Things I noticed: Week 4

Only two undefeated teams remain in the NFL and both reside in the NFC North.  How did the week go for the rest of the teams?

Here are some things I noticed this week:

• Cam Newton had another big yardage day in a losing effort.  He could go on to set all sorts of rookie records as long as his team keeps playing from behind.
• At least they showed signs of the running game finally getting going.  DeAngleo Williams (10 carries, 82 yards) and Jonathan Stewart (8 carries, 52 yards) both looked as good as they have all year.
• Matt Forte had a career day, rushing for 205 yards and a TD.  He also added another 23 yards on four catches.  Chicago didn't get much else out of it's offense, but as it turned out, they didn't need more.
• Devin Hester returned a punt 69 yards for a TD.  Not exactly newsworthy, considering how many times he's done that in his career, but the three somersaults he did in the endzone to celebrate was impressive.  The refs were so excited by it they reacted by throwing yellow flags joyously into the air.
• Buffalo finally lost a game after a last second FG dropped them to 3-1.  Just when you think the Bills are the new out of nowhere team to become a playoff contender, they go and lose to the Bengals.  
• Chris Johnson finally went over the 100 yard mark!  He hadn't totaled that amount through three games, but finally broke out with a 101 yard performance.  Now that he's gotten that out of the way, hopefully he won't look back and will actually continue this trend of earning that hefty new contract.
• The Cowboys blew another game in which they led by two scores in the 4th quarter.  Tony Romo, who had done so much over the past two weeks to change the impression others around the league have always had of him as a guy that can't deliver in the clutch, was back to his old ways again.  He threw three picks in the game, two of which were returned for TDs.
• Calvin Johnson appeared to be pretty well contained until he broke free for 2 TDs in the 4th quarter, including the game winner.  Megatron just can't be covered in the endzone.
• The Vikings have led in the second half of every game this season before blowing it in the 2nd half.  Meanwhile, the Chiefs just haven't been able to get started in any game.  Something had to give in this battle of winless teams.  The hometown Chiefs came through, as the Vikings blew another 2nd half lead.
• The Rams put a scare into the Redskins with a 4th quarter push, but came up short on their final drive.  Rex Grossman had a couple of 4th quarter turnovers that helped the Rams cause, but it wasn't quite enough to hand over the win to the quickly floundering Rams. 
• Even in the weak NFC West, there has to come a point where the hole is just too deep to crawl out of.  Maybe 0-4 isn't deep enough of a hole for this division, but it's getting close.
• The "Dream Team" from Philadelphia is off to a mind boggling 1-3 start.  Vick has been banged up, but at least he finished the game this week.  A team that was supposed to be a Super Bowl contender just can't lose games like this at home to inferior competition.
• The Eagles seemed poised to win the game, driving into 49ers territory, before a Jeremy Maclin fumble doomed their chances.  A couple of first downs later and the 49ers were able to run out the clock.
• Coming off an ankle injury and having lost his starting job for the week, things didn't appear to be going well for Frank Gore.  A 127 yard performance with a TD to top off leading his team to victory will do wonders to change that perception.
• A game changing moment came mid way through the 2nd quarter.  The Eagles had marched the ball down to the 1 yard line, where a TD was with in reach and a FG at the least seemed all but assured. Instead, Ronnie Brown fumbled at the goal line on a play where it appeared he was attempting to lateral the ball back to a teammate after it was clear he was going to be stuffed outside of the endzone. The bonehead play robbed the team of an easy FG in a game they eventually lost by 1 point.
• Drew Brees was hardly flawless, throwing a couple more sloppy INTs, but he did more than enough to out-duel the punch-less Jaguars.
• You would expect getting top receiver Marques Colston would give the team a boost, but his 1 catch for 8 yards was hardly a contribution.  Lucky for them, they didn't need more.
• The Texans hurt themselves with some big penalties that nearly cost them the game.  A blocked FG returned for a TD to end the first half was called back after an unnecessary block in the back that came nowhere near the ball.  On Pittsburgh's final drive, an INT that should have been returned for a game clinching TD was nullified by a late hit on the QB, giving the Steelers another chance to drive for the game typing score.  
• Arian Foster is back and he wants us to know his hamstring feels fine.  Good enough at least to rush 30 times for 155 yards.
• Andre Johnson left the game early with a hamstring injury.  It appeared worse when it happened, as he collapsed to the ground without being hit (never a good sign).  Hopefully it doesn't keep him out long.  The Texans struggled to move the ball after he left the game.  If not for Arian Foster breaking a big 42 yard TD run in the 4th quarter, the Texans would have essentially accomplished nothing after the injury to Johnson.
• Mike Wallace had a chance to tie a league record with a 7th straight 100+ yard receiving game (dating back to last season), but came up short with only 77 this week.
• The initial thought upon seeing it in the box score is that it must be a misprint when Tom Brady throws for only 226 yards in a game, but it was by no means a sign that he played poorly.  At least he didn't turn the ball over this week.
• Brady also added 2 passing TDs, passing Joe Montana for 9th place all time.
• Wes Welker was the man again for the Pats, hauling in 9 catches for 158 yards.  Brady spread the rest of his passes around, but Ochocinco's 2 receptions made him the only other Patriots receiver to catch more than one pass.
• Part of the reason for Brady's low yardage was because the Pats finally found some balance on offense with an effective running game.  Rookie Steven Ridley led the way (10 carries, 97 yards and a TD).  He showed impressive burst through the holes, particularly on his 33 yard TD run.  If he can prove capable of picking up the blitz and being an effective pass blocker, his role could expand.  Don't be surprised if he earns the starting spot before the season is over.
• After ripping through the Jets defense last week, Darren McFadden was held to only 75 rushing yards this week.  He did break free for a huge 41 yard gain, but take that away and he was generally held in check in a match up that looked like he could dominate.
•  Eli Manning led a Giants comeback that saw him throw 2 TD passes within the span of a minute in the 4th quarter.
• The go ahead score came with a bit of controversy, as the drive leading up to it included a 29 yard reception to Victor Cruz, who fell to the ground untouched before putting the ball on the ground.  The Cardinals argued it was a fumble since Cruz was never downed by contact, but the rule states the play is over when the player "declares himself down by falling to the ground, or kneeling, and making no effort to advance."  A confusing play that upon review still looks like a fumble no matter how you interpret the rule, but the play was whistled dead and therefore could not be reviewed.
• Beanie Wells shows the type of flash and skill that once made him a first round draft choice while rushing for 138 yards and 3 TDs.  If only he could look that good more often.  Or at least anything close to that good.
• Atlanta finally got a win on the road, but nearly blowing a 20 point second half lead to a terrible Seattle team isn't the way to show they are past their road issues.
• Julio Jones (11 catches, 127 yards) had the best game of his young carrier.  With opposing defenses locked in on trying to shut down Roddy White, Jones has a chance to be a lethal weapon. At least that's the thought the Falcons had when they sacrificed their future to get him.
• It won't quite match the impact of when he was named Super Bowl MVP, but statistically Aaron Rodgers had the best day of his career - 408 yards, 4 TDs and he added 2 rushing scores for good measure.
• Of course he'd blow up with a historical performance this week, when I'm facing him in my head-to-head fantasy football league.  Meanwhile, despite the huge passing numbers, JerMichael Finley (3 catches, 28 yards) barely contributed for my team.
• The Broncos dropped to 1-3 after barely putting up a fight against the Packers and Kyle Orton turned the ball over 2 times.  If they lose big again to the Chargers next week, could the team make the change to Tim Tebow following their Week 6 bye week?
• Speaking of the Chargers, they took care of business at home against the lowly Dolphins.  They got off to a bit of a slow start, but managed to pull away in the 2nd half.
• I think we can official say that Ryan Mathews (16 carries) has taken over as the lead back for the Chargers.  Mike Tolbert (6 carries, 1 for a TD) is still the short yardage/goal line back, while both RBs continue to be active in the passing game.
• Chad Henne left the game with a shoulder injury.  When news of the injury was reported during the Patriots game, nobody in the room full of people I watched the game with could think of who Miami's backup QB was.  Matt Moore was the answer, in case you're wondering.  Given his production in relief of the injured starter, there's not much reason to remember him.
• It's not often that you see a game with a score of 34-17 that included only 1 offensive TD between the two teams, but that's the kind of ugly game the Ravens and Jets gave us Sunday night. 
• The Jets only TDs came on a kick off return and an INT return.  The Ravens scored twice on fumbles and once on an INT.  Ray Rice rushed for the only offensive score of the game.
• Joe Flacco and Mark Sanchez seemed to be trying to out-duel each other for worst performance of the game, as each played a sloppy game full of turnovers and other miscues. 
• One of the fumbles from Sanchez that was returned for a TD was close to being a "tuck rule" play, which Tom Brady made famous 10 years ago.  The Jets challenged, but replay showed Sanchez's arm hadn't started forward yet.  Rex Ryan was so enraged by the call that he burned another time out before the extra point kick just to give him extra time to scream at the ref.  Wasting 2 timeouts in the second half of a game that you trail?  Brilliant!
•  ESPN pulled the "Are you ready for some football?" theme from their Monday Night Football intro after Hank Williams Jr. made some comments comparing President Obama to Adolf Hitler.  No matter your political opinions, that's a little harsh.  That song was pretty catchy though.  I'll miss it.
• The NFL had to be kicking themselves for scheduling so many night games for the Colts without knowing that Peyton Manning would be out, but the Colts have actually been at their best when in the spotlight of the nationally televised games.  They put a scare into the Steelers in Week 3, then followed that up with a tight game on Monday night against the Bucs.  They didn't win either game, but they at least made it exciting and worthy of the prime time spot.
• Curtis Painter made his first career start for the Colts.  He found out the hard way that starting in the NFL isn't quite the same as the mop up duty he's been used to, but after a shaky start he recovered to have a respectable performance that kept his team in the game.
• People seem to forget given that the loss of Manning has been such a big blow to the Colts, but this offense still has a lot of talent, with guys like Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clarke capable of making plays.  Pierre Garcon isn't the most consistent guy, but he's capable of blowing up for a big game at any time, as was the case this week (146 yards, 2 TDs).
• Legarrette Blount is a guy that just gets better the more carries he gets.  He can disappear at times when the team is behind because he's essentially useless in the passing game, but late in a game when you need to pound the ball, he's at his best.  He was on his way to a fairly mediocre game until a 4th quarter drive when he piled up 52 of his 127 yards, sealing the drive with a 35 yard TD run to put the Bucs on top for good.
• The Baltimore Ravens lead all teams in point differential (+62), thanks in part to also leading the league in forced turnovers (14).
• The top two leaders in scoring (Green Bay, Detroit) also happen to be the only undefeated teams in the league.  8 of the top 10 teams in scoring have at least 3 wins so far.  Only half of the top 10 teams that have allowed the least points per game this year have winning records. Who needs defense?
• Dating back to last season, the Lions have won an NFL best 8 consecutive games.  So yes, they are for real.