NFL Week 4: Ranking 10 Teams with the Most Riding on Their Week 4 Matchups
Ten teams will make statements during NFL Week 4 of the 2015 regular season. How impressive or unremarkable those statements are come Tuesday morning could impact where those clubs exist in the standings in January 2016.
The New York Giants. Cleveland Browns. Houston Texans. Oakland Raiders. None of those four teams was supposed to be a playoff contender. All, however, could put division rivals on notice in Week 4 by notching victories. The Giants, of the four, have the most to gain and maybe the most to lose this week. Quarterback Eli Manning might need to have his best outing of the season to lead Big Blue to a big win.
Do not forget about the San Diego Chargers. San Diego will not make life easy for the Browns at home on Sunday afternoon. The New Orleans Saints are a loss away from starting the season 0-4. Week 4 brings the first overseas encounter of the season, one that is significant for both the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins.
Last but certainly not least are the San Francisco 49ers. Do not write them off just because they will be hosting what very well may be the best overall team in the NFC.
NFL Week 4: Honorable Mentions
1 of 11
Week 4 ends with the 0-3 Detroit Lions heading out West to take on the 1-2 Seattle Seahawks. Both teams could have division rivals with unbeaten records (Green Bay Packers and Arizona Cardinals) at the start of that Monday Night Football showdown.
No disrespect meant to the Lions, but Detroit appears to be four quarters of football away from 0-4. The Seahawks will be at home in prime time. East Coast fans not dealing with a hurricane may be able to go to sleep before 10:30 p.m. local time.
The Arizona Cardinals have been impressive in three straight victories. Every week they play presents another game in which 35-year-old veteran quarterback Carson Palmer could suffer a serious injury, particularly to his twice-surgically repaired knee. Fans of the Cardinals will be chewing on their fingernails when Arizona hosts the 1-2 St. Louis Rams.
All signs indicate the winless Chicago Bears are looking past 2015. Vincent Frank of Yardbarker (via FoxSports.com) wrote about the current state of the Bears earlier this week:
"Fresh off two trades following the team's embarrassing 26-0 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, it appears that the Chicago Bears are on the verge of blowing things up. Pass rusher Jared Allen was dealt to the Carolina Panthers on Monday for a conditional sixth-round pick in the 2016 draft. Meanwhile, former second-round pick Jon Bostic was traded to the New England Patriots for a late-round pick on Tuesday.
"
By all accounts, this is new Bears general manager Ryan Pace looking to move on from the disastrous days of the Phil Emery-led front office. At 0-3 on the season and without much hope of improvement, Chicago would be smart to stockpile draft picks for aging veterans.
The Bears beating the Oakland Raiders at home would give some hope to Chicago fans. Those fans should, however, probably start counting down to when the Chicago Bulls first take the court at the end of October.
10. San Francisco 49ers
2 of 11
It is maybe the biggest mismatch on paper in all of Week 4. The unbeaten Green Bay Packers, coming off of a dominant Monday Night Football victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, will travel west to play a 1-2 San Francisco 49ers side that has looked awful over the past two weeks. Packers win in a blowout, right?
Not so fast. ESPN Staff Writer Paul Gutierrez explained why you should have faith in quarterback Colin Kaepernick and the 49ers:
"It kind of seems like crazy talk given how poorly he and the 49ers have performed the past two weeks and how in sync the undefeated Packers have looked. Maybe it is, but Kaepernick has had his biggest moments and a few of his best games against the Packers.
He is 3-0 against Green Bay, with two of those matchups in the playoffs, and has defeated his childhood favorite team in decidedly different manners each time.
"
Remember also that Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers will likely be without several weapons in San Francisco.
Wide receiver Davante Adams reaggravated an ankle injury on Monday night. That knock was not as bad as originally thought, per Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com, but Adams' status for Sunday remains unknown. A left knee sprain could keep tight end Andrew Quarless sidelined for up to two months, per Tom Silverstein and Michael Cohen of the Journal Sentinel.
Green Bay also lost wide receiver Jordy Nelson for the season when he tore his ACL in August.
Odds are the 49ers are not going to contend for a Super Bowl this time around. There will be little doubt about that if San Francisco cannot defeat the walking-wounded Packers at Levi's Stadium on Sunday.
9. San Diego Chargers
3 of 11
The San Diego Chargers can get back to .500 by defeating the Cleveland Browns (1-2) at home on Sunday. There is no dancing around the matter here. The Chargers have no business losing to the Browns this weekend. None.
No team in the league may be more of a mess than the Browns heading into Week 4. TMZ Sports reported on Sept. 29 that at least three Cleveland offensive starters want Johnny Manziel to start over Josh McCown at quarterback. What was supposed to be a bolstered Cleveland defense is still dead last in stopping the run. That old mantra of "same old Browns" continues to ring true in Northeast Ohio.
One game in October should not—barring a significant injury—make or break any team's season. That said, losing to this Browns team at Qualcomm Stadium would be downright demoralizing for the Chargers. San Diego may be in the most must-win scenario of any team playing on Oct. 4.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
8. Philadelphia Eagles
4 of 11
The Philadelphia Eagles have to turn things around when away against the Washington Redskins.
A humbling defeat to the New York Giants on Thursday Night Football on Sept. 24 brought Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins and his offense back down to earth. ESPN.com's John Keim wrote about Cousins' future heading into Week 4:
"A week ago he talked about being a different quarterback than the one who threw four interceptions vs. the New York Giants last season -- only to struggle in a 32-21 loss. Coaches say they see improvement -- he’s playing with more poise and with improved footwork, for example -- but at some point it must show up in a big win and consistent play. Otherwise, the questions about why he’s starting will intensify.
"
The Redskins are a mess. They also may not be the biggest obstacle standing between the Eagles and victory this weekend. Both teams are preparing to play in poor weather caused by Hurricane Joaquin. Per CBS' Jason La Canfora, the league had initially considered postponing the game to later in the season. La Canfora then reported on Oct. 1 the game would remain as originally scheduled.
Philadelphia needs to beat the Redskins in Week 4. Otherwise, head coach Chip Kelly is quickly going to lose the faith of those in the Eagles fanbase.
7. Miami Dolphins
5 of 11
Ryan Yousefi of the Miami New Times had high praise for the Miami Dolphins and for team owner Stephen Ross before the start of the 2015 NFL season:
"It's been more than a half-decade since Stephen Ross purchased the Miami Dolphins from Wayne Huizenga, and it seems as if slowly but steadily, Ross has finally turned around the franchise. Heading into the 2015 season, everything feels very new-car-smell around the team, and it all comes directly from Ross' hard work.
Dolphins fans might have doubted him at first, but it seems as if some of us owe Mr. Ross an apology — he's provided the team, and this city, everything he promised when he introduced himself. Though the Fins have yet to deliver on the most important part of the equation — winning football games — it's clear the team is set up for success in the long-term.
"
That final part about the Dolphins failing to deliver wins has not changed all that much as of the end of September. Miami barely managed to defeat the lowly Washington Redskins in Week 1. The Dolphins lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars the following week. Miami was humiliated at home by the division rival Buffalo Bills last Sunday.
Not good.
Yousefi wrote earlier this week that the Dolphins need to replace head coach Joe Philbin with franchise legend Dan Marino—after three games. Miami must beat the New York Jets in London if only to put such stories back into the closet for at least six more days.
6. New York Jets
6 of 11
Remember when the New York Jets were undefeated after winning back-to-back games? Gang Green fans were (pun intended) flying high. New head coach Todd Bowles was the toast of the town. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick was doing enough to help the Jets win without feeling the need to play hero ball.
Then the Jets gave up 24 consecutive points to the Philadelphia Eagles at home last Sunday.
Seth Walder of the New York Daily News is now concerned about the arm of Fitzpatrick. Erik Frenz of Bleacher Report is wondering if the Jets should shorten the figurative leash on Fitzpatrick. There are worries about the health of running back Chris Ivory, who has a quadriceps injury, per Darryl Slater of NJ Advance Media.
The highs are absurdly high. The lows are comically low. That is the reality regarding this particular New York fanbase. Bowles and his staff are getting a crash course in what it means to coach the Jets. They could learn how quickly those fans will turn into critics if the Jets don't beat the Dolphins in Week 4.
5. New Orleans Saints
7 of 11
Do you know what is worse than starting the season with three straight losses? Beginning the campaign 0-4. That is the situation the New Orleans Saints face heading into a Sunday Night Football showdown with the Dallas Cowboys.
A team with this lousy of a record would normally not be so high in such a list. This is not your standard scenario. New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees is working to return from a bruised rotator cuff that kept him sidelined last week, per ESPN.com's Mike Triplett. Brees will hopefully start if he does not experience any significant setbacks before Sunday night.
The Cowboys, meanwhile, will once again be starting Brandon Weeden at QB in the place of injured starter Tony Romo. Superstar wide receiver Dez Bryant is still out with a broken foot. These are not—no offense to those who will take the field for Dallas in New Orleans—the same Cowboys who were gifted a win by the New York Giants in Week 1.
The Saints should emerge from Week 4 with the team's first win of the season.
4. Oakland Raiders
8 of 11
The time for the Oakland Raiders to prove themselves is Week 4. Pretend they did not nearly blow a lead to the Cleveland Browns last Sunday. Forget that the Browns could have tied the game with under a minute to play. Concentrate instead on the reality the Raiders have won two of three contests.
It was mentioned earlier in this piece that the Chicago Bears have already moved past Week 4. Whether Jay Cutler (hamstring) starts for Chicago at home against the Raiders may not even matter. The veterans on the Bears have to be able to see the writing on the wall at this point.
Oakland, meanwhile, is a team on the rise. Second-year quarterback Derek Carr has looked like the real deal. Wide receiver Amari Cooper has Rookie of the Year talent. The Raiders could spark some buzz around the league by improving to 3-1 on Sunday.
3. Houston Texans
9 of 11
It was only a month ago when the AFC South seemingly belonged to the Indianapolis Colts. The Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars were all starting unproven commodities at quarterback. Indianapolis starter Andrew Luck, one of the best young arms in the business today, was only going to improve in 2015. The Colts practically had a playoff spot guaranteed at the start of September.
Fast-forward to Oct. 1. Luck has thrown more interceptions than any other QB in the league, per ESPN.com. He has looked human, even subpar, in three games. Every team in the division is at 1-2 at the start of Week 4.
The Texans have problems of their own. Neither Brian Hoyer nor Ryan Mallett has ever looked like a franchise QB. The defense—advertised as menacing—has been average. Houston will travel to play the undefeated Atlanta Falcons for Week 4.
Don't count the Texans out.
All the Falcons have done to this point of the season is beat up on the lackluster NFC East. Atlanta had to rally to beat the depleted Dallas Cowboys last Sunday. Things could get interesting in the AFC South standings if Houston wins at the Georgia Dome.
2. Cleveland Browns
10 of 11
This is what Mike Pettine signed up for when he agreed to be head coach of the Cleveland Browns:
TMZ Sports reported that teammates want to see Johnny Manziel and not Josh McCown start at quarterback. The Browns are seen as the worst team in the AFC North even though they aren't dead last in the division standings. FireMikePettine.com is an active website 19 games into his tenure with the Browns.
Welcome to Cleveland, Mike.
This is what Josh McCown signed up for when he joined the Browns during the offseason:
The 36-year old veteran had to know fans and certain media members would be calling for the Browns to start Manziel by Week 4. Manziel is a sensation beyond football. He is exciting. He creates highlights. He is an unknown for a team that has not had a franchise QB in decades. McCown is none of those things at this point of his career.
The vultures are already hovering over Pettine, McCown and the 2015 Browns. Beating the Chargers in San Diego is the only way to get those buzzards to fly elsewhere for the time being. A Cleveland win in Week 4 may not be enough for McCown to keep his job unless he has his best performance of the season.
The circus continues.
1. New York Giants
11 of 11
ESPN.com's Dan Graziano challenged the New York Giants in the days leading up to their Sunday contest with the Buffalo Bills:
"The idea that the New York Giants might be able to contend in a wobbly NFC East is based entirely on the deficiencies of other teams. Dallas has lost Tony Romo and Dez Bryant to major injuries. Philadelphia looks all wrong. Washington remains the Giants' one reliable punching bag. The Giants' out-of-division schedule doesn't scare you too much, what with all that San Francisco and Tampa Bay and New Orleans in there.
And that's fine. None of those teams' problems are overblown. But what that narrative overlooks is the caliber of the Giants' own roster, and the legitimate question of whether they are a good enough team to take advantage of other teams' flaws.
"
Washington still has no answer at quarterback. Philadelphia dropped two straight games, and the Eagles flirted with blowing a lead to the New York Jets. Dallas could be multiple games behind .500 by the time Romo and Bryant return to the lineup.
Forget Rex Ryan and the Buffalo Bills. The Giants were their biggest opponents in Weeks 1 and 2. New York should be 3-0 heading into the showdown against the Bills. The Giants can right the ship and steer it toward a division championship by winning at Buffalo.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
