Pre-Week 4 Power Rankings
The Evil Empire continues its reign of tyranny over the NFL galaxy with the Sith Lord's prodigy looking better than ever at 42. Next up is a trip to a far-flung corner of space known as Buffalo. No problem.
- Patrick Mahomes is historically great, his receivers are deep and dangerous and these Chiefs can score points for fun. Rinse and repeat every week...until they meet the team ranked above them!
What Super Bowl hangover? Did we really expect anything less than a stellar coaching job out of Sean McVay? This team is going to be just fine and will be there or thereabouts come January.
It was too easy to judge the Cowboys properly against the Miami Dolphins. But it was encouraging that both running backs - Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard - topped the 100-yard rushing mark.
This defense is proving itself week in and week out now. And how about the additions of pass-rushers Preston and Za'Darius Smith? They combined for five sacks and a forced fumble last week.
There should not be too much shame in losing on the road at Arrowhead. This is an exciting team that will win many more than they lose this year and they are the AFC North front-runners.
Josh Allen is a work in progress at quarterback but that development is proving exciting to watch. The defense is one of the better units in the league and this could be a wild card team in the AFC.
Feed the monster. Dalvin Cook needs to be in the 20 to 25-carry range every week and that should result in 30-pass days for Kirk Cousins and not 50-attempt outings. Ground and pound, Minnesota.
- The 49ers are another team powered to early season success thanks to their defense. The Niners survived five turnovers last week to advance to 3-0 and that was down to strong defensive play.
Road wins don't come much more satisfying than the one recorded by the Saints in Seattle. It was a total team win with touchdowns coming on offense, defense and special teams.
Whisper this quietly...the Colts might be just fine without Andrew Luck at the helm. Offensively, this looks a complete unit with Jacoby Brissett at quarterback. The defense is an early worry.
The Bears showed signs of offensive life in their Monday night demolition of Washington. And we already know their defense is elite. They remain a true playoff contender in the NFC.
Deshaun Watson is sending us regular reminders that he is an absolute stud and a positive sign for the Texans this past weekend was the waking of JJ Watt, as he recorded his first two sacks of 2019.
Russell Wilson provides occasional moments of brilliance but the Seahawks have also shown us in shaky home games against Cincinnati and New Orleans that they are a middle-of-the-pack team.
I remain convinced that these Eagles can ride deep into the NFC playoffs. That is the power of quarterback Carson Wentz. But they are just so banged up at the moment they are in survival mode.
Another 300-yard passing day from Philip Rivers and another day where the Chargers conspire to somehow lose a game. It must be frustrating for the veteran quarterback but it is nothing new.
Hang in there, Cleveland fans. This was always going to be a tough start to the year but this talented team needs to stick together and ride it out. Baker Mayfield could play better, though.
It is very early in his tenure under center in Jacksonville, but I am just starting to wonder if Gardner Minshew II is going to keep Nick Foles on the bench when healthy. Stranger things have happened.
I wonder if Panthers ownership is thinking about a complete re-boot from head coach down to quarterback? If that was in the back of David Tepper's mind, Kyle Allen has given him something to think about.
Mason Rudolph subbing for Big Ben is not the problem for this team. James Conner is getting nothing going on the ground and the defense makes splash plays but gives up too many yards.
This offensive line cannot welcome the suspended Taylor Lewan back quickly enough. They are giving up way too many sacks and are sliding in the wrong direction after a big Week 1 win.
The Falcons certainly seem to make big plays and score a lot of points once they are already behind in games. The loss through injury of Keanu Neal - again - is a body blow to the defense.
This is a pretty big jump in the rankings for a Giants team that could still have lost to Tampa Bay last week. But I was hugely impressed with Daniel Jones at QB and want to see what he does next.
There are still things to be positive about with these Bucs. Jameis Winston to Mike Evans is a thing again and Todd Bowles is getting a great deal out of a defense, on paper, that is not exactly loaded.
The latter stages of Cincinnati's loss at Buffalo reminded me that this team should be giving the football to Joe Mixon as often as possible. Even then it might not be enough with Andy Dalton at QB.
Much has been made of no sacks and no turnovers for the defense through three games. But it should also be noted that Joe Flacco is not playing great either. Philip Lindsay is a stud, though.
Whenever I see Kyler Murrary in action I think I';m watching Kevin Hart playing quarterback. This slender, narrow-shouldered passer should not be on the receiving end of eight sacks in a game.
With the season close to being flushed down the toilet and with empty seats in their thousands, I see no reason why Washington would not turn to Dwayne Haskins at quarterback. It's time.
Three quarterbacks in three weeks has not helped the Jets or head coach Adam Gase and that is a pretty reasonable excuse for such a miserable start. That said, Gase's seat is warming.
The Dolphins have been outscored by 117 points through three games and that is the most for any team in the Super Bowl era. They're making Miami's 1-15 team of 2007 look like a vintage unit.
