Two years back, the dominant forces in the NFC were the 15-2 Detroit Lions alongside a Philadelphia Eagles squad that captured a Super Bowl title.
Things change rapidly in the NFL. Just four weeks into the current campaign, both Philadelphia and Detroit appear deeply imperfect, albeit for contrasting reasons. The Eagles are struggling to advance the ball, while the Lions are incapable of stopping opponents. While injuries provide some excuse for both franchises, roster deficiencies are also clearly at play.
During Sunday’s matchup with the Rams, Philadelphia was missing running back Saquon Barkley (hamstring), wideout DeVonta Smith (hamstring), tight end Dallas Goedert, and right tackle Lane Johnson (personal matters) for the majority of the contest. This sidelined perhaps their top three playmakers and their premier offensive lineman. Deprived of these stars, they managed a meager 172 yards, registered only 3 yards per snap, and surrendered a 10-point advantage in the closing five minutes. It was a dismal showing.
Barkley’s status is now week-to-week due to his ailment, while reserve running back Tank Bigsby is headed to injured reserve with a core muscle issue. Meanwhile, the circumstances surrounding Johnson’s absence remain undisclosed.
Head coach Nick Sirianni is facing heavy scrutiny, as is quarterback Jalen Hurts, who has struggled throughout this year and had a subpar previous campaign as well. The offensive unit appears lost without wide receiver A.J. Brown, who was traded away during the offseason. Up next, the Eagles face a challenging matchup in London versus the Jaguars. Hurts, who threw for a mere 10 yards in the second half of Sunday’s loss, is likely secure in his starting role despite his ongoing struggles. Philadelphia recently shook up its backup quarterback rotation, elevating Tanner McKee over Andy Dalton. Because both signal-callers have occupied the third-string spot at points this year, neither poses a genuine threat to Hurts’ job security, regardless of his performance. Still, a strong outing would offer much-needed relief.
Philadelphia Eagles signal-caller Jalen Hurts endured a highly unproductive second half during a defeat against the Rams.
(Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
If they can regain their health, the Eagles have a path to resolve their issues. The Lions, however, may not have such a straightforward solution.
Detroit has featured in two national prime-time broadcasts, allowing a massive viewership to witness a squad that generates yards easily but fails entirely on defense. Under Bryce Young in his fourth year, the Carolina Panthers’ offense appears significantly improved; following an initial punt, Carolina’s subsequent six possessions resulted in: touchdown, touchdown, field goal, touchdown, touchdown, and field goal. Detroit currently ranks dead last across the league in both yards and points surrendered per matchup. Looking at advanced metrics, they rank last in defensive expected points added (EPA) per snap, 29th in defensive success rate, and 31st in DVOA. Conversely, the Detroit offense ranks in the top eight across these same categories, proving that side of the ball is not the issue.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell admitted the team anticipated Carolina relying heavily on wideout Tetairoa McMillan, especially with secondary receiver Jalen Coker sidelined by injury. Yet Detroit offered no resistance, allowing him to rack up 14 receptions for 192 yards and a pair of scores.
At this juncture, Detroit’s defensive woes appear nearly impossible to remedy. While swapping coordinators might not solve every problem, Campbell was questioned about whether he would consider parting ways with Kelvin Sheppard.
“I am not addressing those rumors,” Campbell stated. “My focus is on improving immediately with our current roster. That is our plan. We must discover how to elevate our play with the players we currently have.”
Cornerback D.J. Reed supported Sheppard after Sunday’s matchup, asserting, “This is on the players, not the coaching staff.” His assessment could be accurate, which introduces a different set of worries. The roster is currently missing starting safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch, and defensive back Avonte Maddox is out for the year with an injury. Furthermore, with Terrion Arnold no longer on the team after being released following an offseason arrest, Detroit’s defensive backfield is severely depleted. On a positive note, Campbell indicated that Branch is “very close” to returning to action. Joseph, however, does not appear near a return. While Branch is a talented defender, his presence alone cannot instantly salvage a defense that is surrendering an average of 423.8 yards and 31.8 points weekly.
Panic meter: A dismal defense threatens to derail Detroit’s entire campaign. Philadelphia faces a similar risk with its stagnant offense, though they have a slightly better prospect of turning things around.
Denver’s Offensive Struggles Persist
Denver has managed only 13 first-half points across four matchups. Per Associated Press reporter Josh Dubow, this represents the second-lowest first-half total through four weeks in the NFL over the past five years, surpassed only by the 2023 Giants, who scored a mere nine points.
These early-game struggles suggest their initial game plans are failing. This is just one of several critical issues plaguing the Denver offense.
The Broncos’ offense has stuttered since Sean Payton delegated play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Davis Webb to begin the year. Following a disastrous season opener, Payton has faced constant questions regarding his assessment of the play-calling and whether he intends to reclaim those duties. Although Payton has shown no signs of making a change, he may find it difficult to maintain this stance if the team’s offensive struggles drag on.
“The disappointment mainly stems from losing,” quarterback Bo Nix noted in the team’s press transcripts. “Our goal is to build a highly dynamic offense, and we will get there, but we have gone up against some excellent opponents.”
While Denver has faced formidable opponents—namely the Chiefs, Jaguars, Rams, and 49ers—that does not fully excuse an offensive unit ranking 27th in total yards per game. Improvement must occur rapidly, or a change in play-calling duties seems inevitable.
Panic meter: While it is still early and a 2-2 record keeps them competitive, Denver’s performance has raised several red flags.
Another Injury Setback for Lamar Jackson
Social media medical experts were highly active on Sunday offering opinions on Jackson’s newest physical setback, with the consensus leaning toward a minor high ankle sprain.
Any physical issue for the Baltimore Ravens’ signal-caller is a major concern. We witnessed the franchise’s season derail last year following Jackson’s hamstring injury, from which he never fully recovered his form upon returning. While this current setback might seem minor, it warrants close attention, as a major injury to Jackson completely alters the competitive outlook of the league.
Panic meter: No cause for alarm at the moment, with any luck.
Is a Quarterback Swap Looming for Arizona?
Jacoby Brissett possesses the capability to manage an acceptable offense, yet he lacks the dynamic ability to elevate the Arizona Cardinals into a winning team.
Over the past two campaigns, Arizona has posted a 2-14 record in games started by Brissett. On Sunday, they dropped a winnable game against the Giants, largely due to Brissett throwing three interceptions—including a game-ending pick-six.
Brissett’s position will likely become untenable in the near future. Arizona is on track to be eliminated from postseason contention early on, and his output does not justify keeping him on the field through these defeats. At 33 years of age, he is obviously not a long-term option. Meanwhile, third-round rookie Carson Beck, who showed promise during the preseason Hall of Fame game, deserves an extended evaluation before the campaign concludes. These factors point toward an impending change under center.
Panic meter: Brissett must elevate his play immediately, though even a turnaround might not preserve his starting role.
Rams Secure a Victory, But Concerns Remain
If Sunday’s clash between the Rams and Eagles had concluded five minutes earlier, the narrative surrounding both teams this week would be vastly different.
Down by double digits, Los Angeles appeared destined for a 1-3 record. Matthew Stafford threw two interceptions, bringing his season total to six over four games, compared to just eight during the entirety of last year. Furthermore, the Rams cannot point to injuries to explain their offensive struggles, as the unit was largely intact. Although the Eagles’ defense looks formidable on paper, they were coming off a game where they were carved up by Case Keenum, Chicago’s 38-year-old reserve quarterback.
Los Angeles managed to avert a week of heavy criticism by scoring two late touchdowns to secure the win. Sitting at 2-2 is far from ideal, but it represents a massive upgrade over a 1-3 start. The Rams face a daunting matchup against the Bills on Monday Night Football in Week 5. While Sunday’s victory bought them some breathing room, a loss to Buffalo that drops them to 2-3 will likely reignite doubts about the team’s true caliber.
Panic meter: Suspicions are growing that the Rams may simply be an average squad this year.
