NFL The Final Word: Derrick Henry places Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl image as Tua Tagovailoa’s absence is felt in Miami

From Derrick Henry destruction to Todd Bowles and his spectacular Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sky Sports NFL presenter Neil Reynolds has his ultimate say on Week Four of the 2024 season on the street to Super Bowl LIX…

The first month of the season is within the books, and extremely we’re down to simply two undefeated groups within the Minnesota Vikings and the Kansas City Chiefs.

This league stays as unpredictable as ever, and the race to the Super Bowl goes to be vast open.

The Ravens operating riot

I believe it’s honest to say the Baltimore Ravens have proven how they will transfer ahead on this 2024 season, they are going to be bodily, they’ll run the soccer and they will be powered by Lamar Jackson and, particularly, Derrick Henry.

They dominated the Buffalo Bills in a 35-10 win in Sunday Night Football, and acquired going from the very starting with an 87-yard landing run by Henry. He has topped 150 dashing yards in every of the final two video games and has rushed 49 occasions for 350 yards up to now two weeks in wins over the Dallas Cowboys and Buffalo. Baltimore have put up 545 yards and three touchdowns on the bottom; they will pound their method again into this Super Bowl image.

Washington’s new star

I couldn’t be extra impressed with Jayden Daniels and the 3-1 begin he has made with the Washington Commanders. He is so environment friendly with the ball, and usually completion share will be fairly low for a rookie.

Daniels accomplished 21 of 23 passes in a Week Three win over Cincinnati and on Sunday he hit on 26 of 30 passes in a 42-14 win over the Arizona Cardinals. He can also be a daily menace on the bottom and has a completion share by his first 4 video games of 82.1 per cent. That is an NFL report, beating a man you might need heard of, by the identify of Tom Brady. It’s an excellent begin, he’s effectively protected up entrance, he has an excellent operating sport round him – Washington ran the ball 37 occasions for 216 yards and 4 touchdowns. The future seems to be brilliant for Daniels and Washington.

The Chiefs grind out one other win

Patrick Mahomes turns the ball over, Carson Steele fumbles, Rashee Rice goes out with a possible season-ending knee harm and the Kansas City Chiefs are down 10-0. But they’re able to take their time in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers when it got here to scoring due to Steve Spagnuolo’s protection.

Once once more this unit stepped up and led the Chiefs. It is a really completely different Kansas City crew now, one which must be a bit extra pragmatic and positively construct on protection. It isn’t just the blitzes and the move coverages we so usually take into consideration with Spagnuolo. They shut down a Chargers crew that likes to run the soccer beneath Jim Harbaugh. LA gained simply 55 yards on the bottom and did not rating some extent within the ultimate 41 minutes.

Will Jags’ fortune flip in London?

It’s been a difficult begin to the season for the Jacksonville Jaguars, starting 0-4. It was at all times going to be tough as they have been taking part in playoff groups from a yr in the past within the Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans, however what has been notable is that this crew hasn’t discovered a solution to end and that is what they talked a lot to me about throughout coaching camp – discovering methods to recover from the road. That hasn’t occurred.

That has heaped strain on Trevor Lawrence at quarterback, he has misplaced his final 9 begins, and on head coach Doug Pederson, who has now misplaced 9 of 10 video games relationship again to final season. The Jags may want this upcoming journey to London as a little bit of a buffer and a break from the primary a part of their season to the remaining as a result of a change is one thing undoubtedly wanted in the meanwhile.

Dolphins endure with out Tua

It was a story of two quarterbacks on Monday Night Football. Jared Goff went 18 for 18 passing in Detroit’s 42-29 win over the Seattle Seahawks. This Lions offense is simply loaded with weaponry and I believe we’re seeing that now as they transfer into the season with their 3-1 report.

Also on Monday evening, the Miami Dolphins began their third quarterback in what’s shaping as much as be a really tough season. They have been completely misplaced with Snoop Huntley beneath heart, it was the identical with Skylar Thompson and we’re seeing the worth of a beginning quarterback. Tua Tagovailoa’s absence has utterly ripped the ground out of this Miami Dolphins season. They look a shadow of the crew that was gaining 400 yards on the common final yr. Unless Tua comes again, and comes again rapidly, it is a misplaced season for the Dolphins. If I’m Tua and see the report we’ve with our backs in opposition to the wall, I’m undecided I’m dashing again from my well being state of affairs.

It’s not wanting good for the Dolphins. It’s wanting excellent for the Lions.

Player of the Week – Derrick Henry, RB, Baltimore Ravens

He was dominant on the bottom, and he’s imposing his will on defenders. But he does a lot greater than that, and I believe an ideal instance of his completeness as a operating again is the very first landing run. He breaks by the secondary and there are safeties 30/40 kilos lighter than him degree with Henry, and he runs away from them. They don’t catch him. He is an absolute thoroughbred and an unimaginable athlete and someone who’s so integral to his crew’s probabilities this season.

Play of the Week – Darnold’s TD move to Jefferson

My Play of the Week is the landing move from Sam Darnold to Justin Jefferson within the first half of what ended up being a tighter-than-it-shoulder-have-been victory for the Minnesota Vikings. Darnold was sensational within the first half and the again shoulder throw to Jefferson for a landing goes to be probably the greatest passes you will note all season lengthy. Jefferson did not even have to maneuver; Darnold mainly aimed in the back of the defender’s helmet after which the ball hits Jefferson straight within the chest. It was inch excellent, pretty much as good as you may get. We have seen again shoulder throws many a time at Lambeau Field with Aaron Rodgers delivering the passes, and this was each bit pretty much as good from Darnold.

Coach of the Week – Todd Bowles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

If you named coaches within the NFL this week, you’d identify so much earlier than you get to this man. I wish to give some plaudits to Todd Bowles of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His crew thrashed the Philadelphia Eagles 33-16 with Baker Mayfield having an enormous day at quarterback whereas Tom Brady appeared on from the tv sales space.

Bowles would not get sufficient credit score across the league, and he would not get sufficient credit score this week. Hurricane Helene slammed Florida and the opposite states in America main as much as Week Four. Mayfield, amongst different gamers on that Bucs crew, needed to evacuate their properties and gamers and coaches are creatures of behavior who put in plenty of hours of labor main right into a Sunday. For Bowles to have his crew as prepared as they have been in Week Four to dismantle the Eagles spoke volumes to his management and the maturity of his gamers. There are plenty of good issues happening in Tampa proper now.

On my radar…

It is time for the NFL London video games! This is our month, that is the place all of us come collectively for 2 video games at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and one at Wembley Stadium to see the New York Jets in opposition to the Minnesota Vikings, the Chicago Bears in opposition to the Jacksonville Jaguars after which the Jags in opposition to the New England Patriots.

To me that is a lot in regards to the video games on the sector and seeing legends like Aaron Rodgers and seeing the Sam Darnold story, Caleb Williams, Justin Jefferson, possibly even Drake Maye if he’s taking part in for the Patriots by then. But actually that is in regards to the followers, the soccer household coming collectively.

Enjoy the video games. Enjoy being half of what’s persevering with to be a historic chapter within the NFL’s worldwide story and if you happen to see me, give me a wave and say howdy!

Week Five begins on Thursday when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers face the Atlanta Falcons from 1.15am, reside on Sky Sports NFL within the early hours of Friday; Also stream with NOW.

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