It feels like the NFL season started just a few days ago, but we’ve already completed four weeks of games. As we get into the meat of the league’s October schedule, let’s reflect on some things we learned after the past week’s slate of games.
Patrick Mahomes Is Remarkable
Sometimes in sports, greatness can be taken for granted as fans search for the next phenomenon. It can be a little mundane to continuously praise someone that delivers year in and year out, but Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is deserving of all the credit that comes his way.
There were a lot of questions about how the dynamic signal caller would respond this season without the threat of Tyreek Hill on the outside, and Mahomes has answered all of them. It doesn’t seem to matter who the Chiefs put around their quarterback, as the leader of their offense just continues to produce and make his teammates better.
He had a signature performance on Sunday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, throwing for 249 yards and three touchdowns. One of his most exhilarating plays came in the red zone, as Mahomes maneuvered outside of the pocket and essentially flipped the ball to running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire for a touchdown. While we continue to look in a variety of directions for MVP candidates, Mahomes remains an option for the league’s highest honor perennially.
The Cowboys Played Their Season Correctly
When Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott injured his thumb in Week 1, the immediate reaction across the NFL landscape was that the Cowboys’ season was essentially over. Many speculated about the franchise trading for another quarterback to hold down the fort while Prescott recovered, but the front office routinely stated that they would not look outside the organization for help.
It certainly seems like that was the right decision, as Dallas has won every game since Prescott went down. Cooper Rush is now 4-0 in games where he has come in for Prescott, and is doing an admirable job of moving the offense. He threw for another two touchdowns on Sunday against Washington, finding CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup for scores.
It seems like Prescott will make his return to the lineup in the next couple of weeks, but Rush has certainly bought the team some valuable time, and rewarded their confidence in him.
Detroit Might Be The League’s Most Exciting Team
Most people would not call the Detroit Lions one of the superior teams in the NFL, and that would feel like an accurate assessment. However, there are not many teams in the league right now whose games are more action packed than Detroit, making them a fun squad to watch.
The margins of victory in games the Lions have played this year are nine, three, four and three points respectively. Detroit has only come out on top in one of those contests, but they have all come down to the wire, and featured exciting shootouts.
The team would like to see the defense play a little better, anchored by high draft picks Aidan Hutchinson and Jeff Okudah. However, their offense has been a pleasant surprise, as quarterback Jared Goff looks revitalized in his second season with Detroit.
