What We Learned: NFL Week 4.

One quarter of the NFL season is down, and as the bye weeks begin and the injuries mount, who can sustain the momentum as the heart of the NFL season is upon us.

Off-Broadway Mark

Rookie QB Mark Sanchez, a year removed from his only starting season at USC, was turning heads being the first rookie quarterback under center for the New York Jets to start the season.

On Sunday, all the heads were turning at the site of S Darren Sharper’s interception being returned for a touchdown, as the Jets suffered their first loss under Sanchez and Rex Ryan, losing 24-10 to the New Orleans Saints.

Sanchez was very humbled throughout the day, throwing for only 138 yards with three interceptions and no touchdowns. I don’t think this performance was indicative of Sanchez’s ability as a quarterback, but he will have to watch the tape and learn from the varieties of pressure he faced all day.

Drinking The New Coach Kool-Air

For the Denver Broncos, this off-season was one of the most tumultuous ones ever.

A new coach in Josh McDaniels was brought in, which quickly saw franchise QB Jay Cutler wanting out. Cutler was traded to Chicago for Kyle Orton. After that, WR Brandon Marshall wanted out. Marshall ended up staying, and he should be glad he did.

For the first time since 2003, the Denver Broncos are 4-0.

Sure, game one came on a good tipped ball, and yesterday required a huge defensive stand on fourth and goal, but Denver is showing they are for real in an easily winnable AFC West.

Enough Is Enough, And It Might Be Time For A QB Change

Four weeks down, and already, the Tennessee Titans have lost more games than they did all last year.

This team is tumbling downhill, and the loss of DT Albert Haynesworth to free agency and Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz to the Lions seem to have made a bigger impact than expected. But all the problems aren’t just the defensive changes.

QB Kerry Collins has had a struggle to find the black magic that worked so well for his squad last season; and grumblings for Vince Young to get back in are starting to creep.

Catching the 4-0 Indianapolis Colts might seem impossible, but Tennessee needs to get on the winning ways before they can look to catch anything.

A “Reunion” Of Sorts

Tonight, on Monday Night Football, QB Brett Favre and the Packers suit up. Only this time, Favre has a purple uniform on, as a member of the conference rivals Minnesota Vikings.

There is much hype on this game, as Packer fans and teammates alike never once thought they would be facing a man who was the face of the franchise.

Tonight’s game is in the friendly confines of the Metrodome, but I can guarantee many of Favre’s old friends will be looking to show him he’s on the wrong team.

Contenders and Pretenders

New England spent 2007 without a loss, and so have these teams:

The New York Giants have had two straight easy matchup’s since the comebacke against Dallas, helping to give them a 4-0 record. The Giants face Oakland this week, which should give them a 5-0 record heading into a showdown with the New Orleans Saints.

Speaking of the Saints, they head into their bye week with their first 4-0 record since 1993. Despite QB Drew Brees not having thrown a touchdown for the second straight week, a revamped defense and committed running game ensures no one is saying “Who Dat” about the Saints.

Tony Dungy who? Marvin Harrison who?

The Indianapolis Colts are not playing like a team with a new head coach and wide receiving corps, but don’t tell them that. With a rookie WR and a second-year pro WR in the formation, the Colts are playing like a hungry young team. QB Peyton Manning has thrown four straight 300 yard games, the third time that has happened since 1970.

Of course, for every winner, there is a loser:

With the addition of WR Terrell Owens, Buffalo was supposed to be a high-octane offense in 2009. After coming up short against New England in week one, the Bills have fallen flat, living in the bottom of the AFC East at 1-3.

For their big gamble, Owens has only eight catches and 158 yards with no touchdowns.

Could the Oakland Raiders ever get out of pretender status?

The entire team is regressing, and it clearly shows in their 1-3 record.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

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