(This is an article written by Richard Graves, a presenter and broadcaster for over 25 years, covering sports’ biggest events and interviewing the biggest names. Richard has covered the last eight Super Bowls along with countless other major sporting events. You can follow him on social media here.)
NFL WEEK 4: 5 KEY PERFORMANCES
Record Breaking Brady
He’s 44 years old. He’s in his 22nd season in the NFL and the records keep falling. On an emotional return to Foxborough, Tom Brady became the NFL’s all time leading passer, breaking the record of 80,358 passing yards held by Drew Brees with a 28 yard strike to Mike Evans. In all, Brady now has 80,560 career passing yards and after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers clung onto a 19-17 win over the New England Patriots, Brady has now recorded victories over every team in the NFL.
Add that to the record number of Super Bowls he’s won (seven), the all time leader in passing touchdowns (591) and numerous post season records. Pretty much every play the G.O.A.T makes going forward sets a new NFL standard – and he’s showing no sign of slowing up yet!
Trevon Diggs is a Big Deal in Big D
The stars shone in Dallas but none more so than Trevon Diggs.
The Cowboys have a real star in the making in their second year cornerback, who now has at least one interception in all 4 games this season and 5 in total. After being named the NFC Defensive Player of the Month for September, Diggs snared two more picks in the second half against the previously undefeated Carolina Panthers as the Cowboys came from behind at the half to score 20 unanswered points and improve their record to 3-1 with a 36-28 victory.
On offense, Ezekiel Elliott looked like the Zeke of old as he bulldozed his way to 143 rushing yards and 1 touchdown. It was a dominant Cowboys’ team performance – finishing the game with a total of 245 yards on the ground against a defense, which had previously given up just 135 rushing yards combined, in the first 3 games.
Winless No More – Giants & Jets Prevail in Overtime
The New York Giants AND the New York Jets are up and running! Both teams got their first win of the season in week four. Both had to go to overtime to get it. Both came from behind and both took down much more fancied opponents.
The Giants overcame an 11 point deficit on the road to take down the New Orleans Saints with Saquon Barkley scoring the walk off touchdown.
Meanwhile for the Jets, Tennessee Titans kicker, Randy Bullock missed a 49 yard field goal attempt to hand Robert Saleh his first NFL win as a head coach and rookie QB, Zach Wilson his first taste of success as a pro.
It leaves the Detroit Lions and the Jacksonville Jaguars as the lone winless teams in the NFL this season while the Jets now head to London to face the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.
Mahomes, Hill Stand Out as Chiefs Takedown Eagles
After two mistake riddled games which led to back to back defeats, the Kansas City Chiefs offense was ruthless in Philadelphia. For the second game running, the Eagles D gave up 40+ points as Patrick Mahomes marked his 50th career start for Kansas City by throwing five touchdown passes and wide receiver Tyreek Hill was the chief beneficiary. He torched the Eagles secondary – recording 11 catches for 186 yards and scoring 3 touchdowns in a 42-30 win.
It was also a landmark moment for the Chiefs’ head coach, Andy Reid. He becomes the first head coach in NFL history to record 100 wins or more with two different teams after previously winning 140 games over his 14 seasons in charge at the Philadelphia Eagles.
Bills Record Texas Sized Win Over Houston
The Buffalo Bills may not be everyone’s “sexy” pick but the rest of the NFL needs to take notice. Buffalo trounced the hapless Texans on Sunday, 40-0 and have now recorded three straight wins. It’s the manner of their success where the real message lies though.
In two of their three wins this season they shutout their opponents (week two v Dolphins) and in all three wins they’ve scored at least 35 points. Right now, they are dominating games on both sides of the ball. On Sunday, amid driving rain, they dominated once again and QB Josh Allen continues to impress. Against Houston, he threw two more touchdown passes in a team which has outscored opponents by 97 points over the course of this three game winning streak. Their record improves to 3-1 and already they hold a two game lead in the AFC East.