{
  "id": 12049988,
  "title": "32 things we learned in NFL Week 4: Nearly every projected contender showing fatal flaw",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/32-things-we-learned-in-nfl-week-4-nearly-every-projected-contender",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-05T01:44:53.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/32-things-learned-nfl-week-014453134.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "1. The 1992 San Diego Chargers stand as a reminder of the struggles faced by teams that start the season poorly, as they were the only team in NFL history to reach the playoffs after an 0-4 beginning. For the current 2026 season, this includes the Los Angeles Chargers, Tennessee Titans, Miami Dolphins, Houston Texans, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who still have a glimmer of hope.\n2. The New York Jets defense finally intercepted a pass from Chicago Bears' Tyson Bagent, ending their 637-day drought. It marked the Jets' first interception since Week 18 of the 2024 season and came courtesy of veteran safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.\n3. Quarterback Jalon Daniels, an undrafted free agent from Kansas, made his NFL debut on Sunday after being signed for a $25,000 bonus. Despite passing for 148 yards and a touchdown, he lost his first start, becoming the first quarterback in the league this season among those who weren't in their team's Week 1 lineup to lose their first game.\n4. Washington Commanders became the third team in the league this season to call on their third-string quarterback. In this case, seventh-round rookie Athan Kaliakmanis stepped in for injured starter Jayden Daniels, who himself replaced starting QB Marcus Mariota in the first quarter due to an MCL injury.\n5. The Bears' offense put on a show, generating 492 yards against New York's defense, which was ranked second in the NFL. However, they failed to score a touchdown on five of their seven red-zone visits, contributing to their 11-point loss.\n6. Chicago Bears remain a potential contender despite their challenges, with a 3-1 record after playing without their starting quarterback for two full games and part of another.\n7. The league's trend of teams avoiding key starters in preseason games has spilled over into the regular season, making the first four games largely a de facto preseason.\n8. The Los Angeles Rams, coached by Sean McVay, have struggled in their first four games, with a 2-2 record. The team's injuries, trip to Australia, and integration of new players may have contributed to their inconsistent performance.\n9. Despite these issues, Rams fans should not be overly concerned as the team's 2023 and 2024 performances both ended in the postseason. However, the quarterbacks' performance and the team's penalty problems remain a concern.\n10. The Philadelphia Eagles, a perennial contender, were held scoreless in the first half by the Chicago Bears, ultimately suffering a 23-12 defeat. The team's historically poor conversion rate on third downs and Jalen Hurts' underwhelming performance were key factors in the loss.\n11. The Eagles' historically poor third-down conversion rate on Sunday marked their worst since 1991, making them the worst team in NFL history to finish a game without converting a single third-down opportunity when their starting guard was not playing (since the Chargers in Week 14, 2023).\n12. The Dallas Cowboys, who last won a Super Bowl more than three decades ago, almost failed to live up to their status as \"America's Team\" on Sunday, falling to a winless Houston team to salvage their 2-2 season.\n13. Despite their consistent struggles, the Cowboys' defense continues to be the team's biggest weakness.",
  "summary": "While the Rams are fortunate to be 2-2, it's time to hit the panic button in Philadelphia. Those aren't the only perceived contenders showing flaws.",
  "key_points": [
    "Nearly every projected NFL contender in Week 4 showed a fatal flaw",
    "New York Jets defense intercepted a pass for the first time since Week 18 of 2024",
    "Jalon Daniels, an undrafted rookie, lost his NFL debut as first quarterback to lose a game"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Several top NFL teams, including the Eagles, Cowboys, and Rams, exposed glaring weaknesses in Week 4, joining a list of contenders showing fatal flaws early in the 2026 season.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}