NFL Week 4 Power Rankings: Vikings, Seahawks among early-season surprises

admin September 24, 2024 Sports Leave a comment 2 Views

It’s only Week 4 in the NFL, and already the league has given us plenty of surprises. Some of them have been good (Hello, Seattle Seahawks). Some have been bad (Sorry, Trevor Lawrence).

This week the Power Rankings have dug deep to find something surprising on each team, and we’ll start the surprises right off the top because we’ve got a new No. 1.

Last week: 2

Monday: Beat Jacksonville Jaguars 47-10

Surprise: That all of their offseason losses haven’t hurt

In fact, some of them might have helped. The Bills scored touchdowns on their first five possessions Monday night and led 34-3 at halftime. As long as Josh Allen is still around, anything seems possible. On Monday, Allen posted his fourth career game with 250 or more passing yards, four or more passing touchdowns and 40 or more rushing yards. That’s more than anyone in NFL history, and Allen had done it before the fourth quarter started. He finished 23-for-30 for 263 yards and four touchdowns, and Damar Hamlin grabbed his first career interception to make the night just about perfect for the Bills.

Up next: at Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET

Last week: 1

Sunday: Beat Atlanta Falcons 22-17

Surprise: Travis Kelce’s mortality

The Chiefs offense isn’t “The Chiefs Offense” and a lot of that is because Kelce has only eight catches for 69 yards. He’s 19th among tight ends in receiving yards and 22nd among tight ends in targets per route run (13.6 percent), according to TruMedia. Kelce saw a pass on 24.5 percent of his routes in the last six seasons, but this season he’s on pace for just 68 targets, his fewest since 2013, when he played only one game.

Up next: at Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

go-deeper

GO DEEPER

Patrick Mahomes still not playing his best, but defense keeps Chiefs undefeated

Last week: 6

Sunday: Beat Arizona Cardinals 20-13

Surprise: That every team doesn’t run hook and ladder all the time

We’ve wondered about this for a while. Watch the play below and you will, too. Amon-Ra St. Brown caught seven passes for 75 yards Sunday, one of which he flipped back to Jahmyr Gibbs for a 21-yard touchdown. It was beautiful. It resulted in a touchdown with less than 30 seconds left in the half, and the day’s weirdest stat line: Gibbs, zero targets, zero catches, 20 receiving yards and a 21-yard receiving touchdown.

Up next: at Seattle Seahawks, Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET

Last week: 7

Sunday: Beat Houston Texans 34-7

Surprise: Sam Darnold’s start

He might turn into a pumpkin by Halloween, but for now Darnold leads the NFL in touchdown passes (eight) while throwing only two interceptions. Given up on by the Jets, Panthers and 49ers, Darnold is third in the league in passer rating (117.3) playing for Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell. Darnold’s best passer rating in his first six seasons in the league was 92.6, but he outplayed Houston’s C.J. Stroud on Sunday by a wide margin, throwing four touchdown passes. One note on defense: The Vikings became the third team since 1990 to have at least five sacks in each of their first three games.

Up next: at Green Bay Packers, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

go-deeper

GO DEEPER

Vikings, Packers coaches make the NFC North the NFL’s best division: Sando’s Pick Six

5. Houston Texans (2-1)

Last week: 4

Sunday: Lost to Minnesota Vikings 34-7

Surprise: C.J. Stroud is human

The Texans second-year quarterback had the second-worst game of his career as measured by passer rating (68.6) on Sunday. He threw multiple interceptions (two) for just the second time in his career. Getting running back Joe Mixon back from an ankle sprain, whenever that happens, would be a big help. Mixon had 159 of Houston’s 326 rushing yards this season in Week 1. In his first full game on the bench, the Texans had 38 rushing yards and averaged 2.7 yards per carry on Sunday in Minnesota, and Brian Flores’ blitzes rattled Stroud, which we were beginning to think was impossible.

Up next: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

6. Seattle Seahawks (3-0)

Last week: 10

Sunday: Beat Miami Dolphins 24-3

Surprise: This team leads the NFC West by two games

It’s not the 49ers. It’s not the Rams. It’s Geno Smith and first-year head coach Mike Macdonald. Smith is second in the league in completion percentage (74.8) and is playing as well as any passer in the league. Only four quarterbacks have more than his 823 passing yards. On top of that, the Seahawks defense is the stingiest in the league, allowing just 3.9 yards per play.

Up next: at Detroit Lions, Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET


Coach Matt LaFleur has guided the Packers to two wins in a row without quarterback Jordan Love. (Patrick McDermott / Getty Images)

7. Green Bay Packers (2-1)

Last week: 12

Sunday: Beat Tennessee Titans 30-14

Surprise: Matt LaFleur has never won coach of the year

Malik Willis has won more games as the starter in Green Bay than he did in two years in Tennessee, and he’s been with the Packers for less than a month. Willis, who took over when franchise quarterback Jordan Love was injured in the opener, had a 120.9 passer rating and 73 rushing yards Sunday. Willis had 350 passing yards in 11 games in Tennessee. He has 324 in two games in Green Bay. The credit goes to LaFleur, who has won 67.4 percent of his games as a head coach (11th best in NFL history). Green Bay is the fifth team since 1990 with at least 600 rushing yards in its first three games.

Up next: vs. Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

Last week: 15

Sunday: Beat Los Angeles Chargers 20-10

Surprise: Mike Tomlin doesn’t believe in surprises

Nobody expected the Steelers to be two games in front in the AFC North at this point except maybe their head coach. Opponents are scoring a touchdown on 16.7 percent of their trips into the red zone against Pittsburgh this year. It’s early, but that’s on pace to be the best rate in the NFL since at least 2000, according to TruMedia. That plus an offense that understands the assignment (108 team rushes versus 91 Justin Fields dropbacks) has been good enough.

Up next: at Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

go-deeper

GO DEEPER

In a battle of dominant defenses, Justin Fields was the difference for Steelers

Last week: 3

Sunday: Lost to Philadelphia Eagles 15-12

Surprise: Derek Carr, even after Sunday

An afterthought entering the season, Carr is third in the league in EPA per dropback in his 11th year in the league. His passer rating (115.7) is on pace to be the highest of his career even though Sunday was kind of a stinker — 14-for-25 passing for 142 yards and a 69.1 passer rating. First-year offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak may end up extending Carr’s career if he doesn’t get a head coaching job first.

Up next: at Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

10. Los Angeles Chargers (2-1)

Last week: 9

Sunday: Lost to Pittsburgh Steelers 20-10

Surprise: That Jim Harbaugh wasn’t coaching in the ’40s

The man who last week said, for some reason, “Like Moses, I’m going to die leaning on my staff,” is taking the Chargers and Justin Herbert back to three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust football. Herbert has played 65 NFL games. Three of his five lowest passing totals have come in the first three weeks of this season, and he’s averaging 133 yards per game. Sunday’s total was hurt when he left the game early after aggravating a high ankle sprain. If he’s out for a while, it might hurt the Chargers. Or it might not. Taylor Heinicke can handle 133 yards per game.

Up next: vs. Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

go-deeper

GO DEEPER

Will anyone in the Chargers organization protect Justin Herbert from himself?

11. Philadelphia Eagles (2-1)

Last week: 11

Sunday: Beat New Orleans Saints 15-12

Surprise: That this team has won two games

Philadelphia is 31st in the NFL in turnover margin (minus-4). It has committed 28 penalties, more than all but four teams. Every fourth-down decision Nick Sirianni makes ends up being wrong. And yet the Eagles, tied for the lead in the NFC East, would be 3-0 if not for a late game-winning drive by the Falcons in Week 2. Tight end Dallas Goedert, who had 10 catches for 170 yards against the Saints, is responsible for the most recent win. It was the most yards in a game for an Eagles tight end.

Up next: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1)

Last week: 5

Sunday: Lost to Denver Broncos 26-7

Surprise: Mike Evans’ slow start

This is a Mike Evans appreciation post in disguise. He’s had 1,000 yards in each of his 10 seasons, which is remarkable, but the streak is in early danger. He has only 10 catches for 120 yards, and Chris Godwin has 10 more targets than Evans through three games. His lack of participation hadn’t hurt Tampa Bay until Sunday, when he was held to two catches for 17 yards by Patrick Surtain, and the Buccaneers were upset by the Broncos.

Up next: vs. Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

13. San Francisco 49ers (1-2)

Last week: 8

Sunday: Lost to Los Angeles Rams 27-24

Surprise: That this team is last in the NFC West

Brock Purdy had a 137.1 passer rating and Jauan Jennings had 11 catches for 175 yards and three touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough to make up for Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel and George Kittle being sidelined by injury. It should have been, though. The 49ers led by 10 points with 6:20 left. Purdy now has nine games with a passer rating of 130 or higher, more than any other quarterback in his first three seasons.

Up next: vs. New England Patriots, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET

go-deeper

GO DEEPER

The Rams, long the 49ers’ ‘get right’ foe, expose all their flaws

14. Baltimore Ravens (1-2)

Last week: 17

Sunday: Beat Dallas Cowboys 28-25

Surprise: It took three weeks to find Derrick Henry

It seems like someone should have remembered he was on the team earlier. Sunday, he ran over the Cowboys, breaking 12 tackles and gaining 151 yards and scoring two touchdowns on 25 carries. Henry had 45 yards over expected, according to Next Gen Stats. Lamar Jackson threw only 15 passes (completing 12) and ran for 87 yards. Still, the Ravens gave up 19 answered points in the fourth quarter and almost blew another late lead.

Up next: vs. Buffalo Bills, Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET

Last week: 16

Thursday: Beat New England Patriots 24-3

Surprise: Braelon’s Allen debut

Aaron Rodgers had his second-highest passer rating (118.9) since September of 2022 against the Patriots, and that’s a relief for Jets fans, but it’s hardly a surprise. The man is a four-time MVP. What is a surprise is running back Braelon Allen. This was supposed to be Breece Hall’s backfield, but Allen, a rookie fourth-round draft pick, is averaging 5.1 yards per carry, almost a yard and a half more than Hall.

Up next: vs. Denver Broncos, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

16. Dallas Cowboys (1-2)

Last week: 13

Sunday: Lost to Baltimore Ravens 28-25

Surprise: That kickers are so good this year

Brandon Aubrey made a 65-yard field goal, the second-longest in NFL history, in the first quarter and has hit 15 straight kicks from 50-plus yards. For the season, NFL kickers have hit 76.5 percent of their field goals from beyond 50 yards. Aubrey, though, couldn’t make up for a defense that has given up an NFL-worst 7.7 yards per play in the last two weeks.

Up next: at New York Giants, Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET

go-deeper

GO DEEPER

Micah Parsons: ‘Trust is not there’ for Cowboys’ struggling defense

17. Arizona Cardinals (1-2)

Last week: 14

Sunday: Lost to Detroit Lions 20-13

Surprise: James Conner’s carry total

The Cardinals running back received only nine carries for 17 yards against the Lions on Sunday. Conner had 37 carries for 172 yards in the first two weeks. He had 21 carries for 122 yards in Week 2, and Arizona beat the Rams by 31 points. Kyler Murray led the Cardinals in rushing Sunday with five carries for 45 yards. That doesn’t seem like a winning formula.

Up next: vs. Washington Commanders, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET

18. Washington Commanders (2-1)

Last week: 29

Monday: Beat Cincinnati Bengals 38-33

Surprise: Just how good Jayden Daniels has been

Completion percentage is not the best indicator of quarterback success, but it’s still remarkable Washington’s rookie leads the NFL in that stat through three weeks (80.3 percent). Daniels, the No. 2 pick in the draft behind Caleb Williams, is second in the league in EPA per attempt (.43), which is a pretty good indicator of quarterback performance. On Monday night, Daniels was 21-for-23 for 254 yards and his first two NFL touchdown passes. Daniels, whose first scoring pass went to 320-pound offensive tackle Trent Scott, has yet to throw an interception.

Up next: at Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET

19. Los Angeles Rams (1-2)

Last week: 26

Sunday: Beat San Francisco 49ers 27-24

Surprise: This win, that’s it

The Rams, who didn’t have Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua and half their offensive line because of injury, had a 3.2 percent chance to win this game at one point in the fourth quarter. Then they scored three times in the final 6:15. Amid all the chaos in L.A., running back Kyren Williams just keeps plugging along. He had 116 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns against the Niners.

Up next: at Chicago Bears, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

go-deeper

GO DEEPER

Rodrigue: The chaos Rams are back, this time with lift from special teams and Matthew Stafford

20. Atlanta Falcons (1-2)

Last week: 19

Sunday: Lost to Kansas City Chiefs 22-17

Surprise: Darnell Mooney and Ray-Ray McCloud

The two newcomers to Atlanta’s offense have a combined 21 catches for 247 yards. Drake London and Kyle Pitts have 22 catches for 241 yards. The Falcons are 16th in the league in passing yards per game (199.7) so it hasn’t been a bad offense, but the prediction that Kirk Cousins would unleash the two highly drafted pass catchers hasn’t yet come to fruition. The most remarkable stat from Sunday: The Falcons went 2-for-9 on third down for the third straight game.

Up next: vs. New Orleans Saints, Sunday, 1 p.m.

Last week: 24

Sunday: Beat Chicago Bears 21-16

Surprise: That Indianapolis won in spite of Anthony Richardson

The Colts’ 22-year-old quarterback finished with a 39 passer rating and continues to confound his fan base by alternating amazing completions on impossible passes with maddening misses on easy passes. Richardson is completing less than 50 percent of his passes this season, the lowest number in the league, and his passer rating (55.9) ranks 29th. He’s played only seven career games so it’s way too early to panic, but this was a trend Richardson exhibited throughout his college career.

Up next: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

22. Cincinnati Bengals (0-3)

Last week: 18

Monday: Lost to Washington Commanders 38-33

Surprise: The Jessie Bates falloff

Since Jessie Bates III left Cincinnati in free agency after the 2022 season, the Bengals are 28th in the NFL in EPA per 100 snaps and 31st in defensive success rate (55.2 percent), according to TruMedia. On Monday night, the Commanders and rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels marched up and down the field, gaining 357 yards and averaging 6.4 yards per play.

Up next: at Carolina Panthers, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

23. New England Patriots (1-2)

Last week: 21

Thursday: Lost to New York Jets 24-3

Surprise: Jacoby Brissett is still walking upright

The Patriots have allowed pressure on a league-worst 45.8 percent of their dropbacks. New England has surrendered 11 sacks, which accounts for 12.5 percent of their dropbacks. This is why coach Jerod Mayo has been hesitant to start rookie Drake Maye, who got into the game in relief Thursday, completed 50 percent of his passes and got walloped on one sack.

Up next: at San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET

24. Las Vegas Raiders (1-2)

Last week: 22

Sunday: Lost to Carolina Panthers 36-22

Surprise: That it took this long for a quarterback controversy

Controversy might be a strong word when the choices are Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell, but here the Raiders are. O’Connell replaced Minshew in the fourth quarter Sunday and finished 9-for-12 for 82 yards and a touchdown. That might be enough to earn him a start, although coach Antonio Pierce didn’t sound happy with anybody after the game.

Up next: vs. Cleveland Browns, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

25. Carolina Panthers (1-2)

Last week: 32

Sunday: Beat Las Vegas Raiders 36-22

Surprise: That Carolina hasn’t already traded Bryce Young

The former No. 1 pick didn’t have much trade value after being benched to start this week. He might not have any now after how the Panthers looked with Andy Dalton at quarterback. Dalton became the first quarterback this season with three touchdown passes and more than 300 passing yards in a game, and they averaged 6.2 yards per play. Carolina was averaging 3.5 yards per play with Young at quarterback. Dalton’s passer rating Sunday (123.6) was 50 points higher than Young’s career average.

Up next: vs. Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

go-deeper

GO DEEPER

In delivering Panthers’ stunning win over Raiders, Andy Dalton validated Dave Canales’ decision

26. Chicago Bears (1-2)

Last week: 23

Sunday: Lost to Indianapolis Colts 21-16

Surprise: Caleb Williams, even if it shouldn’t be

Not only has Williams not turned the Bears franchise around, but he hasn’t even gotten within shouting distance of good despite posting an NFL-season-high 363 passing yards Sunday. (While we’re on the subject, why did Chicago throw the ball 52 times against a team that gave up 473 rushing yards in the first two weeks?) Williams is 31st in the league in expected points added per dropback (minus-.27), 28th in passer rating (65.3) and 27th in completion percentage (59.3 percent). At least fellow rookie Rome Odunze had six catches for 112 yards against the Colts.

Up next: vs. Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

27. Miami Dolphins (1-2)

Last week: 20

Sunday: Lost to Seattle Seahawks 24-3

Surprise: That this team is last in scoring

Playing with backup quarterback Skylar Thompson was an issue Sunday, but even with Tua Tagovailoa, this team wasn’t clicking. The Dolphins are averaging 11 points per game. Just a season ago, they were second in scoring with 29.18 points per game. Miami, which was 1-for-12 on third down against the Seahawks, is the only team in the league to not lead a game with time on the clock this season, according to ESPN Stats & Info.

Up next: vs. Tennessee Titans, Monday, 7:30 p.m. ET

28. Denver Broncos (1-2)

Last week: 30

Sunday: Beat Tampa Bay Buccaneers 26-7

Surprise: Bo Nix was Sunday’s best rookie quarterback

And he’s been the second-best this season. The competition is not as tough as we imagined it would be in April, but still. Nix is second among all quarterbacks this season in rushing (107 yards) and was efficient from the pocket Sunday as Denver got its first win. With Caleb Williams’ struggles, Nix is behind only Jayden Daniels in terms of rookie quarterback value so far.

Up next: at New York Jets, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

Last week: 31

Sunday: Beat Cleveland Browns 21-15

Surprise: Malik Nabers’ start

Everyone thought the rookie wide receiver would be good, but this good was impossible to predict. He’s the only receiver in the league with more than 50 percent of his team’s air yards this season. On Sunday, he became the first player in NFL history with at least 20 catches and three touchdown catches in his first three games, and he’s fifth among all players with 271 receiving yards.

Up next: vs. Dallas Cowboys, Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET

30. Cleveland Browns (1-2)

Last week: 25

Sunday: Lost to New York Giants 21-15

Surprise: That they’re still trying this

Deshaun Watson has more dropbacks than any quarterback in the league this year (141) even though his EPA per dropback (minus-.28) ranks 32nd in the league. Watson’s passer rating was at least 98 from 2017-2020. He hasn’t topped 85 in a season since then, and he’s at a career-low 71.4 this year. A reminder: His salary-cap number for each of the next two seasons is $72 million.

Up next: at Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

go-deeper

GO DEEPER

Browns’ offense hasn’t been just bad, it’s been borderline hopeless

31. Tennessee Titans (0-3)

Last week: 28

Sunday: Lost to Green Bay Packers 30-14

Surprise: It’s still that they fired Mike Vrabel

Soundly beaten Sunday by the quarterback they had as a third-stringer and traded away in the offseason, Tennessee turned the team over this season to first-year head coach Brian Callahan and second-year quarterback Will Levis, who has thrown four touchdown passes to Titans this year and two to their opponents. His EPA per dropback (minus-.31) ranks 33rd in the league. Vrabel might not have fixed the quarterback problem, but he probably would have won a game.

Up next: at Miami Dolphins, Monday, 7:30 p.m. ET

32. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-3)

Last week: 27

Monday: Lost to Buffalo Bills 47-10

Surprise: That Trevor Lawrence hasn’t been better

What’s going on in Jacksonville is not Lawrence’s fault. The No. 1 pick from the 2021 draft has been fine, but he hasn’t been much better than that. Since he entered the league, Lawrence is 31st among qualifying quarterbacks in passer rating (84.4), and his expected points added per dropback (minus-.01) ranks 27th. Only Josh Allen (47) and Patrick Mahomes (43) have thrown more interceptions since Lawerence (40) in that span, and those two quarterbacks have a lot more positives on their balance sheet. Lawrence was 21-for-38 for 178 yards, one touchdown and one interception in Monday night’s disaster effort before being replaced by Mac Jones when the game was out of reach.

Up next: at Houston Texans, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

(Top photo of Zach Charbonnet and the Seahawks: Rio Giancarlo / Getty Images)




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