Beginning of Week 4 Marked By High Scores

As Week 4 has gotten underway, it is becoming a week of high-scoring affairs as three teams broke the 30-point mark and three others came dreadfully close. After being tied 21-21 with the suddenly high-flying Lions (who are probably still celebrating the end of their 19-game losing streak), the Bears rallied behind their reinvigorated running game and Jay Cutler to send Detroit plummeting back to earth with a 48-24 victory.

More sobering news for the Tennessee Titans: they drop to 0-4 in another division clash after getting pounded 37-17 by the AFC South's traditionally underachieving Jacksonville Jaguars. David Garrard shredded Tennessee's defense, completing 27 of 37 passes for 323 yards and 3 TD's. Plus, Maurice Jones-Drew was barely featured, rushing only six times for 14 yards (he did manage to get in for a score, though). Things would appear to be going from bad to worse in Nashville, and despite his stellar record as head coach I wouldn't be surprised if Jeff Fisher feels his seat getting warm (assuming, of course, that the Titans don't get better fast).

Staying in the AFC South, the Indianapolis Colts continued to roll as the defeated the injury-plagued Seattle Seahawks. Peyton Manning passed for an average of 8.6 yards, double the yards-per-completion of opposing QB Seneca Wallace, who is still filling in for Matt Hasselbeck. Manning had another monster day, passing for 353 yards and two scores. At 3-0, Indy looks poised to make another playoff run in what looks to be a weak division as Tennessee, Jacksonville and Houston are all .500 or worse. Their star signal-caller also looks like he could easily win a record fourth (and second straight) MVP award. But even as Manning shined in the familiar spotlight, Colts defensive end Robert Mathis had a great performance, sacking Wallace 3 times and forcing two fumbles.

It seems fair to assume that a few other teams will continue the day's high-scoring ways, as the offensive juggernaut that is New Orleans has already put up 17 points against Rex Ryan's New York Jets (perhaps the Jets head coach has now bitten off more than he can chew). Other matchups in which to look for high scores could be the Cowboys and Broncos (look for Dallas to be putting up the points) and the Chargers against the Steelers (which I feel could easily be a shootout between two of the league's best passers in Philip Rivers and Ben Roethlisberger. We'll find out soon enough.