Now that every team has played at least 4 games, this will be a weekly column. Welcome to the first iteration.
1. Kansas City Chiefs (4-1)
Offense: 8th, Defense: 7th, Special Teams: 30th
Last week: lost to Raiders 40-31
This week: at Buffalo, Monday 5:00 Eastern Time
No need to overreact about a division loss in Week 5, even if it was their first loss in 339 days. The Raiders are the best they’ve been since their 12-4 campaign in 2016. The reigning Super Bowl champs had just come off big wins at Baltimore and against New England, and have a matchup with the Bills that’s been moved all over the place. Every team falls asleep, and they still only lost by one score.
2. Baltimore Ravens (4-1)
Offense: 8th, Defense: 1st, Special Teams: 1st
Last week: beat Bengals 27-3
This week: at Eagles, Sunday 1:00 Eastern Time
As much as I want to get cute, having any other top two teams is trying too hard. I could get outrageous for engagement, but I’d rather just be right. The Ravens are a force just like last year, and if they upgrade at wide receiver and/or pass rusher before the trade deadline, they’re a more complete team than even the Chiefs - who they’ve scored the exact same amount of points as. Terrifying.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-0)
Offense: 10th, Defense: 6th, Special Teams: 13th
Last week: beat Eagles 38-29
This week: home vs Browns, Sunday 1:00 Eastern Time
There was no telling what they would be like after the first COVID cancellation of a game. They came out of their new bye week sharp, and stayed unbeaten against an injured but talented and experienced Eagles team. Ben Roethlisberger should be the Comeback Player of the Year leader, and 2019 Defensive Player of the Year runner-up TJ Watt has the defense fierce.
4. Green Bay Packers (4-0)
Offense: 1st, Defense: 17th, Special Teams: 8th
Last week: BYE (Week 4, beat Falcons 30-16)
This week: at Buccaneers, Sunday 4:25 Eastern Time
Their strength of schedule has been pretty easy, with the Vikings, Lions, and Falcons combining for a 2-12 record. Their handling of the 3-2 Saints was impressive, and will look better as the Saints hit their stride. The offense has withstood injuries better than the seeming lack of depth would’ve predicted. The defense has loads of talent and those playmakers tend to show in big moments.
5. Seattle Seahawks (5-0)
Offense: 2nd, Defense: 19th, Special Teams: 4th
Last week: beat Vikings 27-26
This week: BYE (next week at Cardinals)
Russell Wilson is the MVP favorite, with dead even 1-1 odds. #LetRussCook has taken the Pacific Northwest by storm, as Brian Schottenheimer’s offense has veered away from the Seahawks’ typical run-first, run-second mantra. The defense is currently the worst in NFL history in terms of yards per game. Second-worst ever? The 2020 Atlanta Falcons. There is reason to buy on the defense if they can get the trenches right. The lack of presence against opposing passers lets them get picked apart. They are currently the most passed on and most passing yards-allowing unit in the entire league.
6. Tennessee Titans (4-0)
Offense: 6th, Defense: 9th, Special Teams: 12th
Last week: beat Bills 42-16
This week: home vs Texans, Sunday 1:00 Eastern Time
Ryan Tannehill got paid $118 million for the next 4 years, and early returns suggest his post-Adam Gase renaissance has been for real. Hopefully Sam Darnold is so lucky in the coming weeks. Derrick Henry and the Titans defense have done their thing too. Last year’s playoffs weren’t fluky.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2)
Offense: 11th, Defense: 8th, Special Teams: 20th
Last week: lost to Bears 20-19
This week: home vs Packers, Sunday 4:25 Eastern Time
They should have beaten the Bears on a Thursday game that feels forever ago. Oh well. All the moving parts going on, this team hasn’t nearly found its rhythm yet. Todd Bowles' defense took a leap the last 7 weeks of the season in 2019, and that momentum has proven itself legit so far. If that unit can keep up with their nightmare matchup of an offense, this team can’t help but be excited for January.
8. Los Angeles Rams (4-1)
Offense: 13th, Defense: 3rd, Special Teams: 29th
Last week: beat Washington 30-10
This week: at 49ers, Sunday 8:20 Eastern Time
Nothing like a game against the Washington Football Team to get your team humming again. They look like how they were supposed to look last year: NFC Champions that added Jalen frickin’ Ramsey. The defense being better than a Sean McVay offense so far is something that should make Los Angeles giddy. Oh, and their only loss this season was when they came back from a 28-3 deficit against the Bills in Buffalo. The only reason I have them so low is because of how bad they were last season, and my *personal* lack of faith in Jared Goff.
9. Indianapolis Colts (3-2)
Offense: 17th, Defense: 2nd, Special Teams: 2nd
Last week: lost to Browns 32-23
This week: home vs Bengals, Sunday 1:00 Eastern Time
The loss to the Browns was a letdown after an impressive road smothering of the Bears. The defense is legit, and strong at all three levels. Malik Hooker being done for the year has put a big hole in the secondary, but solutions at safety exist outside of the building if coordinator Matt Eberflus doesn’t like his roster’s choices. They have the best running back room in the NFL, boasting Jonathan Taylor, Nyheim Hines, and Jordan Wilkins. They need to prove they can handle Marlon Mack’s season-ending injury and score enough points. A lot rides on Philip Rivers’ aging right arm, but this is the opposite of an air-raid offense.
10. Buffalo Bills (4-1)
Offense: 11th, Defense: 21st. Special Teams: 17th
Last week: lost to Titans 42-16
This week: home vs Chiefs, Monday 5:00 Eastern Time
Going into Tennessee with the Titans coming off their bye was a tough ask. The Bills were without Tre’Davious White, John Brown, linebacker Matt Milano, guard Quinton Spain, and running back Zack Moss. That wasn’t their true form. But the way the Titans shellacked them raises questions about if they could’ve competed with full health. We’ll see, and Josh Allen has really improved, but I’m not buying them as AFC contenders right now. Lucky for them, the short rest week is capped off by playing a pissed off Chiefs team.
11. New England Patriots (2-2)
Offense: 22nd, Defense: 12th, Special Teams: 16th
Last week: BYE (Week 4, lost to Chiefs 26-10)
This week: home vs Broncos, Sunday 1:00 Eastern Time
Coming off of the COVID-induced bye week, Cam Newton and Stephon Gilmore should both be back. If that’s the case, they won’t be 100%, but they should still be enough of a cohesive unit to get by the Broncos. The Patriots secondary and de facto defensive coordinator Bill Belichick (seriously, they don't have a defensive coordinator. Only team in the league.) showed some serious chops against the Chiefs, giving the champs trouble with two backup quarterbacks. That unit can hang even without the players that opted out of the season. Hopefully the offense around Cam continues to diversify. The Patriots play ugly, winning football.
12. New Orleans Saints (3-2)
Offense: 5th, Defense: 26th, Special Teams: 5th
Last week: beat Chargers 30-27
This week: BYE (next week home vs Panthers)
The Saints always start slow, and this season hammered home the fact that it is not random. The defense has lost some luster, and the offense has struggled to make the plays it did all last season. Newly-acquired top target Emmanuel Sanders has hardly made his presence felt so far, but hopefully his 12 catches, 14 targets, and 122 yards last week represents a turning point. This is his first year in the offense. Drew Brees has made studs out of much worse players.
13. Chicago Bears (4-1)
Offense: 27th, Defense: 4th, Special Teams: 25th
Last week: beat Buccaneers 20-19
This week: at Panthers, Sunday 1:00 Eastern Time
Anyone affiliated with the Bears will tell you the only thing that mattered about Thursday’s game was the W column. They feel as random and lucky a 4-1 as you can be, but that record is their record. It’s hard to buy the offense right now; head coach Matt Nagy said - after Nick Foles led a 16-point comeback win against the Falcons - that Foles was only their starting quarterback for the next Sunday’s game. The offense looked horrible that next game against Indy, and it’s not out of the question that Nagy turns back to Mitch Trubisky at some point. Oof. The defense is still as good as any though, so the Bears’ glass is at least half-full.
14. Cleveland Browns (4-1)
Offense: 4th, Defense: 25th, Special Teams: 31st
Last week: beat Colts 32-23
This week: at Steelers, Sunday 1:00 Eastern Time
After getting walloped by the Ravens 38-6 in Week 1, when we all laughed them out of the building, the Browns have won 4 straight. They can't really play defense, but the offense finally remembered it has Baker Mayfield, Odell Beckham, Jarvis Landry, Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, Austin Hooper, and David Njoku. That rivals the Buccaneers at the throne for skill players. Improving the offensive line has paid immediate dividends. Myles Garrett is putting together a Defensive Player of the Year case, and the other pieces have been opportunistic enough to not choke away the past four wins. We’ll see exactly what they’re made of at Heinz Field this week. The Browns haven’t won a game in Pittsburgh since 2003!
15. Las Vegas Raiders (3-2)
Offense: 7th, Defense: 27th, Special Teams: 18th
Last week: beat Chiefs 40-32
This week: BYE (next week home vs Buccaneers)
Speaking of road divisional droughts, Derek Carr won at Arrowhead for the first time in his career last Sunday. He had been 0-6, losing each game by an average of 17 points. They score the ball like crazy. The defense is bad, but it’s fast, because of course it is. It’s the Raiders. That speed likely helped the helpless unit stay with the Chiefs track stars holding them to only (lol) 32 points. They have been really impressive; all three wins are against teams over .500. But the schedule doesn’t ease up, so we’ll see just how impressive as the weeks turn.
16. Arizona Cardinals (3-2)
Offense: 16th, Defense: 5th, Special Teams: 15th
Last week: beat Jets 30-10
This week: at Cowboys, Monday 8:15 Eastern Time
Kyler Murray MVP hype was premature. Kyler Murray hype was not. The baby-bodied assassin has made a middle-of-the-pack offense feel dynamic with its ability to strike at any time. Former Broncos head coach Vance Joseph's defense has impressed everyone. Chandler Jones, Patrick Peterson, and Budda Baker have been maximized by great fits and no glaring weaknesses. This year is not the Cardinals window, both sides of the ball are young and getting it together, but there is ample room for optimism, and their ceiling being so high means they can go toe-to-toe with anyone. Oh, and like the Patriots, the Cardinals don't have an offensive coordinator. HC Kliff Kingsbury takes that upon himself. He's one of three head coaches usurping that role, along with Philly's Doug Pederson and San Fran's Kyle Shanahan.
17. Carolina Panthers (3-2)
Offense: 20th, Defense: 13th, Special Teams: 22nd
Last week: beat Falcons 23-16
This week: home vs Bears, Sunday 1:00 Eastern Time
18. San Francisco 49ers (2-3)
Offense: 18th, Defense: 11th, Special Teams: 13th
Last week: lost to Dolphins 43-17
This week: home vs Rams, Sunday 8:20 Eastern Time
19. Dallas Cowboys (2-3)
Offense: 3rd, Defense: 32nd, Special Teams: 19th
Last weel: beat Giants 37-34
This week: home vs Cardinals, Monday 8:15 Eastern Time
20. Minnesota Vikings (1-4)
Offense: 15th, Defense: 27th, Special Teams: 21st
Last week: lost to Seahawks 27-26
This week: home vs Falcons, Sunday 1:00 Eastern Time
21. Los Angeles Chargers (1-4)
Offense: 24th, Defense: 15th, Special Teams: 32nd
Last week: lost to Saints 30-27
This week: BYE (next week home vs Jaguars)
22. Houston Texans (1-4)
Offense: 24th, Defense: 20th, Special Teams: 14th
Last week: beat Jaguars 30-14
This week: at Titans, Sunday 1:00 Eastern Time
23. Miami Dolphins (2-3)
Offense: 13th, Defense: 10th, Special Teams: 6th
Last week: beat 49ers 43-17
This week: home vs Jets, Sunday 4:05 Eastern Time
24. Philadelphia Eagles (1-3-1)
Offense: 23rd, Defense: 23rd, Special Teams: 10th
Last week: lost to Steelers 38-29
This week: home vs Ravens, Sunday 1:00 Eastern Time
25. Detroit Lions (1-3)
Offense: 19th, Defense: 29th, Special Teams: 7th
Last week: BYE
This week: at Jaguars, Sunday 1:00 Eastern Time
26. Denver Broncos (1-3)
Offense: 28th, Defense: 14th, Special Teams: 26th
Last week: BYE
This week: at Patriots, Sunday 1:00 Eastern Time
27. Cincinnati Bengals (1-3-1)
Offense: 29th, Defense: 16th, Special Teams: 9th
Last week: lost to Ravens 27-3
This week: at Colts, Sunday 1:00 Eastern Time
28. New York Football Giants (0-5)
Offense: 31st, Defense: 18th, Special Teams: 3rd
Last week: lost to Cowboys 37-34
This week: home vs Washington, Sunday 1:00 Eastern Time
29. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-4)
Offense: 26th, Defense: 24th, Special Teams: 28th
Last week: lost to Texans 30-14
This week: home vs Lions, Sunday 1:00 Eastern Time
30. Atlanta Falcons (0-5)
Offense: 20th, Defense: 30th, Special Teams: 24th
Last week: lost to Panthers 23-16
This week: at Vikings, Sunday 1:00 Eastern Time
31. Washington Football Team (1-4)
Offense: 30th, Defense: 21st, Special Teams: 23rd
Last week: lost to Rams 30-10
This week: at Giants, Sunday 1:00 Eastern Time
32. New York Jets (0-5)
Offense: 32nd, Defense: 30th, Special Teams: 27th
Last week: lost to Cardinals 30-10
This week: at Dolphins, Sunday 4:05 Eastern Time
Cover image courtesy of FOX Business
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