For the first two weeks, things were going as planned. There weren’t a lot of surprises. But for the most part, the teams we expected to be Super Bowl contenders played their part while the teams that were supposed to be bad were bad.
That changed in Week 3.
The biggest showdown of the 2021 season went to the challenger, with the Rams beating the defending Super Bowl champions. The Vikings scored 23 unanswered to send the Seahawks to 1-2. The now-reeling Steelers lost in decisive fashion to a Bengals team they once treated as their little brother for the past decade. The Raiders and Broncos are a perfect 3-0. So are the Cardinals. The Chiefs sit last in the AFC West at 1-2.
There’s a new last-place team and a new first-place team. Buckle up, everyone, as we reveal the power rankings for Week 4.
#32: New York Jets
Week 3 @ DEN: L, 0-26 | Record: 0-3
Previous Rank: #31
The Jets are 0-3 for the 3rd straight season. It’s a BAD 0-3. The shutout loss to the Broncos was marred with penalties, drops, blown assignments, and turnovers. End result? A non-competitive performance that reflects badly on Robert Saleh and Joe Douglas, whom the latter should start taking some heat on the construction of a Jets team that lost 17 of their last 19 games under his tenure as GM. It’s been so bad for the Jets to where their QB situation isn’t going to be remedied overnight. Even so, the first three weeks of Zach Wilson’s tenure as the team’s starting QB has been rough. Against a stingy Broncos defense, he wasn’t given much of a chance, with 160 passing yards and two interceptions. He entered the week as the most-sacked QB in the league, and after being dropped five more times against the Broncos, he left the week still as the most sacked QB. It’s not all on him. The five sacks and the team’s 3.3 yards per carry indicate that the O-line was dominated. The Jets defense was on the field for over 35 minutes, and allowed more than twice as many yards (344) as the team gained (162). Wilson essentially had no help from his teammates as nobody was ready for the Broncos’ intensity. In defense of Wilson and his offense, the Jets’ schedule had them playing three of the best defenses in the NFL to start the season. There’s just not a facet of the team that isn’t bad, and with the Titans up next, their first win might not come for a while.
Week 4 Projected Starters
QB: Zach Wilson
RB: Tevin Coleman
WR: Corey Davis, Jamison Crowder, Keelan Cole
TE: Ryan Griffin
OL: George Fant (LT), Alijah Vera-Tucker (LG), Connor McGovern (C), Greg Van Roten (RG), Morgan Moses (RT)
DE: John Franklin-Myers (LDE), Bryce Huff (RDE)
DT: Sheldon Rankins (LDT), Quinnen Williams (RDT)
LB: Hamsah Nasirildeen (WLB), CJ Mosley (MLB), Quincy Williams (SLB)
CB: Brandin Echols (LCB), Bryce Hall (RCB)
S: Adrian Colbert (SS), Marcus Maye (FS)
ST: Matt Ammendola (K), Thomas Morstead (P), Thomas Hennessy (LS)
RS: Braxton Berrios
#31: Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 3 vs. ARZ: L, 19-31 | Record: 0-3
Previous Rank: #32
For a time on Sunday, it looked as if the Jaguars might stun the football world by beating the Cardinals. Jamal Agnew guaranteed himself a prominent place with his 109-yard missed field goal return for a touchdown on the final play of the first half against the Cardinals. Then Urban Meyer decided to get cute with the play calling as he called a flea flicker, and Trevor Lawrence threw a perfect pass… to Cardinals cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. Murphy returned the ball 29 yards for the pick six to put the Cardinals up for good, and things went downhill for the Jags from here. Meyer told reporters that he blew the call. As for Lawrence, it was yet another rocky start. He threw multiple picks for the third time in as many games. The Jags don’t have much time to lament their 18th consecutive loss after the “NOT SATISFIED WITH 1-0” tweet. And given that they’re facing a Bengals team where Joe Burrow is playing better, the odds of that game aren’t really going towards the Jags’ favor. Lawrence’s seven picks have also tied DeShone Kizer for the most by a rookie QB through three games since Peyton Manning’s 8 in 1998. In the fallout between the relationship between the Jags and CJ Henderson, they sent the former 1st round pick and a 2022 5th round pick to Carolina for tight end Dan Arnold and a 2022 3rd round pick. That’s not a great return.
Week 4 Projected Starters
QB: Trevor Lawrence
RB: James Robinson
WR: Marvin Jones Jr., DJ Chark Jr., Laviska Shenault Jr.
TE: Dan Arnold
OL: Cam Robinson (LT), Andrew Norwell (LG), Brandon Linder (C), AJ Cann (RG), Jawaan Taylor (RT)
DL: Malcom Brown (LDE), DaVon Hamilton (NT), Roy Robertson-Harris (RDE)
EDGE: Josh Allen (WLB), K’Lavon Chaisson (SLB)
ILB: Damien Wilson (LILB), Myles Jack (RILB)
CB: Tyson Campbell (LCB), Shaquill Griffin (RCB)
S: Andrew Wingard (SS), Rayshawn Jenkins (FS)
ST: Josh Lambo (K), Logan Cooke (P), Ross Matiscik (LS)
RS: Jamal Agnew
#30: New York Giants
Week 3 vs. ATL: L, 14-17 | Record: 0-3
Previous Rank: #27
The only highlight from the Giants on Sunday was inducting Eli Manning to the team’s Ring of Honor and retiring his No. 10 jersey. Unless if you factor in Saquon Barkley’s 90 yards from scrimmage and his touchdown score. This is where the good news stops. After giving up a last-second field goal to a bad Falcons team, the Giants now sit at 0-3 and dead last in the NFC East. It is made worse by the fact that Adoree’ Jackson dropped an interception in the 4th quarter. This is the 2nd straight season where the Giants open up the season 0-3. You cannot just let the Falcons come into your building and beat you on Eli Manning Day. That cannot happen, and Joe Judge is going to start feeling some heat if his team can’t produce better results. But wait! There’s more! Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton exited the game with hamstring injuries and Blake Martinez tore his ACL, effectively ending his season. An 0-3 start doesn’t mean there is an impending doom in the NFC East, but the Giants are headed in the wrong direction. It’s not helping that they will have a six-week stretch that includes games against the Panthers, Raiders, and Rams along with trips to New Orleans, Dallas, and Kansas City. It’s getting so bad that, realistically, they could go 0-9. That tank may be getting fierce.
Week 4 Projected Starters
QB: Daniel Jones
RB: Saquon Barkley
WR: Kenny Golladay, Kadarius Toney, CJ Board
TE: Evan Engram
OL: Andrew Thomas (LT), Ben Bredeson (LG), Billy Price (C), Will Hernandez (RG), Nate Solder (RT)
DL: Dexter Lawrence (LDE), Austin Johnson (NT), Leonard Williams (RDE)
EDGE: Lorenzo Carter (WLB), Oshane Ximines (SLB)
ILB: Tae Crowder (LILB), Reggie Ragland (RILB)
CB: James Bradberry (LCB), Adoree’ Jackson (RCB)
S: Jabrill Peppers (SS), Logan Ryan (FS)
ST: Graham Gano (K), Riley Dixon (P), Casey Kreiter (LS)
RS: CJ Board (KR), Jabrill Peppers (PR)
#29: Detroit Lions
Week 3 vs. BAL: L, 17-19 | Record: 0-3
Previous Rank: #30
The Lions played their hearts out against a Ravens team that came off of beating the Chiefs by one point. They are showing pride and heart with Dan Campbell. It showed when they made it a close game against the 49ers and during the first half against the Packers. Here, they had an excellent 4th quarter, where they capitalized off a Lamar Jackson interception with two scoring drives that put them ahead with 64 seconds left to play despite converting just three of 10 4th downs. Their run game and their O-line offset a feisty and hungry but overmatched defense. However, the officials missed an obvious delay of game penalty on the Ravens to help set up Justin Tucker’s NFL-record 66-yard field goal. The kick bounced off the crossbar and through the uprights, marking yet another soul-crushing defeat for the Lions. Their fans’ hearts were ripped out once again. Maybe they can break through next week against the 1-2 Bears, but this loss won’t be easy to shake off.
Week 4 Projected Starters
QB: Jared Goff
RB: D’Andre Swift
WR: Quintez Cephus, Kalif Raymond, Amon-Ra St. Brown
TE: TJ Hockenson
OL: Penei Sewell (LT), Jonah Jenkins (LG), Frank Ragnow (C), Halapoulivaati Vaitai (RG), Matt Nelson (RT)
DL: Michael Brockers (LDE), Alim McNeill (NT), Nick Williams (RDE)
EDGE: Trey Flowers (WLB), Romeo Okwara (SLB)
ILB: Alex Anzalone (LILB), Derrick Barnes (RILB)
CB: Amani Oruwariye (LCB), Bobby Price (RCB)
S: Will Harris (SS), Tracy Walker III (FS)
ST: Ryan Santoso (K), Jack Fox (P), Scott Daly (LS)
RS: Kalif Raymond
#28: Houston Texans
Week 3 vs. CAR: L, 9-24 | Record: 1-2
Previous Rank: #28
The Texans are essentially the AFC equivalent of the Lions: A talent-deficient roster fighting hard for their coach but ultimately lacks the firepower to keep up with the rest of the league. They struggled to limit chunk gains from a Panthers offense that was without Christian McCaffrey for most of the game, while the Texans’ rushing attack was practically nonexistent. The fact that the Texans are bad is not surprising, but that they aren’t worse than what they were supposed to be is. They managed just 9 points and fewer than 200 yards of offense during the Thursday Night loss. They trotted out a 3rd round rookie making his first career start in Davis Mills. They were outmatched talent-wise at every position group. Mills is essentially a 3rd-string rookie QB who was thrust into the fire. He needed help, and the ground game couldn’t give it to him. The offense just wasn’t meant to operate without Tyrod Taylor and Deshaun Watson. Before Tyrod’s injury, the Texans offense was giving the Browns all they can handle. Lovie Smith’s defense exceeded any sort of reasonable expectation. The Texans were expected to be terrible, but they aren’t, which speaks to both the effort level of the team’s players and first-year head coach David Culley.
Week 4 Projected Starters
QB: Davis Mills
RB: Mark Ingram
WR: Brandin Cooks, Chris Conley, Anthony Miller
TE: Pharaoh Brown
OL: Laremy Tunsil (LT), Tytus Howard (LG), Justin Britt (C), Max Scharping (RG), Marcus Cannon (RT)
DE: Whitney Mercilus (LDE), Jordan Jenkins (RDE)
DT: Maliek Collins (LDT), DeMarcus Walker (RDT)
LB: Zach Cunningham (WLB), Christian Kirksey (MLB), Joe Thomas (SLB)
CB: Vernon Hargreaves III (LCB), Terrance Mitchell (RCB)
S: Eric Murray (SS), Justin Reid (FS)
ST: Joey Slye (K), Cameron Johnston (P), Jon Weeks (LS)
RS: Andre Roberts
#27: Atlanta Falcons
Week 3 @ ATL: W, 17-14 | Record: 1-2
Previous Rank: #29
Just because the Falcons got a last-second win over the Giants doesn’t mean that they are a good football team. But they may have found something in Cordarrelle Patterson. He has long been one of the league’s most dangerous kick returners, but in his first few games with the Falcons, he has been more than just that. Against the Giants, he eclipsed 100 total yards, leading the team in receiving yards and ranking 2nd on the team with 7 targets. While Matt Ryan and the Falcons offense was uneven to start the season, they turned things up a notch during the 4th quarter in the 17-14 comeback win, with him leading a 72-yard touchdown drive to draw the Falcons even, then connecting on big-gainers to Patterson and Kyle Pitts to set up a 40-yard game-winning field goal from Younghoe Koo as time expired. It officially put Arthur Smith on the win column as an NFL head coach, and now the Falcons have a chance to reset their season with their next two games up against Washington and the Jets. It’s debatable if it’s good that Patterson had 7 targets while Pitts had three, but given how much the Falcons have struggled to move the ball and score, they aren’t in a position to be choosy about who gets more production on offense. They have to be better up front, especially against Washington, but they still have a shot at going .500 before their Week 6 bye.
Week 4 Projected Starters
QB: Matt Ryan
RB: Mike Davis
WR: Calvin Ridley, Russell Gage, Cordarrelle Patterson (RB/WR)
TE: Kyle Pitts
OL: Jake Matthews (LT), Jalen Mayfield (LG), Matt Hennessy (C), Chris Lindstrom (RG), Kaleb McGary (RT)
DL: Jonathan Bullard (LDE), Tyeler Davison (NT), Grady Jarrett (RDT)
EDGE: Steven Means (WLB), Adetokunbo Ogundeji (SLB)
ILB: Deion Jones (LILB), Foyesade Oluokun (RILB)
CB: AJ Terrell (LCB), Fabian Moreau (RCB)
S: Duron Harmon (SS), Erik Harris (FS)
ST: Younghoe Koo (K), Cameron Nizialek (P), Josh Harris (LS)
RS: Cordarrelle Patterson (KR), Avery Williams (PR)
#26: Indianapolis Colts
Week 3 @ TEN: L, 16-25 | Record: 0-3
Previous Rank: #24
If you’re starting to feel as if this season is looking like a lost season for the Colts, you may have a point. While Frank Reich knows a little something about comebacks, as he engineered the largest comeback in NFL history, and coached his team from 1-5 to winning 9 of 10 games to make the playoffs in 2018, don’t expect the magic from 2018 to repeat itself here. Despite a plus-three turnover margin in Week 3 against the Titans, the Colts are still looking for their first win. The offense sputtered against a questionable Titans defense, with just 265 yards. The defense couldn’t get the Titans off the field, allowing 6 3rd down conversions in 12 attempts and over 34 minutes of possession. Carson Wentz showed grit playing on two bad ankles, but his lack of mobility was another obstacle the Colts offense could not overcome. His miss on an end zone throw to Michael Pittman Jr. in the 3rd quarter will stick with him during long hours in the trainer’s room. They desperately need a win over the Dolphins in Week 4, and they might have to do it without Quenton Nelson, who suffered an ankle injury during the game. Regardless, the odds of them making a playoff run are longer than long: Since the NFL went to the current divisional alignment, only one team that lost three straight to start the season made the playoffs—the 2018 Houston Texans.
Week 4 Projected Starters
QB: Carson Wentz
RB: Jonathan Taylor
WR: Michael Pittman Jr., Parris Campbell, Zach Pascal
TE: Jack Doyle
OL: Eric Fisher (LT), Chris Reed (LG), Ryan Kelly (C), Mark Glowinski (RG), Braden Smith (RT)
DE: Kwity Paye (LDE), Al-Quadin Muhammad (RDE)
DT: DeForest Buckner (LDT), Grover Stewart (RDT)
LB: Darius Leonard (LILB), Bobby Okereke (RILB)
CB: Rock Ya-Sin (LCB), Xavier Rhodes (RCB), Kenny Moore II (NB)
S: Khari Willis (SS), Julian Blackmon (FS)
ST: Rodrigo Blankenship (K), Rigoberto Sanchez (P), Luke Rhodes (LS)
RS: Isaiah Rodgers (KR), Nyheim Hines (PR)
#25: Chicago Bears
Week 3 @ CLE: L, 6-26 | Record: 1-2
Previous Rank: #22
Matt Nagy needs to be fired. What was on display against the Browns was one of the most uninspiring offensive performances in recent memory. The offense didn’t just struggle. They became completely nonexistent. The Bears ran 42 plays for a grand total of 47 yards gained, the second-fewest yards per play in any game this century. While Justin Fields deserves some of the blame, he wasn’t exactly put in a position to succeed. He was running for his life all afternoon and was sacked a mind-wrecking NINE times, with Myles Garrett getting 4.5 of those sacks. Fields was given no chance to find his rhythm against a Browns team that is finding their groove. The Bears defense was getting torched by the Browns offense, surrendering more than 5 yards per carry without forcing a turnover. It did not help that Nagy did Fields no favors in the rookie QB’s starting debut, and there is literally no support for the quarterbacks, whether it be Fields or Andy Dalton. It’s likely that Fields will get another chance against the winless Lions, but Nagy said that he is not committing to a QB. This coaching staff simply cannot get out of its own way. Then again, how did Nagy win Coach of the Year in 2018?
Week 4 Projected Starters
QB: Justin Fields
RB: David Montgomery
WR: Allen Robinson II, Darnell Mooney, Marquise Goodwin
TE: Cole Kmet
OL: Jason Peters (LT), Cody Whitehair (LG), Sam Mustipher (C), James Daniels (RG), Germain Ifedi (RT)
DL: Akiem Hicks (LDE), Eddie Goldman (NT), Bilal Nichols (RDE)
EDGE: Khalil Mack (WLB), Robert Quinn (SLB)
ILB: Roquan Smith (LILB), Alec Ogletree (RILB)
CB: Jaylon Johnson (LCB), Kindle Vildor (RCB)
S: Tashaun Gipson Sr. (SS), Eddie Jackson FS)
ST: Cairo Santos (K), Pat O’Donnell (P), Patrick Scales (LS)
RS: Khalil Herbert (KR), Damiere Byrd (PR)
#24: Philadelphia Eagles
Week 3 @ DAL: L, 21-41 | Record: 1-2
Previous Rank: #21
We might have overestimated the Eagles. In Week 1, they blew out the Falcons, which is not difficult to do in 2021, unless if you are the Giants. Too soon? In Week 2, the Eagles were on the losing side of a low-scoring affair against the 49ers. In Week 3, they got blown out by their hated rivals on Monday Night Football. The Eagles are so not going to enjoy watching film of that 41-21 beatdown at the hands of the Cowboys. The offense never got going, the defense gave too many big plays, and an air of sloppiness permeated the air for an Eagles team flagged 13 times for 86 yards. The stats don’t truly tell the story of how lopsided the loss was. The 380 yards the Eagles allowed would be much higher had the Cowboys not been milking a late lead. Whether it was on the ground with Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard or through the air via Dak Prescott’s arm, the Cowboys did what they had to do offensively. A limited Eagles offense could not even keep up pace. What’s even more concerning is that the Eagles ran simplified passing routes, so they are not equipped to hang with more prolific offenses like the Cowboys. A defensive touchdown and a garbage-time score made the final score closer than how the game looked, so the Eagles need to get better on both sides of the ball if they want to stay in the running for the NFC East. It doesn’t get any better from here, as they will face last year’s Super Bowl teams (the Chiefs and Buccaneers) and two undefeated teams (the Panthers and Raiders).
Week 4 Projected Starters
QB: Jalen Hurts
RB: Miles Sanders
WR: DeVonta Smith, Jalen Reagor, Quez Watkins
TE: Dallas Goedert
OL: Jordan Mailata (LT), Nate Herbig (LG), Jason Kelce (C), Landon Dickerson (RG), Lane Johnson (RT)
DE: Josh Sweat (LDE), Derek Barnett (RDE)
DT: Javon Hargrave (LDT), Fletcher Cox (RDT)
LB: Alex Singleton (WLB), Eric Wilson (MLB), Genard Avery (SLB)
CB: Darius Slay Jr. (LCB), Steven Nelson (RCB)
S: Rodney McLeod Jr. (SS), Anthony Harris (FS)
ST: Jake Elliott (K), Arryn Siposs (P), Rick Lovato (FS)
RS: Kenneth Gainwell (KR), Jalen Reagor (PR)
#23: Washington Football Team
Week 3 @ BUF: L, 43-21 | Record: 1-2
Previous Rank: #20
The belief was that Washington’s defense would be one of the best in the league. The reality is the exact opposite. One week after allowing 29 points against a bad Giants team, they were torn to shreds by Josh Allen and the Bills to the tune of 481 total yards and 43 points, with 27 of them in the first half alone. Allen was over 300 yard passing with 9 minutes left to play in the 3rd quarter (!!!). The team that people considered to be the frontrunners for the NFC East is one last-second field goal away from starting the season 0-3. It’s not all on the defense, though. Taylor Heinicke threw a pair of costly interceptions, and the offense was stuck on mud on 3rd down (2 of 11). There are significant issues on both sides of the ball, and they need to be resolved quickly. The offense is at its best with Heinicke, but it’s far from ideal winning in shootouts every time. After going head-to-head with the Falcons in Week 4, Washington will have a brutal five-game stretch that includes home matchups with last year’s Super Bowl teams.
Week 4 Projected Starters
QB: Taylor Heinicke
RB: Antonio Gibson
WR: Terry McLaurin, Dynami Brown, Curtis Samuel
TE: Logan Thomas
OL: Charles Leno Jr. (LT), Ereck Flowers (LG), Chase Roullier (C), Brandon Scherff (RG), Sam Cosmi (RT)
DE: Chase Young (LDE), Montez Sweat (RDE)
DT: Da’Ron Payne (LDT), Jonathan Allen (RDT)
LB: Cole Holcomb (WLB), Jamin Davis (MLB), Jon Bostic (SLB)
CB: Kendall Fuller (LCB), William Jackson III (RCB)
S: Landon Collins (SS), Kamren Curl (FS)
ST: Dustin Hopkins (K), Tress Way (P), Camaron Cheeseman (LS)
RS: DeAndre Carter
#22: Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 3 vs. CIN: L, 10-24 | Record: 1-2
Previous Rank: #15
The Steelers are in a strange place. And not in a good way. It’s one that they haven’t seen since 2003. For the second straight week, the Steelers got manhandled in their own house, but this wasn’t against an undefeated Raiders team. This was against the Bengals—a team that the Steelers treated as their little brother. A team that lost five straight at Heinz Field. With TJ Watt sidelined, we now know how valuable he is to the team: The pass rush is nothing without him. This marks the end of an NFL-record 75 straight regular season games with a sack. And this wasn’t against one of the toughest O-lines in the league. The Bengals’ O-line is very pedestrian and came off a game where they struggled to keep Joe Burrow on his feet against the Bears. Before Watt’s injury, the Steelers surrendered just one offensive touchdown. Since the injury, they have surrendered five. The running game is stuck on mud once again, with Najee Harris getting 40 yards on 14 carries. Their O-line isn’t just bad. It’s hot garbage. Ben Roethlisberger topped 300 yards, but most of the work was in garbage time, and he threw a pair of picks in his own end. It doesn’t help that the rest of the offense is, you guessed it, stuck in mud, which was evident on an 18-play, 88-yard, nine-minute drive that ended in a field goal. This team has problems upon problems with no easy solutions and look to be a last place team, which is weird given that they have been running the AFC North for almost all of its existence since the 2002 division realignment.
Week 4 Projected Starters
QB: Ben Roethlisberger
RB: Najee Harris
WR: Diontae Johnson, James Washington, JuJu Smith-Schuster
TE: Pat Freiermuth
OL: Dan Moore Jr. (LT), Kevin Dotson (LG), Kendrick Green (C), Trai Turner (RG), Joe Haeg (RT)
DL: Chris Wormley (LDE), Isaiah Buggs (NT), Cameron Heyward (RDE)
EDGE: TJ Watt (WLB), Alex Highsmith (SLB)
ILB: Devin Bush Jr. (LILB), Joe Schobert (RILB)
CB: Joe Haden (LCB), Cam Sutton (RCB)
S: Terrell Edmunds (SS), Minkah Fitzpatrick (FS)
ST: Chris Boswell (K), Pressley Harvin III (P), Christian Kuntz (LS)
RS: Ray-Ray McCloud
#21: Miami Dolphins
Week 3 @ LV: L, 28-31 (OT) | Record: 1-2
Previous Rank: #23
The Dolphins, despite the loss of Tua Tagovailoa, fought to the bitter end of a 31-28 overtime loss to the Raiders, and they deserve credit for fighting back when the Raiders scored 25 unanswered points to take an 11-point lead early in the 4th quarter. Give credit to Jacoby Brissett, who followed the footsteps of Ryan Fitzpatrick as a rock-solid backup who will keep the Dolphins from disaster while Tua recovers from broken ribs. Not a lot of teams put a lot of value on a backup QB. The Dolphins seem to understand. But if the Dolphins don’t make the playoffs this season, they’re going to look back at this game as the win that got away—the game turning the season outlook from promising to pessimistic. They led 14-0 early, then came back with a touchdown and a two-point conversion to force overtime. They even matched field goals with the Raiders in OT before coming up short. It’s not panic time in Miami yet. In a couple of weeks, Tua is hopefully returning from his rib injury, and two of the Dolphins’ next three opponents are still winless. However, in their schedule looms the defending Super Bowl champions and a trip to Buffalo to face the Bills. Their margin for errors like this wasted effort is getting smaller.
Week 4 Projected Starters
QB: Jacoby Brissett
RB: Myles Gaskin
WR: DeVante Parker, Will Fuller V, Jaylen Waddle
TE: Mike Gesicki
OL: Austin Jackson (LT), Solomon Kindley (LG), Michael Dieter (C), Robert Hunt (RG), Jesse Davis (RT)
DL: Christian Wilkins (LDE), John Jenkins (NT), Emmanuel Ogbah (RDE)
EDGE: Andrew Van Ginkel (WLB), Brennan Scarlett (SLB)
ILB: Elandon Roberts (LILB), Jerome Baker (RILB)
CB: Xavien Howard (LCB), Byron Jones (RCB)
S: Eric Rowe (SS), Jason McCourty (FS)
ST: Jason Sanders (K), Michael Palardy (P), Blake Ferguson (LS)
RS: Jakeem Grant
#20: New England Patriots
Week 3 vs. NO: L, 13-28 | Record: 1-2
Previous Rank: #18
The Patriots were long the gold standard for the NFL that it’s so weird seeing Bill Belichick’s team become so… ordinary. There were almost no flashbacks to the glory days in a flat 28-13 loss to the Saints that featured Mac Jones throwing three interceptions. And while the reality is that first-year QBs will struggle (See: Troy Aikman and Peyton Manning), this game was all lumpy for Mac Jones. After he was clean for the first two weeks, the three picks he threw in this game were the first three of his professional career, with one of them being returned for a touchdown, and another brought back deep into Pats territory. This uneasy period of self-reflection comes at an awkward time for the organization: Tom Brady makes his return to New England on Sunday with a great chance to set the NFL’s all-time passing yards mark. He continues to cast a huge shadow over the organization—this week feels like a total eclipse will strike.
Week 4 Projected Starters
QB: Mac Jones
RB: Damien Harris
WR: Nelson Agholor, Jakobi Meyers, Kendrick Bourne
TE: Jonnu Smith
OL: Isaiah Wynn (LT), Mike Onwenu (LG), David Andrews (C), Shaq Mason (RG), Trent Brown (RT)
DE: Matt Judon (LDE), Henry Anderson (RDE)
DT: Lawrence Guy (LDT), Davon Godchaux (RDT)
LB: Ja’Whaun Bentley (WLB), Dont’a Hightower (MLB), Kyle Van Noy (SLB)
CB: JC Jackson (LCB), Jalen Mills (RCB)
S: Adrian Phillips (SS), Devin McCourty (FS)
ST: Nick Folk (K), Jake Bailey (P), Joe Cardona (LS)
RS: Gunner Olszewski
#19: Cincinnati Bengals
Week 3 @ PIT: W, 24-10 | Record: 2-1
Previous Rank: #25
Entering Week 3, only one team has allowed more sacks than the Bengals. This was a bad trend, especially coming off a 2020 season where Joe Burrow suffered a ghastly knee injury because of faulty blocking. The 24-10 win over the Steelers is a huge step forward for the team and an O-line that allowed no sacks to a Steelers defense that had at least one sack in 75 regular season games. The Steelers played without TJ Watt, but the Bengals deserve credit for addressing their biggest concern while winning a huge game against their hated rivals. This is even more impressive given that the Bengals allowed 10 sacks in the first two games. The Steelers played without Diontae Johnson, but with how terrible their O-line has been, it led to the Bengals notching four sacks of their own and picking off Ben Roethlisberger twice. And for the first time under Zac Taylor, the Bengals will head into October with a winning record. This is big for the long-suffering franchise. While the Bengals are not expected to go to the playoffs in 2021, there are many reasons for optimism. Burrow is looking sharp, Ja’Marr Chase scored in all three games for them this season, and the defense is showing signs of improvement. That leads to them getting the momentum heading into their Thursday Night matchup against the Jaguars.
Week 4 Projected Starters
QB: Joe Burrow
RB: Joe Mixon
WR: Tyler Boyd, Ja’Marr Chase, Auden Tate
TE: CJ Uzomah
OL: Jonah Williams (LT), Quinton Spain (LG), Trey Hopkins (C), Jackson Carman (RG), Riley Reiff (RT)
DE: Sam Hubbard (LDE), Trey Hendrickson (RDE)
DT: DJ Reader (LDT), Larry Ogunjobi (RDT)
LB: Logan Wilson (LILB), Germaine Pratt (RILB)
CB: Trae Waynes (LCB), Eli Apple (RCB), Mike Hilton (NB)
S: Vonn Bell (SS), Brandon Wilson (FS)
ST: Evan McPherson (K), Kevin Huber (P), Clark Harris (LS)
RS: Brandon Wilson (KR), Darius Phillips (PR)
#18: Minnesota Vikings
Week 3 vs. SEA: W, 30-17 | Record: 1-2
Previous Rank: #26
The Vikings desperately needed this win despite not having Dalvin Cook. Alexander Mattison stepped up in a big way, which is a large part of the win. He wasn’t the only player for the Vikings who had a day against the Seahawks’ struggling defense. Kirk Cousins threw for 323 yards and three touchdowns, and Justin Jefferson scorched the Seahawks’ secondary for 9 receptions for 118 yards and a score. But Mattison’s 171 total yards on 32 carries set the tone for the Vikings offense and may have saved their season. Three touchdown drives in the first half followed by a trio of 2nd half field goal marches that chewed up more than 20 minutes of game time. Cousins has been one of the best QBs in the league through three weeks of this season. He deserves his credit, and so does first-year offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. The defense’s improvement also should be noteworthy here. Getting to .500 is not going to be easy, however. Not with the Browns and the Panthers looming large.
Week 4 Projected Starters
QB: Kirk Cousins
RB: Dalvin Cook
WR: Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, KJ Osborn
TE: Tyler Conklin
OL: Rashod Hill (LT), Ezra Cleveland (LG), Garrett Bradbury (C), Oli Udoh (RG), Brian O’Neill (RT)
DE: Danielle Hunter (LDE), Stephen Weatherly (RDE)
DT: Michael Pierce (LDT), Dalvin Tomlinson (RDT)
LB: Nick Vigil (WLB), Eric Kendricks (MLB), Anthony Barr (SLB)
CB: Bashaud Breeland (LCB), Patrick Peterson (RCB)
S: Harrison Smith (SS), Xavier Woods (FS)
ST: Greg Joseph (K), Jordan Berry (P), Andrew DePaola (LS)
RS: KJ Osborn
#17: Seattle Seahawks
Week 3 @ MIN: L, 17-30 | Record: 1-2
Previous Rank: #9
This defense needs an “Out of Order” sign because it is very much broken. A week after surrendering 532 yards in an overtime loss to the Titans, they followed it up by giving up 453 yards to a Kirk Cousins-led Vikings offense that did whatever they wanted. This was a distressing effort considering the Vikings didn’t have Dalvin Cook, who sat out with an ankle injury. Alexander Mattison stepped in and added 112 rushing yards (a career-high) behind an O-line that bullied the Seahawks’ front seven. The offense is not out of this mess, either. They appeared to have things going, scoring on their first three drives to build a 17-7 lead. But they collapsed down the stretch, failing to score the rest of the way as the defense allowed at least 30 points for the second straight week. With the loss, the Seahawks are now two games behind the surging Rams and Cardinals. Pete Carroll said that it’s not panic time in the Emerald City, and while he is right, there are significant concerns on the team. They don’t have enough in the trenches and are still top-heavy on Russell Wilson. This is a recipe for failure. With the 49ers and Rams next, they need to turn things around quickly on both sides of the ball.
Week 4 Projected Starters
QB: Russell Wilson
RB: Chris Carson
WR: DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Freddie Swain
TE: Gerald Everett
OL: Duane Brown (LT), Damien Lewis (LG), Kyle Fuller (C), Gabe Jackson (RG), Brandon Shell (RT)
DE: Rasheem Green (LDE), Carlos Dunlap (RDE)
DT: Poona Ford (LDT), Al Woods (RDT)
LB: Jordyn Brooks (WLB), Bobby Wagner (MLB), Darrell Taylor (SLB)
CB: DJ Reed (LCB), Tre Flowers (RCB)
S: Jamal Adams (SS), Quandre Diggs (FS)
ST: Jason Myers (K), Michael Dickson (P), Tyler Ott (LS)
RS: DJ Reed (KR), Freddie Swain (PR)
#16: New Orleans Saints
Week 3 @ NE: W, 28-13 | Record: 2-1
Previous Rank: #17
Three weeks into the season, there isn’t a team more confusing than the Saints. They blasted the Packers in Week 1 in Jacksonville. They got waxed by the Panthers in Week 2. And now, they got back to the blasting against the Patriots at Gillette Stadium, boosted by big plays on defense and special teams. There is a theme for these three games: If Jameis Winston remains clean, they win. If he is his turnover-prone self, not really. However, while Winston didn’t throw a pick, he still made some questionable decisions, with one of his touchdown passes thrown up for grabs, with Marquez Callaway coming down with it. In previous years, their recipe for success was in Drew Brees. Now that the future Hall of Famer is in the broadcast booth, it led Sean Payton to finding a new identity: On the defense. That was shown in this game, as they picked off Mac Jones three times, with one of them being a pick six by Malcolm Jenkins. But it’s not known if this team should be trusted to be a legitimate NFC South threat. Winston may still throw the ball into places where footballs are not meant to be thrown. But after an endless road trip prompted by Hurricane Ida, they are ready for a joyful homecoming against the Giants.
Week 4 Projected Starters
QB: Jameis Winston
RB: Alvin Kamara
WR: Marquez Callaway, Tre’Quan Smith, Chris Hogan
TE: Adam Trautman
OL: Terron Armstead (LT), Andrus Peat (LG), Erik McCoy (C), Cesar Ruiz (RG), Ryan Ramczyk (RT)
DE: Cameron Jordan (LDE), Carl Granderson (RDE)
DT: Christian Ringo (LDT), Shy Tuttle (RDT)
LB: Zack Baun (LILB), Demario Davis (RILB)
CB: Bradley Roby (LCB), Marshon Lattimore (RCB), PJ Williams (NB)
S: Malcolm Jenkins (SS), Marcus Williams (FS)
ST: Aldrick Rosas (K), Blake Gillikin (P), Zach Wood (LS)
RS: Deonte Harris
#15: Carolina Panthers
Week 3 @ HOU: W, 24-9 | Record: 3-0
Previous Rank: #19
For the 3rd time in franchise history, the Panthers started the season 3-0. The other two times where they had those starts came in 2003 and 2015, both years where they made the Super Bowl. They are once again 3-0 after dismantling an overmatched Texans team, but a 3rd Super Bowl for them is going to be very difficult, because, while the Panthers won, they lost in a way. While the defense allowed just 193 yards of offense and nine points, they lost rookie 1st round pick Jaycee Horn with a broken foot that required season-ending surgery. Offensively, Christian McCaffrey suffered a hamstring injury that could cost him multiple games. The Panthers addressed the secondary with a bold trade, sending tight end Dan Arnold and a 3rd round pick to the Jaguars for cornerback CJ Henderson. They have big challenges ahead with the Cowboys and Eagles up next.
Week 4 Projected Starters
QB: Sam Darnold
RB: Chuba Hubbard
WR: DJ Moore, Robby Anderson, Terrace Marshall Jr.
TE: Tommy Tremble
OL: Cam Erving (LT), Dennis Daley (LG), Matt Paradis (C), John Miller (RG), Taylor Moton (RT)
DE: Brian Burns (LDE), Morgan Fox (RDE)
DT: Derrick Brown (LDT), DaQuan Jones (RDT)
LB: Shaq Thompson (WLB), Jermaine Carter Jr. (MLB), Haason Reddick (SLB)
CB: Donte Jackson (LCB), CJ Henderson (RCB)
S: Jeremy Chinn (SS), Sean Chandler (FS)
ST: Zane Gonzalez (K), Joseph Charlton (P), JJ Jansen (LS)
RS: Chuba Hubbard (KR), Alex Erickson (PR)
#14: Tennessee Titans
Week 3 vs. IND: W, 25-16 | Record: 2-1
Previous Rank: #14
There’s good news and bad news for the Titans. The good news is that by way of the win over the Colts, the Titans have won two straight to assume 1st in the AFC South. Derrick Henry steamrolled the Colts defense for 113 rushing yards on 28 carries, while Ryan Tannehill threw three touchdowns and added 56 rushing yards of his own. The bad news it that AJ Brown was lost for the game because of a hamstring injury and is considered week-to-week, Julio Jones was benched late in the game, the offense turned the ball over three times, and the defense did not generate any takeaways. That could have been a recipe for another loss to the Colts, but this was not the case. The Titans have won back-to-back games thanks to their dynamic stars at QB and running back. Tannehill and Henry are the heart and soul of the Titans. Even though Brown is out, they might not really need him to beat the woeful Jets in Week 4. Or the winless Jaguars in the week after. But they need him sooner than later, because after those two games comes the Bills and Chiefs.
Week 4 Projected Starters
QB: Ryan Tannehill
RB: Derrick Henry
WR: Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Josh Reynolds, Chester Rogers
TE: Geoff Swaim
OL: Taylor Lewan (LT), Rodger Saffold III (LG), Ben Jones (C), Nate Davis (RG), David Quessenberry (RT)
DL: Jeffery Simmons (LDE), Teair Tart (NT), Larrell Murchison (RDE)
EDGE: Harold Landry (WLB), Bud Dupree (SLB)
ILB: Jayon Brown (LILB), Rashaan Evans (RILB)
CB: Janoris Jenkins (LCB), Kristian Fulton (RCB)
S: Dane Cruikshank (SS), Kevin Byard (FS)
ST: Randy Bullock (K), Brett Kern (P), Morgan Cox (LS)
RS: Cameron Batson (KR), Chester Rogers (PR)
#13: Denver Broncos
Week 3 vs. NYJ: W, 26-0 | Record: 3-0
Previous Rank: #16
The Broncos’ undefeated start has come at the expense of poorly run teams that are a combined 0-9 through three weeks, but give credit where credit is due: Vic Fangio has this team playing well on both sides of the ball. The soft schedule is undeniable, but so has the quality tape they have put for three weeks. The defense has continued to feast on the top of the 2021 NFL Draft, shutting down Zach Wilson a week after beating up on Trevor Lawrence. This defensive dominance put Teddy Bridgewater and the offense in a good position for three weeks. This level of defensive play is expected, but what was not is the fact that Bridgewater made it through three weeks without an interception while averaging a yard more per attempt than last season in Carolina. While three of the Broncos’ next four opponents have winning records, there is the chance that the Broncos could be true contenders in the AFC West. But it’s not going to be easy, as the Ravens present a greater challenge all around.
Week 4 Projected Starters
QB: Teddy Bridgewater
RB: Melvin Gordon III
WR: Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick, Diontae Spencer
TE: Noah Fant
OL: Garett Bolles (LT), Dalton Risner (LG), Lloyd Cushenberry III (C), Graham Glasgow (RG), Bobby Massie (RT)
DL: Dre’Mont Jones (LDE), Mike Purcell (NT), Shelby Harris (RDT)
EDGE: Malik Reed (WLB), Von Miller (SLB)
ILB: AJ Johnson (LILB), Justin Strnad (RILB)
CB: Kyle Fuller (LCB), Pat Surtain II (RCB)
S: Kareem Jackson (SS), Justin Simmons (FS)
ST: Brandon McManus (K), Sam Martin (P), Jacob Bobenmoyer (LS)
RS: Diontae Spencer
#12: Las Vegas Raiders
Week 3 vs. MIA: W, 31-28 (OT) | Record: 3-0
Previous Rank: #11
For the first time since 2002, the Raiders started a season 3-0. That also happens to be the last time they made the Super Bowl. They’re not taking the easy road this season. For the second time in three games, they went to overtime, and they spotted Miami a two-touchdown lead early on. Then, the Raiders ripped off the next 25, and then the Fins answered with the final 11 points of regulation to force overtime. Derek Carr was nails once again in the clutch. His dime to Bryan Edwards went for 34 yards on 2nd & 15, which set up Daniel Carlson’s game-winning field goal. Two home games with a sold-out crowd at Allegiant Stadium, two classics for those in the stadium watching. With this win, this marks the third game where the Raiders have won against a team that won at least 10 games in 2020. With the Chargers up next on their schedule, the Raiders have a chance to keep the momentum going. But at the same time, the Chargers are a big test on keeping said momentum going. But as it stands, the Raiders are an exciting team to watch.
Week 4 Projected Starters
QB: Derek Carr
RB: Josh Jacobs
WR: Henry Ruggs III, Bryan Edwards, Hunter Renfrow
TE: Darren Waller
OL: Kolton Miller (LT), Jordan Simmons (LG), Andre James (C), Jermaine Eluemunor (RG), Alex Leatherwood (RT)
DE: Maxx Crosby (LDE), Yannick Ngakoue (RDE)
DT: Johnathan Hankins (LDT), Quinton Jefferson (RDT)
LB: Cory Littleton (WLB), Denzel Perryman (MLB), KJ Wright (SLB)
CB: Trayvon Mullen Jr. (LCB), Casey Hayward Jr. (RCB)
S: Johnathan Abram (SS), Tre’von Moehrig (FS)
ST: Daniel Carlson (K), AJ Cole III (P), Trent Sieg (LS)
RS: Kenyan Drake (KR), Hunter Renfrow (PR)
#11: Dallas Cowboys
Week 3 vs. PHI: W, 41-21 | Record: 2-1
Previous Rank: #13
The Cowboys are the best team in the NFC East and it’s not even close. They had their way with the Eagles on Monday Night Football, jumping to an early lead and never looking back, winning 41-21 in dominant fashion in Jerryworld. This is the second of consecutive victories after nearly downing the defending champions in the season-opener. The final score doesn’t tell the whole story of the game: The Cowboys were brutally efficient offensively, using a balanced attack to move the ball essentially at will. They had a 19-1 advantage on first downs by the end of the first half. Defensively, Dan Quinn’s unit looks much, much better than the defense that set a franchise record for points allowed last season. Dak Prescott continues to play like a legitimate MVP candidate, and big performances by Ezekiel Elliott (116 total yards and two touchdowns), Dalton Schultz (6 receptions for 80 yards and 2 touchdowns), and Trevon Diggs (game-sealing pick six) have them cutting the profile of a legitimate power player in the NFC. This team isn’t one that is going to struggle more. They’re going to be tough to beat, and Micah Parsons’ seamless change from off-ball linebacker to edge rusher has been remarkable.
Week 4 Projected Starters
QB: Dak Prescott
RB: Ezekiel Elliott
WR: Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb, Cedrick Wilson
TE: Dalton Schultz
OL: Tyron Smith (LT), Connor Williams (LG), Tyler Biadasz (C), Zack Martin (RG), Terence Steele (RT)
DE: Randy Gregory (LDE), Micah Parsons (RDE)
DT: Osa Odighizuwa (LDT), Carlos Watkins (RDT)
LB: Leighton Vander Esch (WLB), Jaylon Smith (MLB), Jabril Cox (SLB)
CB: Anthony Brown (LCB), Trevon Diggs (RCB)
S: Donovan Wilson (SS), Damontae Kazee (FS)
ST: Greg Zuerlein (K), Bryan Anger (P), Jake McQuaide (LS)
RS: Tony Pollard (KR), CeeDee Lamb (PR)
#10: Baltimore Ravens
Week 3 @ DET: W, 19-17* | Record 2-1
Previous Rank: #7
If there was a question about Justin Tucker being the greatest kicker of all time, that was answered in the Ravens’ 19-17 win over the Lions. He was already on the quest for the Hall of Fame before this game, and he may have cemented his place in Canton with an NFL-record 66-yard field goal to beat the Lions and get a huge celebration at a suddenly silent Ford Field. But that fact alone to beat a Lions team that nobody expects to be going anywhere is alarming. What should raise the level of alarm is that the kick should not have happened in the first place as the Ravens were bailed out by the officials not calling a delay of game penalty on the play before the field goal. Additionally, the Ravens didn’t play well offensively. Lamar Jackson was inaccurate. Marquise Brown dropped THREE potential touchdown passes in the first half. The usually potent running game was held in check, with Jackson accounting for half of the team’s 116 yards on the ground. The defense folded in the 4th quarter. It could be that the Ravens overlooked the Lions. Yes, the Lions are the most talent-deficient team in the league, but they are still a professional football team and should be treated as such. The Ravens seem to struggle in every game, yet they find ways to keep up pace. There’s a lot to clean up against the undefeated Broncos on the road.
Week 4 Projected Starters
QB: Lamar Jackson
RB: Ty’Son Williams
WR: Marquise Brown, Sammy Watkins, Devin Duvernay
TE: Mark Andrews
OL: Ronnie Stanley (LT), Ben Powers (LG), Bradley Bozeman (C), Kevin Zeitler (RG), Alejandro Villanueva (RT)
DL: Derek Wolfe (LDE), Brandon Williams (NT), Calais Campbell (RDE)
EDGE: Tyus Bowser (WLB), Justin Houston (SLB)
ILB: Malik Harrison (LILB), Patrick Queen (RILB)
CB: Jimmy Smith (LCB), Marlon Humphrey (RCB)
S: Chuck Clark (SS), DeShon Elliott (FS)
ST: Justin Tucker (K), Sam Koch (P), Nick Moore (LS)
RS: Devin Duvernay
#9: San Francisco 49ers
Week 3 vs. GB: L, 28-30 | Record: 2-1
Previous Rank: #8
One home loss to Aaron Rodgers and the Packers is hardly the cause for panic in the Bay Area. But by how the 49ers fell in Week 3 may have caused some eyebrows to head skyward. While Kyle Juszczyk did have the go-ahead touchdown catch to cap off a 75-yard drive to put the Niners ahead in the 4th quarter, there was one problem: They had a one-point lead with 37 seconds left in the quarter. And even 37 seconds left on the clock is still too much time for Rodgers to work his magic. The Packers had no timeouts, but that didn’t matter. Those 37 seconds were still enough for them to move into Niners territory to kick the game-winning field goal. This has to be especially painful for Kyle Shanahan, who made Rodgers trade inquiries during the offseason drama between the reigning MVP and the Packers. He didn’t get his guy, and now he is paying the price of watching the 37-year-old steal a win that could have a huge impact on the NFC. The injuries continue to pile up on the Niners, as the ground game that is a huge part of what they do offensively was stuck on neutral—67 yards on 21 carries. The lack of a running game put additional pressure on Jimmy Garoppolo, and while he nearly led the Niners to a comeback win, he also struggled, averaging less than 6.5 yards per attempt and posting a QBR of 47.9. While the Niners are 2-1, they face the Seahawks and Cardinals in consecutive weeks before their bye week. Should they lose both games, the Trey Lance era could come sooner than later.
Week 4 Projected Starters
QB: Jimmy Garoppolo
RB: Elijah Mitchell
WR: Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Mohamed Sanu Sr.
TE: George Kittle
OL: Trent Williams (LT), Laken Tomlinson (LG), Alex Mack (C), Daniel Brunskill (RG), Mike McGlinchey (RT)
DE: Arik Armstead (LDE), Nick Bosa (RDE)
DT: Javon Kinlaw (LDT), DJ Jones (RDT)
LB: Fred Warner (LILB), Azeez Al-Shaair (RILB)
CB: Emmanuel Moseley (LCB), Deommodore Lenoir (RCB), K’Waun Williams (NB)
S: Jaquiski Tartt (SS), Jimmie Ward (FS)
ST: Robbie Gould (K), Mitch Wishnowsky (P), Taybor Pepper (LS)
RS: JaMycal Hasty (KR), Brandon Aiyuk (PR)
#8: Kansas City Chiefs
Week 3 vs. LAC: L, 24-30 | Record: 1-2
Previous Rank: #2
For the first time since 2015, the Chiefs are at the bottom of the AFC West. In Week 2 against the Ravens, it was a Clyde Edwards-Helaire fumble that set up a tough one-point loss. Against the Chargers in Week 3, turnovers once again were the Chiefs’ downfall. They lost two fumbles and Patrick Mahomes threw two picks. He was also careless with the ball, making poor decisions that led to those turnovers. Defensively, the Chiefs could not make big plays or get stops where it matters. The news is made worse because Andy Reid was transported to the hospital following the loss. The trip was precautionary, but if he is absent from the sidelines, this would be another obstacle. But despite the rocky start to the season, Mahomes told reporters that he’s not worried, and, frankly, he may be right. But with bot the Raiders and Broncos starting the season 3-0, the Chiefs need to get things together. While the Week 4 game against the Eagles should be a win on paper, with how bad the defense is, there is the possibility that this could be a trap game for the Chiefs. Their next home game is in Week 5 against the surging Bills.
Week 4 Projected Starters
QB: Patrick Mahomes II
RB: Clyde Edwards-Helaire
WR: Tyreek Hill, Mecole Hardman, Demarcus Robinson
TE: Travis Kelce
OL: Orlando Brown Jr. (LT), Joe Thuney (LG), Creed Humphrey (C), Trey Smith (RG), Lucas Niang (RT)
DE: Chris Jones (LDE), Frank Clark (RDE)
DT: Jarran Reed (LDT), Derrick Nnadi (RDT)
LB: Nick Bolton (LILB), Anthony Hitchens (RILB)
CB: Charvarius Ward (LCB), L’Jarius Sneed (RCB), Mike Hughes (NB)
S: Tyrann Mathieu (SS), Daniel Sorensen (FS)
ST: Harrison Butker (K), Tommy Townsend (P), James Winchester (LS)
RS: Mecole Hardman
#7: Los Angeles Chargers
Week 3 @ KC: W, 30-24 | Record: 2-1
Previous Rank: #12
The Chargers’ trip to Kansas City was a big game for them. If they lose a second straight game, they fall to 1-2 and again look the part of an also-ran division. Pull off an upset, and it would be the Chiefs falling to 1-2 and the AFC West would be wide open now. The second case happened. Offensively, Justin Herbert outplayed Patrick Mahomes, putting up 281 passing yards and four touchdowns. Mike Williams continues his hot start to the season, with a pair of touchdown passes, including the game-winner with 32 seconds left. Brandon Staley opted to keep his offense on the field rather than settle for reasonable field goal tries, and the risks paid off as the Chargers converted first downs on each instance. It was an acknowledgement of Mahomes’ greatness, of course, but this is also showing huge faith on his guy by Staley. On defense, they meant business, sacking Mahomes twice and harassed him consistently, and capitalizing off of his carelessness by picking him off twice. This was an outstanding all-around team effort that solidifies the Chargers as legitimate contenders, and they have something special with the core and the coaching staff around Staley. Herbert is playing as well as any QB in the league. If they can be more consistent defensively, they have what it takes to make a deep playoff run. But man, Chiefs-Chargers is going to be a fun rivalry to watch in the AFC West in the years to come.
Week 4 Projected Starters
QB: Justin Herbert
RB: Austin Ekeler
WR: Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Jalen Guyton
TE: Jared Cook
OL: Rashawn Slater (LT), Matt Feiler (LG), Corey Linsley (C), Oday Aboushi (RG), Storm Norton (RT)
DL: Jerry Tillery (LDE), Linval Joseph (NT), Justin Jones (RDE)
EDGE: Joey Bosa (WLB), Uchenna Nwosu (SLB)
ILB: Drue Tranquill (LILB), Kyzir White (RILB)
CB: Chris Harris Jr. (LCB), Michael Davis (RCB)
S: Derwin James Jr. (SS), Nasir Adderley (FS)
ST: Tristan Vizcaino (K), Ty Long (P), Matt Overton (LS)
RS: Nasir Adderley (KR), KJ Hill (PR)
#6: Green Bay Packers
Week 3 @ SF: W, 30-28 | Record: 2-1
Previous Rank: #10
Remember when people were freaking out about the Packers after they got blasted by the Saints? As what happened afterwards, Aaron Rodgers reminded us all to R-E-L-A-X. That’s not to say that the Packers don’t have problems. Rodgers is playing behind a patchwork O-line. The defense was the reason why the Packers almost lost this game as a 17-0 lead evaporated into a 28-27 deficit. When it looked like the 49ers were going to steal a win from the Packers, Rodgers led yet another comeback drive to steal the win. He was efficient in the final 37 seconds of the game, connecting on two downfield bombs to Davante Adams to set up Mason Crosby’s 51-yard game-winning kick. That icy handshake between Kyle Shanahan and Matt LaFleur added to the drama in a rivalry that deserves another chapter. After the game, Rodgers told reporters that he feels good on where the team is at. Whether or not the Packers have the firepower in the trenches to keep up pace with the Buccaneers and the Rams for the NFC crown is debatable, but they still have the reigning NFL MVP once again playing at an elite level, and the Packers look like the clear-cut favorite for the NFC North title.
Week 4 Projected Starters
QB: Aaron Rodgers
RB: Aaron Jones
WR: Davante Adams, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Allen Lazard
TE: Robert Tonyan
OL: Elgton Jenkins (LT), Jon Runyan (LG), Josh Myers (C), Royce Newman (RG), Billy Turner (RT)
DL: Dean Lowry (LDE), Kenny Clark (NT), Kingsley Keke (RDE)
EDGE: Preston Smith (WLB), Rashan Gary (SLB)
ILB: Krys Barnes (LILB), De’Vondre Campbell (RILB)
CB: Jaire Alexander (LCB), Kevin King (RCB)
S: Adrian Amos (SS), Darnell Savage Jr. (FS)
ST: Mason Crosby (K), Corey Bojorquez (P), Hunter Bradley (LS)
RS: Kylin Hill (KR), Amari Rodgers (PR)
#5: Cleveland Browns
Week 3 vs. CHI: W, 26-6 | Record: 2-1
Previous Rank: #6
The 26-6 final score doesn’t show how badly the Browns beat up the Bears. They controlled the game from start to finish, and Myles Garrett set a franchise record with 4.5 sacks, a performance that shuts down any talk of a slow start by the former 1st overall pick. Justin Fields was constantly harassed as the Bears had only ONE net yard of passing. In the first two games of the season, the Browns looked just okay. Baker Mayfield and the offense held up just enough to get a win over the Texans. But the defense was lackluster at best and was awful on 3rd down. But here, it was dominance. Granted, it came against a rookie QB making his first career start behind a shaky O-line, but this defensive dominance is emphasized by the fact that they allowed just 47 total yards from the Bears in this game. They continue to get impact performances from their running game, with Kareem Hunt totaling 155 total yards, including the game-sealing touchdown in the 4th quarter. Then there’s Odell Beckham Jr., making his season debut in his first game since Week 7 of last season, who looked like himself in a five-catch day. The Browns are in good hands, as all the defensive additions they made in the offseason are paying off, sacking Fields nine times and hitting him 15 times. With an elite ground game and a defense on the rise, the Browns can beat anyone. However, the next three games will be a big test to their defense, as they will face the Vikings, Chargers, and Cardinals.
Week 4 Projected Starters
QB: Baker Mayfield
RB: Nick Chubb
WR: Odell Beckham Jr., Rashard Higgins, Donovan Peoples-Jones
TE: Austin Hooper
OL: Jedrick Wills Jr. (LT), Joel Bitonio (LG), JC Tretter (C), Wyatt Teller (RG), Jack Conklin (RT)
DE: Myles Garrett (LDE), Jadeveon Clowney (RDE)
DT: Malik Jackson (LDT), Malik McDowell (RDT)
LB: Mack Wilson (WLB), Malcolm Smith (MLB), Sione Takitaki (SLB)
CB: Denzel Ward (LCB), Greedy Williams (RCB)
S: Ronnie Harrison Jr. (SS), John Johnson III (FS)
ST: Chase McLaughlin (K), Jamie Gillan (P), Charley Hughlett (LS)
RS: D’Ernest Johnson (KR), Donovan Peoples-Jones (PR)
#4: Buffalo Bills
Week 3 vs. WSH: W, 43-21 | Record: 2-1
Previous Rank: #5
Heading into Week 3, the Bills needed to find their offensive groove, and they found it here. After an up-and-down first two games of the season, Josh Allen cooked up a supposedly elite Washington defense to the tune of 358 passing yards and four touchdowns with another score on the ground. Zack Moss, who wasn’t active in Week 1, had 91 yards from scrimmage with a touchdown, and Emmanuel Sanders had five receptions for 94 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Allen’s chemistry with his receivers was in full display: Stefon Diggs made his usual assortment of impact plays and Cole Beasley showed his knack for finding the weak spots on the defense, while Sanders proved to be a huge upgrade over John Brown. The defense did its part, too, holding Washington under 300 yards of total offense, making three takeaways, and allowing just two of 11 3rd down conversions. They look like the Super Bowl contenders that they were labeled as before the season. They have now outscored their opponents 78-21 in the past two weeks ahead of a Week 4 game against the Texans, followed by a showdown at Arrowhead in Week 5. They might have the AFC East locked up by Thanksgiving.
Week 4 Projected Starters
QB: Josh Allen
RB: Devin Singletary
WR: Emmanuel Sanders, Stefon Diggs, Cole Beasley
TE: Dawson Knox
OL: Dion Dawkins (LT), Jon Feliciano (LG), Mitch Morse (C), Cody Ford (RG), Daryl Williams (RT)
DE: Gregory Rousseau (LDE), Jerry Hughes (RDE)
DT: Star Lotulelei (LDT), Ed Oliver (RDT)
LB: Matt Milano (WLB), Tremaine Edmunds (MLB), AJ Klein (SLB)
CB: Tre’Davious White (LCB), Levi Wallace (RCB)
S: Jordan Poyer (SS), Micah Hyde (FS)
ST: Tyler Bass (K), Matt Haack (P), Reid Ferguson (LS)
RS: Isaiah McKenzie
#3: Arizona Cardinals
Week 3 @ JAX: W, 31-29 | Record: 3-0
Previous Rank: #4
Over the course of the first two weeks of the NFL season, there hasn’t been a QB or offense hotter than Kyler Murray and the Cardinals. They tore up defenses, with Murray amassing yards and touchdowns at will. It took them some time to get things going against the Jaguars in Duval. They trailed 19-10 in the 3rd quarter. The worst moment being Kliff Kingsbury’s bold decision to send out Matt Prater to kick a 68-yard field goal in the final seconds of the first half, only for the kick to fall short and witness Jamal Agnew return the missed kick 109 yards to the house. But after three unanswered touchdowns, including Byron Murphy Jr.’s game-sealing pick six, the Cardinals left Duval with a 12-point win. Murray threw for 316 yards, and the Cardinals had two 100-yard receivers. Surprisingly, one of those two is not DeAndre Hopkins, but in defense of him, he played through a rib injury. After the game, the Cards neatly spun the special teams disaster into an opportunity for team growth. While Murray is still an MVP candidate for this season, the schedule is about to tighten up as the Cardinals have NFC West showdowns against the Rams and 49ers followed by a trip to Cleveland to do battle against the Browns.
Week 4 Projected Starters
QB: Kyler Murray
RB: Chase Edmonds
WR: DeAndre Hopkins, AJ Green, Christian Kirk
TE: Maxx Williams
OL: DJ Humphries (LT), Justin Pugh (LG), Rodney Hudson (C), Josh Jones (RG), Kelvin Beachum (RT)
DL: Zach Allen (LDE), Rashard Lawrence (NT), JJ Watt (RDE)
EDGE: Chandler Jones (WLB), Markus Golden (SLB)
ILB: Jordan Hicks (LILB), Isaiah Simmons (RILB)
CB: Byron Murphy Jr. (LCB), Robert Alford (RCB)
S: Jalen Thompson (SS), Budda Baker (FS)
ST: Matt Prater (K), Andy Lee (P), Aaron Brewer (LS)
RS: Eno Benjamin (KR), Christian Kirk (PR)
#2: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 3 @ LAR: L, 24-34 | Record: 2-1
Previous Rank: #1
If you thought the Buccaneers were going to be the first team to finish 17-0 in a season, you were wrong. It wasn’t going to happen. But it is still jolting seeing the defending Super Bowl champions beaten handily by the Rams in LA. Tom Brady eclipsed 400 passing yards, but a lot of it came in catch-up time, and he had just one touchdown pass. A beat-up secondary had no answers for Matt Stafford, Cooper Kupp, and the Rams’ air attack, allowing four touchdowns. So, is it too early to panic about the Bucs’ defense? This is the third time in as many games that they have allowed at least 300 passing yards and at least two passing touchdowns. The defense so far has allowed 29.3 points per game, a full seven points higher than what they have allowed in 2020. The Brady-led offense will cover for this defense in most games, but the Bucs won the Super Bowl last season because they got everything together on both sides of the ball. That balance has been lost, and it’s on Todd Bowles to figure out how to restore it. To possibly make up for this, they added Richard Sherman to their secondary, but he told reporters that he would need a week to prepare and feel comfortable in the Bucs’ scheme. Brady vs. Belichick looms in on Sunday Night Football, and this is going to get really interesting.
Week 4 Projected Starters
QB: Tom Brady
RB: Leonard Fournette
WR: Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Antonio Brown
TE: Cameron Brate
OL: Donovan Smith (LT), Ali Marpet (LG), Ryan Jensen (C), Alex Cappa (RG), Tristan Wirfs (RT)
DL: Ndamukong Suh (LDE), Vita Vea (NT), William Gholston (RDE)
EDGE: Joe Tryon (WLB), Shaquil Barrett (SLB)
ILB: Devin White (LILB), Lavonte David (RILB)
CB: Carlton Davis (LCB), Richard Sherman (RCB)
S: Antoine Winfield Jr. (SS), Jordan Whitehead (FS)
ST: Ryan Succop (K), Bradley Pinion (P), Zach Triner (LS)
RS: Jaydon Mickens
#1: Los Angeles Rams
Week 3 vs. TB: W, 34-24 | Record: 3-0
Previous Rank: #3
It shouldn’t be surprising to see the Rams being at the top of the power rankings after handing the Bucs their first loss since November. It was a big win, with Matt Stafford torching the Bucs’ defense for 343 yards and four touchdowns. The final score doesn’t reflect how surprisingly easy it was for the Rams to pull off the W, as the Rams stuffed the Bucs’ run game and clamped down on Brady in the 4th quarter. There has yet to be an issue with the air game in LA, as Stafford’s nine touchdown passes are tied for the most by a Rams QB in the first three games of a season. Sean McVay’s offense ranks 3rd in points per game, but the difference is about the unit’s approach. Stafford is a difference-maker because of his experience and his throwing ability. His teammates like him, too. They have the coaching personnel to be elite on both sides of the ball. When put together, this is a lethal combination. They may be the new top team, but staying as the best team in the league is not going to be easy. They will be up against the undefeated Cardinals in Week 4 and then travel to the Emerald City to face the Seahawks in Week 5.
Week 4 Projected Starters
QB: Matt Stafford
RB: Darrell Henderson Jr.
WR: Cooper Kupp, Van Jefferson, Robert Woods
TE: Tyler Higbee
OL: Andrew Whitworth (LT), David Edwards (LG), Brian Allen (C), Austin Corbett (RG), Rob Havenstein (RT)
DL: A’Shawn Robinson (LDE), Sebastian Joseph-Day (NT), Aaron Donald (RDE)
EDGE: Terrell Lewis (WLB), Leonard Floyd (SLB)
ILB: Kenny Young (LILB), Troy Reeder (RILB)
CB: Darious Williams (LCB), Jalen Ramsey (RCB)
S: Jordan Fuller (SS), Taylor Rapp (FS)
ST: Matt Gay (K), Johnny Hekker (P), Matt Orzech (LS)
RS: Tutu Atwell (KR), Cooper Kupp (PR)
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