Each week of the NFL season, The Baltimore Sun will rank all 32 NFL groups. The rankings will take into consideration not simply weekly efficiency, accidents and roster depth, however how effectively every workforce measures up as Super Bowl contenders.
Here are the rankings heading into Week 4:
Super Bowl contenders
1. Buffalo Bills (2-1, No. 1 final week)
2. Kansas City Chiefs (2-1, No. 2)
3. Miami Dolphins (3-0, No. 4)
4. Philadelphia Eagles (3-0, No. 5)
5. Baltimore Ravens (2-1, No. 9)
6. Green Bay Packers (2-1, No. 7)
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1, No. 3)
8. Los Angeles Rams (2-1, No. 8)
If there’s one lesson to be discovered from a weekend of unusual outcomes, it’s that there isn’t a transparent Super Bowl favourite.
Let’s begin with the Dolphins’ 21-19 win over the Bills, which ended Buffalo’s seven-game profitable streak in opposition to its AFC East rival. It wasn’t a formidable efficiency by Miami, which was outgained 497-212, solely ran 39 performs on offense and allowed Bills quarterback Josh Allen to finish a career-high 42 passes for 400 yards. According to the Miami Herald, the Dolphins turned simply the ninth workforce since 1940 to win a regular-season recreation operating 39 or fewer performs.
While Miami deserves credit score for taking advantage of its restricted alternatives, Buffalo squandered a number of possibilities to attain, with three journeys contained in the crimson zone within the second half leading to simply three factors. That overshadowed an in any other case excellent day for the offense, which went a mixed 13-for-21 on third and fourth down, had a team-record 11 gamers catch passes and averaged 5 yards per carry.
While groups that begin 3-0 can anticipate to make the playoffs 76% of the time and win the division 51% of the time, in accordance with the NFL, Miami appeared removed from unbeatable Sunday. Now the Dolphins have to fret in regards to the well being of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who’s coping with what coach Mike McDaniel stated are again and ankle accidents heading into a brief week of follow earlier than Thursday evening’s recreation in opposition to the Bengals.
Elsewhere within the AFC, the Ravens bounced again from a surprising fourth-quarter collapse in opposition to Miami to beat the Patriots, 37-26, and reestablish themselves as severe contenders. While there are nonetheless considerations about Baltimore’s protection after it allowed 7.1 yards per play and 321 passing yards Sunday, well timed turnovers helped proper the ship within the second half when the sport seemed to be slipping away. Even extra notable is the continued excellence of quarterback Lamar Jackson, who turned the primary participant in NFL historical past to document back-to-back video games with at the least three landing passes and 100 dashing yards, in accordance with the Elias Sports Bureau. The Ravens may not be the entire workforce they had been throughout their dominant 2019 season, however Jackson appears extra in control of the offense than ever earlier than and may need his most gifted group of playmakers now that operating again J.Ok. Dobbins is again and large receivers Rashod Bateman and Devin Duvernay have emerged. That’s a scary thought for the remainder of the AFC, which appears extra wide-open than initially thought.
That brings us to Kansas City, which suffered a head-scratching 20-17 loss to the Colts as quarterback Patrick Mahomes appeared out of types in opposition to a Gus Bradley-led protection he often dominates. Mahomes was seen arguing with offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy on the sideline throughout the recreation, an indication of his frustration with a unit that punted on three of its first 4 drives and went 3-for-10 on third down. The Chiefs had been additionally extraordinarily unfortunate, as rookie Skyy Moore muffed a punt that led on to a Colts landing, backup kicker Matt Ammendola missed a 34-yard field-goal and extra-point try, and defensive sort out Chris Jones obtained an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that gave Indianapolis a primary down on its game-winning landing drive as an alternative of what would have been a fourth-and-14. The loss is definitely disappointing, however not an indication of a downward spiral.
In the NFC, the hierarchy stays simply as unclear. The Eagles appear to be the very best of the bunch, having outscored the Lions and Commanders, 48-15, over the previous two weeks behind the dazzling play of quarterback Jalen Hurts, who’s finishing 67.3% of his passes and ranks sixth in Total QBR, ESPN’s all-encompassing quarterback metric. The protection has been simply as scary, sacking Carson Wentz 9 occasions in Sunday’s 24-8 win and forcing 5 turnovers in three video games.
Defense can also be what’s carrying the Packers and Buccaneers, not their future Hall of Fame quarterbacks. In Sunday’s 14-12 win, Green Bay sacked Tom Brady 3 times, pressured two fumbles and held Tampa Bay to only 2-for-11 on third down. Aaron Rodgers did sufficient to maintain the Packers’ offense afloat with landing passes to Allen Lazard and rookie Romeo Doubs, however Green Bay wants extra consistency from its operating again duo of Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon, who mixed for lower than 3 yards per carry Sunday after averaging almost 6 the week earlier than in opposition to the Bears.
The Bucs ought to be involved about Brady, who appears out of sync along with his receivers, however coach Todd Bowles needs to be proud of how his protection is taking part in. Tampa Bay entered Week 3 at No. 1 in Football Outsiders’ DVOA effectivity rankings and will hold the highest spot after holding Green Bay scoreless within the second half. The secondary is among the many league’s greatest with cornerback Jamel Dean taking part in at an All-Pro degree, and linebacker Lavonte David remains to be a drive at age 32. If large receivers Chris Godwin and Julio Jones can return quickly to affix Mike Evans after his one-game suspension, the Bucs’ offense ought to get again to being one of many league’s greatest.
The wild playing cards
9. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1, No. 24)
10. Cincinnati Bengals (1-2, No. 20)
11. Denver Broncos (2-1, No. 13)
12. Minnesota Vikings (2-1, No. 11)
13. Cleveland Browns (2-1, No. 16)
14. Los Angeles Chargers (1-2, No. 6)
15. Dallas Cowboys (2-1, No. 17)
16. San Francisco 49ers (1-2, No. 10)
17. Arizona Cardinals (1-2, No. 14)
18. Tennessee Titans (1-2, No. 27)
19. Indianapolis Colts (1-1-1, No. 30)
20. Detroit Lions (1-2, No. 15)
With the Jaguars off to a profitable begin, Doug Pederson has constructed an early case to be Coach of the Year. Jacksonville’s free-agent spending spree was criticized for its huge dedication to gamers of seemingly little consequence, however large receivers Christian Kirk and Zay Jones, linebacker Foyesade Oluokun and cornerback Darious Williams have been an essential a part of the Jaguars’ 2-1 begin. Leading the way in which is second-year quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who resides as much as his billing as one of many high prospects of the final decade. He ranks fifth in anticipated factors added per play — a measure of relative effectivity that accounts for situational elements — behind Mahomes, Tagovailoa, Allen and Jackson, in accordance with RBSDM.com, making Jacksonville a severe menace to not solely go from worst to first within the AFC South, however win a playoff recreation.
Speaking of excellent quarterbacks, don’t neglect about Joe Burrow. The Bengals star received again on monitor in a 27-12 win over the Jets, throwing for 275 yards and three touchdowns. Losses to the Steelers and Cowboys raised alarm bells, however the defending AFC champions have a chance to show they’re nonetheless the category of the convention in video games in opposition to the Dolphins and Ravens. The Bengals want extra from operating again Joe Mixon and the offensive line, however the protection has been glorious in opposition to the go, permitting a 56.2% completion price and 72.1 passer score, each top-five marks within the league.
There isn’t a lot to be taught from the Broncos’ 11-10 win over the 49ers on Sunday evening aside from the truth that Denver and San Francisco may need two of the very best defenses within the league. The Broncos sealed the victory by forcing quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to step out of the top zone for a security and recording three turnovers, together with an interception and a fumble within the closing two minutes. The Niners, in the meantime, held Russell Wilson in verify for many of the evening till he led a 12-play, 80-yard landing drive within the fourth quarter. Both groups may need to win ugly to remain within the playoff race.
Crabs in a bucket
21. New York Giants (2-1, No. 22)
22. New Orleans Saints (1-2, No. 12)
23. Las Vegas Raiders (0-3, No. 21)
24. Washington Commanders (1-2, No. 23)
25. Atlanta Falcons (1-2, No. 29)
26. Chicago Bears (2-1, No. 28)
27. New England Patriots (1-2, No. 18)
28. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-2, No. 19)
29. New York Jets (1-2, No. 25)
30. Carolina Panthers (1-2, No. 31)
31. Seattle Seahawks (1-2, No. 26)
32. Houston Texans (0-2-1, No. 32)
There isn’t a lot separating these groups, who’re liable to beat one another any given week.
The most complicated 0-3 workforce to date needs to be the Raiders, who made an enormous splash this offseason by buying star large receiver Davante Adams from the Packers and hiring longtime Patriots offensive assistant Josh McDaniels as coach. Those additions had been anticipated to raise quarterback Derek Carr and the offense, however by way of three video games, the outcomes have been disappointing. In Sunday’s 24-22 loss to the Titans, Adams had simply 5 catches on 10 targets for 36 yards and a landing. While it appears too early to write down the Raiders off, historical past suggests it may not be. Since 2000, the 2018 Texans are the one workforce to begin 0-3 and make the playoffs.
McDaniels’ outdated workforce could be simply as disappointing. Getting beat by the Ravens and Dolphins is comprehensible given how effectively these groups have performed, however the Patriots misplaced by a mixed 24 factors. The protection has ranked no worse than seventh in factors allowed within the earlier six seasons underneath coach Bill Belichick, but it surely sits twenty second this 12 months (23.7 per recreation). The offense has additionally struggled behind second-year quarterback Mac Jones, who has thrown 5 interceptions and could possibly be out for a number of weeks with a excessive ankle sprain. After being a perennial Super Bowl contender for almost 20 years, New England is in peril of lacking the postseason for the second time in three years.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com