NFL 2022: Football Food For Thought (Week 4)

After three weeks, the Miami Dolphins and Philadelphia Eagles are the only two teams not to lose this season. Meanwhile, the 0-2-1 Houston Texans and 0-3 Las Vegas Raiders are the only two clubs that have yet to win in 2022. It’s another full slate for the National Football League.

Thursday, Sept. 29

Miami (3-0) at Cincinnati (1-2): The Dolphins are 3-0 for the first time since 2018. But that club dropped nine of its final 13 games that season. The team is in the midst of quite the run after last season’s rough 1-7 start. The club has won four straight games dating back to Week 18 of 2021 and are combined 11-1 in their last 12 outings.

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Sunday, Oct. 2

Minnesota (2-1) vs. New Orleans (1-2) at Tottenham: Times obviously change and so do teams. In 2019, the Saints set an NFL record for fewest turnovers – giving up the football just eight times in 16 regular-season contests. Three games in 2022, Dennis Allen’s club has already committed a league-high nine turnovers – five by Jameis Winston.

Cleveland (2-1) at Atlanta (1-2): The Browns have been a very efficient football team on the offensive side of the ball this season. The club leads the NFL in rushing (190.7 yards per game), quarterback Jacoby Brissett has hit on 66.3 percent of his passes and Kevin Stefanski’s team has turned over the football just once in three games.

Buffalo (2-1) at Baltimore (2-1): What could happen when these two explosive teams clash? The Ravens lead the NFL with 99 points scored and the Bills are third with 91 points. But talk about opposite ends of the spectrum? No team in the NFL has allowed more passing yards than Baltimore while Buffalo is ranked first in pass defense.

Washington (1-2) at Dallas (2-1): The Cowboys have won seven straight games vs. their NFC East rivals dating back to Week 3 of 2021. That includes a two-game sweep of Washington a year ago in which Dallas outscored their longtime rivals by a combined 83-34 score. Commanders’ quarterback Carson Wentz has been sacked 15 times.

Seattle (1-2) at Detroit (1-2): It’s safe to say that Lions’ games have been entertaining when it comes to lighting up the scoreboard. Only the Ravens (99) have scored more points than Dan Campbell’s club (95). But no team in the NFL has allowed more points than Detroit (93), who have given up 27-plus points in each of their three games.

L.A. Chargers (1-2) at Houston (0-2-1): Brandon Staley’s team heads to Houston for the second consecutive year. Last season in Week 16, the Texans handed the visiting Chargers a stinging 41-29 setback. The injury-riddled Bolts have run for 177 yards, the fewest in the NFL. But Houston has allowed the most rushing yards in the league.

Tennessee (1-2) at Indianapolis (1-1-1): The Colts face a divisional opponent for the third time in four weeks. The Titans and Colts became AFC South neighbors in 2002 and Tennessee has won the last three meetings between the clubs. That’s the longest winning streak by the Titans over the Colts since they became divisional rivals in ’02.

Chicago (2-1) at N.Y. Giants (2-1): Both of these franchises have won two of their first three game. But both are also near the bottom of the league in offense, with a twist. The Bears are dead last in total yards and passing yards gained but second in rushing. The Giants are 30th in passing yards but are fourth in the NFL in rushing yardage.

Jacksonville (2-1) at Philadelphia (3-0): Doug Pederson returns to the City of Brotherly Love, where he led the Eagles to three playoff appearances and a win in Super Bowl LII. Both clubs have taken care of the football, each committing only one turnover in 3 games. But the Jaguars are tied for the NFL lead with eight takeaways.

N.Y. Jets (1-2) at Pittsburgh (1-2): It’s safe to say that Mike Tomlin’s team misses 2021 NFL Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt. In the club’s Week 1 overtime surprise of the Bengals at Cincinnati, the Steelers racked up seven sacks. But the past two weeks Pittsburgh combined for just two sacks in losses to the Patriots (0) and Browns (2).

Arizona (1-2) at Carolina (1-2): A year ago, Kliff Kingsbury’s team won its first seven games. This year, the Cardinals have stumbled out of the gates via a 1-2 start and have given up the second-most points in the league. Could the Panthers get off to a good start against an Arizona team that has been outscored 31-0 in the first quarter this year?

New England (1-2) at Green Bay (2-1): There was a time when the Patriots simply dominated NFC teams, not only during the regular season but in the postseason as well. From 2001-19 and including nine Super Bowl appearances, New England owned a 67-18 record vs. the other conference. Since 2020, the Pats own a 3-6 record vs. the NFC.

Denver (2-1) at Las Vegas (0-3): To date, Russell Wilson and the Denver offense has yet to get untracked. The Broncos have been limited to 16 or fewer points in each of their first three games and the club has scored three offensive TDs. But only the Buccaneers (27) have allowed fewer points than Nathaniel Hackett’s club (36) in 2022.

Kansas City (2-1) at Tampa Bay (2-1): The clubs that met in Super Bowl LV in 2020 both come off narrow losses. Tampa Bay’s offense has scored just three touchdowns in as many games, all through the air, and Todd Bowles’ club has totaled only 51 points. But the Bucs have allowed an NFL-low 27 points and only three offensive TDs.

Monday, Oct. 3

L.A. Rams (2-1) at San Francisco (1-2): Last season, the Rams rallied to knock off the 49ers in the NFC title game. However, the Rams have dropped six straight regular-season clashes with San Francisco dating back to 2019. What’s fascinating is that the 2-1 Rams have allowed 70 points and the 1-2 Niners have given up just 37 points.