The Chiefs simply do not appear to be back-to-back champs, you say. Effectively, that could be true, however on a day when he misplaced his WR1 in Rashee Rice, Patrick Mahomes teamed up with Travis Kelce to get the job finished. And that regarded so much just like the back-to-back champs.
The Vikings stay proper on Kansas Metropolis’s heels, exhibiting week after week that they are professional contenders. The Bucs and Commanders storm onto the record because of their top-of-the-draft quarterbacks, one a redemption story and the opposite a rookie sensation. And do not sleep on the Ravens, who bullied the Payments on Sunday evening and gave discover that they are nonetheless a power to be reckoned with. In the meantime, the Eagles and Jets drop out after disappointing losses.
This is my High 10 for Week 4 of the 2024 season.
Throw the model factors out when evaluating the Chiefs. They persistently discover methods to win, counting on their stars and unheralded gamers to make performs within the clutch. Whether or not it’s Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce or a lately acquired veteran like Kareem Hunt, Andy Reid finds methods to place gamers able to make a game-changing play. With Steve Spagnuolo working his magic on protection, the Chiefs have the expertise and experience wanted to win perpetually in a league that hardly ever produces dynasties.
Maybe the Vikings are underrated as No. 2 on this record behind the back-to-back champs. Kevin O’Connell and Brian Flores deserve their flowers for his or her terrific work with their items whereas taking part in the type of complementary soccer that routinely ends in rings, banners and confetti. Although it’s too early to proclaim the Vikings as Tremendous Bowl frontrunners, the street to the NFC Championship Recreation might run by means of Minneapolis.
Baker Mayfield has the Buccaneers offense firing on all cylinders. He has settled in because the workforce’s QB1, exhibiting all of the traits that made him the No. 1 general decide within the 2018 draft. As Todd Bowles continues to color defensive masterpieces towards high-powered offenses, the Buccaneers appear to be professional NFC contenders.
It was not fairly for the Texans towards the Jaguars, however the C.J. Stroud–Nico Collins connection helped the workforce avert catastrophe towards a winless squad. The duo got here by means of within the clutch to swipe a win in a recreation wherein the Texans did not play wherever close to their finest. With an elite quarterback who can erase any miscues on both aspect of the ball, the Texans all the time have an opportunity on recreation day.
Though the Seahawks have raced out to a 3-0 begin, a looming matchup with the Lions on Monday evening might shake up the rankings. However a win towards some of the bodily groups within the league would present the world that Mike Macdonald’s squad is an rising bully within the Pacific Northwest.
Regardless of Buffalo whipping a trio of cupcakes to start out the season, questions persist concerning the Payments’ standing as contenders after shedding to an AFC heavyweight on Sunday evening. Their loss to the Ravens uncovered among the Payments’ shortcomings within the passing recreation and not using a true WR1 to lean on in essential moments. Whereas broad receiver-by-committee has labored towards inferior opponents, the Payments should discover a method to create explosive move performs towards elite competitors to recover from the hump in 2024.
How Lamar Jackson and the Ravens shut down Josh Allen, Payments
The spectacular begin of the Jayden Daniels‘ period has propelled the Commanders to the No. 1 spot within the NFC East. The No. 2 general decide has reworked the offense into an unstoppable scoring machine able to lighting up the scoreboard on the bottom or by means of the air. With the workforce all-in on its famous person quarterback, the Commanders are poised to make an sudden run on the division title.
Relying on the end result of their Monday evening battle with the Seahawks, the Lions might transfer up the charts as one of many high groups within the NFC. Dan Campbell’s bunch has bullied its means into title competition, however the Lions can not fall off the tempo with the division rival Vikings off to a scorching begin.
Regardless of a Week 4 loss, the Steelers hit the quarter-mark as a division chief with loads of room to enhance on the offensive aspect of the ball. As offensive coordinator Arthur Smith builds round Justin Fields‘ abilities, Pittsburgh’s offense might grow to be a potent ground-and-pound assault by season’s finish. If the Steelers proceed to dominate on protection with T.J. Watt main the best way, Mike Tomlin’s squad will stay within the hunt as a dark-horse contender within the AFC.
10. Baltimore Ravens
Don’t be fooled by the Ravens’ .500 report. John Harbaugh’s squad passes the eyeball take a look at as one of many elite groups within the AFC as a consequence of a hard-hitting protection and a dynamic, run-based offense sparked by two-time MVP Lamar Jackson and two-time speeding champ Derrick Henry. Whereas the old-school blueprint may lack sizzle, the Ravens’ potential to bully their opponents into submission will make them a harmful workforce within the postseason event. Because the Ravens lean into their identification as a “Bully Ball” squad that wins counting on their physicality, toughness and tenacity, they’ll emerge because the workforce nobody desires to face down the stretch.
Bucky Brooks is an NFL analyst for FOX Sports activities. He additionally breaks down the sport for NFL Community and as a cohost of the “Transferring the Sticks” podcast. Observe him on Twitter @BuckyBrooks.
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