In what seemed like an eternity ago, the Baltimore Ravens found themselves in a precarious position just two weeks back. The boos were raining down on them as they walked off their home field with an 0-2 record. Many were questioning their status as Super Bowl contenders after they squandered a 10-point fourth-quarter lead to the Las Vegas Raiders. Penalties were plaguing them, the defense was faltering, and not even the usually reliable Justin Tucker could save them with missed kicks.
The Ravens, known for being one of the league’s most consistent winners, had now dropped three games in a row dating back to last year’s AFC Championship Game. The doubts surrounding the team mounted as everyone wondered: what was wrong with the Ravens? And how long would it take to fix it?
Despite their recent struggles, the Ravens managed to get their mojo back in two weeks when they faced off against the New Orleans Saints. The Saints, once the talk of the league, suffered a 26-24 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, bringing them back to a .500 record and knocking them out of first place in the division, which now belonged to the 3-1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Tampa Bay showcased their strength by racing to a 24-0 lead over the Philadelphia Eagles before securing a 33-16 victory. Even with the addition of Saquon Barkley, Philly’s offense seemed out of sync, highlighting their mediocrity. Meanwhile, A.J. Brown’s return to the Eagles may offer some hope for improvement, but for now, Tampa Bay remains the team to beat in the NFC South.
In Chicago, Caleb Williams led the Bears to a 24-18 win over the injury-battered Los Angeles Rams, who now find themselves at a disappointing 1-3 record. Williams, who had struggled with interceptions in previous games, found his rhythm on Sunday, completing nearly 74% of his passes.
The AFC North saw the league’s longest active regular-season win streak come to an end in Indianapolis, where the Colts stunned the Pittsburgh Steelers with a 27-24 victory. Pittsburgh, who had won six straight games dating back to last season, fell victim to costly fumbles as Joe Flacco stepped up for the Colts after Anthony Richardson’s injury, throwing two touchdowns to secure the win.
As the dust settled on Week 4 of the NFL season, it was clear that the Ravens weren’t just reminding the AFC, but the entire league, of their potential when firing on all cylinders. Lamar Jackson, already a two-time MVP, made sure to dim the hype surrounding Josh Allen’s MVP campaign that had gained momentum early in the season.
“I’m pretty frustrated,” expressed Trevor Lawrence. “When we have the game in our hands, we have to go win it. And we obviously didn’t do that today.”
Week 4 offered a glimpse into the complexities of the NFL season, showcasing the highs and lows of teams as they battle for supremacy on the gridiron.
