(Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
Written By: Matt Di Domenico
Twitter: @didomenicomatt5
LinkedIn: Matt Di Domenico | LinkedIn
There was going to be a challenge for the NFL to match the excitement level during their set of games this past weekend compared to week #3 in the NFL. Week #4 did have some playmakers make some great plays. However, like always, there are winners and losers at the end of the day. Below are those 3 unfortunate losers and 3 gratifying winners.
Losers:
1. QB Davis Mills, Houston Texans
Between the rainy weather and going against the Buffalo Bills defense, rookie QB David Mills had a Sunday that certainly, he wants to forget about. Mills went 11 for 21 with 87 passing yards and a backbreaking 4 INTs. The Houston Texans passing game simply could not get the ball moving down the field whatsoever. The offense was completely stale, lacked big plays, and did not score a point all game. The question of where this struggling franchise will be going into the next year is starting to be asked all around. The Texans are in the running for the 1st overall pick based on how they have been playing in 2021. For Mills, he must keep working because it cannot get much worse than this week's performance.
2. RB Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings have a star RB in Dalvin Cook who did miss last week's game due to a nagging ankle injury. Cook did suit up in this game against the Cleveland Browns but could not get going. Obviously, Cook was not 100% and had a bad game for the Vikings. Cook had only 9 carries for 34 rushing yards. If the running game is not effective for the Vikings, then they have a hard time winning games in the league. This game did end in an ugly 14-7 win for the Browns. Now the Vikings have a 1-3 record looking up at the Green Bay Packers in the NFC North. Minnesota needs to start racking up wins or it may be an early offseason for them as well.
3. Los Angeles Rams Defense
The Los Angeles Rams came into week #4 as arguably the hottest team in the NFL. This was a huge game for the Rams to make a statement that they are for real when they took on the Arizona Cardinals. The Rams defense has been one of the best defensive units in the NFL so far. On Sunday however, QB Kyler Murray and the rest of the Cardinals offense beat down this Rams defense. The Rams defense gave up a whopping 465 total yards and 37 points. Aaron Donald was very quiet in this game which certainly was surprising. The Rams defense must have a bounce-back performance next week because they have a short week when they take on the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night.
Winners:
1. WR Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs
After the Kansas City Chiefs and star WR Tyreek Hill fell with two consecutive losses in the past two weeks, they knew they had to bounce back with a win in a strong way. The Chiefs and Hill certainly did such that when he had a field day facing the Philadelphia Eagles. Hill had 11 receptions for 186 receiving yards and had 3 TDs. Hill certainly won a lot of people their matchups within fantasy football with this performance against the Eagles. Hill still looks like he is, if not the most explosive weapon in the NFL. Next week, Hill and the Chiefs will be taking on the red hot Buffalo Bills. Hill will look to have a huge game in that SNF matchup to prove that the Chiefs are back.
2. CB Trevon Diggs, Dallas Cowboys
Trevon Diggs has been having a huge year for the Dallas Cowboys. Coming into this game against the Carolina Panthers, Diggs already had a total of 3 INTs on the year. Diggs obviously has no plans of slowing down in this young season. Diggs had 2 INTs and racked up 4 total tackles on Sunday. This is certainly a young talented CB that will look to lead this Dallas secondary in the future. The NFC East looks like it is going to be the Cowboys division if they stay healthy. For Diggs, we will see if his INT number will increase next week against the New York Giants.
3. QB Justin Herbert, L.A. Chargers
Justin Herbert has proven that he is going to be the L.A. Chargers QB for the foreseeable future. #10 can simply throw the ball with the best of them in the NFL. Herbert is a talented playmaker and now has the Chargers at the #1 spot in the AFC West after beating the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday night. Hebert went 25 for 38 with 222 passing yards and 3 TDs. You better believe that Herbert is in the MVP conversation with the teams that he has already taken down in this young season. The Chargers are a team that many AFC teams are not going to want to face come playoff time. We will see if Herbert will slow down next week against the Cleveland Browns but for right now, he has been nothing but spectacular.