After today, I'm not saying anything about the 0-4 teams. For all intents and purposes, they are done. They won't make the playoffs unless a miracle happens, so they are not worth discussing.
Another team not worth discussing is Cincinnati. For whatever reason, the national sports media anointed them before the season started as a Super Bowl contender. Newsflash: Andy Dalton is their QB and he's far from a potential Super Bowl contender.
Chicago fell to 3-1 after taking a bad loss to Detroit. There's really no way to defend the Bears here. I said last week that I would never really trust Jay Cutler. I was proven right once again by his own hand. He continues to make stupid mistakes that put him in the company of Schaub, Romo, and Flacco.
Speaking of Joe Flacco...yecccch. Dismal doesn't even begin to describe his performance.
Detroit and Tennessee enter the Rankings this week while Baltimore and Dallas two-step their way out. Again, I don't see either the Lions or Titans as Super Bowl contenders, so they probably won't last until Week 17 here.
Here are the Rankings for Week 4:
Another team not worth discussing is Cincinnati. For whatever reason, the national sports media anointed them before the season started as a Super Bowl contender. Newsflash: Andy Dalton is their QB and he's far from a potential Super Bowl contender.
Chicago fell to 3-1 after taking a bad loss to Detroit. There's really no way to defend the Bears here. I said last week that I would never really trust Jay Cutler. I was proven right once again by his own hand. He continues to make stupid mistakes that put him in the company of Schaub, Romo, and Flacco.
Speaking of Joe Flacco...yecccch. Dismal doesn't even begin to describe his performance.
Detroit and Tennessee enter the Rankings this week while Baltimore and Dallas two-step their way out. Again, I don't see either the Lions or Titans as Super Bowl contenders, so they probably won't last until Week 17 here.
Here are the Rankings for Week 4:
1.) Denver (4-0) [no change]
The offense appears to be unstoppable and the defense is rounding into form, even without Von Miller. Peyton Manning is clearly the best QB in the NFL right now (though Tom Brady is damn close) and the Broncos are the most impressive team at the quarter pole.
The offense appears to be unstoppable and the defense is rounding into form, even without Von Miller. Peyton Manning is clearly the best QB in the NFL right now (though Tom Brady is damn close) and the Broncos are the most impressive team at the quarter pole.
2.) New Orleans (4-0) [no change]
Drew Brees and co. demolished the Dolphins last night and are cementing their comeback from irrelevance nicely. Brees threw over 5,000 yards last season, but no one will remember that in ten years. What they might remember is a defense that was utterly pathetic and the fact that they missed the playoffs. This year, Brees is looking very good and the Saints as a whole look like a 13-win team and bonafide Super Bowl contender. It looks like they'll win the NFC South unless Atlanta gets their shit together sooner rather than later.
Drew Brees and co. demolished the Dolphins last night and are cementing their comeback from irrelevance nicely. Brees threw over 5,000 yards last season, but no one will remember that in ten years. What they might remember is a defense that was utterly pathetic and the fact that they missed the playoffs. This year, Brees is looking very good and the Saints as a whole look like a 13-win team and bonafide Super Bowl contender. It looks like they'll win the NFC South unless Atlanta gets their shit together sooner rather than later.
3.) New England (4-0) [no change]
Speaking of rounding into form, the Patriots' young wide receivers appear to be doing just that. Actually, it might just be Thompkins. But at any rate, having Thompkins, Julian Edelman, and the threat of a running game with Ridley and Blount could lead the Patriots to great things, especially when Gronkowski and Amendola return. They go to now-irrelevant Cincinnati in Week 5. I expect a sizable margin of victory.
Speaking of rounding into form, the Patriots' young wide receivers appear to be doing just that. Actually, it might just be Thompkins. But at any rate, having Thompkins, Julian Edelman, and the threat of a running game with Ridley and Blount could lead the Patriots to great things, especially when Gronkowski and Amendola return. They go to now-irrelevant Cincinnati in Week 5. I expect a sizable margin of victory.
4.) Seattle (4-0) [no change]
Russell Wilson and the Seahawks were the beneficiaries of an unexplainably bad throw from Matt Schaub. Richard Sherman made a good play (finally), taking that terrible pass to the house to tie the game. From there, it was inevitable that the Seahawks would win, though there was a bit of drama in overtime. I think Russell Wilson in particular can do better. They're 4-0 and he hasn't played at the highest level just yet. So there is definitely room for improvement.
Russell Wilson and the Seahawks were the beneficiaries of an unexplainably bad throw from Matt Schaub. Richard Sherman made a good play (finally), taking that terrible pass to the house to tie the game. From there, it was inevitable that the Seahawks would win, though there was a bit of drama in overtime. I think Russell Wilson in particular can do better. They're 4-0 and he hasn't played at the highest level just yet. So there is definitely room for improvement.
5.) Kansas City (4-0) [+1]
They might not be world-beaters just yet, but the Chiefs are crushing the NFC East. Only the Cowboys were close to them. I am a little surprised that KC is 4-0, but bringing in Andy Reid and Alex Smith (plus a new defensive coordinator) was going to reap dividends soon-ish. I don't think they can win the division, but they will certainly push Denver as long as they remain undefeated and should make the playoffs.
They might not be world-beaters just yet, but the Chiefs are crushing the NFC East. Only the Cowboys were close to them. I am a little surprised that KC is 4-0, but bringing in Andy Reid and Alex Smith (plus a new defensive coordinator) was going to reap dividends soon-ish. I don't think they can win the division, but they will certainly push Denver as long as they remain undefeated and should make the playoffs.
6.) Indianapolis (3-1) [+1]
It might have taken longer than I would have liked, but the Colts turned a close game against Jacksonville into the beatdown we expected. Now they get Seattle at home. This is good for Indy, as it is a winnable game. I'll probably pick them, but I don't necessarily expect them to win. That said, I don't think the Colts will choke like the Texans did.
It might have taken longer than I would have liked, but the Colts turned a close game against Jacksonville into the beatdown we expected. Now they get Seattle at home. This is good for Indy, as it is a winnable game. I'll probably pick them, but I don't necessarily expect them to win. That said, I don't think the Colts will choke like the Texans did.
7.) Detroit (3-1) [-]
Apparently, Reggie Bush makes a difference in Detroit's offense. That is something that surprises me, because I didn't expect him to contribute much of anything. Still, despite scoring 40, they almost allowed Chicago to close the gap, which would have been pretty embarrassing considering how badly Cutler played for most of the game. At any rate, Detroit is back in the Rankings and on top of their division, for now. I'm not sure how to look at them, really. They don't seem like a Super Bowl contender, but I've been fooled before.
Apparently, Reggie Bush makes a difference in Detroit's offense. That is something that surprises me, because I didn't expect him to contribute much of anything. Still, despite scoring 40, they almost allowed Chicago to close the gap, which would have been pretty embarrassing considering how badly Cutler played for most of the game. At any rate, Detroit is back in the Rankings and on top of their division, for now. I'm not sure how to look at them, really. They don't seem like a Super Bowl contender, but I've been fooled before.
8.) Tennessee (3-1) [-]
I'm not sure how the Titans will contend with Jake Locker out, and I don't think that highly of Jake Locker to begin with. But aside from a bad loss to the Texans, the Titans have played well. They had a lead against the Texans that they blew, but other than that have acquitted themselves quite well.
I'm not sure how the Titans will contend with Jake Locker out, and I don't think that highly of Jake Locker to begin with. But aside from a bad loss to the Texans, the Titans have played well. They had a lead against the Texans that they blew, but other than that have acquitted themselves quite well.
9.) Chicago (3-1) [-4]
The Bears fall back a bit, but that's what happens with a loss. They don't fall out of the Rankings entirely because they still look like one of the better teams in the NFL (and honestly, there aren't all that many teams with a 3-1 record or greater). That said, if Jay Cutler plays more often like he did against Detroit than the first three weeks of the season, Chicago could miss the playoffs.
The Bears fall back a bit, but that's what happens with a loss. They don't fall out of the Rankings entirely because they still look like one of the better teams in the NFL (and honestly, there aren't all that many teams with a 3-1 record or greater). That said, if Jay Cutler plays more often like he did against Detroit than the first three weeks of the season, Chicago could miss the playoffs.
10.) Miami (3-1) [-2]
Were the Dolphins exposed last night? Maybe so. But I think they had concerns about the O-line and Tannehill's inability to avoid the pass rush before. WR Mike Wallace didn't do much, but I don't think getting blown out falls on his shoulders so much as on the defense, which seemed fairly inept. It's just one game, a tough one at that, but now other teams have film on them and they might be able to stop them just as the Saints did.
Were the Dolphins exposed last night? Maybe so. But I think they had concerns about the O-line and Tannehill's inability to avoid the pass rush before. WR Mike Wallace didn't do much, but I don't think getting blown out falls on his shoulders so much as on the defense, which seemed fairly inept. It's just one game, a tough one at that, but now other teams have film on them and they might be able to stop them just as the Saints did.
Three Games to Watch (Week 5):
Seattle @ Indianapolis (FOX)
New Orleans @ Chicago (FOX)
Kansas City @ Tennessee (CBS)
New Orleans @ Chicago (FOX)
Kansas City @ Tennessee (CBS)
That's all for this week. See you next week.
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