The term “any given Sunday” has never been more accurate than over the first few weeks of the 2024 NFL season. That’s because, for the first time in 70 years, the biggest underdog of each week won straight up.
It began in Week 1, when the Patriots downed the Bengals, 16-10, as eight-point 'dogs. The Raiders rallied in Week 2 as nine-point 'dogs for a 26-23 win over the Ravens and the Commanders made it three-in-a-row Monday night with a 38-33 victory over the Bengals as 7.5-point 'dogs.
Washington emerged victorious thanks to a game for the ages by Jayden Daniels. He set a rookie-record for completion percentage (91.3%), going 21-for-23 for 253 yards and two touchdowns. He also carried the ball 12 times for 39 yards and another score as Washington broke a brutal stretch as an underdog.
The Commanders had lost eight consecutive games straight up as a 'dog heading into Monday Night Football. They were also just 3-11 SU as a 'dog since the start of last season. That continued a troubling trend in which the Commanders ranked 29th in the NFL in moneyline profitability in that spot since 2019.
However, they threw that all out the window in their rousing upset of the Bengals.
The big question now is whether the Patriots can follow suit against the 49ers.
New England is the biggest 'dog of Week 4 as San Francisco is a 10-point favorite. The Patriots have already proved they can knock off a heavy favorite after downing the Bengals to start the year. However, after a narrow overtime loss in Week 2 to the Seahawks, they were blown out, 24-3, by the Jets last Thursday.
San Francisco is a double-digit favorite, despite being decimated by injuries. Christian McCaffrey will miss the game as he's on Injured Reserve and the status of both Deebo Samuel and George Kittle is in doubt after both missed Week 3’s loss to the Rams.
Meanwhile, head coach Kyle Shanahan told the media that quarterback Brock Purdy is dealing with a sore back and is day-to-day.
