As we approach the quarter-way stage in the NFL regular season, pre-season questions are being answered, form guides are being updated, and storylines are being formed. Here’s three games to look out for in Week 4.
- Dallas Cowboys @ New York Giants – Friday 27th September 1:15am BST
The Cowboys travel to the Big Apple in this NFC East clash on Thursday Night Football to taken on the Giants with both teams sat at a 1-2 record, but they have differing morale heading into this rivalry matchup.
The Giants started with a demoralising 28-6 road defeat at the Minnesota Vikings but looked better in their Week 2 defeat at home to the Washington Commanders, before getting their opening win on the road at the Cleveland Browns last week.
The Cowboys on the other hand began with a commanding win at the Browns, but two defeats straight home defeats, including a 44-19 rout by the New Orleans Saints in Week 2, have left Cowboys fans with increasing worries.
Dallas hasn’t lost three straight games since 2020, and Quarterback Dak Prescott will be hoping for a repeat of the performances that saw the Cowboys overpower the Giants 49-17 and 40-0 last season. Prescott threw for a combined 547 passing yards and 4 touchdowns in those two contests, and so far this season has averaged 284 passing yards per game.
Giants Quarterback Daniel Jones has struggled ever since he inked his four-year, $160,000,000 deal in 2023, which guaranteed the 2019 No.6 overall pick $81,000,000. His 2023 campaign was limited to just six appearances by injury, namely the ACL injury he picked up against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 9. So far his 2024 campaign has been a rocky road, throwing 22 for 42, 186 yards and 2 interceptions in that opening defeat in Minnesota. However last week in Cleveland, Jones showed glimpses of the form that earned him the giant payday and the nickname ‘Danny Dimes,’ throwing 24-34, 236 yards and two touchdowns.
A loss will leave either side at 1-3 and bottom of the NFC East. Last week New York’s defence registered 8 sacks, and they’ll need a repeat performance if they’re to snap a run of six straight defeats in this fixture.
- Carolina Panthers @ Cincinnati Bengals – Sunday 29th September 6:00pm BST
Fresh off the back of taking over as the starting quarterback job and leading his team to only their third victory in two seasons last week, veteran Andy Dalton leads the Panthers into Cincinnati, a place he knows all too well. Dalton spent nine seasons as QB1 for the Bengals, throwing for 31,594 yards and 204 touchdowns, finishing in second behind Ken Anderson among the Bengals’ all-time leaders in passing yardage.
Last year’s No.1 overall pick Bryce Young’s early career struggles have continued into the 2024 season so far. Young came into Carolina with immediate expectations and immense pressure, as the Panthers had given up an absolute haul to the Chicago Bears in order to move up just one spot to select the Alabama product. Young disappointed, throwing for just 2,877 yards, and a dismal 11 touchdowns to 10 interceptions as the Panthers went 2-15. The 23-year-olds case was further damaged by the fact that fellow quarterback C.J Stroud, taken by the Houston Texans with the second overall pick last year, went on to win Offensive Rookie of the Year, leading the Texans to the playoffs.
There was some hope that new head coach Dave Canales would be able to get the best out of Young, but after the opening two games saw him throw for just 245 yards, zero touchdowns and 3 interceptions, Canales announced Dalton would take over the starting job. Dalton rejuvenated the Panthers beleaguered offense, throwing for 319 yards and three touchdowns, leading them to score on seven of their 12 drives in a 36-22 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Bengals are 0-3 for the first time since 2019, coincidentally Andy Dalton’s last year at the helm. A shock opening game defeat to the New England Patriots was followed by an agonising 26-25 loss on the road to defending Super Bowl Champions the Kansas City Chiefs, before last weeks 38-33 shootout loss at the hands of the Washington Commanders. The Bengals have lost the last five games Burrow has started, and the 27-year-old said this week that whilst they’re “not happy with where they’re at,” their season is “by no means over.”
That may certainly be true, as Burrow has been steadily improving since returning from injury. He’s thrown for 746 yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions with an overall quarterback rating of 62.5, good enough for 8th in the league. However, as a collective offense, they’re tired with the aforementioned Commanders for the fewest number of offensive drives (25) and are 15th in the league for redzone efficiency. Defensively, injuries have ravaged an already questionable defensive line, which ranks 18th in pass block win rate, and a lowly 26th in run block win rate.
Can Dalton take advantage of his former sides early season struggles and get the Panthers back to .500? Or will Burrow and co finally get their season underway? Either way, questions will be answered.
- Buffalo Bills @ Baltimore Ravens – Monday 30th September 1:20am BST
Sunday Night Football this week sees two elite dual threat quarterbacks face off against each other, as Josh Allen leads the undefeated Buffalo Bills into Baltimore to take on Lamar Jackson and the 1-2 Ravens.
The Ravens gathered their first win of the season last week in a close 28-25 victory over the Cowboys in Dallas, a victory which they nearly snatched defeat from. Leading 28-6 through three quarters, the Ravens gave up 19 unanswered points to Prescott and the Cowboys, making it a three-point game with just a few minutes left on the clock. It took Jackson putting the team on his shoulders, throwing for one first down and running for another, to ice the game and secure the Ravens the win.
This matchup sees the clash of two impressive quarterback and running back duos. For the Ravens, it’s Lamar Jackson Derrick Henry. When Henry switched Tennessee for Baltimore in free agency, NFL defences felt a shiver go down their spines. The 30-year-old power back had averaged 1,223 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns per season, highlighted by an incredible 2020 season, rushing for 2,024 yards and 17 touchdowns. This season, Henry has 284 rushing yards and four touchdowns, paired with Jackson who has rushed for 254 yards and a single score. The Bills run defence has been gashed so far this season, allowing an average of 118.3 yards per game, a figure which will give Bills head coach Sean McDermott cause for concern.
Conversely, the Ravens defence has allowed on average just 2.8 yards per carry, which is 0.7 yards fewer than any other team in the league through the opening three games. They’ll need to keep that up in order to contain Josh Allen and James Cook. Cook has emerged as a top running back in the NFL since becoming the Bills number one running back last season. The 25-year-old, younger brother of Cowboys running back Dalvin Cook broke the 1,000 rushing yards barrier in his second season in the league last year, going for 1,122 yards but only two rushing touchdowns. This season, the Georgia product has rushed for 188 yards, averaging 4.8 per carry, but has registered three rushing touchdowns, plus one receiving touchdown against the Miami Dolphins in Week 2. Allen has rushed for 85 yards and two touchdowns this season and comes into this game off the back of a monster performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars where he threw for 263 yards and four touchdowns.
There are elite matchups wherever you look in this game, and it promises to be a close contest between two of the best teams in the league.
Gregg Covers Sport 
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