We’re at the quarter-mark of the NFL betting season, and things are starting to shake out for better or worse. Here’s the latest rankings of the 32 NFL franchises.
# 32 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-3)
Jameis Winston through four picks on Sunday, but this is still just his fourth game. Remember Vinny Testaverde? During his rookie campaign in Tampa, he threw 35 picks and still ended up with a solid career.
# 31 Chicago Bears (1-3)
Jay Cutler returned from his hamstring injury and did NOT throw a late pick to cost his team the game. Instead, he drove his team down the field in crunch time for the game-winning field goal.
# 30 Houston Texans (1-3)
Arian Foster is back to carry the ball. It’s a shame he can’t throw it too. Oh, and the Texans’ defense is not good.
# 29 San Francisco 49ers (1-3)
The 49ers defense is finally awakening, having held Aaron Rodgers to just 17 points and 5 out of 15 on third downs. However, the offense averages just 3.9 yards per play.
# 28 New Orleans Saints (1-3)
Finally, a Saints signing paid off, as C.J. Spiller caught a game-winning 80-yard pass on the second play of overtime.
# 27 Miami Dolphins (1-3)
Former NFL tight end Dan Campbell is now the interim head coach of the Miami Dolphins. Miami could go 0-6 in the division this year. A long fall for a team expected to contend.
# 26 Cleveland Browns (1-3)
Josh McCown brought a stellar game to San Diego this past week, going 32 for 41 for 356 yards, two scores and no interceptions. It’s true that Johnny Manziel has still quarterbacked the team’s only win, but McCown looks more like the Browns’ leadership said he would.
# 25 Detroit Lions (0-4)
Yes, the refs took the (1-3) away from the Lions on Monday Night Football. However, Detroit’s defense has been solid thus far. The offense isn’t using Matthew Stafford like it should.
# 24 Jacksonville Jaguars (1-3)
Think the Jaguars might re-sign Josh Scobee now that the Steelers have cut him loose? Remember, Scobee missed those kicks for Pittsburgh while hurt.
# 23 Tennessee Titans (1-2)
Marcus Mariota is exciting to watch, even with that Week 3 loss to the Colts coming as a gut punch. The secondary needs to limit bombs for the opposition.
# 22 Philadelphia Eagles (1-3)
Sam Bradford just might be waking up. DeMarco Murray wants more carries, so we’ll see if Chip Kelly listens.
# 21 Baltimore Ravens (1-3)
The Ravens just barely escaped Pittsburgh with a win to get off the schneid. Justin Forsett looks like a terrific back when he gets some holes to run through.
# 20 Washington Redskins (2-2)
The Redskins are showing a decent running game, with 127 yards on 32 carries last week. They also have a decent front seven, holding the Eagles to 4 of 13 on third down in the Redskins’ 23-20 victory.
# 19 Dallas Cowboys (2-2)
Another week, another group of players to the infirmary. Now Sean Lee is taking part in the NFL’s concussion protocol and Lance Dunbar is facing torn ligament surgery. Next up: New England. Gulp.
# 18 Oakland Raiders (2-2)
Latavius Murra has 377 offensive yards in four games and will be one of the game’s best running backs this season.
# 17 Kansas City Chiefs (1-3)
The Chiefs destroyed Houston in Week 1 and then…fell in clutch time to Denver as a bizarre fumble return turned things around. Road games in Green Bay and Cincinnati have battered the team even further. Can they recover?
# 16 San Diego Chargers (2-2)
Philip Rivers has a rating of 105.3 so far this year through four games.
# 15 New York Giants (2-2)
Can you believe the G-men are tied for first in the NFC East? Now that the Cowboys can’t beat anyone with Romo out, the Giants could well win this division.
# 14 Indianapolis Colts (2-2)
Yes, the Colts beat Jacksonville with the elderly Matt Hasselbeck calling the signals. Hopefully Andrew Luck returns this season.
# 13 St. Louis Rams (2-2)
Todd Gurley arrived on Sunday and looks tremendous, looking like Eddie George physically, running in gorgeous fashion. He also looks like Brian Westbrook with his swagger.
# 12 Pittsburgh Steelers (2-2)
Michael Vick will need to do more to keep the Steelers above water in the AFC North until Ben Roethlisberger returns.
# 11 Minnesota Vikings (2-2)
Stefon Diggs is a talented young receiver, and it’s clear that Adrian Peterson is back and out for big yards.
# 10 Buffalo Bills (2-2)
We were shocked by the Bills’ implosion at home against the Giants. Seventeen penalties, two turnovers, and a 0 for 3 performance in the red zone.
# 9 New York Jets (3-1)
The Jets almost blew their London victory, but they held on. Credit that stellar secondary.
# 8 Seattle Seahawks (2-2)
This team will eventually take off, but the offense is pedestrian so far. The defense has forced 18 punts, recovered one fumble and allowed one field goal in the last twenty drives against.
# 7 Carolina Panthers (4-0)
Don’t look now, but Cam Newton’s crew has won 9 of their last 10 games.
# 6 Arizona Cardinals (3-1)
If Carson Palmer hits that slant on fourth-and-2 late in the fourth quarter, then the Cardinals drive down and win. It didn’t help that his receiver, David Johnson, was the same one who fumbled on the opening kickoff.
# 5 Atlanta Falcons (4-0)
Dan Quinn has brought the Falcons a steel trap of a defense, with a +6 turnover differential, with four takeaways just this past Sunday.
# 4 Denver Broncos (4-0)
Wade Phillips can’t do a thing as a head coach, but as a defensive coordinator he is a genius.
# 3 Cincinnati Bengals (4-0)
The Bengals have so many offensive weapons that game planning for them is just about impossible.
# 2 New England Patriots (3-0)
The Patriots had an early bye week – so they finally were out of the headlines for Week 4. They remain a strong team, though, especially with Brady running on anger.
# 1 Green Bay Packers (4-0)
Even when the Packers aren’t firing on all cylinders, like in last week’s game against San Francisco, they still make the clutch plays when they need to. That’s what defines a champion – and a leader in the power rankings.