The NFL is seeing trends of younger quarterbacks and high passer ratings early in the 2019 season. Close games and comeback wins have been common so far. Several teams that missed the playoffs in 2018 like the Bills, Lions, Packers and 49ers are undefeated through three weeks. Rookies are making significant impacts, like Brian Burns and Christian Miller of the Panthers each having 2 sacks so far. The Patriots and Rams are both 3-0 to start 2019 after meeting in Super Bowl LIII last season. Week 4 features two matchups of undefeated teams, with the Patriots vs Bills and Chiefs vs Lions.

1. Volume No. 01034 Central Virginia’s ONLY local NFL publication GridironGoose@msn.com
ROOKIES, YOUNG PLAYERS ON RISE AS NFL CLOSES SEPTEMBER
The NFL rolls into Week 4 with two significant early trends that separate this year from any of the previous 99 seasons: Quarterbacks
are getting younger, and the league-wide passer rating, the highest it’s ever been through three weeks, is on an upward slope. This
week, the NFL concludes a September thathas seen both the highestcollective passer rating ever through three weeks, and the most
starting quarterbacks (20 in Week 3) age 26 or younger in league history. Meanwhile, each week contin ues to produce close games
and stirring second-half comebacks, and rookies continue to progress into household-name territory.
CLOSE GAMES INCREASINGLY COMMON: Through the first three weeks, 23 of 48 games (47.9 percent) have been decided by six
points or less.Only one other time in league history(24 in 2013) has the final margin been sixpoints or fewer in more games over three
weeks of NFL play. Plus,26 of 48 games (54.2 percent) have been decided by seven points or less, tied for third in league hi story after
three weeks.
REBOUNDS ALSO ON THE RISE: Four teams that missed the postseason in 2018 – the BUFFALO BILLS (3-0), DETROIT LIONS (2-
0-1), GREEN BAY PACKERS (3-0) and SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (3-0) – are undefeated through the first three weeks. Since the
current playoff format began in 1990, this year marks just the fourth time that at least four teams have started the season undefeated
through their first three games after missing the postseason the previous year. It also happened in 2002, 2003 and 2013. If Buffalo,
Detroit and Green Bay win this week, the league will have four undefeated teams through the first four weeks, among those that didn’t
qualify for the postseason the prior year (including 3-0 San Francisco, on its bye in Week 4). It’s happened once previously, when
Carolina,Denver, Kansas Cityand Minnesota opened 4-0 in 2003,after missing the playoffs in 2002. The Panthers advanced to Super
Bowl XXXVIII that season.
ROOKIES GETTING TO QUARTERBACK: For the first time since 1982, when individual sacks became an official statistic, five rookies
have at least 1.5 sacks entering Week 4. The CAROLINA PANTHERS have two of those five: BRIAN BURNS and CHRISTIAN MILLER
each have 2 sacks. Jacksonville defensive end/linebacker JOSH ALLEN (2), New England defensive lineman CHASE WINOVICH (2)
and New York Giants defensive end/linebacker OSHANE XIMINES (1.5) round out the group.
CONSISTENT CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS: Both the NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS and LOS ANGELES RAMS have authored a 3-0
encore after meeting in Super Bowl LIII. The defending Super Bowl teams haven’tstarted that well in 21 years, when both the DENVER
BRONCOS and GREEN BAY PACKERS were 3-0 to start the 1998 season after clashing in Super Bowl XXXII. The last time both
Super Bowl teams were 4-0? It was also the Broncos and Packers in 1998.
HIGHEST PASSER RATING EVER THROUGH THREE WEEKS: NFL passers have compiled a 94.3 rating through three weeks, while
the average age among starting quarterbacks has decreased each week.

2. ROOKIES PREVALENT ON NFL LANDSCAPE: Through three weeks, 11 of 32 NFL teams have rookies leading or tied for their team
lead in passer rating,rushing yards,receiving yards, tackles or interceptions.Thatincludes Pittsburgh,whose rookie lineb acker DEVIN
BUSH not only leads the Steelers with 29 tackles; he also leads the league with three fumble recoveries. Last week in his first NFL
start, New York Giants rookie quarterback DANIEL JONES passed for 336 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions for a 11 2.7
passer rating.He also added two rushing touchdowns,including the game-winning 7-yard score with 1:16 remaining, in his team’s 32-
31 win at Tampa Bay. Since at leastthe AFL-NFL merger in 1970,Jones is the firstrookie with at least300 passing yards, two passing
touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns in the same game.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT THIS WEEK: Two games on Sunday feature a battle of undefeated foes, both in the early afternoon window. New
Era Field in Buffalo hosts a clash of the 3-0 teams atop the AFC East (1:00 PM ET, CBS). The NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS, whose
point-differential (89) is 36 points higher than No. 2 Dallas (53), play the BUFFALO BILLS, off to their best start since they began 3 -0 in
2011. Buffalo seeks its first 4-0 start since 2008.No NFL division has seen multiple teams start 3-0 since 2015, in the NFC South
(Atlanta and Carolina).This season,both the AFC Eastand the NFC West(Rams and 49ers) have a pair of 3 -0 teams. At Ford Field in
Detroit (1:00 PM ET, FOX), the KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (3-0) meet the DETROIT LIONS (2-0-1), who with a win would be undefeated
through four games for the first time since opening 5-0 in 2011.
STRONG STARTS: On Sunday Night Football, the DALLAS COWBOYS make a trip to their neighboring state to meet the NEW
ORLEANS SAINTS (8:20 PM ET, NBC). The Cowboys with a win would be off to their beststart in 12 years, since opening 5-0 in 2007.
With a win last Sunday over the Steelers, San Francisco is off to its best start in 21 years. The 49ers are on a bye this wee k but can
advance to their first 4-0 start in nearly three decades with a win at home over Cleveland on Monday, October 7. Seven teams are 3-0
entering Week 4. The LOS ANGELES RAMS and KANSAS CITY CHIEFS have each started 3-0 for a second consecutive season.The
lasttime the same two NFL teams opened 3-0 in back-to-back years was 2015-16 (Denver and New England). The last time the same
two teams opened 4-0 in consecutive seasons was 1968-69, when the Rams and DALLAS COWBOYS accomplished the feat.
MO’ FACTOIDS
Minnesota running back DALVIN COOK rushed for 110 yards and a touchdown in the Vikings' 34-14 win over Oakland. Cook – who
rushed for 111 yards and two touchdowns in Week 1 and 154 yards and a touchdown in Week 2 – is the fifth player in NFL history with
at least 110 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown in each of his team's firs t three games of a season, joining Pro Football Hall of
Famers JIM BROWN (1958), CURTIS MARTIN (2004), O.J. SIMPSON (1975), and EMMITT SMITH (1995).
New Orleans running back ALVIN KAMARA had 161 scrimmage yards (92 receiving, 69 rushing) and two touchdown s (one rushing,
one receiving) in the Saints'33-27 win at Seattle. Kamara,who has 23 rushing touchdowns and 10 receiving touchdowns in 34 career
games,is the fifth player in league annals with at least 20 rushing touchdown and 10 receiving touchdowns in his first three seasons,
joining Pro Football Hall of Famer MARCUS ALLEN, ROGER CRAIG, CHUCK FOREMAN and ABNER HAYNES.
Carolina running back CHRISTIAN McCAFFREY totaled 188 scrimmage yards (153 rushing,35 receiving) and a rushing touchdown in
the Panthers'38-20 victory at Arizona. McCaffrey, who had 209 scrimmage yards and two rushing touchdowns in Week 1, is the fourth
player with at least185 scrimmage yards and a touchdown in two of his team's firstthree games ofa season in NFL history, j oining Pro
Football Hall of Famer JIM BROWN (1963), ADRIAN PETERSON (2010) and BILLY SIMS (1980).
Appearing in his 20th career game, Kansas City quarterback PATRICK MAHOMES passed for 374 yards with three touchdowns and
zero interceptions for a 132.0 rating in the Chiefs' 33-28 win over Baltimore. Through 20 career games, Mahomes has the highest
marks by a quarterback in passing yards (6,576),passing touchdowns (60) and passer rating (115.3 – minimum 100 attempts) in NFL
history. Mahomes recorded his 13th career game with at least300 pass yards,surpassing Pro Football Hall of Famer KURT WARNER
(12 games) for the most by a player in his first 20 career games in NFL history. Mahomes – who passed for 378 yards and three
touchdowns with no interceptions in Week 1 and 443 yards and four touchdowns and no interceptions in Week 2 – is the first player to
record at least 350 passing yards, three touchdown passes and zero interceptions in three consecutive games in NFL history.
Buccaneers linebacker SHAQUIL BARRETT had four sacks in the loss. Barrett has eight sacks through the Buccaneers' first three
games, tied with MARK GASTINEAU (1984) for the most by a player in his team's first three games of a season since 1982.

3. DALLAS COWBOYS AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
COWBOYS: QB DAK PRESCOTT passed for 246 yards & 2 TDs vs. INT & had rush TD in Week 3. Has 8 career games with 2+ pass
TDs & rush TD, 3rd mostamong QBs in 1st4 seasons.Had TD pass & 115.6 rating in only career gam e vs. NO. Aims for his 3rd in row
on road with 3+ TD passes & 120+ rating. • RB EZEKIEL ELLIOTT had 125 rush yards last week. Has 21 games with 100+ rush yards
since 2016, most in NFL. Had 135 scrimmage yards (75 rush, 60 rec.) & TD catch in only career ga me vs. NO. Has 636 scrimmage
yards (159 per game) & 4 TDs in his past 4 on road. Since 2016, leads NFL in rush yards (4,337) & scrimmage yards (5,569). Rookie
RB TONY POLLARD had 103 rush yards & rush TD lastweek, 1st career 100-yard game & TD. • WR AMARI COOPER led team with 6
catches for 88 yards & 2 TDs in Week 3. Since joining Dal. in Week 9 of 2018, has 10 rec. TDs in 12 games, 2nd-most in NFL (JULIO
JONES - 12). Has 14 receptions for 213 yards (106.5 per game) in 2 career games vs. NO. • DE DEMARCUS LAWRENCE had sack &
FR last week. Had sack in only career game at NO (10/4/15). DE ROBERT QUINN had sack last week, his 1st sack with Dal. Has 5
sacks & 2 FFs in 4 career games vs. NO & aims for his 5th in row vs. NO with sack. Is only player with 20+ FFs (21) since 2013. LB
JAYLON SMITH led team with 10 tackles & had FF in Week 3, his 5th career FF. Aims for his 3rd in row with 10+ tackles. SAINTS: QB
TEDDY BRIDGEWATER had 177 pass yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 112.7 rating in Week 3. Is 2-0 with 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs & 90.1 rating
in 2 career starts vs. NFC East. Aims for his 3rd start in row with NO with TD pass.• RB ALVIN KAMARA had 161 scrimmage yards (92
receiving, 69 rushing) & 2 TDs (1 rush,1 rec.) in Week 3. 1s 5th player in NFL history with 20+ rush TDs (23) & 10+ rec. TDs (10) in 1st
3 seasons. Has 596 scrimmage yards (119.2 per game) & 6 TDs (4 rush, 2 rec.) in his past 5 at home. Since 2017, is 1 of 2 RBs
(TODD GURLEY) with 3,500+ scrimmage yards (3,536) & 30+ TDs (33). • WR MICHAEL THOMAS had 5 catches for 54 yards & rec.
TD last week. Is 1 of 3 WRs (ODELL BECKHAM JR. & ANQUAN BOLDIN) with 300+ catches (346) & 4,000+ rec. yards (4,053) in 1st
50 career games.Has 10+ receptions & 100+ rec. yards in 2 of his past3 at home.WR TED GINN aims for his 6th in row at home with
50+ rec. yards. • DE CAMERON JORDAN had 2 sacks & FF in last meeting. Has sack in 2 of his past 3 at home vs. NFC East. Since
2011, is 1 of 2 players (J.J. WATT) with 70+ sacks (73.5) & 40+ PD (44). CB MARSHON LATTIMORE had career-high 12 tackles & PD
lastweek. Has 5 PD in his past 5 at home.S VONN BELL had 9 tackles,PD & FR in Week 3, his 3rd career FR. Aims for his 5th in row
at home with 7+ tackles. CB ELI APPLE had FF last week, his 3rd career FF.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT CHICAGO BEARS
VIKINGS: QB KIRK COUSINS had TD pass & 112 rating in Week 3. Has 8 total TDs (5 pass, 3 rush) in 4 career games vs. Chi. Has
2,041 pass yards (291.6 per game) & 13 TDs vs. 6 INTs for 99.6 rating in 7 career road games vs. NFC North. Has TD pass in 19
consecutive games, longest active streak in NFL. • RB DALVIN COOK had 110 rush yards & rush TD in Week 3. Became 5th RB in
NFL history with 110+ rush yards & rush TD in each of 1st 3 games of season. Leads NFL with 375 rush yards & aims for 3rd in row
with 100+ rush yards. Has 488 scrimmage yards (122 per game) & 2 TDs (1 rush, 1 rec.) in his past 4 on road. Aims for his 3rd in row
on road vs. NFC North with 100+ scrimmage yards. Rookie RB ALEXANDER MATTISON had 1st career rush TD in Week 3. • WR
ADAM THIELEN had TD catch last week. Aims for his 10th in row on road with 5+ catches. Has 75+ rec. yards in 3 of his past 4 on
road vs. NFC North. WR STEFON DIGGS has 7 rec. TDs in 7 career games vs. Chi. Aims for his 3rd in row on road & 4th in row vs .
Chi. with TD catch. • DE DANIELLE HUNTER had sack last week. Is 1 of 3 NFC players (SHAQUILL BARRETT & CLAY MATTHEWS)
with sack in each of 1st 3 games in 2019. S HARRISON SMITH had INT & PD in Week 3. Aims for his 3rd in row on road with PD &
TFL. Since 2014, is only defensive player with 10+ sacks (11) & 10+ INTs (16). LB ERIC WILSON led team with 11 tackles & had 1st-
career 2 sack game in Week 3. BEARS: QB MITCHELL TRUBISKY completed 25 of 31 passes (80.6 pct.) for 231 yards & 3 TDs vs.
INT for 116.5 rating in Week 3, 4th career game with 3+ TD passes. Is 3-1 with 6 TDs vs. 3 INTs for 93.6 rating in his past 4 at home
vs. NFC North. Has 20+ completions in 4 of his past 5 at home. • RB DAVID MONTGOMERY (rookie) had 81 scrimmage yards (67
rush,14 rec.) lastweek. Leads NFC rookie RBs with 194 scrimmage yards.Aims for his 3rd in row with 60+ rush yards. • WR TAYLOR
GABRIEL had 6 catches for 75 yards & career-high 3 TDs in Week 3, 3rd career game with 2+ rec. TDs. WR ALLEN ROBINSON has
5+ catches in 3 of his past 5 at home. • LB KHALIL MACK had 2 sacks & 2 FFs last week. Since entering NFL in 2014, is tied-1st in
FFs (18) & tied-2nd most games (13) with 2+ sacks. Has 2 sacks & FF in 3 career games vs. Min. Has 8.5 sacks, 5 FFs & 2 PD in 8
career home games with Chi. S HA HA CLINTON-DIX led team with 9 tackles & had 2 INTs, incl. 37-yard INT-TD, in Week 3, 3rd
career game with 2+ INTs. Had INT in his last game vs. Min. (9/16/18 with GB). CB KYLE FULLER had INT last week. Aims for his 3rd
in row with INT & 4th in row with PD. Since 2018,leads NFL in PD (25) & INTs (9). DT AKIEM HICKS had FR lastweek. Had 1.5 sacks
in lastmeeting.Has 6.5 sacks in his past 6 vs. Min. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. Min. with sack. S EDDIE JACKSON had 27-yard INT-TD
in last meeting. Has 5 PD, 3 INT & 2 INTTDs in his past 4 vs. NFC North.

4. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AT DETROIT LIONS
CHIEFS: Have scored 25+ points in 25 straightgames,longest streak in NFL history. • QB PATRICK MAHOMES passed for 374 yards,
3 TDs vs. 0 INTs & 132 rating lastweek. Became 1stplayer in NFL history with 350+ pass yards,3+ pass TDs and 0 INTs in 3 consec.
games.Aims for 8th in row on road with 3+ pass TDs & 100+ rating. Has 1,314 pass yards (328.5 per game), 14 TDs vs. 3 INTs & 116
rating in 4 career games vs.NFC. • RB LESEAN MCCOY had 80 scrim.yards (54 rush,26 rec.) & 2 TDs (1 rush,1 rec.) lastweek. Had
2 rush TDs & career-high 217 rush yards in his last game vs. Det. (12/8/13 with Phi.). Aims for 4th in row vs. Det. with TD. RB DARREL
WILLIAMS had career-high 109 scrim. yards (62 rush, 47 rec.) in Week 3. • WR SAMMY WATKINS aims for 4th in row with 5+ catches.
Had 87 rec. yards in only career game vs. Det. (10/5/14 with Buf.). WR DEMARCUS ROBINSON aims for 3rd in row with rec. TD.
Rookie WR MECOLE HARDMAN had 97 rec. yards last week, incl. 83-yard TD catch. Aims for 3rd in row with 60+ rec. yards & TD. TE
TRAVIS KELCE aims for 3rd in row with 7+ catches & 85+ rec. yards. Had rec. TD in lastmeeting.• DT CHRIS JONES has sack in 6 of
his past 7 on road. Aims for 4th in a row vs. NFC with sack. DE FRANK CLARK had sack last week. Aims for 5th in row vs. NFC North
with sack. DE EMMANUEL OGBAH had 1.5 sacks & PD in Week 3. Had 2 sacks in only career game vs. Det. (11/12/17 with Cle.).
LIONS: QB MATTHEW STAFFORD had pass TD & 85.5 rating last week. Had 294 pass yards & 4 TDs vs. INT for 106.1 rating in only
career home game vs. KC (9/18/11). Has 2,597 pass yards (288.6 per game) in 9 career games vs. AFC West. • RB KERRYON
JOHNSON had rush TD in Week 3. Has 471 scrimmage yards (94.2 per game) & 2 TDs (1 rush, 1 rec.) in his past 5 at home. Aims for
his 3rd in row at home with TD & 6th in row at home with 80+ scrimmage yards.Has 377 scrimmage yards (125.7 per game) & rec. TD
in his past 3 vs. AFC. • WR KENNY GOLLADAY has 428 rec. yards (85.6 per game) & 2 TDs in his past 5 at home. Has 6+ receptions
in 4 of his past 5 vs. AFC. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. AFC with 7+ receptions & 100+ rec. yards. WR DANNY AMENDOLA had 100 rec.
yards in his last game vs. KC (9/7/17 with NE). Aims for his 3rd in row vs. KC with 6+ receptions. WR MARVIN JONES JR. led team
with 6 catches for 101 yards & rec. TD last week, his 8th career 100-yard game. • DE TREY FLOWERS led team with 8 tackles & had
sack in Week 3, his 1stsack with Det. Has 2 sacks in 2 career games vs. KC. DT DAMON HARRISON had 10th career sack last week.
Had only career INT vs. KC (11/19/17 with NYG). CB JUSTIN COLEMAN had career-high 3 PD in Week 3. Has 6 PD in his last 5. CB-
KR JAMAL AGNEW had 100-yard KR-TD last week, 1st Lions KR-TD since 2013 (JEREMY ROSS). Has 3 return TDs since 2017,
most in NFL.
PLAYER NOTES
 TE ZACH ERTZ (PHI) has 10+ receptions, 100+ rec. yards & TD catch in 2 of his past 3 vs. NFC North. Since 2013, leads active TEs
in catches (454) & ranks 2nd in rec. yards (5,017).
 RB JOSH JACOBS (OAK) has 95+ scrimmage yards in 2 of 3 career games.Leads all rookies in rush yards (228) & all rookie RBs
in rush TDs (2).
 RB DERRICK HENRY (TEN) had rush TD in Week 3. Has TD in 7 of his past 8. Has 150+ scrimmage yards & 2+ TDs in 2 of past 3
on road. Since Week 14 of 2018, leads NFL in rush yards (795) & rush TDs (10).
 RB MARK INGRAM (BAL) had 135 scrimmage yards (103 rush,32 rec.) & tied career high with 3 rush TDs lastweek. Has 2+ TDs in
2 of past 3. Had 104 scrimmage yards (83 rush, 21 rec.) & rush TD in only career game vs. Cle. (9/14/14 with NO). Aims for 3rd in
row vs. AFC North with TD.
 LB JAMIE COLLINS (NE) had 7 tackles, 3 TFL, 2 sacks & PD in Week 3. Is only player in NFL with 2+ sacks (2.5) & 2+ INTs (2) this
season
 LB DARIUS LEONARD (IND) had 9 tackles & FF in last meeting. Aims for 9th in row with 8+ tackles. Has 181 tackles since entering
league in 2018, most in NFL
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GridironGoose@msn.com
HOLY BIBLE: PART I & II
When you profess to be a Christian, you’re either a Christian to everyone or you’re not a Christian at all!