Angelica Ciulla •September 30, 2025 2:45 PM EDT

Angelica Ciulla • September 30, 2025 2:45 PM EDT 32 Hot Takes after week 4 of the NFL 2025-2026 seaosn.

32 Teams, 32 NFL Hot Takes

• Philadelphia Eagles- Why have receivers?

    1 month into the 2025 season, Devonta Smith and AJ Brown are absent. Smith has 158 receiving yards and a touchdown, while AJ Brown has 151 receiving yards and a touchdown. With Barkley and Hurts being the main showboats of this team, I question why the Eagles were set on acquiring high-caliber wide receivers if they’re never going to use them. 

• Washington Commanders- Show poor results against teams above .500.

Blowing out teams that are 0-3 and 1-3 isn’t impressive when they lose to teams 2-1. Granted, the Commanders have been without Jayden Daniels for 2 weeks, but he was the quarterback in the loss against the Green Bay Packers. The Washington Commanders’ defense has been inconsistent this season, ranking 20th in the NFL, lacking in pass rushing, and has proven to be pretty dismal.

• Dallas Cowboys- New quarterback and defensive help wanted.

In the offseason, the Dallas Cowboys traded star pass rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers, leaving Dallas’ defense vulnerable all over the field. Combine this with a quarterback that some may consider “washed”, is a recipe for disaster. Adding George Pickens to the offense has helped elevate their passing game and in the near future might be a threat.  Although the Dallas Cowboys were able to hang with the Green Bay Packers, this doesn’t say much when they play tougher opponents, such as the Eagles.

• New York Giants- Jaxson Dart is the answer.

Let’s face it, the New York Giants didn’t stand a chance with Russell Wilson, but with a new quarterback in town, Jaxson Dart, the Giants might have a fighting chance in the future. Malik Naber’s injury in game 4 will set the Giants back; however, with years to come, we can expect to see the New York Giants only get better. Jaxon has already shown in one game that he’s able to turn this team around, a possible playoff appearance looks to be in their near future. 

• San Francisco 49ers- Injuries and Brock Purdy are a recipe for disaster.

Mr. Irrelevant, Brock Purdy, might have been impressive for what he was supposed to be his 1st year in the NFL, but I think the dream has come to an end. With 2 interceptions against Jacksonville and 2 interceptions against Seattle, it’s safe to say teams have caught on to his tricks. Brock Purdy has only played 2 games this year due to injury, but I fear he will continue the trend of turnovers. This, combined with George Kittle’s injury and Brandon Aiyuk still being out, means the San Francisco 49ers will have a lot of work to do if they want to maintain playoff seeding. 

• Seattle Seahawks- A defense you wouldn’t have expected.

Before this season started, I had no expectations for Seattle to be as impressive as they are. According to NFL.com, Seattle has the 9th-ranked defense in the NFL, and, personally, I would rank them even higher than that. Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Sam Darnold seem to be connecting, making the perfect football quarterback-wide receiver duo. Combine the chemistry with Walker and Charbonnet sharing rushes, and the Seattle Seahawks are a real threat to the NFC and possible NFC championship game contenders.

• Los Angeles Rams- Puka Nacua is everything we thought he would be.

When Davante Adams got traded to the Rams, speculation was circulating on what balls would be taken away from Puka Nacua. Matthew Stafford put an end to that narrative, taking nothing away from Puka, and still showing plans to keep him as his number 1 guy. The Rams are a sneaky team; they’re not a media stunt, flashy organization. They’re able to win and keep it moving on to the next game. Being in a tough division, they’re tied with the Seahawks and the 49ers this early in the season. I don’t think they’ll win that division, but they could be a great wildcard threat.

• Arizona Cardinals- Marvin Harrison Jr is disappointing.

For a team that has no rushing stars, except their quarterback, I thought they would be an extremely pass-heavy team. Marvin Harrison Jr. was all the talk of the season; journalists even said he could be the thing to turn Arizona around, and frankly, he’s falling shy of the hype. In 4 games, he’s produced 208 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns; however, even with these stats, tight end, Trey McBride has more receiving yards and is more impressive at this point in the season. 

• Detroit Lions- Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown are unstoppable.

This may be a controversial take, but wrap up the season, and I think we possibly found the team to beat. After suffering an excruciating loss in week 1 against the Green Bay Packers, they are mowing teams down. I have yet to see a defense able to stop Jahmyr Gibbs, combined with 6 touchdowns for 307 yards from Amon-Ra St. Brown. I think this team is better than the Eagles, Chiefs, Bills, etc. If Aiden Hutchinson and the rest of the team can stay healthy this season, I think this may be our Super Bowl 2025-2026 winner.

• Green Bay Packers- Adding Micah Parsons did nothing.

Green Bay is facing some offensive injuries early this season, but I believe the offense isn’t the problem. Jordan Love can maintain the game and utilize his weapons effectively, but the combination of poor special teams, execution mistakes, and gaping holes in the defense is what allows teams like Dallas to capitalize. This season, Micah Parsons has 2.5 sacks, on pace for his 13 sacks per year average, but is this enough to keep Green Bay surviving? They seem to be in the same position as they were last season without Parsons. 

• Minnesota Vikings- They don’t use Justin Jefferson enough.

Justin Jefferson is the type of elite receiver that if the ball is within finger’s reach to him, it will be caught, so why is Minnesota not using him enough? In their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, I saw Jefferson open and uncovered about 4 times that Carson Wentz overlooked. A 38-point blowout win 1 week, followed by a 3-point loss the next, is not a consistent way to prevail in this league. Between an unsustainable offense and rookie JJ. McCarthy getting hurt, this is going to be a long, bumpy road for Minnesota. 

• Chicago Bears- They need to build a sustainable offense.

The Bears have the quarterback to get them there, but without a sustainable offense, they’re never going to be that team. You could put Mahomes out there, but without offensive line stability, developing play calls, and receiving depth, they would be right where they are now. I predict the Bears will finish just shy of wild card seeding. They need to give their offense time to develop as well. With 2 new head coaches in 5 years, the high turnover rate leaves no development and lacks the coach-to-player connection every team needs.

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers- They’re 1 big mixed bag.

Tampa Bay had decent pass blocking, terrible run blocking, and they leave wide receivers open all over the field. They have good wide receivers, solid running backs, but Baker Mayfield turns the ball over on downs. The Bucs have red zone play calling weaknesses, and a promising defensive line. You never know what you’re getting out of them week to week. 

• Atlanta Falcons- One quarterback away from being a scary NFC team.

Atlanta has heavy competitive players like Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts. Atlanta also has a great offensive line, showing me a promising route for a deep playoff run in the future. The only thing that would make it better is a quarterback to match. If Atlanta can draft a quarterback like Arch Manning, Garrett Nussmeier, or John Mateer, they are going to be a huge threat. 

• Carolina Panthers- Bryce Young looks less like a No.1 pick and more like a backup.

The Carolina Panthers have bet their odds and franchise on the hopes of Bryce Young and lost. Bryce Young bails out of the pocket under pressure, lacks game management presence, and overall, just looks “lost”. His body language and 2nd guessing himself are showing me he is not the quarterback who will get Carolina out of their win drought anytime soon.

• New Orleans Saints- Alvin Kamara and Chris Olave are so back.

Chris Olave and Alvin Kamara look like stars once again despite their losing record, which is due to the absence of a quarterback in New Orleans. Alvin Kamara has 256 yards this season, making him on track to hit 1000 yards. Chris Olave has been beating cornerbacks off the line and creating space. Give them a quarterback, and they’ll start winning games.

• Buffalo Bills- Rack up in October, Crumble in January

The Bills are often sold to fans as a Super Bowl team but then are seen struggling to sustain their performance in three quarters when competing against teams like the 0-4 Saints. The Bills rely too heavily on James Cook and have few reliable targets. Every year, the Bills fall short in the postseason, and against the Chiefs, they’re 0-3 in the playoffs when it matters most. They rack up stats in October, but when the pressure of playoff January is on, they crumble.

• New England Patriots- Worst position to be in

In the NFL, there is only one thing worse than being last… being mediocre. The New England Patriots are not bad enough to get a 1st pick and not good enough to make the playoffs. The Patriots are thin at wide receivers and need offensive linemen to protect Drake Maye. They’re not a good enough team yet to get over the hump into the elite teams and will need to give up some talent like Stephon Diggs in hopes of getting enough draft picks to tend to their needs.

• New York Jets- Another rebuild is in order.

The Jets are 0-4 this season, and it hasn’t been because Justin Fields was hurt. They continue to have issues handling the ball and are fumble prone. If the opposing defense can take Garret Wilson out of the game, the Jets have no other options. Justin Fields is forced to run the ball himself a lot, which is unsustainable. They’re unable to consistently move the ball on the ground in the run game, and despite the front seven on defense being talented, the rest is slightly shaky. Not to mention, they have to be one of the most undisciplined teams in the NFL; penalties are ultimately costing them games. I sense a rebuild is in the future again.

• Miami Dolphins- Tua’s not the problem.

Despite the majority of media blaming Tua and head coach Mike McDaniel for what’s happening in Miami, I believe the problem is the offensive line and the defense. Miami’s defense gives up third-down conversions. The team lacks corners, safeties, and middle linebackers. The Miami Dolphins haven’t had an offensive line in years, leaving Tua no choice but to force the ball out in seconds, not giving him time to rescan the field if the first option is not available.  This is also why this quarterback has been seen with multiple concussions, and a turnover rep. Chris Grier is partly to blame for not picking up talent in the offseason.

• Los Angeles Chargers- A Cinderella team

I’ve been watching the Chargers, and frankly, I’m not impressed. Justin Herbert takes too many hits, and they don’t have an established run game identity. The offensive line doesn’t help Herbert out, leaving him under pressure often. And despite having big defensive names like James Derwin and Khalil Mack, they struggle to work together as a unit. Yet, somehow, they sneak into the playoffs every year. Other than 4 or 5 games, the Chargers have a fairly easy schedule. Is the schedule enough to take them to the playoffs this year? 

• Kansas City Chiefs- Not the same 

Whether it’s because of Rashee Rice being out or because Xavier Worthy was missing time, one thing is for sure: the Chiefs look a little off at the beginning of this season. Travis Kelce still looks distracted to me, and Patrick Mahomes seems to be missing a strong WR1. With Rashee returning in week 6 and recently getting Worthy back, this could be enough to make up for the underwhelming efforts from Kelce to continue the dynasty. 

• Denver Broncos- 3rd down is their kryptonite. 

In every game I watch of Denver’s, I can’t help but notice they can’t convert on 3rd down to save themselves. They are 12 for 37 on 3rd down due to a lack of effective playmakers. Their play calls are very predictable, and Bo Nix seems to struggle under pressure. When the pocket begins to collapse, his accuracy goes down. The Broncos are ineffective in rushing on 3rd downs. Until Sean Payton finds a way to attack the defense on 3rd down instead of crumbling under pressure, they’ll keep up the struggle.

• Las Vegas Raiders- Injuries to the offensive line leave Geno shaken.

Raiders left tackle Kolton Miller suffered a high ankle sprain, which seemed to be a big part of their offensive line. With the lack of quarterback protection, Geno Smith has been scrambling, leading him to throw 3 interceptions in the game against the Bears. The offensive line has also been struggling with fundamentals like pass and run blocking. The Raiders show major vulnerability in the secondary that many opponents have been exploiting, and the offense seems to be inconsistent and unable to keep up with the amount of points their defense is giving up.  It’s a nightmare in Vegas. 

• Pittsburgh Steelers- Did DK Metcalf and Aaron Rodgers improve the offense that much?

Last season, the Pittsburgh Steelers were mediocre, but now they’re leading the AFC North. What changes? DK Metcalf and Aaron Rodgers. I thought we’d seen the last of Aaron Rodgers in his disastrous performance last season with the Jets; however, the old Aaron Rodgers seemed to make a return. Combine that with the clutch hands of DK Metcalf, and you’ve got a threat of an offense. Not to mention adding Darius Slay to the defense was a nice addition to the team. The only thing that would make them better is waking T.J. Watt up and getting him involved in the defense. 

• Cincinnati Bengals- They’re nothing without Burrow. 

Joe Burrow suffered turf toe and had to undergo surgery, leaving the Bengals’ playoff hopes on Browning. The Bengals are left looking like a whole different team without Burrow. The offense had to make some route adjustments, dialing up shorter and safer passing plays. This limits the explosiveness of Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase. Everything Browning throws seems to be overthrown or underthrown, never right to the chest plate or in a position the wide receivers can get it. There also seems to be a huge chemistry gap with Browning. The Bengals better hope this never happens to Burrow again because this backup doesn’t seem to know how to utilize his weapons.  

• Baltimore Ravens- Injuries and bad defense don’t mix.

The Baltimore Ravens have been known for a strong offensive presence with members like Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson; however, due to their defense struggles to stop the run, this is Baltimore’s downfall. Combine that with the injuries to Madubike, Humphrey, Smith, Stanley, and others, and the Ravens may fall short, but it won’t be because of the offense. The Ravens also don’t use Derrick Henry enough, especially on 3rd down. They have a strong run presence and need to establish it in the games going forward.   

• Cleveland Browns- They wasted all their resources.

The Cleveland Browns spent this offseason getting yet another quarterback who will sit on the bench. With DeShaun Watson being one foot out the door on IR, Dillon Gabriel, Joe Flacco, and Shedeur Sanders are their remaining options. Four bench worthy quarterbacks sounds like a waste of money to me when they lack receivers, running backs, and a quarterback that could establish a long-running presence in this organization. 

• Indianapolis Colts- Improved a lot despite a quarterback bust.

Anthony Richardson is a big letdown, but Jonathan Taylor is back in his elite form. The Colts have strong momentum, and even with a quarterback like Daniel Jones, Indiana has been able to move around the pocket, control the clock, make excellent decisions, and have an identifying offense that could lead them to the playoffs this season. If the offensive line can tighten up to create more openings for Taylor, the Colts dominate the AFC.

• Jacksonville Jaguars- Trevor Lawrence isn’t living up to expectations.

Trevor Lawrence is prone to interceptions and fumbles. There is a high risk on every pass he throws, and he’s inconsistent when it comes to decision-making. He’s limiting Jacksonville’s offensive potential and weighing Travis Hunter down. Hunter’s been an open target that often gets missed, and their timing is off, leading people to think Hunter is underperforming even if he’s making the right reads. Replace Trevor Lawrence, and Jacksonville could start to stand a chance in their division.  

• Tennessee Titans- Brian Callahan is lost.

The Tennessee Titans have a 0-4 start this season, with no promise of looking up. The Titans have no identity, show poor execution, and were 3-18 before this season. They are a very undisciplined team and receive a good number of delay-of-game penalties. Callahan has made some extremely questionable coaching decisions and play calls, leaving him under scrutiny. Even with a quarterback like Cam Ward, until they fix the head coaching situation and find a solution, they will keep losing games, and I blame it on Brian Callahan. 

• Houston Texans- Where did freshman C.J. Stroud go?

In the 2023 draft, the Houston Texans selected C.J. Stroud as the second overall pick. In C.J. Stroud’s freshman year, he threw 4,108 passing yards and 23 touchdowns and won Offensive Rookie of the Year. Since then, C.J. Stroud has been less effective, turning the ball over more, and has taken a lot of hits behind the line of scrimmage. Part of this is to blame on the offensive line for putting C.J. Stroud in harm’s way; however, with the stats drop, it leads us to wonder where freshman C.J. Stroud went, was it all just a fluke, and how can Houston get him back?

We’re a month into the season, and if there’s one truth across the NFL, it’s this: half the league is pretending, the other half is hurt, and only a few teams are actually built for January. 

Edited by

Angelica Ciulla

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