Early Games Wrap-Up For Week Four Of The 2025-26 Season
Philadelphia Eagles @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Philadelphia Eagles managed to outlast the Tampa Buccaneers’ comeback attempt for a 31-25 win on the road. With that victory, Philadelphia improved to 4-0 on the season. The Eagles were able to ride a 24-6 halftime lead to victory.
Philly’s special teams unit was once again a difference-maker. Cameron Latu blocked a Tampa Bay punt that was returned 36 yards for a touchdown to put the Eagles ahead 7-0 early in the first quarter. That was Philadelphia’s second special teams TD in as many weeks.
After a Bucs three-and-out, Philly reached the end zone again. Jalen Hurts scrambled for a 29-yard gain, which resulted in a two-yard TD pass to tight end Dallas Goedert for a 14-0 lead. He finished the game with a team-high four catches for 37 yards and two touchdowns.
An interception by Baker Mayfield was taken off the board after replay review found the defender didn’t complete the catch. That kept a Tampa Bay drive alive, letting them kick a field goal to cut the Eagles’ lead to 14-3 to end the first quarter.
A 20-yard completion to wide receiver DeVonta Smith on a 3rd and 6 got the Eagles into the red zone yet again. On the very next play, quarterback Jalen Hurts completed a shovel pass to Dallas Goedert for a five-yard touchdown, putting Philly on top 21-3. This was Goedert’s second career game with two TD receptions and his first since December 2021.
Philly kicked a field goal to increase their lead to 21 points. But the Bucs responded by picking up 30 yards in 58 seconds. That led to a 65-yard field goal from kicker Chase McLaughlin, bringing the score to 24-6 at halftime. Prior to that kick, McLaughlin’s career-long was 57 yards.
The Buccaneers soon made this one interesting. Quarterback Baker Mayfield found rookie wideout Emeka Egbuka for a 77-yard catch-and-run, bringing the score to 24-13 in the third quarter. That was the longest receiving touchdown scored by a rookie in Buccaneers history.
A fumble on Tampa’s next series led to a six-yard touchdown run by Eagles running back Saquon Barkley to give Philly a 31-13 advantage in the third quarter. He had 74 scrimmage yards and a rushing TD in the game.
The Buccaneers responded promptly. On their fourth play of the next drive, Baker Mayfield completed a deep pass to running back Bucky Irving for a 72-yard touchdown to narrow the gap and make the score 31-20. Mayfield had 289 passing yards, two TDs, and an interception on the afternoon.
After a punt by Philly, the Buccaneers made it a one-score game, which seemed impossible earlier in the day. Chase McLaughlin hit a 58-yard field goal to bring the score to 31-23 early in the fourth quarter.
Later on, Baker Mayfield threw an interception in the end zone, killing a drive that could’ve tied the game. But the defense forced a three-and-out to get the ball back with 6:07 left in the fourth quarter.
The Buccaneers managed to get to Philly’s 37 yard line, where they were faced with a 4th and 10. Though Baker Mayfield completed a pass, it was well short of the first-down marker, which ended Tampa’s furious comeback attempt.
Washington Commanders @ Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons were able to get past their crushing loss to the Carolina Panthers last week for a 34-27 win over the Jayden Daniels-less Washington Commanders.
Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. threw for 313 yards and two touchdowns in the win. Meanwhile, wideout Drake London and running back Bijan Robinson both finished the game with 100+ receiving yards.
A 26-yard pass to tight end Kyle Pitts got the Falcons into the Commanders’ territory on the first drive of the game. However, a fumble by running back Bijan Robinson derailed that series and forced the Dirty Birds to kick a field goal to go ahead 3-0.
After a Washington three-and-out, the Falcons orchestrated a 14-play, 73-yard drive that led to a five-yard touchdown reception by wide receiver Drake London to extend the lead to 10-0. That was London’s first TD catch of the 2025-26 season.
Facing a 10-0 deficit, the Commanders’ offense finally woke up. A 48-yard scamper by running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. got Washington into the red zone. After that, quarterback Marcus Mariota completed a five-yard TD pass to wideout Luke McCaffrey to narrow the gap 10-7.
Drake London was outstanding in this game, catching eight passes for 110 yards and a TD. His 43-yard grab in the second quarter allowed Bijan Robinson to run into the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown to put Atlanta back ahead by ten points, 17-7.
The Commanders would respond by kicking their first field goal of the afternoon, a 43-yarder, to cut into the lead and make it 17-10, which is how things stood at halftime.
Washington quarterback Marcus Mariota was once again solid in relief of Jayden Daniels. He threw for 156 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. His 22-yard scramble on the first possession of the third quarter resulted in a field goal to cut the lead to 17-13.
Bijan Robinson once again looked like one of the best offensive players in the NFL. He had 181 scrimmage yards today and a rushing touchdown. His 69-yard catch-and-run set up a seven-yard touchdown reception by tight end Kyle Pitts to give the Falcons a 24-13 advantage.
Suddenly, the defenses came alive in the third quarter. Both the Commanders and Falcons had back-to-back drives end with interceptions. Though Washington didn’t move the ball much after the INT, they still connected on a 41-yard field goal to cut the Falcons’ lead to 24-16.
Atlanta wouldn’t settle for a one-score game. They put together a seven-play, 72-yard drive that ended in a 15-yard touchdown rush by running back Tyler Allgeier. After the successful extra point attempt, the Falcons found themselves on top 31-16.
The Commanders refused to roll over in the face of adversity. Washington burned 8:48 off the clock on their way to a 24-yard touchdown by wideout Deebo Samuel. On the next play, Marcus Mariota completed a pass to Zach Ertz for a two-point conversion to make the score 31-24 in the fourth quarter.
The Falcons answered with a field goal to go up by ten points. However, the Commanders clapped back with a field goal with 1:29 left in the game. Unfortunately for Washington, they failed to convert the ensuing onside kick, letting the Dirty Birds hold on for the win.
New Orleans Saints @ Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills avoided a scare against the New Orleans Saints for a 31-19 win to improve to 4-0 on the season.
The Bills had no problem getting out to a fast start. Wide receiver Khalil Shakir pulled off a 43-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown to put Buffalo on top 7-0. That was Shakir’s second TD in the last two weeks.
The Saints answered right back with a convincing 69-yard drive that resulted in an 18-yard touchdown run by tailback Keandre Miller to tie things up at 7 apiece. New Orleans picked up 47 yards on the ground on that series.
Buffalo wouldn’t be happy with the tie. Quarterback Josh Allen completed two passes to wide receiver Keon Coleman for 37 yards on their next offensive series. Once they got to the one yard line, running back James Cook pounded the ball into the end zone for his league-leading fifth rushing touchdown of the season.
A little later, Josh Allen made his first mistake of the year when a deep pass intended for Keon Coleman was intercepted by the Saints. That was Allen’s first interception since December 22nd, 2024, and the first career INT for rookie safety Jonas Sanker.
After both teams exchanged punts, the Saints used good field position to hit a 54-yard field goal. That kick brought the score to 14-10.
A little before halftime, the Saints attempted a trick play where wide receiver Chris Olave threw a red zone pass that was intended for quarterback Spencer Rattler. However, that throw was intercepted by Buffalo, killing a drive that would’ve given New Orleans its first lead of the afternoon. That let the Bills run out the clock and go into the break ahead 14-10.
On Buffalo’s first drive of the third quarter, they found the end zone again. Josh Allen scrambled five yards into the end zone for a touchdown to put the Bills on top 21-10. Allen finished the game with 209 passing yards, two passing TDs, an interception, 45 rushing yards, and a touchdown on the ground.
The Saints refused to lie down and die. An 11-play, 65-yard drive ended with a touchdown pass from Spencer Rattler to wide receiver Chris Olave. However, the Bills forced a stop on the two-point conversion attempt, bringing the score to 21-16 heading into the final frame.
A TD catch by Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks was overturned, leading to a field goal to make the score 21-19, but it wouldn’t be enough to slow down the Bills.
After a 27-yard scramble, Josh Allen linked up with tight end Dalton Kincaid on a 28-yard touchdown to bring the score to 28-19 in the fourth quarter. Buffalo would kick one more field goal to secure the win, 31-19.
Cleveland Browns @ Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions took care of business against the Cleveland Browns for a 34-10 win at home. Cleveland had no answer for Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs, who ran for 91 yards on 15 carries.
Following a Lions punt to start things off, the Browns scored the game’s first points. Quarterback Joe Flacco completed a 33-yard pass to wide receiver Jerry Jeudy. That led to a one-yard touchdown run by rookie running back Quinshon Judkins on a 4th and goal to give Cleveland a 7-0 advantage.
The Lions wouldn’t be down for long, though. Quarterback Jared Goff hooked up with wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown for 25 yards on their first offensive possession. A little while later, running back Jahmyr Gibbs dashed into the end zone for an eight-yard TD run to make the score 7-7.
After a field goal to give Detroit a 10-7 lead, Joe Flacco threw his second interception of the afternoon. That INT was returned to the Browns’ five thanks to a 34-yard return by cornerback D.J. Reed. Three plays later, Amon-Ra St. Brown caught his league-leading fifth touchdown to give the Lions a 17-7 lead.
On their next series, Detroit moved the ball 44 yards in 47 seconds, which allowed the Lions to kick one more field goal before the break and go into halftime with a 20-7 advantage.
A Jared Goff interception on the Lions’ first offensive series of the third quarter made this one closer than expected. The Browns took advantage of that INT and kicked a field goal, bringing the score to 20-10.
In the fourth quarter, the Lions put this one out of reach. Wide receiver Kalif Raymond returned a punt 65 yards for a touchdown to give Detroit a 27-10 lead. That was Raymond’s third career punt return touchdown and his second in the last two years.
It was a light workday for Lions quarterback Jared Goff. He threw for 168 yards, two touchdowns, and a pick. His eight-yard TD pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown gave Detroit a 34-10 lead in the fourth quarter.
Carolina Panthers @ New England Patriots
The New England Patriots demolished the Carolina Panthers 42-13, scoring six unanswered touchdowns after the first drive of the game.
The Panthers were able to quickly get on the board with a seven-play, 76-yard drive that was capped off with a seven-yard touchdown pass by quarterback Bryce Young. However, Carolina’s extra point attempt hit the upright, so the score remained 6-0.
Though their offense wasn’t able to make much happen, the special teams came to play. Cornerback Marcus Jones returned a Carolina punt 87 yards for a touchdown. After a successful PAT, the Patriots found themselves leading 7-6.
The action picked up again late in the first quarter when the Patriots gained 43 combined yards on two straight rushing plays. That eventually allowed quarterback Drake Maye to scramble into the end zone for a five-yard score to increase New England’s lead to 14-6 in the second quarter.
Following a missed Panthers field goal, the Pats got on the board again. A 33-yard reception by wide receiver Stefon Diggs set up a five-yard rushing touchdown by rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson, the first TD of his young career. That increased the score to 21-6 in favor of New England.
The Pats’ third touchdown of the second quarter came after a 61-yard punt return gave the offense the ball in the red zone. That resulted in a one-yard touchdown run, which allowed New England to go into halftime ahead 28-6.
Drake Maye had a great outing. He completed 14 of 17 passes for 203 yards, two passing TDs, 11 rushing yards, and a ground touchdown. His four-yard TD pass in the fourth quarter gave the Patriots a 42-6 lead.
Bryce Young was once again underwhelming. Outside of the opening drive, he was held to just 102 passing yards and zero touchdowns.
Los Angeles Chargers @ New York Giants
The New York Giants stunned the NFL world by beating the previously undefeated Los Angeles Chargers at home 21-18 in the first career start for rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart. He threw for 111 yards and a passing TD, while running for 54 yards and a ground touchdown.
After forcing a quick three-and-out, the Giants cobbled together an 89-yard drive that ended with a 15-yard TD run by Jaxson Dart, his first touchdown at the NFL level. Dart accounted for 48 of New York’s 89 yards on that series.
Los Angeles quarterback Justin Herbert made a huge mistake late in the first quarter. His pass was batted in the air and caught for an interception by Giants defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence II, which was returned all the way to the Chargers’ eight yard line. That resulted in a short field goal to bring the score to 10-0 early in the second quarter.
LA got the ball to New York’s 20 yard line on their next series, but the drive was disrupted by penalties. An illegal block above the waist and an intentional grounding call forced the Chargers to settle for a field goal, making it 10-3.
Big Blue responded right away. After a kickoff return got them to their own 40 yard line, the Giants picked up 47 yards in 6:16. That allowed them to kick a 31-yard field goal to go back up by ten points late in the second quarter.
LA’s offense took the field again with 1:46 remaining in the second quarter. That would be more than enough time for Justin Herbert, who would complete a spectacular 36-yard touchdown to wideout Quentin Johnston to cut the lead to 13-10 going into the break. That catch brings Johnston’s TD total to four on the season.
Justin Herbert struggled today. He only completed 23 passes on 41 attempts for 203 yards, a passing TD, and two interceptions. His second interception was returned 56 yards to the Chargers’ three yard line. Two plays later, Jaxson Dart completed his first touchdown pass to tight end Theo Johnson for a 21-10 lead after a successful two-point conversion.
The Bolts had no problem answering back with a touchdown of their own. Rookie running back Omarion Hampton broke off a 54-yard run for a TD. On top of that, Justin Herbert found the end zone on the two-point conversion to bring the score to 21-18.
The Chargers got the ball back with a little bit of time left on the clock and no timeouts. However, they wouldn’t have enough time to pull off a game-tying drive. LA was only able to complete one pass for 22 yards before time expired, and they were handed their first loss of the season.
Tennessee Titans @ Houston Texans
The Houston Texans managed to shake off a slow start to defeat the Tennessee Titans for their first win of the season. Houston scored three fourth-quarter touchdowns in the 26-0 win.
The Titans failed to take advantage of a promising drive after missing a field goal on the game’s opening possession. The same could not be said for the Texans, who connected on a 47-yard field goal to go up 3-0 in the first quarter.
On their next series, Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud hooked up with wide receiver Nico Collins on a 22-yarder. That enabled them to kick another field goal to go ahead 6-0.
Tennessee had a chance to finally get on the board. However, they missed a 43-yard field goal as time expired in the first half, sending this one into halftime with the Texans ahead 6-0.
The trend of missed field goals continued into the third quarter. However, it was the Texans who would fail to connect on a 54-yarder that would’ve made it a two-score game. Instead, Houston’s lead stayed put at 6-0. This game featured three missed field goals.
The first touchdown in this one didn’t come until early in the final frame. On the first play of the fourth quarter, rookie running back Woody Marks had a 12-yard catch-and-run that extended Houston’s lead to 12-0 after a failed two-point conversion attempt.
The Texans found the end zone again in the fourth quarter. This time, rookie wide receiver Jayden Higgins made a 24-yard reception for his first career touchdown at the NFL level. That TD gave Houston a 19-0 lead.
Houston wouldn’t settle for a 19-point advantage. Running back Woody Marks picked up 18 yards on a touchdown run to increase the lead to 26-0. Marks finished the game with 119 scrimmage yards, a rushing touchdown, and a receiving touchdown.
It was another rough day at the office for Cam Ward. He only completed ten of his 26 pass attempts for 108 yards and an interception. He was also sacked twice.
2025-09-28 20:36:00
