This week in the NFL proved to be just as confusing as any other week thus far. There is an insane amount of shuffling all across the board between the elite and poor teams alike. Just when you think things are starting to take shape, the Jenga blocks get knocked right down the ground. After a wild first month of the season, let’s stack up the teams 1-32:
1 – 
Cardinals (4-0) 
3
For the third consecutive week, we have a new #1. I’ve seen other people saying that Arizona doesn’t deserve to leapfrog all the way to the top just because they beat the Rams, and that’s fair, but in my opinion, they are currently the best team in football. They’ve been trending in that direction all year long. Kyler Murray is playing like the MVP favorite he is, the rest of the offense is stacked and everyone is eating, and the defense is returning to form, especially in the secondary. I thought the formula to beating this team was to play elite defense, but even LA couldn’t slow these guys down. If not them, then who will? I’m not sure many teams have what it takes. This top spot is now theirs to lose.
2 – 
Bills (3-1) 4
If Week 1 didn’t exist, this team would easily be atop the list. They’re on top of a lot of lists I’ve seen. I, like most people, still don’t understand how they lost to the Steelers. But, that was then, and this is now. And in the last 3 weeks, this team is playing lights out football. Granted, they haven’t exactly played the best teams, but they are pulling no punches and looking as good as they ever have under Josh Allen. The QB is back to his old ways, diming and spreading the ball all over the place, and this secondary is starting to reach elite status. This week’s primetime showdown with the Chiefs will be their toughest test, but I truly think they’ll be up to it. Let’s see how I get proven wrong this time.
3 – 
Rams (3-1) 
2
Yes, the Rams laid an absolute dud on Sunday. But, as I said yesterday, we should have seen it coming. They were obviously still riding the high of their victory over Tampa, and I doubt they’ll look that flat again anytime soon. This roster is still stacked, Matt Stafford is still putting up huge numbers, and the defense is far too talented to be that porous. From personnel to coaching, there are very few teams I feel better about than LA, and I’m sticking with them. But they better get back on track quick ahead of a Thursday night showdown with Seattle. I think they’ll do just that.
4 – 
Buccaneers (3-1) 1
You don’t always need to be flashy and exciting to win football games. Sometimes, you just need to be solid on both sides of the ball and make plays when necessary. That’s all the Bucs needed to do on Sunday. I still think they deserved to lose, but I also recognize that they did what they had to do to get the win and move to 3-1. All the problems I had with this team are still there, and they’re honestly amplified with how thin they are in the secondary, but the defensive line seems deep enough to make up for some of that lack in the defensive backfield. The offense has seen better days, but again, they’re simply too good to not put up their numbers. Even while they’re not healthy, this is still a more than formidable squad.
5 – 
Chargers (3-1) 3
I’ve been waiting for this for so long. The Chargers are finally starting to realize their potential, and I honestly think they haven’t even reached it yet. They’re only getting better and better, and it has been awesome to watch unfold. Justin Herbert is playing smart, sharp football, delivering the football perfectly all over the field, the ground game is gashing defensive fronts, and this D is suffocating even the best of offenses. Once their deep passing game gets going, this team will have every way to beat you, and you’ll have no way to beat them. I really think the sky is the limit for this team, but this is still the Chargers, so I wouldn’t be surprised if something derails that. I’m keeping my hopes up.
6 – 
Packers (3-1) 1
The Packers were exactly what I expected them to be this week. The only thing that I’m not liking with this team right now is that the passing offense isn’t as explosive as it has been in the past, but that doesn’t seem to be a problem at all. This defense is playing really well, and it means their offense can take their time with a lot of running and short quick throws to go on long touchdown drives. It’s a good formula for success, and Green Bay is executing it better than almost anyone else in football right now.
7 – 
Cowboys (3-1) 6
I have seen enough to decree the Dallas Cowboys as legit. The offense is extremely balanced; in fact, it’s a run-first offense at this point. This team continues to run more than pass, and it’s not because Dak is hurt or still in recovery. He’s clearly just fine, launching the ball with pinpoint accuracy and dissecting defenses week after week. This run game is simply back and being as productive as ever. Both the resurgence of Ezekiel Elliott and the emergence of Tony Pollard gives the Cowboys one of the best 1-2 punches out of the backfield in football. And this defense is simply awesome. The star of the show is obviously Trevon Diggs with his 5 picks in 4 games, but everyone else is doing their part too. The only thing that concerns me with this team is HC Mike McCarthy and his very questionable in-game decisions, but perhaps this team is talented enough to overcome that. I certainly think that’s the case.
8 – 
Browns (3-1) 6
Don’t overreact to this massive drop. This was simply a reality check for the Browns. I know they won by more than I even predicted them to, but Sunday’s game left a sour taste in my mouth. Baker Mayfield was flat out bad, completing less than 50% of his passes, missing wide open receivers, and not doing enough to help his team win. The playcalling was also questionable, as the Browns often refused to run the ball when it was clearly working, especially in goal-line opportunities. Thankfully for them, the unit on other side of the ball showed up to play, and they dominated from start to finish to the tune of only 7 points allowed. The defensive line is continuing to dominate, and the secondary is only getting better. If that trend continues, then I suppose it doesn’t matter how lethargic the passing offense is.
9 – 
Chiefs (2-2) 
Sunday’s performance was a vintage Chiefs offensive explosion, and while it was awesome to watch, I still can’t get over what this team is doing on defense. KC’s secondary has never been this bad, and they’re allowing even the weakest of offenses to rip them apart. They simply aren’t as sharp on that side of the ball. It doesn’t help that their front 7 personnel is lacking. With the red hot Bills coming into town on Sunday night, anyone who isn’t aware of these issues will see them on full display. I think it could be the ugliest game of the Mahomes era, and I can’t help but feel bad for him. His career cannot be reduced to shootouts and catch-up football.
10 – 
Raiders (3-1) 3
Vegas’ biggest hole was gaping on Monday night, as I expected. Against offenses that know what they’re doing, this team is probably screwed. They had the benefit of playing some not-so good offenses, and when they played the Ravens, they were in their first game after all of those injuries, so don’t give me that as an example. Moreover, this offense was completely suffocated by the best such unit they’ve faced this season. I think the Raiders are going to show you that they are a middle-of-the-road team this year. They can certainly feast on teams that are less talented than they are, but against the elite squads of the NFL? Not so much. But, they’ve earned their spot in the top 10 for the moment, so here they stay. We’ll see how long it lasts.
11 – 
Ravens (3-1) 1
I hope the “Lamar can’t throw” crowd never speaks up again. Jackson and the Baltimore offense ripped apart a very good Broncos secondary from start to finish on Sunday, and it was glorious to watch. They didn’t put up as many points as maybe they should have, but that’s more of a testament to the aforementioned Denver D. Still, I really liked what I saw from the Ravens. They still have to do some work to breach the top 10, but I know for a fact that they’re trending in the right direction, and with their lackluster schedule, they’ll be just fine.
12 – 
49ers (2-2) 2
It could be the start of an exciting time in San Francisco, but I think it’s too soon. Rookie QB Trey Lance got his first real snaps under center on Sunday thanks to a calf injury sustained by Jimmy Garoppolo, and he definitely held his own, despite the loss. Now, Lance might see some starts as Jimmy recovers. A lot of people have been waiting for us, but Lance was the most raw prospect in the draft, and I still think he needs more time to develop. This team is still talented enough to be just fine no matter who’s at QB, but we’ll see how different they look with the rook. They could either be elevated to a new level, or it could be a ticket on the struggle bus.
13 – 
Seahawks (2-2) 4
I’m still not really feeling it with this team. They just happen to be the beneficiary of a couple of other teams falling off. Their offense didn’t look as good as the scoreboard would indicate on Sunday, and the defense is still a big, big problem. All of the problems I have with the Seahawks are still very apparent, and it will catch up to them. I wouldn’t look too much into a win against a team that had to turn to an extremely raw rookie QB for half the game. Don’t get your hopes up with this team.
14 – 
Broncos (3-1) 3
I’d put this team higher, but I still don’t know about Teddy Bridgewater’s health. Drew Lock makes this team significantly worse, and as it stands, he’s the QB. I don’t think they really stand much of a chance with him under center. He is too erratic and too careless with the ball to put the Broncos in a position to win, even with their great defense. I’m really worried that if Teddy misses significant time, it could derail this season as the schedule starts to get harder. I’m hoping he comes back soon, because this team needs him badly.
15 – 
Bengals (3-1) 4
Well, well, well. The surprise team of 2021 just keeps on surprising. No one is surprised that they beat the Jaguars, but everything is going right with the Bengals. Sitting at 3-1 with the best QB play in a long, long time with a plethora of playmakers on offense and a defense that can suddenly defend, Cincy is sitting pretty atop the division. Joe Burrow has been simply incredible to watch, and his offensive line is actually protecting him, allowing for this offense to thrive. I’m really hoping this team can stay healthy, because not only have they been a ton of fun to watch, but they deserve to finally have some success. Let’s see how long they can keep this up.
16 – 
Vikings (1-3) 1
I still truly believe the Vikings are a lot better than their record would suggest, but Sunday’s performance was an ugly one. For the first time this season, Minnesota’s offense was stifled, and it clearly rattled them. Kirk Cousins threw his first INT of the season and simply wasn’t on the same page as his receivers all game long. The run game also never got going, as Dalvin Cook was a nonfactor in his return from injury. The defense did its job, and did it much better than I expected, but it simply wasn’t enough. Cleveland was undoubtedly going to be a tough test, but if this is the Vikings offense we get against any elite teams, then perhaps their record will never reflect how good they are.
17 – 
Panthers (3-1) 1
So, this team having the #1 defense in football through 3 weeks was clearly a product of the opponents they played. That unit got absolutely shredded by the Cowboys on Sunday, both on the ground and through the air. The talent of this defense is nothing to scoff at, but they cannot afford to play like that at all in the future. I still have my doubts. Offensively, it wasn’t the worst game in the world, but I still think this team misses Christian McCaffrey a ton. The level of dynamic playmaking and simply the threat he provides is being sorely missed, and although Sam Darnold and DJ Moore have been putting up good numbers, it’s just not enough. Maybe the additions of C.J. Henderson and Stefon Gilmore will help out the defense, but there is nothing and no one this team needs more than CMC.
18 – 
Saints (2-2) 4
I guess I’ll just never understand this team. I’m giving up even trying to. It’s simply too difficult. The Saints played a pretty good game through 50 or so minutes on Sunday, but that makes the blown lead even more confusing. Isn’t this defense supposed to be the pride and soul of the team? How you give up nearly 500 yards of offense and blow a double digit 4th quarter lead to the Giants is beyond me. I’m just done trying to make sense of what’s going on in New Orleans and taking things as they come. Right now, losing that game in the manner that they did, they deserve this drop.
19 – 
Patriots (1-3) 1
As I’ve said repeatedly, the Patriots were the better team on Sunday night and they deserved to win that game. Mac Jones played his best game of his young career, the passing offense looked very solid, and the defense was stifling Tom Brady all night long. But, the complete lack of a run game, some untimely turnovers, and a questionable FG decision sealed this team’s fate. I still think this is a solid football team, but I do think they don’t have what it takes to make up for their shortcomings. You can’t run for negative yardage in a game and expect to win. That’s just now how it works. There isn’t enough talent in this offense to compensate for that. And I think that’s what will hold this team back this season. They’ve got their QB, but they need to work even harder on making his life easier.
20 – 
Washington (2-2) 3
To call this team a rollercoaster would be undermining how crazy this team is. Every other week is a 60-minute heart attack. This can’t be good for my health. Washington’s defense is still dreadful, as they refuse to get off the field on 3rd down, no matter what the distance is. This secondary is getting torched by RBs and WRs alike, and they still refuse to get pressure on the QB. Oh, and they haven’t forced a turnover since Week 1. The offense is making up for these shortcomings, as Antonio Gibson is finally getting more involved out of the backfield and Terry McLaurin continues to be one of the most unguardable WRs in football. Taylor Heinicke has also been a pleasant surprise on offense and gives the unit an extra gear that hasn’t been there before. But, they won’t be playing the Falcons every week. As long as this defense refuses to improve, this team is screwed. Unless that side of the ball tightens up in a huge way, many of Washington’s games won’t even be competitive.
21 – 
Titans (2-2) 5
What? I mean seriously, what? You lost to the Jets? The New York Jets? In the year of our lord 2021? Why should I even waste my time talking about this team? They don’t deserve it. Tennessee, you’re going on timeout for a week. Think long and hard about what you’ve done.
22 – 
Steelers (1-3)
The same old Steelers came to play in Lambeau on Sunday, and what I saw on the field was exactly what I expected. This offense is still as one-dimensional as ever, and that single dimension is remarkably ineffective. This team’s undying dedication to short throws over the middle is pretty hilarious, but also just sad to watch. The fact that Ben Roethlisberger connected on a deep shot early in this game is genuinely one of the most shocking things I’ve seen this season. The defense looked better, but is clearly still not at full strength. T.J. Watt’s groin injury is definitely holding him back, as Pittsburgh only got pressure on 18% of snaps on Sunday. There just isn’t a lot, if anything, going right with this team. It’s all downhill from here.
23 – 
Colts (1-3) 1
It was about time for Indy to get in the win column in 2021, although it wasn’t the most impressive win against a not-so-impressive opponent. But, a win is a win, and they deserve some love this week. Jonathan Taylor was the star of the show on Sunday, and his emergence has been long overdue this season. Carson Wentz also did his part, taking care of the football and helping his team cash in on turnovers. Winning the TO battle and converting those free possessions into points is a tried and true formula in this league, and maybe it’s just what the Colts need to do to try and get this season back on track.
24 – 
Bears (2-2) 3
It wasn’t the prettiest win we’ve ever seen, but the Bears did their job on Sunday and Justin Fields got his first W as an NFL QB. Good for him, and good for them. Granted, playing the Lions can make any team get back on track. Now, Fields will be the full-time starter moving forward, and while I have confidence in him, he’s still not in the greatest situation. This offense is severely lacking in talent, and it’s only getting worse now that RB David Montgomery is dealing with a knee injury. Oh, and this offensive line is still horrible. I’m sure Chicago is feeling good about themselves right now, but this won’t be a lasting feeling. I just hope they can keep Fields upright and get him valuable experience heading into what should be a bright future.
25 – 
Giants (1-3) 4
Somehow the Giants won themselves a game, and did so in… explosive fashion? Almost 500 yards of offense including over 400 passing yards from Daniel Jones fueled a comeback OT victory in the Superdome on Sunday. These are a lot of words that feel like they don’t belong in the same sentence. Still, good for New York to get the W that was seemingly evading them for weeks. I doubt we’ll see them put up these types of offensive numbers again, but it’s good that they finally put them up. It could create some good momentum moving forward, which they’ll certainly need, as the schedule is just brutal.
26 – 
Dolphins (1-3) 5
Yikes. In one of the more surprising developments through 4 weeks, the Dolphins are just… bad. I don’t even think the QB situation matters in Miami. Both guys are not serviceable starters in this league, and neither one of them can elevate this weak offense into something better. But the biggest surprise to me is the struggles of this defense. This was supposed to be an elite unit, but they’ve been anything but so far in 2021. I have no idea how this team can turn things around. It’s just a sad sight.
27 – 
Eagles (1-3) 2
Once again, the Philly defense got shredded and put in a blender. Perhaps this is a product of playing some of the NFL’s best offenses, but these guys aren’t even remotely competitive on D. The offense did their thing yet again, but I still think it’s the product of playing catch-up in the midst of blowouts. But, perhaps the Eagles feel good about their empty stats. It’s about the only thing they can feel good about right now.
28 – 
Falcons (1-3)
This team is absurd. The offense was moving all game long, they got all the calls in the world, everything was going right for them, and they still found a way to blow it in the 4th quarter. It truly is just in their DNA. This defense is as abysmal as ever, so it doesn’t even matter if their offense plays as well as they did on Sunday. Unless Cordarralle Patterson continues playing like the greatest Swiss army knife we’ve ever seen, there is just nothing to like here. At least they get the Jets this week.
29 – 
Lions (0-4) 3
Alright, I’ll never put my faith in this team again. The Lions didn’t play their worst game in Chicago on Sunday, but they simply could not get out of their own way, and that ended up being their demise. I’m not sure why I expected anything different. I still like this team’s offensive pieces, but man, that defense is just dreadful. Jared Goff isn’t exactly the guy to overcome that. At least the offensive line is still decent!
30 – 
Jets (1-3) 2
I really have to praise the Jets this week. What a cruel world. Well, congrats on your first and perhaps only win of the season. Zach Wilson looked like a real QB for once, and the utter incompetence of the Titans allowed you to notch that ever-evasive W. I hope you feel good about it, because you won’t see many more this season. This team is still a complete trainwreck, and I don’t see it getting any better. But, if Wilson continues to improve, then it inspires the slightest bit of confidence. I just don’t have much faith in that.
31 – 
Texans (1-3) 1
Oh brother. Once again, the Texans we got on Sunday were the Texans we expected in 2021. How the heck did this team beat Jacksonville in Week 1? Well, I guess they’re as much of a mess. Houston gets the slightest of passes due to having to start the 3rd QB on their depth chart, but it doesn’t even matter. This is just a horrible roster and their play on the field is starting to reflect that more and more each week. At least they’re not the Jaguars.
32 – 
Jaguars (0-4) 1
That didn’t take long. Welcome back to the bottom, Jags. This is not just an indictment on the on-the-field product, but what’s happening externally as well. I mean what the hell is Urban Meyer doing? Losing a game in which you had a 2 touchdown lead, then going to get danced on in your own bar?! And getting caught in 4K doing so? Just unreal. I told you guys this experiment might fail before it even gets started, and we are on the fast track to that being the case. What an unmitigated disaster.
All stats taken from ESPN.
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