Crowe - NFL Week #4 Power Rankings 2022
Sunday, October 02, 2022
It’s funny how things can change in just one year. Whether things go from good to bad or from bad to good, it’s amazing how the fates of teams around the NFL can be oh so different in just 12 months.
As we previewed in our Bold Predictions before the season, there’s usually one team that goes from worst to first in their division. Last season, it was the Bengals and this time, we have the Ravens pegged for that honor.
So, let’s take a look at what organizations have had their fates changed from after week 3 in 2021 to after week 3 in 2022, some for the better and some, unfortunately for them, for the worse.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTFirst, the good. The Jacksonville Jaguars are the poster children of the quick turnaround. One year ago, the Jags were the laughingstock of the league at 0-3 behind rookie head coach Urban Meyer, who would be fired before the year ended as the Jags won only three games all season. Heading into this weekend, the Jags are 2-1 and lead the AFC South after a surprising road win over the Chargers.
From the NFC East, we have the Giants going from 0-3 to 2-1 after losing their first game to Dallas in week 3. In Philly, the Eagles were just 1-2 after three weeks last season, but now they lead the way in the NFC with a 3-0 record sparked by quarterback Jalen Hurts.
Conversely, what can you say about the Las Vegas Raiders? They went out and hired Josh McDaniels as its new head coach, traded for All-World wide receiver Devante Adams, and added pass rusher, Chandler Jones, on defense. Yet here they stand, winless heading into week four only 12 months after starting out 3-0 in 2021. Joining Raiders Nation in disappointment is a pair of teams that will face each other in week 4 in Charlotte, the Panthers and Cardinals. Both are 1-2 after leading their respective divisions one year ago at 3-0.
The burning question for all those franchises is do their fates continue on their current track or do they change? Who becomes the Bengals, who made it within a few plays of winning the Super Bowl, and who becomes the Ravens, who squandered a playoff season by losing its last six games?
That answer will have to wait for another day. For now, let’s take a look at who’s riding high heading into week 4 with our latest power rankings.
10. Minnesota Vikings (2-1, Last week ranked 10th)
Minnesota was just a few minutes away from a second straight loss Sunday against Detroit. Then, instead of playing for a tying field goal, Kirk Cousins threw a game-winning touchdown and the Vikes are now back tied for first in the NFC North. This Sunday, Minnesota heads across the pond to face the reeling Saints in an early 9:30am eastern time game in London.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1, Last week not ranked)
How about them Jags? All they did was march right into Los Angeles and lay a beatdown on the favored Chargers, 38-10. The AFC South-leading Jaguars lead the NFL with a +7 takeaway differential. Their defense has come up with six interceptions and two fumble recoveries, while Trevor Lawrence (262 yards, touchdowns vs. LAC) has only thrown one interception this season. The Jags are second in the league in point differential at +46. It’s only September and they’re only one win away from their entire win total from 2021 as head coach Doug Pederson takes his new team into Philadelphia this Sunday to face the team he won Super Bowl LII with back in 2018.
8. Los Angeles Rams (2-1 Last week ranked 9th)
Just like that, the Rams are the only winning team in the NFC West after back-to-back wins over the Falcons and Cardinals. Neither victory was a thing of beauty, but it does give them some much-needed confidence after an opening night rout at the hands of the Bills.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1, Last week ranked 4th)
The trend continues for Tom Brady and the Bucs and it’s not a good one. They’ve scored just one touchdown in each of their first three games and this past Sunday, the Buccaneers' defense couldn’t bail them out, losing 14-12 to the Packers. This week, Tampa practiced in Miami after feeling the effects of Hurricane Ian. They’ll be happy to get wide receiver Mike Evans back after his one-game suspension as they welcome the Chiefs to town for a Sunday night primetime affair.
6. Green Bay Packers (2-1, Last week ranked 8th)
It wasn’t pretty, but a victory on the road against Tom Brady and the Buccaneers is something the Packers will surely take. Aaron Rodgers tossed a pair of touchdowns to make it two wins in a row as they welcome the Patriots to town this Sunday. Suddenly, things look rosy again in Green Bay.
5. Baltimore Ravens (2-1, Last week not ranked)
Who’s going to stop Lamar Jackson this season? Jackson threw for four scores and ran for another as the Ravens rolled over the Patriots in Foxboro 37-28. He’s now accounted for 12 overall touchdowns, including a league-high 10 TD passes. If not for a fourth-quarter collapse against Miami in week 2, the Ravens would still be without a loss.
4. Kansas City Chiefs (2-1, Last week ranked 2nd)
We warned Chiefs fans last week about the possible trap game in Indianapolis and unfortunately for Kansas City, it happened. The Chiefs lost to the previously winless Colts 20-17 after a last-minute Indy rally and an uncharacteristic late-game Patrick Mahomes interception. This Sunday night, KC takes on the Bucs and Tom Brady in Tampa in a Super Bowl LV rematch.
3. Buffalo Bills (2-1, Last week ranked 1st)
The Bills have to be shaken their collective heads after losing 21-19 in Miami Sunday. All Buffalo did was win the time of possession (40-20 minutes), and dominate on offense (90-39 plays, 497-212 yards) but due to some ineffective red zone play and the inability to get out of bounds in the final seconds, the Bills did just that – lose to the still undefeated Dolphins. It doesn’t get any easier this week as Buffalo heads to Baltimore to take on Lamar Jackson and the 2-1 Ravens.
2. Miami Dolphins (3-1, Last week ranked 5th)
Before Thursday night’s loss in Cincinnati, I had the Dolphins ranked second in this week’s power rankings. Due to how they lost, with the frightening scene in which quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered head and neck injuries, I’m keeping them right here. There’s no shame losing to the defending AFC champions, especially on the road on a short week without your starting quarterback for more than half the game. Now, how the league deals with the fallout from the Tagovailoa situation, getting a head injury just four days after seemingly suffering a concussion that was deemed a back injury against the Bills, will be quite interesting. It does take some of the luster off the fact that rookie head coach Mike McDaniel had beaten Bill Belichick, John Harbaugh and Sean McDermott in his first three games.
1. Philadelphia Eagles (3-0, Last week ranked 3rd)
After three weeks, there’s no doubt who the cream of the crop is in the NFC. Quarterback Jalen Hurts has led Philly to three straight dominating victories despite not scoring a touchdown in the second half the past two weeks. The NFL’s top offense (447 yards/game) is led by Hurts, who is third-ranked in yards (916) while completing 66% of his passes making the Eagles a top 3 passing offense. He’s offset throwing for only four touchdowns by running for three of his own to compliment a ground attack that’s seventh-ranked at 150 yards per game. Add in the league’s fifth-best defense, surrendering 296 yards per game, and the Eagles are flying high atop our power rankings.
Week 4 games to watch:
Vikings at Saints (Sunday 9:30 am NFL Network) – First International game of the season in London
Bills at Ravens (Sunday 1 pm CBS) – Battle of the top 2 running QBs: Josh Allen vs. Lamar Jackson
Jaguars at Eagles (Sunday 1 pm CBS) – Former Eagles head coach Doug Pederson returns to Philly
Patriots at Packers (Sunday 4:25 pm CBS) – Can the Patriots win with Brian “Axel” Hoyer at QB?
Chiefs at Buccaneers (Sunday 8:20 pm NBC) – Super Bowl LV rematch
Rams at 49ers (Monday 8:15pm ESPN) – NFC Championship rematch
Patriots have turned the ball over more times than any other team in the league – 8.
Last week:
10. Vikings
9. Rams
8. Packers
7. Chargers
6. 49ers
5. Dolphins
4. Buccaneers
3. Eagles
2. Chiefs
1. Bills
Related Articles
- NFL 2022 Predictions - John Crowe
- Crowe - NFL Week #2 Power Rankings 2022
- Crowe - NFL Week #3 Power Rankings 2022
