Posted on: September 29, 2025, 12:00h.
Last updated on: September 29, 2025, 12:00h.
Giants’ Dart impressive in rookie debut win over the previously undefeated Chargers
QB Jackson hurts hamstring in loss to Chiefs, return date unknown
QB Allen further solidifies MVP betting status with win at home over Saints
And then there were two. Only the Bills and Eagles remain as the NFL’s undefeated teams after a Week 4 that saw only a few several notable upsets.
Rookie QB Jaxson Dart of the New York Giants celebrates a win against the Los Angeles Chargers after the game at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Giants upset the Chargers 21-18. Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images.
Nice Day for Punters
For bettors, it was a good day, overall.
A hamstring injury to Ravens’ QB Lamar Jackson was the big news on the injury front, the full impact of which has not yet been revealed. Is this the type of hamstring injury that will sideline him a week or two? As Adam Schefter reminded people this morning, the Ravens play the Texans next weekend, then they have a bye, so perhaps they hold their MVP QB out until after that.
The Ravens, losers yesterday to the Chiefs 37-20, are now 1-3.
Jackson Injures Hamstring
A season-ending ACL injury to Giants wide receiver and top playmaker Malik Nabers, after leaping up on a Jaxson Dart deep ball during yesterday’s upset win over the Los Angeles Raiders, landing awkwardly on the knee, was the other big player news. Nabers had a franchise-record 109 pass catches for 1,204 yards and seven TDs last season as a rookie.
Other game highlights from Week 4 – the Packers and Cowboys finish in a 40-40 tie in the Sunday night affair, a game the Packers blew, considering how bad the Cowboys defence is. Ironically, their stud on defence, Micah Parsons, now plays for Green Bay, and had three tackles and a sack last night. Dallas’ QB Dak Prescott had three TDs despite missing their star on offence, CeeDee Lamb.
Dart Impresses in Rookie Debut
Despite the Nabers injury news, the rookie Dart led the Giants to a 21-18 upset win over the Chargers, undefeated going into the game. Dart brought sizzle, heart, swagger, athleticism, and a great arm (13-for-20, 111 yards, bringing balance on offence). Fans went nuts at MetLife Stadium. The Giants have a different energy now, going into their game against the Saints next weekend.
Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes beating Jackson before the injury was the other big storyline. If you are a Ravens fan, you are crushed. The Ravens’ defence is awful – and remember there’s only one team in the NFL’s history that made the Super Bowl after a 1-3 start, the 2001 Patriots.
“That defence is unrecognizable. It’s the style of play. It’s the scheme. It’s everything,” said former coach Rex Ryan on ESPN’s Get Up this morning.
Mahomes Bounces Back
Mahomes didn’t make a play the first three weeks of the season. Yesterday, different story – 25-for-37, 270 yards, 4 TDs to four different receivers. Jackson is now 1-6 against Mahomes.
“The early games were a push for the customers, with all but one result going in their favor,” said Joey Feazel, Head of Football at Caesars Sportsbook. “The Giants’ upset was the only poor result for the bettors. For the second week in a row, the Eagles’ late game score benefited In-play customers who took the Bucs +6.5 with the late Safety. It just shows that your ticket has life until all the zeros hit the clock if you have an interest in Eagles games.
“For the later afternoon games… the Rams were the result of the day for customers with their comeback against the Colts, and surprisingly, the Chiefs were not a great result for Bettors as the Ravens were all the rage.”
Giants’ Upset Poor Result for Bettors
The Steelers Cover, Patriots Cover and Over, Falcons Cover and Over, and the Lions Cover were the big results for the bettors. The Giants’ upset was the only good game early on for the book, Feazel added. Chiefs over Ravens was the only good result for them later afternoon.
On the MVP front, with Chargers’ QB Justin Herbert having a disappointing game (23-for-41, 203 yards, two interceptions) in the loss to the Giants, with Jackson’s injury status and turnover issues (14/20, 147 yards, 1 interception yesterday), the Bill’s Josh Allen is solidifying his position as MVP betting favorite, the biggest mover, going from to +140 from +230 at Caesars Sportsbook (along with Mahomes, +2500 to +1400).
Same deal at ESPN BET – Allen going to +130 from +175 before kickoff (Allen went 16/22, 209 yards, 2 TDs, plus 45 yards rushing on 7 carries in the Bill’s 31-19 win at home over the Saints), with Jackson going from +275 to +800, and Mahomes going from +2500 to +900 (fourth best now).
Allen Betting Favourite for MVP
At ESPN BET, at the 1 p.m. kickoff, the Chargers were the most bet team by both ML and spread tickets before losing to the Giants outright. 94.3% of bets and 90.2% of handle were on Chargers ML, and 82.3% of bets and 64.9% of handle was on Chargers spread. The Giants (+220) were the biggest ML winner of the day based on pre-game odds.
The Jaguars were 3.5-point underdogs but beat the 49ers outright, cashing tickets for the 42% of bettors that backed them with the points (accounting for 46.5% of handle) and the 18% of bettors than backed them ML (accounting for 18% of handle) at +145.
It was a good day for punters at BetVictor, said trader Neil Gibson. In the game in Ireland the Steelers were very well backed on the ML to beat the Vikings (the Steelers won 24-21). Steelers RB Jaylen Warren was inactive due to a knee injury, and that was Kenneth Gainwell’s gain (99 yards on 19 carries and 2 TDs), with running backs Gainwell and Kaleb Johnson well backed by bettors (Gainwell over his rush yards and Johnson at fancy prices to score a TD, which he failed to do).
Chargers Most Bet Team by ML
“With pockets bulging from the early game, punters continued to lay in the early window short-priced favourites, and they came unstuck when the Chargers failed to beat the Giants (LAC best backed team of the week),” Gibson said. “In fact, it saved the week, the Bills, Texans, Lions and Pats all covered comfortably, and the Chargers saved us from more carnage. Atlanta was also well backed last week and actually went off favourites against the Commanders and duly obliged.
“All eyes were on Chiefs/Ravens in the late window. Xavier Worthy receiving yards was popular and good for customers. Our blushes were once again saved by the 49ers failing to beat or cover versus the Jags. So basically, parlays bets saved us due to the Chargers and the 49ers failing to win. Atlanta/Chargers were best two bet single teams. Dallas/Green Bay was the worst result for us, the Over the points line which covered comfortably.”