Saturday, September 30, 2023

New York Giants Week 4 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 4 roundup for the New York Giants in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 23

Biggest issue on offense: Offensive line

So much to pick from but it starts with the always-changing offensive line, which is yielding pressure on 39.4% of Daniel Jones' dropbacks. It's hard for the Giants and Jones to produce consistent offense if they're using extra bodies to pass protect and still allowing pressure. This isn't to say that Jones has played well -- he didn't against San Francisco, completing 22 of 32 passes for 137 yards and an interception. It's also impossible not to factor in the absence of left tackle Andrew Thomas (hamstring) and running back Saquon Barkley (ankle). They are the two best players on this offense. -- Jordan Raanan

NFL.com -- Rank: 29

With two humbling losses sandwiching a miraculous comeback win, the Giants require some soul-searching ahead of more tough games. The road back to the playoffs was always going to be rumbly, but I can't imagine the G-Men went into the season thinking it would be quite this laborious. The Giants have been making it tougher on themselves with poor tackling and a -5 turnover differential. It looked like multiple Giants missed tackles last Thursday, and they have yet to force a turnover this season. That won't play against lesser teams, much less against a dangerous 49ers squad. The offensive issues are pretty stark, but the defensive inefficiency is nearly as disturbing.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 25

That showing against the 49ers on the road was terrible. The offensive line is a disaster with injuries and poor play.

USA Today -- Rank: 26

Going back to last season's playoffs, they've trailed by double digits at halftime in four straight games, the combined score at intermission in that stretch 91-6 in favor of New York's opponents. Yes, they've faced Philadelphia, Dallas and San Francisco in that stretch ... though that's another way of saying the Giants are no better than NFL welterweights.

The Athletic -- Rank: 26

QB confidence rating: 5

The Giants are paying $40 million per year for this. Daniel Jones threw the ball 32 times and had 137 passing yards Sunday. That's 4.3 yards per attempt. For the season, he's 29th in the league at 5.8 yards per attempt. His 107 rushing yards don't make up for that.

FOX -- Rank: 28

The Giants were on the road, on a short week against one of the best teams in the league with several starters missing from the lineup. They were supposed to lose in San Francisco. But it doesn't change the fact that this team has looked largely uncompetitive.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 26

The Giants' next three games are against the Seahawks, at the Dolphins and at the Bills. If the Giants can't beat Seattle this weekend, this could turn into 1-5 in a hurry. And the one win was a miraculous comeback against the Cardinals.

PFT -- Rank: 26

Last year is officially over.

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Las Vegas Raiders Week 4 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 4 roundup for the Las Vegas Raiders in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 27

Biggest issue on offense: Chemistry

Returning All-Pros at receiver (Davante Adams) and running back (Josh Jacobs), four of five starters on the offensive line and a quarterback better versed in coach Josh McDaniels' scheme (Jimmy Garoppolo) were supposed to take the offense to a higher level. Instead, the unit looks discombobulated. Garoppolo leads the NFL in interceptions (6) while Jacobs is averaging just 2.4 yards per carry. "It's [only] Week 3, but I don't got time to wait around," said Adams, who is carrying his weight with 25 catches for 322 yards and 3 TDs. "You use these early games like this to establish the identity and we are not doing things the right way to establish a winning culture early in the season. So, we've got to do something to turn that around." -- Paul Gutierrez

NFL.com -- Rank: 27

If there was one play that summed up the frustration with the Raiders -- other than Josh McDaniels' late decision to kick a field goal -- it would be Jimmy Garoppolo's second interception Sunday night against the Steelers. Garoppolo waited and waited for either Davante Adams or Jakobi Meyers to shake loose from bracket coverage ... but it never happened. Garoppolo tried to ad lib and lobbed a pass over Meyers' head, which was intercepted. Right now, the Raiders' offense has gone from too Josh Jacobs-reliant last season to being too bent on jamming the ball into one of Vegas' talented receivers. All while Garoppolo (NFL-high six INTs) and the offensive line turn in uneven performances. This is a formula that needs fixing.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 28

At 1-2, they face a huge division game this week with the Chargers. The offense has to get more help from people not named Davante Adams.

USA Today -- Rank: 29

A season after being the league's most productive back, Josh Jacobs is averaging 67 yards per game — among the myriad issues arising in Vegas.

The Athletic -- Rank: 23

QB confidence rating: 6

Six is also the number of league-leading interceptions Jimmy Garoppolo has after throwing three Sunday night. He has thrown those six on 94 pass attempts, which ranks 18th in the league. The Raiders pushed Derek Carr out of the door and gave Garoppolo a three-year, $67.5 million contract for this, and now Garoppolo is in the concussion protocol.

FOX -- Rank: 29

What on Earth was that, Josh McDaniels? Maybe my understanding of late-game decision-making is lacking, but it sure felt like going for the touchdown, trailing 23-15 with 2:22 to play was the right call. It's not the sole reason the Raiders lost to Pittsburgh but a bizarre sequence that did not help.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 29

The easy headline is Josh McDaniels making the astounding decision to kick a field goal at Pittsburgh's 8-yard line late in Sunday night's game. But the enduring bad news to come out of Sunday's game is the way the offense disappeared for 2 1/2 quarters. The Raiders are averaging 15 points per game and haven't scratched out more than 18 in a game. McDaniels said his decision to kick the field goal on fourth-and-4 didn't reflect a lack of belief in his offense. But a coach who truly had faith in his offense would have kept it on the field. McDaniels will get heat for a bad decision on the field goal, but he deserves more questions for why his offense is mediocre.

PFT -- Rank: 29

Death, taxes, and Jimmy G getting injured.

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New Orleans Saints Week 4 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 4 roundup for the New Orleans Saints in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 15

Biggest issue on offense: Offensive line

Saints coach Dennis Allen admitted after the Packers loss that the offensive line needs to protect better, but the unit might have to protect someone else besides quarterback Derek Carr, who is week-to-week after spraining the AC joint in his right shoulder Sunday. The Saints have allowed 12 sacks this season, and while they're not all on the offensive line, it's a problem that needs to be addressed moving forward. -- Katherine Terrell

NFL.com -- Rank: 14

I was struggling to overlook the Saints' O-line issues prior to Derek Carr suffering a shoulder injury that forced him to leave the Week 3 loss to Green Bay. There's no hiding those issues now. Carr's injury was not directly the fault of the Saints' line, but their offensive troubles start with that group. On Sunday, left tackle Trevor Penning was flagged twice and left guard James Hurst was flagged once. Center Erik McCoy and Hurst also had tough reps in pass protection. The entire unit struggled to generate any movement in the run game. And on top of all that, RG Cesar Ruiz left with a concussion. With Carr week to week, who knows how they'll block should Jameis Winston start at QB? The Saints suddenly are entering a gut-check phase after their 2-0 start.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 13

The injury to Derek Carr is a bad thing, but blowing a 17-point lead late still shouldn't have happened. Carr's injury bears watching.

USA Today -- Rank: 16

Just as RB Alvin Kamara tags in from his three-game suspension, QB Derek Carr is likely tagging out for a bit to nurse his injured wing.

The Athletic -- Rank: 11

QB confidence rating: 5

The question in New Orleans is who is the quarterback? For now, it's Jameis Winston. Starter Derek Carr suffered a sprained AC joint in Sunday's loss, and the Saints didn't score after he left the game. Winston did OK, going 10-for-16 for 101 yards after replacing Carr, but Winston was on the roster this offseason when New Orleans gave Carr a four-year contract that could be worth $150 million. That means the Saints clearly don't have a lot of confidence in Winston.

FOX -- Rank: 16

The Saints' pass protection was an issue well before Sunday, but it's an especially big problem now that we've seen Derek Carr get hurt. Hopefully, his shoulder injury isn't too serious, because the Saints stalled out even worse than usual after he left the field. And while the offense might've been the true culprit, it's still strange to see such a veteran defense collapse down the stretch.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 13

Once the Saints knew that Derek Carr was badly hurt, there had to be more urgency to close out a 17-0 lead in the fourth quarter. But they blew that game, allowing the Packers to outscore them 18-0 in the fourth quarter, and now Carr might miss a few weeks with an injured shoulder. That's how a great start to the season turns sour over about an hour.

PFT -- Rank: 17

It's time for Jameis Winston to shine. Or fail miserably trying.

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Pittsburgh Steelers Week 4 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 4 roundup for the Pittsburgh Steelers in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 11

Biggest issue on offense: Consistency in the run game

The Steelers finally gained 300 yards of offense against the Raiders, but now they have to keep the ball rolling. Prior to the win in Las Vegas, the lack of ground game was the biggest issue with the Steelers averaging just 48 yards per carry. But against the Raiders, the Steelers gained 105 rushing yards -- including 65 from Najee Harris -- allowing the offense to set up the play action and move the ball more effectively. -- Brooke Pryor

NFL.com -- Rank: 16

Both the offense and defense showed signs of improvement in the win over the Raiders. The defense let Davante Adams carve it up, with some of his catches wholly unimpeded. That's concerning. But the Steelers took Josh Jacobs out of the game, holding him to 62 rushing yards on 17 touches, and they forced Jimmy Garoppolo into enough mistakes that Las Vegas was limited to 18 points. And while coordinator Matt Canada surely still faces ire from some fans, the offensive design Sunday looked far better (even with that early fullback stuff) than it had previously. Kenny Pickett threw more in-rhythm and found lesser-used targets -- Calvin Austin III and Pat Freiermuth -- for big plays while George Pickens received the star-wideout treatment from the Raiders. And now Pittsburgh is 2-1 after a terrible Week 1.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 11

They are 2-1 thanks to the defense. But at least the offense and Kenny Pickett showed some life against the Raiders.

USA Today -- Rank: 7

OLB T.J. Watt is on pace for 34 sacks and 11 forced fumbles. (It's early). But probably more important, QB Kenny Pickett and Co. finally started showing signs of life on offense Sunday night.

The Athletic -- Rank: 12

QB confidence rating: 4

The Steelers are winning because of their defense, not because of Kenny Pickett. He was crisp enough Sunday (16-for-28 for 235 yards and two touchdowns) but his offensive EPA per dropback (minus-.25) is worse than Sam Howell, Bryce Young, Justin Fields and Desmond Ridder, among others.

FOX -- Rank: 18

On one hand, 333 yards of offense and 23 points is not good — not very good at all by modern NFL standards. On the other hand, this defense is good enough to close out a lot of games if the offense can put 23 on the scoreboard. Sounds like Steelers football.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 14

Not all is well with the Steelers. We still need to see more consistency on offense (and for the love of everything, please don't run the ball on every single second-and-long). But wins are wins, and the Steelers are figuring things out at 2-1. It would have been worse if Deshaun Watson didn't give them some easy points, or Josh McDaniels didn't completely blow a late-game decision.

PFT -- Rank: 9

More George Pickens, more Jaylen Warren, more wins.

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Seattle Seahawks Week 4 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 4 roundup for the Seattle Seahawks in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 10

Biggest issue on offense: Third down

Seattle scored 37 points and racked up 425 yards of offense Sunday despite going just 3-of-13 on third down (including a kneel-down in the closing seconds). The Seahawks haven't finished better than 16th in third-down conversion rate since 2015, a long-standing issue that has continued so far this season. They rank 28th through three games at 30.3%, though they have converted twice on fourth down. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the chain-moving slot receiver Seattle drafted No. 20 overall, should make more of a difference on third down as he gains experience and as Seattle's offensive line gets healthier. -- Brady Henderson

NFL.com -- Rank: 12

Love that Kenneth Walker III headlined the offensive attack in the win over Carolina. Glad to see Jason Myers snap out of his mini-funk. And it's always nice when the 12s throatily help the home team by inducing a slew of false starts. But are these injuries going to stop for Seattle? Riq Woolen, Jamal Adams and Coby Bryant were already inactive on Sunday. Then Dre'Mont Jones, Darrell Taylor and Week 2 hero Tre Brown were injured in the game, thinning the defense even more. If Woolen and Adams can return this week, I'll feel better about the secondary depth, but the Week 5 bye actually seems to land at a pretty good time.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 9

They've won two straight to put that opening-day loss in the rear-view mirror. The offense has come alive.

USA Today -- Rank: 13

Their next game is at MetLife Stadium, where they've never lost to the Giants (Week 4's opponent), the Jets or in the Super Bowl.

The Athletic -- Rank: 9

QB confidence rating: 6

Geno Smith is fourth in the league in passing yards (624) and 10th in passer rating (102.9) in the last two weeks. On top of that, the Seahawks have scored 74 points in those games, which trails only Miami and Buffalo in that span.

FOX -- Rank: 8

This was not a win they're going to write songs about, but the Seahawks shouldn't take a home win for granted after what happened in Week 1. Nice to get a reminder about what that home crowd in Seattle is capable of, causing the Panthers to be flagged for eight false-start penalties.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 10

Kenneth Walker III had 156 total yards, two touchdowns and looked great on Sunday against Carolina. Rookie Zach Charbonnet played his best game yet with 46 rushing yards on nine attempts. On top of that, Geno Smith passed for 296 yards. It still seems like we haven't seen the best of the Seahawks' offense, and it's going to be impressive when we do.

PFT -- Rank: 7

Do they deserve to be this high? Well, if not them then who?

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New England Patriots Week 4 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 4 roundup for the New England Patriots in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 21

Biggest issue on offense: Lack of explosive plays

Tight end Pharaoh Brown's 58-yard catch-and-run touchdown in Sunday's win over the Jets was one of the plays of the game and easily the team's longest of the season. The Patriots have just three passing plays over 20 yards (58, 32, 23). "Those are statistically the hardest passes to hit, but we've got to hit them, we've got to throw them and we need more production out of the deep balls," coach Bill Belichick said. -- Mike Reiss

NFL.com -- Rank: 18

Sunday's win had to be so familiar to Patriots fans by now: ugly and against the Jets. Ugly got the job done, though. Even during the worst doldrums last season, the Pats knew what they were getting from Jakobi Meyers and Rhamondre Stevenson. So far, the Meyers-for-JuJu Smith-Schuster swap-out has been a net negative, and Stevenson hasn't been as decisive this season. The Patriots really need Mac Jones and Smith-Schuster to develop chemistry on the fly after the receiver missed a lot of on-field time this offseason. But they also need the offensive line to play better. This team is behind the sticks way too often.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 24

They beat the Jets for their first victory of the season, but it was far from impressive. The defense has been solid all year.

USA Today -- Rank: 17

They head to Dallas with Ezekiel Elliott performing as their best back. But beware, New Englanders, as your team is 1-8 against the Cowboys without Tom Brady in the lineup.

The Athletic -- Rank: 22

QB confidence rating: 5

The idea that Mac Jones is second in the league in passing attempts (125) has to frustrate Patriots fans. Wasn't this team going to run the ball and play defense? Instead, New England is 20th in rush percentage (39.9 percent) while Jones averages 6 yards per attempt (which ranks 27th in the league).

FOX -- Rank: 19

It's a bit of a bummer that New England dominated statistically and still had to sweat through a couple of last-gasp Jets attempts to win the game. As we keep saying, though, New York's defense is a tough nut to crack. The Patriots controlled this one for all but about five minutes, and they're off the losing streak.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 17

The Patriots kicked a field goal on their first possession of the second half, then the offense took the rest of the day off. The last six possessions resulted in punts. New England got just four first downs on those six drives. The Jets have a good defense, but the Patriots' offense needs to get a lot better.

PFT -- Rank: 23

Thanks to the Jets, Bill Belichick has a good chance to avoid landing in the AFC East basement for the first time since 2000.

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Friday, September 29, 2023

San Francisco 49ers Week 4 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 4 roundup for the San Francisco 49ers in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 1

Biggest issue on offense: Pass protection

The Niners have mostly kept quarterback Brock Purdy upright, ranking right in the middle of the pack in sacks allowed per dropback (6.1%). But, in part because they've faced the highest blitz percentage (43.4%) in the league, the Niners have also allowed one of the highest pressure percentages (33.3%) in the NFL. Teams are likely to continue trying to heat up Purdy with the blitz even though he's had success against it, but it would also help if the Niners, especially on the right side of the line, continue to improve. -- Nick Wagoner

NFL.com -- Rank: 2

The Giants apparently came into Thursday's matchup intending to blitz the holy heck out of Brock Purdy, and they certainly succeeded in doing that. Purdy was shaky early, but really adjusted to how quickly the defense was bearing down, making several big-time throws outside the numbers. Any team looking to mimic that defensive approach against the Niners is at risk of being carved up. All of it came without the injured Brandon Aiyuk, too, and in a short week. This team appears to be on the same plane right now as it has been in three of the four previous seasons (save for 2020). The upcoming part of the schedule (featuring the suddenly spunky Cardinals and resurgent Browns) is more interesting than it looked previously, but three of the next five are at home before the Week 9 bye. Things are good.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 1

They showed against the Giants how dominant they can be on defense. Brock Purdy fits in perfectly in this system as they keep racking up regular-season victories.

USA Today -- Rank: 1

We're nearing the realm of death, taxes, San Francisco scoring exactly 30 points (all 3 games this season), prevailing (13-game regular-season winning streak) and enjoying a TD from RB Christian McCaffrey, who's found the paint in 12 consecutive games to match Hall of Famer Jerry Rice's club record.

The Athletic -- Rank: 2

QB confidence rating: 9

Brock Purdy's path from Mr. Irrelevant to Mr. Wonderful didn't take long. The 49ers are 11-0 in games in which Purdy leads them in pass attempts, and he's second in the league in yards per attempt (8.1) and fourth in passer rating (106.3) through three games.

FOX -- Rank: 2

Sorry, Niners. You didn't do anything wrong; you just didn't drop 70 points in an NFL game for the first time since Lyndon B. Johnson was President. Rest assured, though, Thursday's demolition of the Giants was textbook, and you are still among the NFL's elite even if you fell from the top spot.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 1

The 49ers are checking every box. The defense shut down the Giants, all while the offense handed out big plays to each of its superstars, almost to prove a point about its unmatched depth at the skill positions. It's early, but the 49ers look like the NFL's most complete team.

PFT -- Rank: 1

They are starting to look like a team of destiny.

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New York Jets Week 4 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 4 roundup for the New York Jets in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 24

Biggest issue on offense: QB Zach Wilson

Aaron Rodgers' replacement has led the offense to only three touchdowns in 35 drives over three games, showing no ability to raise the level of those around him. Wilson is poor when facing pressure, but he's also poor when the offensive line does its job. On plays where the defense fails to record a pass rush win, Wilson's QBR is a league-low 7.6. Coach Robert Saleh said he's sticking with Wilson, but the season is slipping away, and he might have to turn to quarterback Tim Boyle at some point or risk losing the locker room. -- Rich Cimini

NFL.com -- Rank: 19

Two humbling outings have washed away any thoughts that Zach Wilson could pick up where he left off in Week 1, when he put forth a semi-encouraging performance following Aaron Rodgers' Achilles tear. There were a lot of plays from Sunday's loss to New England that Wilson would absolutely want back. But I also came away from that game thinking the Jets almost outsmarted themselves by being too cautious until it was too late. Yes, it's tough to trust Wilson and that offensive line to a significant degree going forward. But what do the Jets have to lose, except games? They're already down their starting quarterback, and they're 1-2. Fortune favors the bold, and New York can't keep trying not to get beaten.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 27

They can't score with Zach Wilson at quarterback. What do they do now? Do they get a veteran? Do they make a deal? Do they call Joe Namath at his advanced age?

USA Today -- Rank: 22

What better stage than Broadway on a Sunday night to watch embattled Zach Wilson oppose Patrick Mahomes in the biggest quarterback mismatch we can recall.

The Athletic -- Rank: 29

QB confidence rating: 1

Fox's Jay Glazer reported Sunday that Matt Ryan and Carson Wentz, or at least their representatives, reached out to the Jets about playing quarterback, and the Jets declined. The question is "Why?" Zach Wilson is 31st in yards per attempt (5.6) and 33rd in completion percentage (52.4), which is a hard combination of numbers to put together. He also has four interceptions versus two touchdowns. On Sunday, Joe Namath commented on X, formerly Twitter, that Wilson makes decisions "not intuitive to the quarterback position." Sounds about right. On Monday, Rainn Wilson, star of "The Office," offered his services. We would 100 percent support this decision and would respond with an automatic 10-position bump in the Power Rankings.

FOX -- Rank: 27

Robert Saleh is trying his best to be positive, but I'm sorry if I'm dubious of how long the Zach Wilson Experiment can continue. Wilson essentially has started three games now, and the Jets have gotten worse from week to week: 289 yards in Week 1, 215 yards in Week 2, 171 yards on Sunday. Averaging 12 points per game isn't going to get you anywhere, and it can't be long before the Jets locker room realizes that.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 22

Robert Saleh gets a lot of grief for publicly supporting Zach Wilson, but what else is he supposed to do? Until the Jets make a move, either by acquiring someone or giving backup Tim Boyle a shot because it can't get any worse, Saleh has to put a happy face on things. The situation stinks. Everyone in Jets headquarters knows that.

PFT -- Rank: 27

This year is officially over.

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Minnesota Vikings Week 4 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 4 roundup for the Minnesota Vikings in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 26

Biggest issue on offense: Turnovers

The Vikings lead the NFL with nine turnovers. Their seven lost fumbles are tied for the second most through three NFL weeks since at least 2000, and Kirk Cousins' two interceptions have both been costly. One occurred at the goal line a Week 1 loss to the Buccaneers, and the other happened in the end zone to seal their Week 3 defeat against the Chargers. Coach Kevin O'Connell added new practice drills to address the fumble problems after Week 2, but tight end T.J. Hockenson fumbled to end their first possession in the ensuing game. It's hard to overstate the significance of these turnovers to a team that has lost its three games by a mere 13 points. -- Kevin Seifert

NFL.com -- Rank: 26

Is the season over? No, but it's getting late early. Brian Flores' defense had acquitted itself fairly respectably in the first two games, even if the limitations were obvious. On Sunday, the unit was diced up by Justin Herbert and Co., unable to pressure him enough or cover on the back end. The Chargers threw 48 passes -- 41 were completed, and Vikings DBs batted away only three throws. Actually, Akayleb Evans could have made it four, but his deflected pass went right to Joshua Palmer for a TD. That was bad luck, but the reality of the situation is that the defense has little chance to hang with elite offenses.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 29

At 0-3, their season is all but done. Climbing out of that hole won't be easy, and the defense probably won't make it possible.

USA Today -- Rank: 24

WR Justin Jefferson might be your early Offensive Player of the Year, on pace for nearly 2,600 receiving yards. Unless it's QB Kirk Cousins (league-high 96 completions, 1,075 yards and 9 TDs). Question is, will "KFC" — should he? — finish the season with presently winless Minnesota?

The Athletic -- Rank: 25

QB confidence rating: 7

The only concern about Kirk Cousins in Minnesota is how long he'll be there. He's on pace for 6,091 yards and 51 touchdowns this year. Despite Patrick Mahomes existing and Tua Tagovailoa throwing to a collection of aliens, Cousins leads the league in passing yards (1,075) and passing touchdowns (nine). On Sunday, he became the fifth player ever with at least 325 passing yards and two touchdowns in each of his team's first three games. The Jets, Falcons and maybe the Saints have to be interested in that.

FOX -- Rank: 20

Two more turnovers in Week 3 gave the Vikings nine for the season, and both of these came deep in Chargers territory. They were painfully close to winning this game, just as they were painfully close to winning the other two. I honestly still like their chances to pull out of it, provided they can ever hold on to the football.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 24

Let's run this stat back: The Vikings were 11-0 in one-score games last season, an NFL record, and this season they're 0-3. It seems like the Vikings are by far the best of the winless teams, but it's tough to come back from 0-3. Only six teams in the Super Bowl era started 0-3 and made the playoffs. Since 2002, only one of 99 teams (the 2018 Texans) that started 0-3 made the postseason, via Fox 9 in Minnesota. The Vikings have lost three games by 13 combined points and are in a world of trouble.

PFT -- Rank: 28

The Vikings out-Chargered the Chargers.

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Los Angeles Rams Week 4 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 4 roundup for the Los Angeles Rams in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 22

Biggest issue on offense: Consistency

After two strong weeks to start the season behind quarterback Matthew Stafford, rookie wide receiver Puka Nacua and second-year running back Kyren Williams, the Rams' offense stalled against the Bengals on Monday night, failing to score a touchdown until fewer than two minutes were left in the game. After allowing just one sack through two weeks, Stafford was hit 10 times and sacked six times. The Rams' passing game had kept up without an injured Cooper Kupp through two weeks but showed they missed their star wide receiver in Week 3. -- Sarah Barshop

NFL.com -- Rank: 24

The Rams had to deal with a lot of offensive chaos up front against the Bengals, as both Alaric Jackson and Joe Noteboom were injured, and the patchwork line just couldn't handle Cincinnati's pass rush. Sean McVay dialed up some quality plays, and Matthew Stafford made some big throws, but the pressure was just too much. Not capitalizing on those early drives with touchdowns really came back to bite them. But even with Los Angeles' blocking issues, I couldn't knock this team down from last week. The Rams were competitive in a game the Bengals had to have, and the reality is that there's not much separating teams in the NFL's middle class so far this season.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 23

They are 1-2, but they've played a rough schedule and they've competed in every game. They will be a tough out every week.

USA Today -- Rank: 12

Contain WR Puka Nacua (5 catches for 72 yards in Monday night's loss), and you contain the Rams — NFL experts have been saying as much for months. But, in all seriousness, this crew has hung tough against some of the league's toughest customers.

The Athletic -- Rank: 17

QB confidence rating: 6

In the first two weeks, Matthew Stafford was sacked once, and the Rams averaged 26.5 points. On Monday night against Cincinnati, Stafford was sacked six times and the Rams needed a late touchdown just to get to 16 points. In his 15th season, Stafford needs more help than that. He has two touchdowns and four interceptions this season.

FOX -- Rank: 25

The last 20 minutes of this game showed us a troubling reminder of what the Rams can look like if the offensive line can't hold up. They had to deal with a couple of injuries up front, and Matthew Stafford paid the price. How we view them moving forward just might hinge on how healthy those guys can stay.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 23

Puka Nacua has gotten the attention, but Tutu Atwell is having a nice breakthrough too. Assuming Cooper Kupp returns soon, the Rams have a pretty fun receiving group for Matthew Stafford.

PFT -- Rank: 24

When you punt with six minutes left on fourth and 5 while down by 10 points, you don't deserve to win.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers Week 4 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 4 roundup for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 13

Biggest issue on offense: Red zone scoring

The Buccaneers have managed to move the ball well, even with a ground game that's still trying to shake last year's league-worst ranking. But scoring in the red zone is their biggest problem right now; they scored only one touchdown on four red zone tries in Week 2 against the Bears. Through Weeks 1 and 2, their 33.33% red zone touchdown percentage is second to last in the league. -- Jenna Laine

NFL.com -- Rank: 20

With so many teams above them last week losing in Week 3, the Buccaneers actually rise despite a humbling game vs. Philadelphia. Mike Evans destroyed the Bears in Week 2, then let a would-be touchdown bounce off his hands on Monday night. Baker Mayfield's INT-less streak is over. Rachaad White lost a fumble and was taken down for a safety. Tampa Bay's offensive line was under siege all night. It was just one of those games. Mayfield battled, and the defense came up with some big stops in key spots, but the Bucs were actually a little fortunate the Eagles didn't hang 35-plus on them. Tampa might need to reevaluate the ground game a bit. White had no chance on a few runs, including the safety, and the offensive line has to shoulder some of this blame, but the Bucs are just not that efficient pounding the ball.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 16

They didn't look good in losing to the Eagles. Both sides of the ball struggled. Now comes a key division game against New Orleans and likely former Bucs quarterback Jameis Winston.

USA Today -- Rank: 23

Couldn't run the ball Monday night against Philadelphia, turned it over for the first time this season and got handled in the trenches — exactly what the Bucs (or any team) don't want to be.

The Athletic -- Rank: 15

QB confidence rating: 3

Baker Mayfield has been about all the Bucs could have expected this season — a middle-of-the-pack quarterback. He's on pace to have the best completion percentage (66.7 percent) and air yards per attempt (8.3) of his career, but he's 21st in the league in yards per game (636).

FOX -- Rank: 15

I don't think most people truly believed the Bucs were on Philly's level. They had early chances on Monday night, but the Eagles dominated in the long run. An expected result, but it sets up an intriguing matchup with the Saints. That just might determine the early team to beat in the NFC South.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 20

Everyone knew the Bucs weren't one of the NFL's elite teams just because they started 2-0, but it had to be disheartening to get just 174 yards on the Eagles. They got 75 of those yards on a fourth-quarter drive after the Eagles already had a 25-3 lead. The good news is there's no team as good as the Eagles, or even close, in the NFC South.

PFT -- Rank: 15

As long as they win the games they should win, they'll be fine.

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Los Angeles Chargers Week 4 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 4 roundup for the Los Angeles Chargers in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 14

Biggest issue on offense: Running the ball

After gaining 233 yards in the season-opening loss to the Miami Dolphins, the Chargers' rushing offense has turned nonexistent. They have gained 91 yards on 36 carries over the last two games. In Sunday's win over the Vikings, they averaged two yards per carry against a team allowing the third most rushing yards in the NFL coming into the game. The caveat is that the Chargers have been without starting running back Austin Ekeler, who has missed the last two weeks with an ankle injury. His return could turn this unit around. -- Kris Rhim

NFL.com -- Rank: 15

Even in a much-needed win, the Chargers left the door open for criticism with porous pass defense (again) and a questionable decision by Brandon Staley. Going for it on fourth-and-1 near his own end zone while leading by four late in the game was a wild risk, for sure; though his defense bailed him out, I wonder what the message would have been had it failed. Between that and Mike Williams' season-ending ACL injury, it feels like the Chargers barely got to enjoy a road victory. All of this really overshadowed a special performance from Justin Herbert and Keenan Allen, doing it late without Williams or Austin Ekeler available. The Bolts host the Raiders this week, followed by the bye, which might not come at the worst time.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 22

They saved their season by winning at Minnesota, but Brandon Staley did what he could to lose the game. Why did he go for it late?

USA Today -- Rank: 21

Currently the league' most accurate (74.4% completion rate) and careful (0 INTs) passer, QB Justin Herbert just notched his 100th career TD pass. Too bad he won't be throwing any more this year to injured WR Mike Williams.

The Athletic -- Rank: 16

QB confidence rating: 8

Justin Herbert is so talented that Chargers fans and the rest of the NFL want any reason to believe. He gave it to them Sunday: 40-for-47 for 405 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. At 15,028 career yards, the 25-year-old is the second-fastest player to surpass 15,000, behind only Mahomes.

FOX -- Rank: 17

It's hard to even imagine how toxic the discourse would be if Brandon Staley's ill-fated decision to go for it on fourth-and-1 from his own 24-yard line had dropped the Chargers to 0-3. Take a win any way you can get one, but this team remains just as chaotic in victory as it was in defeat.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 18

Mike Williams' torn ACL is a huge injury, though one the Chargers should be able to navigate. Josh Palmer is underrated and he'll see a bigger role. It puts a bright light on rookie first-round draft pick Quentin Johnston, who has played just 22% of the Chargers' offensive snaps and has just 26 yards. If Johnston emerges, the Chargers can survive the Williams injury. It's a big spot for the rookie, and how Johnston responds could determine where the Chargers' season is going.

PFT -- Rank: 20

The Chargers out Vikings-ed the Vikings.

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