stormtrooper8
- Joined
- May 30, 2022
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- 11,021
Little bit of shakeup. Here are the rankings entering Week 5 (last week in parenthesis):
1. Chiefs (2) - The offense showed signs of all that it can be against a defense that, going into that game, had only allowed 27 points in the entire season. This was a good test of this team’s championship mettle and they easily passed it. They get the top spot.
2. Bills (3) - It wasn’t pretty for a half or so, but give Buffalo credit for really dialing up the defense and coming back to win that game against a good team. I am a little concerned about Allen, as he seems to be reverting back to his old ways, and I just wonder how sustainable that is.
3 Packers (4) - I don’t believe at the end of the day that this will be the best team in the NFC, but they have responded to a poor Week 1 showing well. Their defense is legit, and I do think their receivers are starting to come along. Not a pretty win, but every team struggles now and then.
4. 49ers (9) - That was a huge win for San Fran. The score didn’t reflect how dominant their defense was for this game. I think they get the crown for the best defensive team in the league for now, allowing 11.5 points per game and under 4 yards per play. This was a test against a quality offense, and they did very well
5. Rams (1) - Trying not to overreact to one game, but I wonder how much of their offensive line issues are solvable. This team really needs an upper-tier running game to create opportunities for Stafford in play action. Otherwise they are pretty doomed, as they don’t have much to work with on the perimeter. Robinson has been very bad.
6. Eagles (8) - They finally showed that they can play strong later in the game, which has been something they had failed to do up until Jacksonville. That was a strong response to an early punch by a frisky Jaguars team. I still don’t think they are a top 5 team yet – feels like a lull is coming.
7. Bucs (5) - The defense finally had a bad game – the question is if that is an aberration or a sign of things to come. There were bright spots in this game for Tampa’s offense, and Brady showed that he really hasn’t diminished at all. They have Atlanta coming to town, which should provide a nice bounce back opportunity.
8. Bengals (11) - And just like that, the Bengals are level in the division. They didn’t play great on Thursday night, but they showed they can win when not playing a great game against a quality opponent. Their offense is starting to get back to its good self, and the defense has been pretty solid all year long.
9. Dolphins (6) - Thursday night was a tough spot for this team, and I think they actually played pretty well all things considered. Teddy showed me enough to believe that they are not going to see much dropoff in quarterback play in the near future.
10. Ravens (7) - This team has shown signs of brilliance and has justified why so many are high on them. But they’ve also found ways to blow big opportunities, thanks to a defense that frankly is just not very talented or well-coached. Their pattern of blowing games late is concerning, and they have a tough one coming up in Week 5 against the division rival Bengals.
11. Cowboys (12) - Things have turned quite a bit for this team since Week 1. It seemed like the Cowboys were being written off as a bottom feeder after an embarrassing loss, but behind their defense and running game, mixed in with a good game manager in Cooper Rush, this team has clawed itself back into the thick of it in the NFC. They are going to be players.
12. Vikings (13) - I didn’t love how they played against New Orleans, who I believe is a genuinely bad team. But they found a way to win, and sometimes in these London games weird things can happen. So credit to them. They have a balanced roster and should be competitive.
13. Chargers (14) - The start of the game against Houston looked great, but there was no reason for the Texans to be able to crawl back in like that. The game was a microcosm of who they are – talented but inconsistent. They have an interesting game in Cleveland coming up, and an opportunity to go to 3-2.
14. Titans (15) - I don’t love how this team has been kind of taking their foot of the gas in these last two weeks, but there is something to be said about getting off to fast starts and holding on to close the deal. It seems like the Buffalo game was more of an aberration than a trend. Like I said at the beginning of the year, I think this is the best team in the division.
15. Patriots (10) - It may seem like a harsh drop after an OT loss against a good team on the road, with a 3rd stringer no less, but at the end of the day they’re 1-3. They keep beating themselves, and they need to prove they are capable of not letting that happen to climb back up. A home game against Detroit provides a nice opportunity.
16. Cardinals (18) - Solid showing for Arizona out east against what I think is at least an upper half of the league defense. It took them a bit to get going, but they did a nice job of putting their foot on the gas when it mattered. They’ve done enough so far this year to show they are at least a middle of the pack team.
17. Raiders (21) - Great to see this team finally get a win. They are only 1-3 and have an uphill battle in the AFC, but I still think they have a chance to be a player and showed that their defense might be a little better than people realize.
18. Colts (16) - The team looked groggy in the first half against Tennessee – perhaps expected after a draining win against the juggernaut Chiefs. They are starting to show signs that they are capable of being multidimensional and moving the ball, but their propensity for turning over the ball could doom them moving forward.
19. Broncos (17) - It was Russ’ best performance as a Bronco, which is a little disturbing since he wasn’t even that good. Even with the offensive woes, the defense seems to also not be living up the hype despite showing signs of brilliance at times. This Thursday night game is huge for them and an opportunity to position itself well for the middle of the year.
20. Browns (19) - When you think this team is capable of putting itself right into the mix of AFC teams, they tend to disappoint you. Not that I ever thought highly of the Browns, but many do because of their run game and defense. The run game has been good, but their defense is flawed. They have the makings of a slightly below average team so we shouldn’t be shocked by the loss in Atlanta.
21. Jaguars (23) - Even with the loss, I am comfortable moving them up. This is a very flawed football team, make no mistake about it, and that was evident in their collapse Sunday. But Pederson clearly was a great hire for them, and I think they would have come out super flat in years past in a spot like that. They didn’t, and that shows to me that they’ll be at least very plucky going forward.
22 Steelers (20) - Even with the interceptions, I do think Pickett is the right move going forward for Pittsburgh. They are going to have trouble scoring no matter what for a bevy of reasons, but their defense at least seems pretty formidable even without Watt. You can’t ask their defense to keep bailing out the offense though – eventually they falter (like against the Jets)
23. Falcons (29) - Major props to Atlanta for coming out strong after a win, and getting two in a row. The competition these last two weeks hasn’t been good, but I have been genuinely impressed with how well their defense has played the last 6 quarters or so. They have a tough divisional game this week, but they deserve credit
24. Seahawks (30) - This might seem like a dramatic climb after just beating Detroit, but I think many felt the Lions were gonna roll these guys. This felt like the game they might let their season get away from them, but they came out rolling on offense and are very much feeling good about themselves at 2-2 with another winnable game coming up.
25. Giants (28) - They are 3-1 but I don’t like what I’m seeing out of their offense considering the competition. I think they are going to gradually regress back to who they really are over the course of the season, though their defense has shown some things that I think may be sustainable going forward.
26. Jets (31) - Big win for New York in Zach Wilson’s return to action. He still looks pretty bad, and the Jets look far from world beaters, but they deserve major credit for winning two games on the road this early in the season. They have a big one coming up this weekend against a team that may be on the cusp of a skid.
27. Lions (24) - This team has been weirdly disappointing this year. I mean, it’s the Lions – it feels weird to say that. But I think a lot of people thought this could be a sneaky good team. Unfortunately being on Hard Knocks doesn’t solve your defensive issues, which are glaring to say the least. They may be the worst defensive team in the league with Atlanta playing a little better than we thought they would.
28. Saints (25) - It was a decent effort to put themselves in position to win in London, but their defense has been beyond disappointing this season. Aside from a good half against the Bucs, they have not lived up to the hype or come remotely close to it. I do think they are better off with Andy Dalton moving forward to be honest.
29. Bears (22) - Week 4 was a big opportunity for them and they looked absolutely awful. To get manhandled at the line against a team like the GIants is pretty inexcusable, and Justin Fields is showing very little to be hopeful of. They are on the cusp of being the same old Bears, and this week will not be any easier for them.
30. Panthers (27) - This team is really bad offensively. Baker is by no means a good QB, but it’s hard to see how any QB could be successful when you consider the combination of that offensive line and those horrid receivers. Their defense is good enough that they can still hang in some games this year, but not sure how they overcome their offensive woes.
31. Commanders (26) - This may seem harsh, but there is not much to like about this team. We are all aware of their offensive limitations, and the inconsistent tendencies of Carson Wentz. But their defense has been a little more lackluster than I think most of us thought. They need to get fully healthy on that end before they can become competitive.
32. Texans (32) - Listen, they fought hard to get back in that game against a solid team. This team is going to grind and fight, and be in position to cover a lot of games. But they just don’t have a lot of talent, and that ain’t gonna change unfortunately.
1. Chiefs (2) - The offense showed signs of all that it can be against a defense that, going into that game, had only allowed 27 points in the entire season. This was a good test of this team’s championship mettle and they easily passed it. They get the top spot.
2. Bills (3) - It wasn’t pretty for a half or so, but give Buffalo credit for really dialing up the defense and coming back to win that game against a good team. I am a little concerned about Allen, as he seems to be reverting back to his old ways, and I just wonder how sustainable that is.
3 Packers (4) - I don’t believe at the end of the day that this will be the best team in the NFC, but they have responded to a poor Week 1 showing well. Their defense is legit, and I do think their receivers are starting to come along. Not a pretty win, but every team struggles now and then.
4. 49ers (9) - That was a huge win for San Fran. The score didn’t reflect how dominant their defense was for this game. I think they get the crown for the best defensive team in the league for now, allowing 11.5 points per game and under 4 yards per play. This was a test against a quality offense, and they did very well
5. Rams (1) - Trying not to overreact to one game, but I wonder how much of their offensive line issues are solvable. This team really needs an upper-tier running game to create opportunities for Stafford in play action. Otherwise they are pretty doomed, as they don’t have much to work with on the perimeter. Robinson has been very bad.
6. Eagles (8) - They finally showed that they can play strong later in the game, which has been something they had failed to do up until Jacksonville. That was a strong response to an early punch by a frisky Jaguars team. I still don’t think they are a top 5 team yet – feels like a lull is coming.
7. Bucs (5) - The defense finally had a bad game – the question is if that is an aberration or a sign of things to come. There were bright spots in this game for Tampa’s offense, and Brady showed that he really hasn’t diminished at all. They have Atlanta coming to town, which should provide a nice bounce back opportunity.
8. Bengals (11) - And just like that, the Bengals are level in the division. They didn’t play great on Thursday night, but they showed they can win when not playing a great game against a quality opponent. Their offense is starting to get back to its good self, and the defense has been pretty solid all year long.
9. Dolphins (6) - Thursday night was a tough spot for this team, and I think they actually played pretty well all things considered. Teddy showed me enough to believe that they are not going to see much dropoff in quarterback play in the near future.
10. Ravens (7) - This team has shown signs of brilliance and has justified why so many are high on them. But they’ve also found ways to blow big opportunities, thanks to a defense that frankly is just not very talented or well-coached. Their pattern of blowing games late is concerning, and they have a tough one coming up in Week 5 against the division rival Bengals.
11. Cowboys (12) - Things have turned quite a bit for this team since Week 1. It seemed like the Cowboys were being written off as a bottom feeder after an embarrassing loss, but behind their defense and running game, mixed in with a good game manager in Cooper Rush, this team has clawed itself back into the thick of it in the NFC. They are going to be players.
12. Vikings (13) - I didn’t love how they played against New Orleans, who I believe is a genuinely bad team. But they found a way to win, and sometimes in these London games weird things can happen. So credit to them. They have a balanced roster and should be competitive.
13. Chargers (14) - The start of the game against Houston looked great, but there was no reason for the Texans to be able to crawl back in like that. The game was a microcosm of who they are – talented but inconsistent. They have an interesting game in Cleveland coming up, and an opportunity to go to 3-2.
14. Titans (15) - I don’t love how this team has been kind of taking their foot of the gas in these last two weeks, but there is something to be said about getting off to fast starts and holding on to close the deal. It seems like the Buffalo game was more of an aberration than a trend. Like I said at the beginning of the year, I think this is the best team in the division.
15. Patriots (10) - It may seem like a harsh drop after an OT loss against a good team on the road, with a 3rd stringer no less, but at the end of the day they’re 1-3. They keep beating themselves, and they need to prove they are capable of not letting that happen to climb back up. A home game against Detroit provides a nice opportunity.
16. Cardinals (18) - Solid showing for Arizona out east against what I think is at least an upper half of the league defense. It took them a bit to get going, but they did a nice job of putting their foot on the gas when it mattered. They’ve done enough so far this year to show they are at least a middle of the pack team.
17. Raiders (21) - Great to see this team finally get a win. They are only 1-3 and have an uphill battle in the AFC, but I still think they have a chance to be a player and showed that their defense might be a little better than people realize.
18. Colts (16) - The team looked groggy in the first half against Tennessee – perhaps expected after a draining win against the juggernaut Chiefs. They are starting to show signs that they are capable of being multidimensional and moving the ball, but their propensity for turning over the ball could doom them moving forward.
19. Broncos (17) - It was Russ’ best performance as a Bronco, which is a little disturbing since he wasn’t even that good. Even with the offensive woes, the defense seems to also not be living up the hype despite showing signs of brilliance at times. This Thursday night game is huge for them and an opportunity to position itself well for the middle of the year.
20. Browns (19) - When you think this team is capable of putting itself right into the mix of AFC teams, they tend to disappoint you. Not that I ever thought highly of the Browns, but many do because of their run game and defense. The run game has been good, but their defense is flawed. They have the makings of a slightly below average team so we shouldn’t be shocked by the loss in Atlanta.
21. Jaguars (23) - Even with the loss, I am comfortable moving them up. This is a very flawed football team, make no mistake about it, and that was evident in their collapse Sunday. But Pederson clearly was a great hire for them, and I think they would have come out super flat in years past in a spot like that. They didn’t, and that shows to me that they’ll be at least very plucky going forward.
22 Steelers (20) - Even with the interceptions, I do think Pickett is the right move going forward for Pittsburgh. They are going to have trouble scoring no matter what for a bevy of reasons, but their defense at least seems pretty formidable even without Watt. You can’t ask their defense to keep bailing out the offense though – eventually they falter (like against the Jets)
23. Falcons (29) - Major props to Atlanta for coming out strong after a win, and getting two in a row. The competition these last two weeks hasn’t been good, but I have been genuinely impressed with how well their defense has played the last 6 quarters or so. They have a tough divisional game this week, but they deserve credit
24. Seahawks (30) - This might seem like a dramatic climb after just beating Detroit, but I think many felt the Lions were gonna roll these guys. This felt like the game they might let their season get away from them, but they came out rolling on offense and are very much feeling good about themselves at 2-2 with another winnable game coming up.
25. Giants (28) - They are 3-1 but I don’t like what I’m seeing out of their offense considering the competition. I think they are going to gradually regress back to who they really are over the course of the season, though their defense has shown some things that I think may be sustainable going forward.
26. Jets (31) - Big win for New York in Zach Wilson’s return to action. He still looks pretty bad, and the Jets look far from world beaters, but they deserve major credit for winning two games on the road this early in the season. They have a big one coming up this weekend against a team that may be on the cusp of a skid.
27. Lions (24) - This team has been weirdly disappointing this year. I mean, it’s the Lions – it feels weird to say that. But I think a lot of people thought this could be a sneaky good team. Unfortunately being on Hard Knocks doesn’t solve your defensive issues, which are glaring to say the least. They may be the worst defensive team in the league with Atlanta playing a little better than we thought they would.
28. Saints (25) - It was a decent effort to put themselves in position to win in London, but their defense has been beyond disappointing this season. Aside from a good half against the Bucs, they have not lived up to the hype or come remotely close to it. I do think they are better off with Andy Dalton moving forward to be honest.
29. Bears (22) - Week 4 was a big opportunity for them and they looked absolutely awful. To get manhandled at the line against a team like the GIants is pretty inexcusable, and Justin Fields is showing very little to be hopeful of. They are on the cusp of being the same old Bears, and this week will not be any easier for them.
30. Panthers (27) - This team is really bad offensively. Baker is by no means a good QB, but it’s hard to see how any QB could be successful when you consider the combination of that offensive line and those horrid receivers. Their defense is good enough that they can still hang in some games this year, but not sure how they overcome their offensive woes.
31. Commanders (26) - This may seem harsh, but there is not much to like about this team. We are all aware of their offensive limitations, and the inconsistent tendencies of Carson Wentz. But their defense has been a little more lackluster than I think most of us thought. They need to get fully healthy on that end before they can become competitive.
32. Texans (32) - Listen, they fought hard to get back in that game against a solid team. This team is going to grind and fight, and be in position to cover a lot of games. But they just don’t have a lot of talent, and that ain’t gonna change unfortunately.
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