#nfl

#nfl

A year after a major overhaul and six months after a seemingly minor tweak, teams have returned 78.3% of kickoffs during the first four weeks of the season -- the highest rate over that period in 19 years. The NFL has seen 519 kickoff returns, the most through Week 4 in its history. Coaches have reacted strongly to moving the touchback from the 30-yard line in 2024 to the 35 this season, refusing to concede the additional 5 yards.

Both teams have playoff aspirations for 2025, but it is the Rams who look much better place to contend to go all the way, with terrible injury luck continuing to severely hamper the 49ers as it did during the 2024 season, when they slumped to a 6-11 record after going within a play of winning the Super Bowl in the prior campaign.

I own the fact that I probably used the wrong choice of words, but however you want to word it, I mean, they're really, really good at putting their players in position to be successful. As coaches, we're always chasing leverage. They're trying to have winning leverage. We're trying to take leverage away. Everyone in the league is trying to find every avenue they can.

Star quarterback Jackson left the game in the third quarter after being sacked by George Karlaftis and did not return as the Chiefs completed a 37-20 win. Asked about the two-time NFL MVP afterwards, Harbaugh was short on details but did not think it was a major concern. "There's nothing that looks like it's season-ending by any stretch for anybody," said Harbaugh, who saw four other starters - Roquan Smith, Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins and Ronnie Stanley - also exit.

The Packers took advantage of the weak Dallas defense right away. On their first third down of the night, Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love connected with rookie wideout Matthew Golden for a 46-yard pickup, the longest play of his young career. A few downs later, Romeo Doubs caught a two-yard touchdown pass in the end zone for a 7-0 advantage. Following an exchange of punts, the Cowboys took over on offense deep in their own territory.

"This is for my people, my culture and our history. Ve y dile a tu abuela, que seremos el Halftime Show Del Super Bowl," he added.

The Philadelphia Eagles managed to outlast the Tampa Buccaneers' comeback attempt for a 31-25 win on the road. With that victory, Philadelphia improved to 4-0 on the season. The Eagles were able to ride a 24-6 halftime lead to victory. Philly's special teams unit was once again a difference-maker. Cameron Latu blocked a Tampa Bay punt that was returned 36 yards for a touchdown to put the Eagles ahead 7-0 early in the first quarter. That was Philadelphia's second special teams TD in as many weeks.

DETROIT -- Cleveland Browns starting wide receiver Cedric Tillman has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's game against the Lions because of a hamstring injury. During the second quarter, Tillman entered the medical tent for several minutes. He tested his hamstring along the sideline and reentered the game for a few snaps before leaving again.

Even though the Minnesota Vikings scored two touchdowns in the final eight minutes of the first international game of the season, the Pittsburgh Steelers managed to fend off a potential game-tying drive for a 24-21 win. With that victory, Pittsburgh moved into sole possession of first place in the AFC North. Minnesota had a chance to tie this game with 1:01 left in the fourth quarter. However, quarterback Carson Wentz threw an incompletion on a 4th and 17 to give the Steelers the win.

Entering Week 4 of the NFL season, we enter with an unblemished 9-0 record after wins by Buffalo, Kansas City, and Indianapolis last weekend. There are seven undefeated teams in the NFL, but two of them will clash in Week 4 so that number will be reduced entering Week 5. In the American Football Conference (AFC), the Buffalo Bills, Indianapolis Colts, and the Los Angeles Chargers are perfect at 3-0,

The defending Super Bowl-champion Eagles have not enjoyed a convincing start to their title defence, with their offense failing to fire on all cylinders and all of their wins coming by a single score. It took a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown by Jordan Davis for the Eagles to survive against the Los Angeles Rams in a game in which they recovered from a 26-7 deficit.

Ben Solak is out this week, so Matt Bowen is filling in with his own unique style. Bowen and Seth Walder bring different perspectives into how they approach sports betting. A former NFL safety, Bowen predicts positive matchups and game winners from tape study and his understanding of the league. Walder relies on statistical models to pick out plus-expected value bets.

Former NFL star Shaun Alexander and his wife, Valerie, are adding another player to their team. The Seattle Seahawks' all-time leading rusher announced on the " Up & Adams Show" with host Kay Adams on Sept. 24 that Valerie is pregnant with the couple's 14th child. "We're just now starting to tell people, but No. 14 is in the belly," Alexander said. "We're just now starting to tell everybody."

History says a win for the 0-3s would offer a slim chance to make the playoffs, while a loss, well, it would take a historic feat to defy the odds. Since 1990 (when the NFL expanded to a 12-team playoff format), only one team (1992 San Diego Chargers) has made the playoffs after starting 0-4, but 35 have done it after starting 1-3. In the 14-team playoff format that began in 2020, five have made it after starting 1-3 and all nine 0-4 teams fell short.

Week 3 finally had the first major upset of the season with the Green Bay Packers blowing a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Browns. It was the first game all season where more than 10% of the field was knocked out. Still, 72% of all entrants remain, a far cry from last year when 95% of entrants had been eliminated by now.

That was a huge blown opportunity. The Cards had a chance to take sole possession of first place in the NFC West. Yet, they somehow couldn't stop Mac Jones from putting together a ten-play, 63-yard drive in 1:46 that led to the 49ers kicking a game-winning field goal. That is a major red flag for a head coach who is supposed to be a defensive specialist. This loss might end up being the difference between Arizona making and missing the 2026 NFL Playoffs.

BALTIMORE -- The Detroit Lions used a revitalized pass rush and a punishing rushing attack to defeat the Baltimore Ravens 38-30 at M&T Bank Stadium on Monday night. David Montgomery ran for 151 yards and two touchdowns for the Lions (2-1), who rushed for 224 yards.

Week 4 gets underway with a matchup of NFC West rivals when the Arizona Cardinals host the Seattle Seahawks on "Thursday Night Football." Sunday night features Micah Parsons and the Green Bay Packers hitting the road to take on the Dallas Cowboys. The week wraps up with a "Monday Night Football" doubleheader as the New York Jets visit the Miami Dolphins (7:15 ET on ESPN) and the Denver Broncos host the Cincinnati Bengals (8:15 on ABC).

On Sunday, Croke Park plays host to a national football league of a very different flavour, as the all-American sport holds its first regular season game in Ireland.

It seems ridiculous to contemplate that distance, but yes, the Cowboys said after the game that they would have been comfortable with Aubrey attempting to tie the score from "70ish" yards, according to coach Brian Schottenheimer. "We've seen him make those before," he said. "We always want to try to get as close as we can. But he's always like, 'Yeah, I'm good.' That's pretty cool. Dak [Prescott] is always like, 'What's the line to make?' and I'm like, 'Yeah, 50ish. You know, 50ish.' He's like, 'OK, but that's like a 67- to 70-yard field goal.'"