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Drew Brees and the Saints have a promising start 3-1 after Sunday's win in the Meadowlands (Julio Cortez / AP)
Every week, national writer Mark Maske ranks the 32 teams in the league. This week, there is no change at the top but the LA Rams and Kansas City Chiefs are closely followed by a pair of contenders, one from each conference – the Jacksonville Jaguars and the New Saints. Orleans. Elsewhere, the Cincinnati Bengals are in the top 10 with a spectacular victory in Atlanta and the New England Patriots after a decisive win in the division against the Miami Dolphins.
1. Los Angeles Rams (4-0) | Last Week's Rank: 1
The Rams 'attack was spectacular in Thursday night's victory against the Vikings and quarterback Jared Goff started the conversation with the league MVP if only Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes faltered a bit at one point. given. The absence of injured CB Aqib Talib is a problem, but the defense has a margin of error if the offense continues to unfold in this manner.
2. Kansas City leaders (4-0) | Last week's rank: 2
Nothing was easy for Mahomes and the Chiefs on Monday night in Denver. This makes it all the more impressive what the sophomore QB achieved by winning.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-1) | Last Week's Rank: 4
The Jaguars seemed easy against the Jets and found their team status to beat in the AFC. Their match this Sunday in Kansas City could determine which team to beat in the conference.
4. Saints of New Orleans (3-1) | Last week's rank: 5
The Saints won Sunday at the Meadowlands with quarterback Drew Brees who threw for a modest 217 yards and no touchdowns. Defense and running led the way, returning to the balance and versatility of last season.
5. Carolina Panthers (2-1) | Last week's rank: 6
The Panthers find themselves chasing the Saints of the NFC South when they return. They must take advantage of the struggling Giants in Sunday's home game, in which Eric Reid, who has just signed for safety, makes his debut in Carolina.
[Eric Reid won’t say if he’ll protest during anthem, but case versus NFL will continue]
6. Cincinnati Bengals (3-1) | Last week's rank: 10
The Bengals found a way to fight the Falcons, and their victory against the Ravens in the second week allowed them to quickly control the AFC North. But the loss of TE Tyler Eifert following a hard-to-watch leg injury is a major setback for the Cincinnati offensive.
7. Baltimore Ravens (3-1) | Last week's rank: 8
The very good versions of quarterback Joe Flacco and Ravens were on Sunday night in Pittsburgh. The Ravens played extremely well, except for their duel against the Bengals. But no one should be too carried away for the moment. The disappointments of the last seasons make this positive beginning to be viewed with healthy skepticism.
8. Patriots of New England (2-2) | Last week's rank: 11
The situation looks good for the Patriots after their response to the last crisis of September by Sunday's unhinged triumph over the Dolphins. Josh Gordon made his debut as Patriots in this match and his compatriot WR Julian Edelman returns this week from his suspension. Now comes a quick turn for the Thursday night meeting with the Colts before a clash Sunday night 10 days later with the Chiefs.
[Tom Brady ‘could tell in his eyes’ that Josh Gordon ‘knew what he was doing’]
9. Chicago Bears (3-1) | Last week's rank: 12
When they hired Matt Nagy as coach, the Bears hoped to be able to do for Mitchell Trubisky what Sean McVay did in L.A. for Goff. Suddenly, after Trubisky's performance Sunday, which seems feasible. That's been coming out of Khalil Mack's business: The Bears are real.
Mitchell Trubisky leaves the field after his outstanding performance Sunday against the Buccaneers (Nam Y. Huh / AP)
10. Packers from Green Bay (2-1-1) | Last week's rank: 14
The Packers rebounded after their poor performance against the Redskins and made the Bills look like the worst team in the league.
11. Titans of Tennessee (3-1) | Last week's rank: 17
Coach Mike Vrabel showed Colts coach Frank Reich how to play to win and that everything is going well. It was a bit odd that the Titans make a coaching change after a playoff season. But Vrabel seems, at least so far, to be a very capable NFL head coach, who could help this team take the next step.
12. Philadelphia Eagles (2-2) | Last week's rank: 3
The champions go out after Sunday's loss to the event in Nashville. Quarterback Carson Wentz did not take the Eagles out of their discomfort. The rematch of the NFC title match will take place Sunday against the Vikings in Philadelphia, as part of what was to be an NFC heavyweight meeting early in the season. Instead, it could be a survival test to determine which team has the best chance of turning around its season.
13. Minnesota Vikings (1-2-1) | Last week's rank: 9
Quarterback Kirk Cousins made some misguided shifts. But for the most part, he lives up to the enormous expectations created by his big contract, with 10 assists and two interceptions in four games. In Minnesota, concern mainly concerns a struggling defense one year after being ranked first in the points league and the number of yards allowed.
[[[[Vikings flicker after losing to Rams, but do not blame Kirk Cousins]
14. Washington Redskins (2-1) | Last week's rank: 13
The Redskins are coming off their week of admission at the top spot of NFC East. This is a positive point for a franchise that has not had much to feel good in recent years. But starting early might not be too useful. And the Monday night game in New Orleans is a tough test against a team of Saints playing well.
15. Miami Dolphins (3-1) | Last week's rank: 7
Never make too much of a match. But in this case, it's hard to avoid believing that the Dolphins could have been unveiled as contenders for AFC East rather than contenders Sunday in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
16. Los Angeles Chargers (2-2) | Last week's rank: 19
The chargers are hanging there. But they really, really need the outstanding striker Joey Bosa to give a boost to their defense.
17. Seattle Seahawks (2-2) | Last week's rank: 23
The broken leg of Count Thomas officially closes the days of the "Legion of the Boom". It was sad to see him end in such acrimony when Thomas made an obscene gesture on the Seahawks' bench as he was taken from the field on a cart. But as coach Pete Carroll said, Thomas deserves "a little relaxation" for this one.
[Earl Thomas gives Seahawks’ sideline the finger while getting carted off]
18. Dallas Cowboys (2-2) | Last week rank: 26
The Dallas attack has shown signs of functionality and, even with their early season problems, the Cowboys are only half a game away from first place in the NFC East.
19. Denver Broncos (2-2) | Last week's rank: 15
The Broncos practically did everything against Mahomes on Monday night. He is just too good.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-2-1) | Last week's rank: 16
ESPN's report that Le'Veon Bell plans to report to the Steelers in week 7 should be only slightly encouraging from the team's point of view. The Steelers need the return of Bell earlier, which was evident in the defeat on Sunday night against the Ravens. The Steelers season is currently deteriorating. Ideally, they would find a way to convince him to come back sooner.
[Le’Veon Bell reportedly plans to return in Week 7, doesn’t expect trade by Steelers]
21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-2) | Last week's rank: 18
Ryan Fitzpatrick's disappearance on shift was predictable and fast. The Bucs go back to Jameis Winston, but they have their week off to prepare it.
22. Atlanta Falcons (1-3) | Last week's rank: 20
How in the world did the Falcons help A.J. Vert be so open in the Sunday win of the Bengals TD? Matt Ryan displays good numbers and the Falcons are close to a good team. But closing is not enough. In the NFL, you are what your record says you are.
23. Houston Texans (1-3) | Last week's rank: 30
The Texans did their best to stay out of the winning streak by squandering a big lead against the Colts. But they could not help but win when the lazy Colts game against OT went bad.
24. Oakland Raiders (1-3) | Last week's rank: 31
After four games in Jon Gruden's return to coaching, it was a bit surprising that his team had a home win against the Browns. What does it say?
[Jon Gruden has a snippy response to Derek Carr questions after Raiders’ OT win]
25. Cleveland Browns (1-2-1) | Last week's rank: 21
Yes, the instant reversal reversal on first place was questionable at best and downright wrong at worst. And yes, it cost the Browns a win in Oakland and a series of almost unthinkable victories over two wins. But the Browns should not have let that happen. On the positive side, rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield confirmed that he was the real thing, despite some mistakes.
26. New York Giants (1-3) | Last week's rank: 22
It's three times in four games that the Giants have failed to reach 20 points. It started to look a lot like last season and the mood in their locker room was bleak after Sunday's defeat against the Saints.
[The Giants gambled on Eli Manning and a bounce-back season. So far, they’re losing.]
27. Detroit Lions (1-3) | Last week's rank: 24
This should never be forgotten. Matt Patricia inherited a team that had gone 9-7 last season. Until now, the freshman head coach could only beat his former employer.
28. Buffalo Bills (1-3) | Last week's rank: 25
The video of the Bills highlights in 2018 could be summed up only in the first half of the week in Minnesota, where they defeated the Vikings by 27-0. Aside from that, Buffalo has been outclassed this season, 106-23.
29. Colts of Indianapolis (1-3) | Last week's rank: 27
There is no reason to complain that Frank Reich plays to win in OT against the Texans. It just did not work. Overall, the head coach's best-of-ever approach probably helped him in his own locker room.
[Frank Reich’s decision wasn’t dumb. It was daring and admirable. It was also wrong.]
30. New York Jets (1-3) | Last week's rank: 28
Speculation is starting to swirl on the job security of coach Todd Bowles. It seems doubtful that the Jets make a change of coach in season. But if Bowles does not turn things around, it's clear that the franchise could move in a different direction during the off-season and engage an offensive-minded head coach to oversee the development of quarterback Sam Darnold.
31. San Francisco 49ers (1-3) | Last week's rank: 29
C.J. Beathard was not terrible on his first start since the replacement of injured Jimmy Garoppolo. But it was not good enough to give the assurance that Niners without Garoppolo would be anything but an afterthought.
32. Arizona Cardinals (0-4) | Last week rank: 32
Rookie quarterback Josh Rosen was decent on his first NFL start. Cardinals must just stay with him and live with his mistakes because it's really a lost season.
Learn more about NFL:
Calls against passers-by decreased during the fourth week of the NFL
Aaron Rodgers delivers a veiled critique of the Packers "plan"
At the quarter mark of the NFL, these three contenders have something to worry about
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