The Green Bay Packers' early-season bye week is officially upon us.
While some fans may take this opportunity to step away from football, spend time with loved ones and go experience the many other wonders life has to offer, the degenerates among us will still be perched up in front of our TV screens this weekend following all of the wall-to-wall action the NFL has to offer.
It's football! Don't take it for granted!
**1\. Browns vs Vikings in London**
The Packers have their fingers in both ends of the pie for the early Sunday kickoff in London. On one hand, the Browns held the Packers to just 10 points a couple of weeks ago, sandwiched between 41 and 34 point concessions to the Ravens and Lions.
While we aren't too worried about the Packers offense right now, a big performance from this lowly Wentz-led Vikings offense against the same Browns defense that thwarted the Packers would only stand to make their 13-10 defeat in Cleveland look even worse for Matt LaFleur.
On the other hand, we're always keeping an eye on the Vikings. They still don't play the Packers for another 7 weeks, but if things were to get ugly in Green Bay, they could end up being the Packers' Wildcard competition.
**2\. Is the Bengals offense beyond saving?**
Having scored just 13 points over the last 2 weeks, the Bengals look like the worst team in the NFL. As it stands, they are the perfect get-right game for Jeff Hafley's defense next weekend at Lambeau. We just have to hope that Zac Taylor hasn't magically figured out how to make this whole thing work in the meantime.
The pieces are there: Jake Browning isn't great, but he can sling the football. Ja'Marr Chase is one of the three best WRs in the sport, Tee Higgins is one of the better WR2s in the league and yet this offense cannot stop throwing the ball to Noah Fant, who somehow commands the 2nd highest target rate in the entire league through one month.
While the Bengals' offensive line shows no signs of figuring itself out, they are up against a Lions interior defensive line which the Packers have already dominated this season, and they could find some joy at home in this game.
**3\. Could the Lions suffer a bogey loss?**
That's right, it's Lions vs Bengals! This matchup of good cats versus bad cats has all the makings of a traditional Dan Campbell-era stomping despite the points I just listed in the paragraph above.
Your Green Bay Packers Week 4 rooting guide consists of sitting down for this game and rooting for both teams to absolutely stink. In the big picture, you're absolutely hoping to watch the Lions lose. Green Bay's return fixture in Detroit isn't for another 8 weeks, so the actual performance of the Lions matters less than simply hoping they lose. The Packers faltered on the road in Ohio against a bad team so there is no reason why the Lions can't do the same.
**4\. Can the Eagles remain undefeated?**
The Eagles are still the biggest hurdle the Packers must jump to reach the promised land. Their unblemished record through September backs up that claim.
After this game the Eagles face the Giants, then the Vikings, then the Giants again weirdly, before heading into a 15-day bye week before facing the Packers on Monday Night Football.
What I'm saying is this is probably Philadelphia's last chance to lose a game before coming into Green Bay on November 10th. While any Eagles loss is good for the Packers from a seeding perspective, I wouldn't criticize you if you'd like to see the Eagles coming into Green Bay at a perfect 8-0, giving the Packers the chance to slay an undefeated team in prime time.
**5\. Allen, Herbert and Mahomes struggles**
My final item to watch has no place on the Packers' radar, but as a fan it's so something I'm keeping a close eye on. Jordan Love is currently 4th place in MVP odds behind the three names listed above, and despite what some purists may tell you, the quarterback so many of us have carried the flag for since he was drafted winning MVP actually IS a massive deal.
Voter fatigue may work in Love's favor over of Mahomes & Allen. Both superstars are playing in standalone primetime games this weekend, meanwhile Justin Herbert is involved in the marquee late afternoon game with Fox's A-team. You could argue all three have favorable matchups this weekend, so a slip-up by any of them could be big for Love who leads the chasing pack.