OC Matt Canada has been on the hot seat with fans for a while now and after the 30-6 loss against Houston in Week 4, it’s easy to see why. Canada’s offence currently ranks 29th in yards per game, rushing yards per game, and points per game. On the season, they’ve scored just five touchdowns. It’s not like these are new problems, either. In 2022, Pittsburgh averaged just 18.1 points per game, which ranked 27th in the league.
After Sunday’s big loss, Tomlin said that “changes were coming” to the Steelers. Many speculated that one of those changes would be the firing of Matt Canada. If he is given a little more time, he’ll have to dial up quite the game plan for Pittsburgh’s home game on Sunday against the Ravens. If he doesn’t, he may be done with the Steelers.
Mac Jones
Last but not least, we’ve got Mac Jones. Week 4 in Dallas marked the largest loss of Bill Belichick’s career, proving once again that the Patriots are no longer a threat in the AFC and that Mac Jones simply isn’t a franchise quarterback. The Pats may not have the most talented receivers and offensive line around him, but the decision making from Jones was flat out shocking at times in the 38-3 loss.
He’s shown some decent stuff over the last three years, but the cross-field throws that turn into six points for Dallas just can’t happen. Jones ended the afternoon with 12 completions on 21 attempts for 150 yards before being pulled in the fourth quarter. He also threw two interceptions and fumbled the ball once. Yikes.
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