Admin September 24, 2024
Sam Darnold’s MVP run continues, Ravens save season with win in Dallas
Sports Seriously’s Mackenzie Salmon ‘overreacts’ to the biggest news from Sunday’s slate of games.
Sports Seriously
NFL power rankings entering Week 4 of the 2024 season (previous rank in parentheses):
1. Kansas City Chiefs (1): Have they looked more impressive than the 31 other teams through three weeks? Probably not, especially after a pair of close calls the past two weeks. And perhaps an already beaten-up offense appears a bit disjointed as teams take Pro Bowl TE Travis Kelce away. But a crew on a three-peat mission refuses to lose, QB Patrick Mahomes and the defense making the key plays when needed. Pure respect will carry them atop this list until a loss, whether on the field or personnel-wise, necessitates a change.
2. Buffalo Bills (3): Have they looked more impressive than the 31 other teams through three weeks? A perfect record with a league-best point differential of +64 suggest as much for a group seeking a fifth straight AFC East title and much more. Big test in Baltimore on Sunday night, the Bills’ third consecutive prime-time game.
3. Minnesota Vikings (7): Have they looked more impressive than the 31 other teams through three weeks on the way to their first 3-0 start in eight years? It’s not a difficult argument to make. Fully activated QB Sam Darnold is leading the league in TD passes (8), the defense is leading the league in sacks (16), and Kevin O’Connell might be leading the league in Coach of the Year votes – were a straw poll to be taken. Eminently impressive start, particularly when considering the quality wins against the 49ers and Texans.
4. Detroit Lions (5): DE Aidan Hutchinson is still on fire, (prematurely) paced toward 37 sacks. His team will need that kind of pressure against this week’s opponent, Seattle, which has beaten the Lions six straight times – the average score of the past three meetings 45-35.
5. Philadelphia Eagles (9): Per Next Gen Stats, RB Saquon Barkley’s pivotal 65-yard TD sprint Sunday was the most remarkable run of the young season, spanning 62 yards further than expected.
6. Green Bay Packers (11): With QB Jordan Love sidelined with a knee injury, they’ve somehow morphed into the league’s top rushing attack – the Pack’s 612 rushing yards the fourth most by any team through three games since 1990.
7. New York Jets (10): QB Aaron Rodgers never threw a TD pass to a first-round wideout during his 18 years in Green Bay … but now he has Garrett Wilson. Speaking of ex-Packers passers, Rodgers became the first NYJ QB1 to beat New England under the lights since … Brett Favre 16 years ago.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers (12): Hard to say how close to maxed out their top-ranked defense is, but the demands on QB Justin Fields seem certain to escalate as offensive players around him continue to go down.
9. New Orleans Saints (6): So much focus has understandably been devoted to their offense. But when was the last time you saw a slot corner (Alontae Taylor) among the league’s sack leaders (3½)?
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4): They’re the only team that has yet to surrender a touchdown pass. Yet only one team has allowed more than the Bucs’ six TDs on the ground.
11. Houston Texans (2): As the run game has disappeared, so has the offense. After posting 29 points and 213 yards on the ground in Week 1, Houston has not matched those totals over the last two weeks combined.
12. San Francisco 49ers (8): Injuries are generally the only factor which have held Kyle Shanahan’s teams back – in the regular season – and, boy, are they piling up now. DT Javon Hargrave (triceps) is now out for the year, while QB Brock Purdy is dealing with a balky back and his first dip below .500. When RB Christian McCaffrey (Achilles) returns is anyone’s guess.
13. Atlanta Falcons (13): Their offensive line is banged up, as is their third-down conversion rate (22.2%) – and the red zone efficiency was null and void at the end of Sunday night’s loss to the Chiefs. Not encouraging signs with two key divisional games at home (Saints, Bucs) over the next two weeks.
14. Arizona Cardinals (17): Safe to say QB Kyler Murray is all the way back physically? His 10.7 yards per rush top the league among players with at least 10 attempts.
15. Seattle Seahawks (20): They’ve feasted on a trio of teams each sporting a single win. Sunday’s game at Ford Field will be the first legitimate test for the early NFC West leaders (by two games).
16. Los Angeles Chargers (14): Bad week for Team Harbaugh. With QB Justin Herbert and both starting offensive tackles injured and S Derwin James now suspended, can the Bolts just opt for a two-week bye rather than host the Chiefs – to whom they’ve lost five in a row – this Sunday?
17. Baltimore Ravens (15): Good week for Team Harbaugh. But though RB Derrick Henry seems to be dialing into the offense, the defense presents an odd dichotomy – the league’s best against the run and worst against the pass.
18. Washington Commanders (27): Their “nice college offense,” per Cincy CB Cam Taylor-Britt, scored Washington’s most points (38) in four years as QB Jayden Daniels set a rookie record for completion percentage in a game (91.3%). The Commanders haven’t punted since Week 1. If the season ended today – it doesn’t – they’d be in command of the NFC East.
19. Los Angeles Rams (26): Why isn’t RB Kyren Williams’ flip over former All-Pro Niners S Talanoa Hufanga into the end zone getting more love – especially as the play that sparked Sunday’s improbable comeback?
20. Indianapolis Colts (22): If they’re going to emerge as a playoff-caliber outfit, QB Anthony Richardson can’t remain at the bottom of the league with 49.3% completion rate.
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21. Dallas Cowboys (18): They’ve surrendered 72 points and nearly 900 yards the past two weeks. Perhaps the defense isn’t “all in”? Perhaps getting out of Dallas, where the Cowboys have lost three in a row, will get them all out of their current rut.
22. Denver Broncos (30): Maybe they’re due a little more respect after facing three teams with a combine 8-1 record, the lone loss the Broncos’ shocking shellacking of the Bucs on Sunday.
23. Carolina Panthers (32): Veteran QB Andy Dalton came off the pine to pass for 319 yards and three TDs – totals benched Bryce Young has never surpassed in the NFL – in Sunday’s upset of Las Vegas.
24. Cincinnati Bengals (16): Remember when QB Joe Burrow said “the (Super Bowl) window is my whole career”? You’re a hoot, dude … not that it was fair to expect you to carry this franchise for more than a couple years.
25. Las Vegas Raiders (21): Certainly plenty of focus on an unsettled quarterback spot. But it’s not helped by a run game averaging – by far – a league-worst 51 yards per game and 2.8 yards per attempt.
26. Chicago Bears (24): Understandable scrutiny on struggling No. 1 pick Caleb Williams, whose 65.3 passer rating is the lowest among NFC quarterbacks. But RB D’Andre Swift has not yet paid off, either, his 37 carries netting a paltry 68 yards for the conference’s worst offense (249.3 yards per game).
27. New York Giants (31): Their 14 sacks trail only Minnesota, the G-Men becoming the fourth team in the last 43 seasons to have nine players record at least a half-sack in the same game.
28. Cleveland Browns (19): Injuries have hit them hard. Again. But if reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett’s feet become unmanageable, so will this team’s season … if it hasn’t already.
29. Miami Dolphins (25): Since they’re apparently not anteing up for QB Russell Wilson – yet – it appears QBs Tim Boyle and/or Snoop Huntley will be charged with keeping the season afloat next Monday night against the even more hapless Titans.
30. New England Patriots (28): Of all the thankless assignments QB Jacoby Brissett has had over the years, serving as rookie Drake Maye’s human shield has to rank near the bottom.
31. Tennessee Titans (29): Few teams spent as extravagantly during free agency … yet this one has only wound up proving it’s not the optimal way to construct a roster but can make an 0-3 start feel significantly worse.
32. Jacksonville Jaguars (23): Few teams spent as extravagantly during free agency … yet this one has only wound up proving it’s not the optimal way to construct a roster but can make an 0-3 start feel significantly worse.
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Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis on X, formerly Twitter, @ByNateDavis.
