Week 4 Recap: Chiefs and 49ers Remain unbeated, Jaguars win ugly, CeeDee Lamb goes off

Nix averaged 4.6 air yards per attempt and -3.0 average air yards to the sticks in Week 4 against San Francisco. The source describes his performance as frustrating, noting he holds onto the ball on real drop-back concepts only to check it down or throw swing passes, showing a lack of willingness to be aggressive and ambitious until the game is on the line in the fourth quarter. He had only one completion beyond 10 air yards and three completions between the numbers that gained 14 yards total.

The source highlights Brenton Strange's involvement in two key Jaguars offensive plays: a play-action design where 'Brenton Strange kind of blocks down for a second, leaks out to the flat for 11 yards,' and a deep rap route on the drive to go up 23-10. These plays demonstrate Strange's role in the Jaguars' offensive scheme and his ability to create chunk plays.

Brock Bowers finished the Raiders-Chiefs game with 11 targets, making him one of the primary receiving options for Kirk Cousins. The source notes that Kirk Cousins threw 29 of his 52 passes to tight ends and running backs, with Bowers receiving the most targets among that group. This reflects the Raiders' offensive design centered around tight ends and running backs rather than traditional wide receivers.

Purdy hit Mike Evans on a deep in-breaker late in the second quarter with an early release, and extended plays in the fourth quarter to find receivers downfield. The source notes he made several well-timed throws and showed the ability to hit explosive plays when given time, contrasting favorably with Bo Nix's conservative approach.

The source praises Bryce Young's performance in the Panthers-Lions Sunday night game, describing it as 'a really impressive performance' and 'what a game from Bryce Young.' The flashes from Young are characterized as 'incredibly exciting,' and the source expresses enthusiasm about digging into his performance in detail on the next show.

Stroud delivered an elite performance in the Texans' loss to Dallas, posting a top-10 EPA per dropback of his entire career. The source notes he made several equally impressive throws throughout the game and was 'dealing,' but the Texans' defense failed to step up in crunch time. Despite the loss, Stroud has been one of the best five or six quarterbacks in the NFL thus far this season, and the source maintains long-term faith in his ability to perform at a top-10 level.

The source highlights CeeDee Lamb as one of the standout performers of Week 4, noting his explosive performance in the episode title and opening segment. Lamb is referenced alongside other top performers as a player who 'goes off,' indicating strong fantasy production and continued elite-level play.

Lamb delivered one of the best receiver performances of the 2020s decade: 21 targets, 17 catches, 189 yards, and 1 touchdown (game-winner) against the Texans. He was the first receiver in the 2020s to catch 17+ passes in a game; Keenan Allen did it in 2023, and Antonio Brown had 17 for 284 as a Steeler in 2015. The source notes this was a combination of great players making great plays and excellent design by Dallas, particularly in the second half.

Lamb was heavily targeted (21 targets) and consistently made difficult catches in tight windows against Derek Stingley, demonstrating elite ball skills and quarterback chemistry with Dak Prescott. The source highlights three or four examples where Lamb came back to the ball aggressively and friendly to the quarterback, making catches in tight windows that required precise timing from Prescott. On the game-winning drive, Lamb made a comeback catch against Stingley one-on-one where the ball came out so early that if timing was off, the play would not have been completed.

The source details Chris Rodriguez's touchdown run on a same-side power play where 'Chris Rodriguez essentially goes untouched for 25 yards' due to excellent blocking by Anton Harrison and Colvin Lanham's pull. The source praises the play design, noting the Jaguars identified the Bengals' defensive tendency to let the end slice and exploited it with this touchdown run.

Sutton was consistently beaten one-on-one by 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenore on the outside throughout Week 4. The source notes that Lenore was winning those situations consistently, which limited Sutton's opportunities since he is where Bo Nix prefers to target the ball.

Moore was injured during Week 4 and was only active for approximately half of the Bills' passing plays. The source notes this was a factor in the game but does not believe it was the primary reason for the Bills' loss.

Prescott delivered an exceptional performance in the Cowboys' comeback win, particularly on the game-winning drive with two minutes remaining. The source charted the entire drive and highlighted multiple impressive throws: a dig to Lamb where Jalen Petrie nearly intercepted on the first snap; a sit-down route to Ferguson on fourth-and-one; and a 15-yard completion fitting the ball between Stingley and Petrie on second-and-ten. The source describes these as 'nails throws' and notes that Prescott consistently tested tight windows and made his receivers right on difficult throws throughout the game.

Prescott demonstrated the ability to win one-on-one football in addition to executing schemed plays, which the source identifies as a requirement for elite offenses. Against the Texans' good defense, Prescott made throws that required receivers to earn catches through tight-window completions and aggressive ball placement. The source notes that if the Cowboys are going to be one of the best offenses in the league, they need both gears: scheme and one-on-one execution, and Prescott proved they have both.

Kincaid received only 2 targets in Week 4 after being the most important pass catcher on the Bills in the first few weeks. He ran 17 routes and the Bills used only 13% of their plays in 13 personnel (two tight ends), a major departure from early-season usage. The source attributes this to offensive game-planning issues and notes that offensive coordinator Joe Brady himself questioned the decision.

Drake May is mentioned in the opening segment as 'notably grabbing our attention' in Week 4, indicating a standout performance or development that warrants discussion on the show.

The source praises Drake Maye's performance against the Bills, describing it as 'a performance that looked a lot more like 2025 Drake May than what we have seen so far this year.' The source notes he made 'five or six incredible throws and plays this game that looked like last year's Drake May,' including his ability to find space and time in the pocket, buy time with his legs, and make tight-window throws. The source states 'I feel pretty confident believing that this version of Drake May is much more reality than whatever the first three weeks of the season were.'

The source notes Drake Maye had a strip sack in the Patriots-Bills game, attributing it partly to his small hands ('this is going to be a thing with him probably for a majority of his career') and his tendency to put himself in bad positions. The source explains 'he kind of puts himself in those positions where on that play, the right guard is just getting pushed right into his face. And he tries to slide up into a pocket that is is non-existent.' The source compares this to 'sliding up into like the trash compactor from Star Wars.' However, the source notes this is offset by his ability to make plays in these situations.

Engram was targeted late in the second quarter on a throw that arrived late, allowing 49ers safety Malik Mustafa to get in and make a play on the ball for a pass breakup. The source notes this late throw exemplifies Bo Nix's decision-making issues.

Fernando Mendoza is discussed as a future option for the Raiders at quarterback. The source notes 'at some point, Fernando Mendoza is going to play' and suggests that while he's not calling for him to play immediately, Mendoza represents a potential solution for the Raiders' long-term quarterback needs. The source also notes that if Mendoza can be paired with a receiver upgrade, the Raiders could solve their offensive explosiveness issues going forward, stating 'if you're thinking ahead for the future and you're trying to be excited about 2027 and you're like, man, we got to solve receiver and quarterback. Well, they don't have to solve quarterback. You know, who knows how good he'll be, but they have an answer for like trying to get more explosive that way.'

Kittle took a middle screen 60 yards for a touchdown in Week 4 against Denver, just 8.5 months after suffering an Achilles injury. The source expresses amazement at the amount of explosiveness and gas Kittle has recovered post-injury, calling it "completely insane."

George Pickens is discussed as a potential free agent target for the Raiders in the offseason. The source notes 'George Pickens feels like a Raider' and suggests pairing Pickens with Fernando Mendoza, stating 'Get him someone who will catch the back shoulder. I'm pretty sure George Pickens will catch a back shoulder too.' Pickens is positioned as a potential solution to the Raiders' receiver explosiveness problem.

Pickens provides essential vertical stretch to the Steelers offense despite not being heavily targeted; his ability to create separation deep and take defenders vertically opens up underneath routes for other receivers. On one third-quarter play, Pickens ran vertical while CeeDee Lamb ran a crosser, forcing Stingley to pass him off and creating space for Lamb; Pickens also drew two penalties from Stingley on the same drive. His verticality is necessary for the offense to function at its best.

Ian Thomas was targeted in the Raiders-Chiefs game on a 28-yard screen pass and a delay route down the sideline, representing one of the few explosive plays the Raiders generated offensively. The source notes these were among the Raiders' limited big plays in the game.

The source mentions that Jamar Chase 'got hurt early on' in the Jaguars-Bengals game, noting this context when discussing the Bengals' passing game performance and the Jaguars' secondary coverage quality despite Chase's absence.

Cook received only 12 carries in Week 4, his lowest carry total since the end of the 2024 season, despite the Bills' 67% rushing success rate and 53% team rushing success rate. The source notes this was particularly frustrating given Cook's talent level and the offensive context where the run game was working effectively.

Burrow threw for 400 yards in the Bengals' loss to Jacksonville but was forced into a specific pattern by the Jaguars' defense. He had 9 completions from 11-25 yards outside the numbers, the most in a game since Dak Prescott in November 2023. The Jaguars' cloud coverage and run defense forced Burrow to either throw into that hole or check the ball down, preventing explosive plays over the top. Despite the yardage, the defense limited big plays and forced him to accumulate yards in 16-yard chunks.

Joe Burrow threw for 400 yards in the Jaguars-Bengals game but scored fewer than 20 points, making this only one of 11 games since 2000 where a team has achieved this stat line. The source notes Burrow had 'some really nice moments' in the passing game, including 'bully ball T Higgins back shoulder throws,' but the Jaguars' defense was effective at limiting explosive plays and forcing turnovers despite the yardage total.

The source criticizes Josh Allen's decision-making in the Bills-Patriots game, highlighting a backhanded flip at the goal line that 'gets away with that' despite being risky, and a late-game throw that was 'completely unnecessary.' The source explains on the late throw: 'At the very beginning of the play, he thinks the corner is going to be open. And I think if he's able to throw it at the very top of his drop, it might be open. But then he has to evade a rusher. He like spins out of it and he like plans to throw it again. And there's nothing in his mind that tells him it's been a little bit too long for me to go and try to make that throw again.' The source notes 'with the amount of timeouts they had time, they had it was only, I think, second and six or something like that. Like there was really no reason for him to make some of those plays.'

The source highlights Josh Cameron's play on a fake toss gun from play action, noting he 'shook off Jordan Battle coming downhill' on a 'great yak play' that helped the Jaguars move the ball and score on the drive to go up 16-10.

Kenneth Walker had an explosive performance against the Raiders, rushing for 177 yards. Per true media, through the first four weeks of the season, only 2003 Jamal Lewis and 2010 Arian Foster have rushed for more yards through the first four weeks. Walker passed DeMarco Murray's 2014 pace (1800 yards). The source notes he is 'on a complete tear' and has been the key to the Chiefs' offensive success, with the question from the offseason—'is Kenneth Walker being explosive as hell good enough to fix everything about the Chiefs offense?'—answered affirmatively through four weeks.

Coleman is starting to show signs of development with meaningful signal from the Bills offense. The source notes he made some good plays in Week 4, including a bobbled catch and several downfield shots on deep posts and similar routes to Josh Palmer, suggesting the team believes he can be a useful part of the offense going forward.

Kirk Cousins threw 52 passes in the Raiders-Chiefs game, completing 29 of those 52 passes to tight ends and running backs. The source characterizes Cousins as 'a really good quarterback if you don't hit him' and notes that 'when he does have like time to work or he gets the ball out or they just block it up really well on that play, like he really is seeing it really well. He's very accurate.' However, on the final drive, Cousins 'glitched out' at the line, going through 'a system reboot' before scrambling and realizing he needed to get rid of the ball, ultimately preventing the Raiders from getting into position for a potential game-tying field goal attempt.

Mims was involved in a controversial muffed punt call in Week 4 against San Francisco. The source disputes the call, noting that while Mims' wrist hit down before his elbow (technically a fumble by the letter of the law), the spirit of the play suggested he was down. The turnover led to a 49ers field position advantage that changed the game's momentum.

Michael Mayer received 10 targets in the Raiders-Chiefs game, the second-most among Raiders pass catchers. The source describes Mayer as 'their best offensive weapon pass catcher' and notes that 'calling him a tight end is almost a misnomer at this point.' Mayer is a central part of the Raiders' offensive design, which is built around tight ends and running backs rather than traditional wide receivers.

Evans was heavily featured in the 49ers' Week 4 offensive design against Denver. He caught a deep curl in the fourth quarter after Brock Purdy extended the play, and was the target on the touchdown play in the fourth quarter on an insert play-action where he got lost on the left sideline. The source notes these were well-designed plays that showcased Evans' role in the offense.

Patrick Mahomes completed only 15 passes for 225 yards but won the game against the Raiders, marking the second time this season he's won a game with only 15 completions—the first time he's done this in five years (not since 2021). Mahomes averaged 11.3 air yards per attempt, significantly higher than his typical range, with six passes of 20+ yards in the air. The source notes this represents a departure from the Chiefs' typical offensive approach over the last couple of years, describing the offense as 'feast or famine' and dependent on explosive plays. Mahomes had a critical third-and-five completion to Taequann Thornton against cover zero where he 'bought that time' and found Thornton downfield, a play that changed the game's win expectancy.

The source highlights Romeo Doubs' two touchdown receptions from Drake Maye, particularly praising the first one as an 'incredible play' where Maye 'get all the way back to the backside to Romeo Dobbs in a pocket that is condensing and rips that thing for a touchdown' on a fake screen play. The source notes this was 'the moment rewatching this game where I was like, holy shit, that's an impressive play.' Doubs also had a completion on the final drive where Maye 'keeps his eyes downfield while he's sliding to the left to find Dobbs for a completion.'

The source discusses T Higgins receiving 'bully ball back shoulder throws' from Joe Burrow in the Jaguars-Bengals game, indicating the Bengals had moments in the passing game despite Jacksonville's strong defensive performance. Higgins was targeted on several plays but the Jaguars' coverage scheme, particularly cloud coverage, limited his effectiveness overall.

The source highlights Travis Hunter's interception in the Jaguars-Bengals game as an impressive defensive play, noting he 'jukes T Higgins out of his shoes' after the catch—described as 'one of the coolest things that happened to the day.' The interception was negated by an Eric Armstead roughing the passer penalty, but the source emphasizes the quality of Hunter's coverage work and his ability to take away vertical routes in zone coverage, exemplifying the Jaguars' defensive strength.

Hunter made an impact play for the Jaguars defense in their win over Cincinnati, though the source notes they should have had another interception from him. He was part of a Jaguars defense that executed a bend-don't-break game plan effectively, forcing Burrow to throw into specific windows and preventing explosive plays.

Xavier Worthy had a contested catch 40 yards down the field against Eric Stokes in the Chiefs-Raiders game and 'looked really impressive doing so.' However, the source notes that despite being 'supposed to be that sort of player' (a deep-field explosive threat), 'he hasn't been that sort of player' through four weeks. With Taequann Thornton's injury, the source suggests 'they're going to need a lot more of that' from Worthy, implying increased role and opportunity but also uncertainty about whether he can fill the void left by Thornton.

Zay Flowers is mentioned as a player the hosts got 'a little bit romantic about' in Week 4, suggesting positive sentiment and enthusiasm about his performance or role going forward.