The
Broncos are averaging just under 45 points per game as QB Peyton Manning is on
pace for 64 touchdown passes.
2.
Seattle Seahawks (4-0) Last Week: 2
The
Seahawks’ defense is so good it can carry the team to an overtime victory on
the road with their offense accumulating just 270 yards.
3.
New England Patriots (4-0) Last Week: 4
The
Patriots’ bend-but-don’t-break style of defense was on full display at the
Georgia Dome, surrendering just 13 points in the Falcons’ six trips to the
red-zone... Losing defensive tackle Vince Wilfork for the season is a tough blow for a defensive unit that is playing their best brand of football since 2007. Replacing Wilfork is nearly impossible, but the Pats are the most equipped team to deal with an injury of this magnitude. "Next Man Up" is in full effect in New England.
4. New Orleans Saints (4-0) Last Week: 3
Shades of the 2009
Saints continue to arise, and yet the current squad has the potential to
feature a better defense than the Super Bowl champs from four years ago. The
Saints face their first road challenge of 2013 when they travel to
the windy city to battle the Chicago Bears on Sunday afternoon.
5.
Kansas City Chiefs (4-0) Last Week: 7
The Chiefs have owned
the NFC East, defeating the Cowboys, Eagles and Giants in the past three weeks.
The Chiefs are 4-0 for the first time since 2003 and each win has been by a
convincing score, with the exception of their 17-16 victory over Dallas in Week
2.
6. Miami Dolphins (3-1) Last Week: 6
No need to overreact to the Dolphins’ 38-17 blowout loss at the hands of the Saints on Monday Night Football. The Fins were able to
survive the toughest part of their schedule with a respectable 3-1 mark and now
play five of their next seven contests at home.
7.
Indianapolis Colts (3-1) Last Week: 11
Andrew Luck responded
to adversity well on Sunday after tossing an interception in the first drive of the game
by throwing for 260 yards (22-for-36) and two touchdowns in a 37-3 annihilation of
the hapless Jaguars. The Colts now must prepare for an arduous three-game stretch that includes: hosting the undefeated the Seahawks, visiting the resurgent Chargers and then
wrapping up their pre-bye portion of the schedule versus the Broncos.
8.
Tennessee Titans (3-1) Last Week: 14
The injury to Jake
Locker was painful for football fans across the nation to watch. You have to
feel bad for Locker, who was in the midst of a career year (6 TD, 0 INT) before
hurting his hip on a frightening play. Can backup Ryan Fitzpatrick keep the good times rolling in Tennessee with Locker shelved for the next 4-8 weeks?
9.
Detroit Lions (3-1) Last
Week: 15
The Lions leaped into
first-place in the NFC North with a blowout win over the Bears… It may sound
crazy but Reggie Bush deserves a mention in the MVP conversation. Bush is
averaging 5.3 yards per carry and a whopping 16.3 yards per reception… The
Lions face the ultimate test this Sunday as they look to beat the Packers (fresh
off their bye) at Lambeau Field for the first time since 1991.
10.
Chicago Bears (3-1) Last
Week: 5
“Bad Jay” made his first appearance of the season on Sunday. Cutler threw three interceptions, lost a fumble and
converted just one third-down via the passing attack. Cutler and the Bears need to
regroup with the Saints paying a visit to Soldier Field on Sunday.
11.
San Francisco 49ers (2-2) Last Week: 16
The 49ers were able to
shake off their frustration from their recent lack of production on offense by
steaming rolling the struggling Rams. Is the 49ers best football still
yet to be played? Only time will tell.
12.
Baltimore Ravens (2-2) Last Week: 8
Joe Flacco averaged $24
million per interception on Sunday against the Bills…In all seriousness, Flacco’s
five-interception performance was dreadful, but the Ravens real problems lie
within the offensive line and a complete lack of a running game (27th
in rushing offense).
13.
Atlanta Falcons (1-3) Last Week:
12
The Falcons 1-3 start is really not that concerning, given that only FOUR teams in the NFC hold records
above .500. The real concern for the Falcons is their inability to finish off drives in the red-zone in the final minutes of the game. The Falcons were 10 yards
shy of reaching the Super Bowl last year, before the 49ers got a critical stop.
This season has featured two meltdowns in the red-zone, Week 1 at New Orleans,
and Sunday night versus New England.
14.
San Diego Chargers (2-2) Last Week: 19
15.
Cincinnati Bengals (2-2) Last
Week: 9
Is
it time to bench Andy Dalton? Not yet, but completing just 23 of 42 attempts
for 206 yards with no touchdowns, a fumble lost and an interception, is not
acceptable for an offense that is loaded with talent. Without star wideout A.J.
Green, Dalton may not even be an average starting QB. It’s evident that Dalton has
benefited from Green's talent—but not vice versa, a potential issue moving forward for the purported AFC North favorites.
16.
Dallas Cowboys (2-2) Last Week:
10
The
Cowboys’ inconsistencies are alarming, but after years of mediocre football in
Dallas this should actually be expected by now. The Cowboys still appear to be
a full notch ahead of the other scuffling NFC East teams, but that can change
instantly if the Redskins (or maybe even the Eagles) find their groove.
17.
Green Bay Packers (1-2) Last Week: 17
The
Packers, fresh off their bye week, will host the NFC North leading Detroit
Lions at Lambeau Field on Sunday in a crucial division contest.
18.
Houston Texans (2-2) Last Week:
13
Matt
Schaub threw a pick-six for the third consecutive week; this time it was the
difference in a disheartening overtime loss to the Seahawks at Reliant Stadium.
Outraged Texans’ fans were seen burning Matt Schaub jerseys outside of
the stadium following the crushing defeat.
19.
Cleveland Browns (2-2) Last Week: 25
The
DawgPound was rocking in Cleveland throughout “Battle of Ohio” as the Browns' defense
provided another stifling performance. The Browns, ranked 3rd in
total defense, shut down the visiting Bengals all afternoon, limiting their
in-state rival to just six points and 266 yards of total offense. Cleveland-bred
QB Brian Hoyer is 2-0 on the year, collecting the game-winning drive a week ago
and the game-clinching drive on Sunday as the Browns moved into a three-way tie
for first place in the AFC North.
20.
Buffalo Bills (2-2) Last
Week: 22
Rookie
head coach Doug Marrone is proud of his team and with good reason. The Bills
intercepted Super-Bowl MVP Joe Flacco five times, despite their secondary being ravaged with injuries. Visiting opponents
won’t be taking the Bills lightly at Ralph Wilson Stadium anymore.
21.
Arizona Cardinals (2-2) Last Week: 20
A
win is a win, but the Cardinals’ offense was brutal for the first 50 minutes of
their narrow victory over the lowly Bucs... The Cardinals major offseason acquisition, Carson Palmer, tossed two more interceptions, increasing his season-total to six with just four TD passes.
22.
Carolina Panthers (1-2) Last Week: 23
The
Panthers return to action on the road against the Arizona Cardinals.
23.
New York Jets (2-2) Last
Week: 21
The
Jets finally reverted to their feeble ways in a 38-13 thrashing by the Titans…Geno
Smith lost two fumbles and threw two interceptions as he posted a wretched 7.8
QBR.
24.
Philadelphia Eagles (1-3) Last Week: 24
The
Eagles own the worst defense in the league and you can’t help but wonder if the
unit would do better if their offense spent more time on the field…
25.
St. Louis Rams (1-3) Last Week: 18
The
Rams’ performance versus the 49ers on Thursday Night Football was pitiful…Sam
Bradford appears to still be trigger-happy when the pass-rushers get anywhere near him and he is having major problems finishing off drives… Bradford does not appear to be a franchise QB,
yet GM Les Snead insists Bradford will be the man under center for the foreseeable future.
26.
Minnesota Vikings (1-3) Last Week: 31
Matt
Cassel capitalized on the Steelers incessant focus on Adrian Peterson,
completing 7-of-10 passes against eight-man fronts…Jared Allen was a menace in the pass-rush on Sunday, registering 4.5 tackles and 2.5 sacks... Will Christian Ponder ever start
another game for the Vikings?
27.
Washington Redskins (1-3) Last Week: 26
The
Skins were far from dominant in their victory over the Raiders, but the defense
finally showed signs of progression. They held the Raiders to under 300 yards
and jumpstarted the comeback win with a 45 yard pick-six from cornerback David
Amerson.
28.
Oakland Raiders (1-3) Last
Week: 27
Matt Flynn was so horrific on Sunday that his own head coach, Dennis Allen, could not refrain from criticizing the overpaid backup.Often-injured tailback Darren
McFadden left the game with a hamstring injury... Terrelle Pryor, inactive for
this week’s contest with a concussion, symbolizes the only hope for the Raiders anemic offense.
29.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-4) Last Week: 28
Greg
Schiano is in serious danger of losing his head coaching duties after his club
squandered another lead late in the fourth quarter. Tampa led Arizona 10-0, before
collapsing in a 13-10 defeat.
30.
Pittsburgh Steelers (0-4) Last Week: 29
The
Steelers fell to 0-4 for the first time since 1968. Struggling QB Ben
Roethlisberger proclaimed that the Steelers are the “worst team in the league” after another inauspicious defeat.
31.
New York Giants (0-4) Last Week: 30
The
Giants became the third team in NFL history to allow 30 points and commit three
turnovers in each of their first four games (via ESPN Stats and Info)…The Giants have now been outscored 156-61 in
four contests this season.
32.
Jacksonville Jaguars (0-4) Last Week: 32
The
Jags have scored three touchdowns in four games, averaging a measly 7.8 points
per contest. 0-16 looks like a realistic possibility.
Power Ranking Movement:
Biggest
Jump(s): Browns, Lions and Titans (All +6)
Biggest
Drop: Rams (-7)
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