The NFL Roundup 2019: Week 4 – What We Learned

Written by John Edward Betancourt 

​Week 4 in the NFL is an important time in the league, simply because, it allows for us to get a solid perspective on where every team is at in the season and where they are likely going to end up when the season comes to a close. For this weekend’s games confirmed how much more work the bad teams are going to have to put in if they hope to compete this year, and it also reminded us that the good teams are going to be a delight to watch as they grind it out toward the playoffs. Plus, these matchups also reminded of us an important NFL lesson in that, you never take your opponent for granted since a team or two were shocked and stunned and well, if that makes it sound like we have a lot to reflect upon from this weekend’s slate of games, you’re absolutely right. So, without further ado, let’s dive right into what we learned from Week 4 of the 2019 season.
 
The Chicago Bears defense is legit.
As the old saying goes, defense wins championships and right now, the Chicago D is playing like a championship squad. For they outright manhandled the Vikings offense on Sunday, generating six sacks on their way to a 16-6 win over Minnesota and really, I cannot find a single flaw in their performance on Sunday. Because not only did they harass Kirk Cousins all day long, they also made life impossible for him passing wise. For they blanketed his receivers and disrupted just about every single route and if they continue to play like this in the weeks to come, and I think they will, they’re going to guide to the Bears to a wondrous season, regardless of who is under center. Because this defense is for real and opposing teams are going to have to game plan carefully if they hope to have a shot at beating them.
 
Patrick Mahomes is an incredible quarterback.
There’s really one thing that separates a superstar quarterback from the rest of the pack, and that’s their ability to will their team to a win when it seems that the odds are against them and that’s precisely what Patrick Mahomes did on Sunday. Because the Lions showed up to play, and they made life difficult for Kansas City on both sides of the ball. But late in the game, Mahomes simply made magic happen at every turn and refused to quit and that, made his teammates want this as badly as he did and for his efforts, Kansas City remains undefeated and well, this kid is just electrifying to watch and I fully expect to see more heroics from him in the weeks to come. Because it is clear he’s hungry for a win and a chance at the title and I don’t think he’ll stop playing hard until he achieves his goals.
 
Stick a fork in the Denver Broncos, they’re done.
It really was an offseason full of hope in the Mile High City. For a no-nonsense coach took the reins of the team and the franchise picked up some great free agents and some quality players in the draft. But something has gone terribly wrong at Dove Valley because the Broncos are now 0-4 and they look like a bad football team on the field. Because they couldn’t handle something as simple as tackling on Sunday and they blew a solid lead against the Jaguars and well, I think that’s it for them in 2019. Because this season is unraveling quick and with Bradley Chubb now out for the remainder of the year with a partially torn ACL, an already bad defense is only going to get worse. So sadly, buckle up Broncos fans, because it is going to be a long and ugly season filled with heartbreak as Denver quietly regroups to figure out 2020.
 
Tampa Bay still has a little fight left in them.
If you would have told me on Sunday that the Buccaneers were going to beat the defending NFC Champion, I would have rolled my eyes. And if you took that statement one step further by saying that Tampa Bay was not only going to win but was going to do so by hanging with the Rams in a shootout and drop 55 points in the process, I would have outright laughed in your face. But here we are, and this is a big deal simply because I didn’t think Tampa Bay had this kind of fight in them. If anything, this win is a testament to Bruce Arians’ brilliant work as a head coach and this kind of big win rallies a team like the Bucs, so don’t be shocked if we see more upsets and epic victories from a team that suddenly believes in their abilities.
 
The NFL got it wrong with Vontaze Burfict.
Look I get it, a 12-game suspension is a big deal for a guy who likes to play dirty. But frankly, I don’t think that was a harsh enough penalty for Vontaze Burfict’s latest ‘mistake’. Because I saw how #55 responded to his ejection, and seeing a guy run into the tunnel with a smile on his face while he blew kisses at the fans in attendance at Lucas Oil Field, speaks volumes to a guy that just doesn’t care about what he does on the field or the penalties he faces for his actions. Which means I think it’s time to just straight up ban Burfict from the league. Because player safety is never top of mind for this guy and his past history indicates he will just do this again come 2020. So just be done with him, get him out of the league so that someone who actually respects the game and the players he takes the field with, can get a chance to play in the NFL. 

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