NFL power rankings: 49ers and Bills stay hot entering Week 4
By Peter Panacy
NFL Power Rankings: Nos. 10-6
W, 27-20 @ Chargers
If only the bears had gone with quarterback Deshaun Watson instead of Mitchell Trubisky in the 2017 NFL Draft.
Watson tore up the Chargers in Week 3, passing for 351 yards with three touchdowns, while defensive end J.J. Watt looked like his old self with two sacks of Los Angeles’ quarterback, Philip Rivers.
Houston looked somewhat disjointed early in the season. But it seems as if head coach Bill O’Brien is finally putting things together after a few weeks.
W, 34-14 vs. Raiders
Quarterback Kirk Cousins still might be the answer in Minnesota. But he doesn’t have to be, as long as Dalvin Cook and the running game, combined with what has been a resurgent Vikings defense, continues to do what it did against the visiting Raiders.
This game was over early, as the Vikings were out to comfortable 34-7 lead late in the fourth quarter.
L, 33-27 vs. Saints
Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll had some questionable play calls of his own during the team’s home loss to the Drew Brees-less Saints.
But the bigger story was how Seattle’s defense let New Orleans get out to a red-hot 27-7 lead by the end of the third quarter. While the Seahawks made it interesting late, this is the kind of game the Seahawks have grown accustomed to winning in recent years.
Quarterback Russell Wilson continues to show why he’s one of the league’s best, passing for over 400 yards with two touchdowns.
W, 33-27 @ Seahawks
Maybe the Saints aren’t going to be in as much trouble without Brees under center, as quarterback Teddy Bridgewater managed to do more than enough on the road to get New Orleans a much-needed victory.
Let’s see if Bridgewater can hold the line longer, of course. But when running back Alvin Kamara churns out 161 multi-purpose yards, the Saints offense remains dangerous.
Road wins help, too.
L, 33-28 @ Chiefs
Yes, the Ravens get a hefty boost in NFL power rankings despite their road loss at the Chiefs.
While the Chiefs got off to a red-hot start, credit Baltimore for climbing back into this game and clamping down on a dangerous Kansas City offense in the second half. A few bounces this way or that, and the Ravens could have easily been the team to hand the Chiefs what would likely be one of very few losses in 2019.
Quarterback Lamar Jackson wasn’t at his total best, yet still managed to throw for over 260 yards while protecting the ball. And running back Mark Ingram did a lot of the work on the ground, rushing for over 100 yards and picking up three touchdowns in the process.
Baltimore earned a lot of respect this week.