Week 4 NFL Takeaways
Credit: Tennessee Titans
By Tucker Harlin
We are now one month through the NFL season.
Plenty of learning goes on in the first month of every season, and that was certainly the case in 2024. The next few weeks comprise the portion of the season when the men begin to separate themselves from the boys in the NFL.
These are my top takeaways from Week 4 of NFL action
THE TITANS HAVE QUESTIONS TO ANSWER AT QUARTERBACK
The Tennessee Titans picked up a 31-12 win over the Miami Dolphins to avoid a winless start through four weeks.
While there were several aspects of the win that stood out, one usual subject of criticism disappeared in the first quarter: Will Levis.
Levis threw a horrible interception on the first possession of the game to Dolphins edge rusher Emmanuel Ogbah. The Titans defense got off the field quickly with a turnover, but the offense went three and out on the next possession. Levis injured his shoulder trying to run for the first down, prompting Mason Rudolph to play the rest of the game.
Rudolph didn’t light the world on fire in his appearance but he accomplished several tasks Levis was unable to in the first three weeks, like properly managing the clock in the two-minute drill and general ball security.
This brings up an interesting question: do you start Rudolph over Levis?
Brian Callahan is rolling with Levis, which isn’t surprising and could be the right decision. For now.
But hypothetically speaking, if Levis goes out and stinks it up against the Colts and Bills in the next two games, does that change Callahan’s decision?
I would expect an answer in the next three weeks if things continue to get worse for the Titans.
THE HYPE TRAIN FOR THE NEW YORK JETS NEEDS TO SLOW DOWN
The elements may have played a factor in the Jets’ 10-9 loss to the Broncos, but Aaron Rodgers put much of the blame on himself for the shortcomings of the offense Sunday.
The Jets’ two wins in the first month were against the Titans and Patriots. Respectfully, neither one of those teams is in a position to compete for a playoff berth this season.
The Broncos are legit on defense, but losing to a less than stellar Bo Nix at quarterback is a sobering moment for any franchise that wants to find its way in the playoffs.
The next three weeks are going to tell us a lot about who the 2024 Jets are.
They go across the pond to take on the Vikings this week, a team in the conversation for best in the league through the first month. The Buffalo Bills, the defending AFC East champions for the past four seasons, come to town for Monday Night Football the next week. The Jets final game in this brute stretch is a trip to the rust belt to take on the gritty Pittsburgh Steelers, who are the current leaders of the AFC North.
ANTHONY RICHARDSON MAY NOT BE THE ANSWER FOR THE COLTS
The Colts’ best two options in a draft in which they needed a quarterback were Anthony Richardson and Will Levis in 2023.
I’m not faulting the Colts for taking Richardson at all, but there are warning signs to suggest Richardson’s future in Indy is fleeting. I’ll give you three reasons why.
For one, he’s had issues staying on the field in his two seasons due to injury. The hits are going to add up for Richardson over time, and it doesn’t help him to try and run all the time against opposing defenses.
Secondly, he’s not any different than the guy we watched play at Florida in 2022. For every 300-plus yard outing he has, there are three 11-30 for 120 yards and three interceptions type games in the future. You saw it in Gainesville, and you’ve seen it this season in Indy.
Finally, the Colts have played significantly better with two journeyman backup quarterbacks than with Richardson at the helm in the last two seasons.
Gardner Minshew had the Colts competing for a playoff berth in the final weeks of the 2023 season with his play. I understand Joe Flacco has only appeared in one game at this point in the season, but he balled out in Cleveland to earn the Browns their second playoff berth in as many decades last season.
Richardson obviously has time to right the ship and the Colts are very much alive in the playoff race, but they need to find a way to keep the better parts of the guy from Gainesville around.
THE NFC EAST NEEDS TO TAKE THE COMMANDERS SERIOUSLY
I didn’t have the Commanders on my radar whatsoever before the season began, but what Jayden Daniels has done through a month in the league has led me to reevaluate that thought.
It isn’t just Jayden Daniels that’s making me reassess the division but the play of the Cowboys and Eagles through the first month as well.
I’ve never been a Nick Sirianni believer, and the end of last season and beginning of this season have corroborated that sentiment.
He beat up on clearly inferior teams in his first two seasons thanks to nice draws in scheduling to reach the playoffs and Super Bowl. Once the competition stepped up, he had no answer. Additionally, the injuries to the Eagles offense has me questioning if they have what it takes to make a run for the playoffs.
I’m not a Mike McCarthy believer either, and I’m sure there are several Cowboys fans in that boat with me. He had one nice run in Green Bay back in 2010, but McCarthy’s just managed talent throughout the last 14 years. He’s like the NFL’s version of Jimbo Fisher.
As for the team itself, I’m not high on the Cowboys at all.
They did nothing to help their run game in free agency, so Dak to CeeDee is their main avenue of production, an avenue defenses can easily impede by double teams. Injuries are taking a serious toll on the defensive end.
