The second half of the season has begun and we are seeing who are contenders and who are pretenders. While New England and Indianapolis have extended their division leads, the Buffalo Bills inexplicably lost to the Miami Dolphins. In this edition of the Four Minute Offense, no punches are pulled. Just don’t jump my snap count, please!
“The Ravens Are Rising”
The Baltimore Ravens extended their winning streak to three games with a 29-23 triumph over the Minnesota Vikings, forcing three turnovers — including a pair of interceptions thrown by rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy. The victory, secured inside U.S. Bank Stadium, marked a huge momentum shift for a Ravens team that started the year 1-5.
Quarterback Lamar Jackson, celebrating his 100th career start, completed 17 of 29 passes for 176 yards and a touchdown to tight end Mark Andrews. The win also marked Jackson’s 73rd career victory, adding another milestone to his impressive résumé. Only Patrick Mahomes (78 wins), Tom Brady (76) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Roger Staubach (76) had more.
“We’re still locked in,” Jackson said postgame. “We know we’re behind in the division, so we’ve got to stay focused.”
Additionally, Lamar, who has a passer rating of 103.3 in his first 100 starts – is the third quarterback in NFL history with a passer rating of 100-or-higher in his first 100 career starts, joining Aaron Rodgers (107.3 passer rating) and Patrick Mahomes (103.0).
The Ravens’ defense shined once again, holding superstar Justin Jefferson to just four catches for 37 yards on 12 targets. Rookie safety Malaki Starks, who snagged his first interception, showcased poise and leadership beyond his years.
“This doesn’t surprise us,” said safety Kyle Hamilton. “We’re finally playing up to our potential. We’re not satisfied — this is just a building block for what’s next.”
Head coach John Harbaugh earned his first victory in Minnesota, completing an 18-year milestone — a win in every current NFL city. After giving up an average of 35+ points over their first five games, Baltimore has since allowed fewer than 15 per game across their last four.
Caleb Williams Shines as Bears Edge Giants
Rookie sensation Caleb Williams once again proved his poise under pressure, leading the Chicago Bears to a 24-20 comeback win over the New York Giants. Williams threw for a touchdown and added a crucial 17-yard rushing score with under two minutes left, sealing Chicago’s sixth win of the season.
The Bears trailed 20-10 in the fourth quarter before rallying for 14 unanswered points. Defensive standout C.J. Gardner-Johnson contributed two sacks, including one on Russell Wilson in a pivotal third-down stop.
“It’s all about staying composed,” Williams said after the game. “I practice those moments all week — breathing, visualizing, and being smart with the football.”
Head coach Ben Johnson praised his team’s resilience:
“These guys believe they’ll find a way in the fourth quarter,” Johnson said. “If the game’s close, they’ll close it out — and they’re proving it every week.”
For the Giants, Jaxson Dart threw for 242 yards and added 66 rushing before exiting with a concussion following a hit by Austin Booker. Russell Wilson finished the game, but New York’s losing streak extended to four.
Jonathan Taylor Dominates in Berlin: Colts Defeat Falcons in OT
Jonathan Taylor was unstoppable in Germany’s first-ever regular-season NFL game, rushing for 244 yards and three touchdowns — including the overtime winner — to lift the Indianapolis Colts past the Atlanta Falcons 31-25 at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium.
Daniel Jones put up solid numbers for Atlanta, completing 19 of 26 passes for 255 yards and running for 57 more, but three fumbles and a late interception almost proved costly.
Falcons head coach Raheem Morris didn’t sugarcoat his postgame message:
“Taylor made people miss — he got yards when he shouldn’t have. We’ve got to be better on run defense and third downs. We let him into open space, and he punished us.”
Taylor has 7,152 rushing yards and 73 scrimmage touchdowns (66 rushing, seven receiving) in his career. With Sunday’s performance, Taylor became the fifth player under the age of 27 with at least 7,000 rushing yards and 70 scrimmage touchdowns, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Jim Brown, Walter Payton, Emmitt Smith and LaDainian Tomlinson.
The loss marked Atlanta’s fourth consecutive defeat, while the Colts continue their surge toward the postseason.
The Point After
Bryce Young’s struggles continued in the Carolina Panthers’ 17-7 loss to the New Orleans Saints. The 2023 No. 1 overall pick went 17-of-25 for just 124 yards — his eighth game this year under 200 yards passing. Excluding his 328-yard breakout in Week 2 against Arizona, Young is averaging only 148.2 yards per game with eight touchdowns and six interceptions.
At 5-5, Carolina faces a must-win matchup against the Atlanta Falcons next week.
