2013 NFL Season — 5 Things We Learned From Week 4
We are beginning to see which teams will be chased — and who will be doing the chasing — throughout the 2013 NFL season. Here are five things we learned from Sunday's games:
Tom Brady Can Win With Anyone
Tom Brady threw for 316 yards and two touchdowns, as New England (4-0) beat reeling Atlanta (1-3, 30-23, on Sunday night to remain undefeated. Brady is still missing tight end Rob Gronkowski and wide receiver Danny Amendola, yet the Patriots' perennial All-Pro continues to steer his team to victory by throwing to no-name receivers. If this continues, New England is liable to make suiting up as one of Brady's targets a fan appreciation contest. Tell your Nana to do some wind sprints and practice her routes. If she can hang on to passes better than she does her dentures, she could be New England's newest addition.
Peyton Manning Makes Great Adjustments
Denver (4-0) led Philadelphia (1-3) by a 21-13 score at halftime, when Broncos' quarterback Peyton Manning was able to review and adjust to what the Eagles were doing on defense. Final score: Denver 52, Philadelphia 20. If your coffee breaks at work were that productive, your boss would demand you take extra time away from the office. Manning now has 16 touchdown passes in his first four games, and he didn't even play the fourth quarter on Sunday.
Joe Flacco Isn't Looking Very Super This Season
When Joe Flacco signed his six-year, $120.6 million contract this past off-season, the Ravens' quarterback opened himself up to scrutiny. The criticism arrived in earnest on Sunday after the Super Bowl MVP threw a career-worst five interceptions, as Baltimore (2-2) lost to Buffalo (2-2) by a 23-20 score. Flacco now has five touchdowns and seven interceptions this season, and he is still looking to get into the same rhythm he had as the Ravens made their Super Bowl run in January. Unless Flacco is planning to start handing out $20 bills around Baltimore, the fans are sure to grow increasingly restless with his performance.
Richard Sherman Can Get Inside a QB's Head
After trailing 20-3, Seattle (4-0) rallied to beat Houston (2-2) when Steven Hauschka kicked a 45-yard field goal in overtime to give the Seahawks a 23-20 win. The key play in the comeback was Richard Sherman's 58-yard interception return for a touchdown off Texans' quarterback Matt Schaub. Sherman told reporters after the game that he made the play because he "knew what was coming," and the Seahawks practiced it on Friday. Quarterbacks be warned: Sherman's already a mainstay on ESPN highlights, so perhaps he's moved on to ESP.
The Chiefs Would Do Well in the NFC
Kansas City (4-0) continued to be the season's best turnaround story by scorching the Giants (0-4) by a 31-7 score. The Chiefs are playing with a lot of fire and emotion under new head coach Andy Reid, who had grown used to a Philadelphia sideline whose mood was more wake than wedding. The win gave Kansas City its third straight victory over an NFC East squad and its fourth win over the NFC dating back to last season. Maybe the Chiefs should convince the NFL to allow them to switch conferences? It would really tick off the Rams.