In Week 4, the Cooper Rush unbeaten streak continued.
The Dallas Cowboys backup quarterback is now 3-0 after changing the injured Dak Prescott. Along with Rush, it actually helps having a maniacal protection that hasn’t allowed 20 factors in any of its first 4 video games.
The Patriots have been one other workforce compelled to make use of a backup, after which a third-string quarterback, and weren’t as fortunate because the Cowboys, though they almost pulled off an upset in Green Bay.
The Giants, Saints and Dolphins have been different groups having to wing it with backups at quarterback.
Along with injured starters, if there’s one widespread thread to this point, it’s shut video games, as there have been 23 video games determined by three factors or fewer this season, essentially the most such video games in NFL historical past by way of the primary 4 weeks of the season.
Looking on the data, 15 groups general are 2-2, together with everybody within the NFC West. So parity guidelines.
And, there’s just one workforce that’s nonetheless unbeaten.
So who sits on high?
Here’s our Power Rankings heading into Week 5:
1. Eagles (4-0): They can seem like world-beaters once they win, and so they may also win ugly. The latter was the case towards the Jaguars.
2. Bills (3-1): Josh Allen had by no means gained earlier than going through a deficit of 17 or extra. He picked the fitting time to do the unimaginable towards the Ravens to keep away from dropping two straight.
3. Chiefs (3-1): Patrick Mahomes bought the very best of Tom Brady on Sunday night time in what might need been their remaining head-to-head matchup. Seems solely becoming they’re 3-3 towards each other.
4. Packers (3-1): Patriots head coach Bill Belichick mentioned Aaron Rodgers was “too smart, too good, too accurate” to beat. That about sums up Rodgers’ efficiency within the second half.
5. Dolphins (3-1): Why was Tua Tagovailoa even taking part in Thursday night time? That’s the million-dollar concussion query heard ’around the world.
6. Ravens (2-2): Love aggressiveness, however going for it on fourth-and-goal from the 2 in a tie recreation late within the fourth quarter? What have been you considering, John Harbaugh?
7. Bengals (2-2): Finally, they’re beginning to seem like the workforce that made a Super Bowl look. They’re not fairly there, however Joe Burrow & Co. are making strides.
8. Bucs (2-2): The Bucs have an excellent protection. You wouldn’t have identified it watching Patrick Mahomes decide them aside. But given the adversarial apply conditions attributable to Hurricane Ian, they get a little bit of a go.
9. Vikings (3-1): Greg Joseph’s 5 discipline objectives saved a Vikings offense that couldn’t shut the deal within the crimson zone.
10. Rams (2-2): The defending Super Bowl champs have now misplaced seven straight instances within the common season to the 49ers. Unless they repair their offensive line, it’ll be eight straight in Round 2.
11. Cowboys (3-1): Three straight wins. All with backup quarterback Cooper Rush. Have we reached the Cooper mania stage? Or perhaps it must be Micah (Parsons) mania.
12. 49ers (2-2): Deebo Samuel has been a ache for many groups, however particularly the Rams. Counting Monday night time, he’s scored 5 TDs towards them through the previous two seasons.
13. Chargers (2-2): Aside from not being the very best closers with a lead, the Bolts must be comfortable squaring their file after a topsy-turvy begin.
14. Jaguars (2-2): Five turnovers shouldn’t be a recipe for achievement. And Trevor Lawrence, coming off his greatest week as a professional, made all of them.
15: Titans (2-2): Tennessee’s offense solely appears to have the ability to rating within the first half. That’s not going to get the job finished towards most groups.
16. Browns (2-2): Missing most of their line of defense didn’t assist the Browns towards the lowly Falcons, who mainly ran over them en path to victory.
17. Broncos (2-2): Scoring 23 factors towards Las Vegas will need to have appeared like a breakthrough of types, given 16 was their earlier excessive water mark. And but, it nonetheless wasn’t almost sufficient.
18. Cardinals (2-2): Once once more, they began gradual, however completed sturdy. At least this week, the sturdy end translated right into a win.
19. Giants (3-1): Even if all of their quarterbacks go all the way down to harm, no less than they nonetheless have Saquon Barkley to dismantle a protection. And he did simply that to the Bears with 146 yards on 31 carries.
20. Raiders (1-3): They lastly bought the first-win monkey off their backs for themselves and for brand spanking new head coach Josh McDaniels. Good factor. Next up is Kansas City.
21. Falcons: (2-2): Dating to final 12 months, Atlanta is now 9-2 in one-score video games. So they must be doing one thing proper.
22. Saints (1-3): Upright, crossbar, double-doink and Will Lutz’ 61-yard recreation tying try was no good on the buzzer.
23. Jets (2-2): Zach Wilson positive didn’t seem like a second-year quarterback who hasn’t performed a lot. With the sport on the road, he delivered a ton of big-time throws.
24. Lions (1-3): They put up 45 factors towards the Seahawks. But it’s simply one other one-score loss within the books. They’re averaging 35 factors per recreation and don’t have a lot to point out for it.
25. Patriots (1-3): They’re down Mac Jones (excessive ankle sprain). They’re down Brian Hoyer (head harm). Looks like they may must hermetically seal Bailey Zappe till Sunday.
26. Colts (1-2-1): They’ve performed three division video games and are winless in all three. Not trying good for them within the AFC South.
27. Seahawks (2-2): Can’t count on Geno Smith to don the Superman cape each week to make up for having a awful protection.
28. Bears (2-2): Their protection has but to permit a landing within the second half. No matter, their offense can’t put the ball ultimately zone.
29. Steelers (1-3): Fans bought their want. Kenny Pickett took over for an ineffective Mitchell Trubisky. And the rookie ignited the gang and his workforce by operating for 2 scores. For now, they’ll give him a go on the three picks.
30. Commanders (1-3): Death by penalty. The 136 penalty yards they accrued towards Washington was an NFL season excessive for any workforce in any recreation this season.
31. Panthers (1-3): Is it Sam Darnold time? If not, it’s getting there with Darnold attributable to come off injured reserve. Baker Mayfield has finished little, if something, to carry the Panthers.
32. Texans (0-3-1): They’re nonetheless winless, the one workforce within the NFL with that distinction. At least they put up a struggle towards the Chargers.
Source: www.bostonherald.com