JuicyTalk
On Thursday, Week Four begins with a divisional game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Arizona Cardinals. With 16 games on the schedule from tomorrow through Monday night, let’s identify the five most interesting things to watch for this week.
5. The first international game of the season.
NFL fans will have to get their tailgating done early this Sunday because the first international game of the campaign will take place in Dublin when the Pittsburgh Steelers face the Minnesota Vikings at 9:30 a.m. EDT. Pittsburgh quarterback Aaron Rodgers will be looking to get revenge on a team he used to dominate after the Vikes beat his Jets in London last season. On the other side, Minnesota is looking to build off that dominant win over the Bengals. With both teams hoping to reach the playoffs, this is bound to be a great game.
One matchup to watch: T.J. Watt vs. Christian Darrisaw.
Vikings offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw is expected to make his first start since Week Eight of last season after suffering a horrific knee injury. He’ll be thrown into the fire and asked to block former Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt. We’ll find out how healthy Darrisaw is if he can prove he’s up for the job.
4. Will the Eagles or Buccaneers suffer their first loss?
The Eagles will be on the road for the second time this season as they look to improve to 4-0. However, they have to face an undefeated Buccaneers team that has orchestrated three-straight game-winning drives to open the year. At the same time, Tampa has the players in the trenches to limit Philly’s rushing attack and maybe even stop a tush push. With the possible return of Tristan Wirfs and Chris Godwin to the lineup, there’s a chance that the Bucs’ offense will look the best it has all season.
One matchup to watch: Tampa’s wide receivers vs. Philly’s secondary.
Even without Mike Evans in the picture, this will be fun to see play out. Emeka Egbuka looks like the favorite to win the Rookie of the Year Award. Plus, Chris Godwin might be on the field for the first time since Week Seven of last year. Seeing those two go head-to-head with Cooper DeJean, Andrew Mukuba, and Quinyon Mitchell will be very entertaining.
3. Indy’s biggest test so far.
It has been all fun and games for the Colts up to this moment, with wins over the Dolphins, Broncos, and Titans. But we have to remember that those teams are a combined 1-8 on the season. Now, Indianapolis will have to prove it can compete with the big boys by going on the road and facing a legitimate Super Bowl contender in the Los Angeles Rams. Will this be the week that Daniel Jones regresses, or has he completely transformed himself into a new passer with Indy? We’ll find out this Sunday at 4:05 p.m. EDT.
One matchup to watch: Jonathan Taylor vs. the Rams’ defense.
All eyes will be on Daniel Jones, but a big part of how this game plays out will depend on Jonathan Taylor’s ability to be an effective running back against the Rams’ defensive front. Taylor may lead the league in rushing, but he has yet to face a defense like LA’s, which is fifth in total yards per game allowed.
2. Do the Chiefs or Ravens fall to 1-3?
You want to know what people like to see more than a team on the rise? A good team spiraling out of control. That’s what it feels like is happening with both these squads. The Ravens have lost two incredibly disappointing games by getting dog-walked in the fourth quarter. Even though the Chiefs picked up their first win last week, there are still major concerns about how Kansas City’s season will play out. Neither organization can afford to lose this game, so expect this one to be close until the very end. Whichever team loses should avoid social media the next day.
One matchup to watch: Baltimore’s offensive line vs. Kansas City’s defensive line.
The Ravens need to have a bounce-back game after letting up seven sacks against the Lions, the most sacks allowed by any team in a game this season. The Chiefs’ defensive line has underperformed, but they have a chance to right the ship against a Ravens unit that is reeling and looking the worst it has since Lamar Jackson took over as Baltimore’s full-time starter.
1. Micah Parsons returns to Dallas.
Finally, we get to see Micah Parsons go against the team that foolishly traded him away less than a month ago. This will also be the first time that the Packers and Cowboys have squared off since Green Bay embarrassed Dallas in the 2024 NFL Playoffs. This will have a big-fight feel. After all, this will be a game between two of the five most popular teams in the NFL, who are facing off in primetime on Sunday Night Football in Micah Parsons’ return to Dallas. What more can you ask for as a fan of the sport?
One matchup to watch: Micah Parsons vs. the Dallas Cowboys.
You just know Micah Parsons is looking to have the best game of his life to spurn the Dallas Cowboys for sending him away and not paying him the money he felt he was worth. Parsons is going to have at least one sack in this game. When he gets the sack, it’ll be interesting to see how he and the crowd react. Maybe he’ll point at owner Jerry Jones’ luxury box as a not-so-subtle “F*ck You.”
