Nearly a quarter of the NFL’s regular season has been completed, and after four weeks of play, there have been plenty of surprises around the league’s 32 franchises.
Sam Darnold And The Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings’ initial over/under betting lines were set at 6.5 wins in the preseason. After four games, Minnesota is 4-0 and needs only three wins to eclipse that mark.
Sam Darnold has been cast off by the New York Jets and the Carolina Panthers. Now, he’s in Minneapolis and might be leading the Vikings to a playoff berth. Current NFL futures place them as the most likely winner of the NFC North, but we expect the division championship to come down to the wire between them and the Detroit Lions.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Critics and oddsmakers continue to write off the Bucs and the relentless hustle of QB Baker Mayfield. Tampa Bay stands atop the NFC South at 3-1, but trail the Atlanta Falcons in the odds to win the division.
The Washington Commanders
Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels continues to impress and has the Commanders in the lead in the NFC East with a 3-1 record. A resurgence of the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys is expected, but D.C. has a chance to prove their worth directly with head-to-head matchups starting mid-November.
Geno Smith – Quarterback, Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks suffered their first loss of the season last night against the Lions. Journeyman quarterback Geno Smith has cemented his position as the starter in Seattle and is currently leading the league in passing yards with 1,182.
Saquan Barkley – Running Back, Philadelphia Eagles
Barkley is proving that age ain’t nothing but a number, as he’s producing at a level not seen since his early years with the New York Giants. Through four games, Barkley has 435 yards and 6 touchdowns on the ground, with 85 yards and 1 TD receiving.
Malik Nabers – Wide Receiver, New York Giants
An instant connection developed between rookie WR Malik Nabers and Daniel Jones. Nabers leads the league in receptions with 35, 5 more than Nico Collins, who is in second place. Unfortunately, Nabers suffered a concussion against the Cowboys, and his status for Week 5 is uncertain.
The Jacksonville Jaguars
At 0-4, it is hard to put a positive spin on the first quarter of the Jaguars’ 2024-25 season. Their next three games are against the Colts, Bears, and Patriots, so the season may not be lost if Jacksonville can climb back to 3-4 over that stretch. NFL sportsbooks are favoring the Jags by -2.5 against Indianapolis this weekend.
The Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals were expected to contend for the AFC crown this season. At 1-3 and facing the Baltimore Ravens in Week 5, Cincinnati’s forecast for success looks grim. A win against Baltimore will place both teams at 2-3, putting the Bengals right back in the divisional race.
Sources:
- BetOnline Sportsbook (Review)
- NFL
- The New York Post
