Playoff Predictions - Whose Going to Vegas!

The time is now! The 2024 NFL playoffs are among us and this crazy season is only getting crazier. The Bills completed the comeback; the Jaguars completed the collapse. Joe Flacco and Mason Rudolph are starting playoff games. The Lions are in the playoffs. It will be -30 in Kansas City Saturday Night. Have I said enough? It really is SUPER wildcard weekend. The guys (myself included) took the week to think about who they think could hoist the Lombardi trophy in Las Vegas next month. I wouldn’t say we all went chalk across the board, but the winners may not surprise a bunch. I’m going to give all of our original predictions as well and see how well we landed (it’s not pretty). Without further ado, let’s see whose going to Vegas!

John McCarthy

Original Pick - Jaguars defeat Eagles

If you asked this to John in Week 10 how he felt about this, he probably would’ve went to the casino and cashed a futures bet. Fast forward to today, and these two teams were the worst teams down the stretch. The Jaguars completely bottomed out, losing 5/6 and missing the playoffs in the last week of the season. The Eagles, after starting off 10-1, finished the year at 11-6, lost the NFC East and have to travel to Tampa Bay to take on Baker Mayfield and the resurgent Buccaneers. Maybe the big guy will do better in his playoff prediction…

NFC

WildCard Weekend

(2) Cowboys defeat (7) Packers 31-14

(6) Rams defeat (3) Lions 38-31

(4) Bucs defeat (5) Eagles 20-17

NFC Divisional

(1) 49ers defeat (6) Rams 31-17

(2) Cowboys defeat (4) Bucs 38-10

NFC Championship

(1) 49ers defeat (2) Cowboys 21-17

AFC

Wildcard Weekend

(2) Bills defeat (7) Steelers 31-10

(4) Texans defeat (5) Browns 17-10

(3) Chiefs defeat (6) Dolphins 28-14

Divisional

(1) Ravens defeat (4) Texans 21-14

(2) Bills defeat (3) Chiefs 17-14

AFC Championship

(2) Bills defeat (1) Ravens 21-16

SUPER BOWL

Bills defeat 49ers 34-31

Super Bowl MVP - Josh Allen

Rich Jones

Original Pick - Chiefs defeat 49ers

This is the only pick of the bunch that is still in play! And there is a scenario where both teams get back to Vegas this February. The Chiefs are looking to become the first back to back Champs since the 03-04 Patriots, but in order to get out of the AFC, they will need to find an answer to their offense. The 49ers have looked like a juggernaut all year, so them getting to the big dance would surprise no one.

NFC

Wildcard Weekend

(2) Cowboys defeat (7) Packers 41-13

(3) Lions defeat (6) Rams 34-21

(5) Eagles defeat (4) Bucs 21-18

Divisional

(1) 49ers defeat (5) Eagles 31-30

(2) Cowboys defeat (3) Lions 27-21

NFC Championship

(1) 49ers defeat (2) Cowboys 38-17

AFC

Wildcard Weekend

(2) Bills defeat (7) Steelers 24-21

(3) Chiefs defeat (6) Dolphins 21-14

(4) Texans defeat (5) Browns 27-21

Divisional

(1) Ravens defeat (4) Texans 30-10

(3) Chiefs defeat (2) Bills 21-14

AFC Championship

(1) Ravens defeat (3) Chiefs 31-21

SUPER BOWL

Ravens defeat 49ers 30-27

Super Bowl MVP - Lamar Jackson

Joe Miglio

Original Pick - Bengals defeat 49ers

This pick is more of an incomplete as Joe Burrow’s season never quite felt right. He eventually got hurt and missed the season after wrist surgery, and the Bengals season crumbled with it. The 49ers have already been discussed so no need to go back to that well.

NFC

Wildcard Weekend

(2) Cowboys defeat (7) Packers 41-17

(3) Lions defeat (6) Rams 35-24

(5) Eagles defeat (4) Bucs 23-21

Divisional

(1) 49ers defeat (5) Eagles 27-16

(3) Lions defeat (2) Cowboys 34-28

NFC Championship

(3) Lions defeat (1) 49ers 28-27

AFC

Wildcard Weekend

(2) Bills defeat (7) Steelers 24-6

(3) Chiefs defeat (6) Dolphins 16-13

(5) Browns defeat (4) Texans 23-14

Divisional

(1) Ravens defeat (5) Browns 17-14

(3) Chiefs defeat (2) Bills 26-22

AFC Championship

(1) Ravens defeat (3) Chiefs 20-17

SUPER BOWL

Ravens defeat Lions 29-27

Super Bowl MVP - Zay Flowers

The year of Harbaugh.

Five “Other” Coaches That We Need to Recognize

It’s Halloween season if you weren’t aware. One of my favorite times of the year - getting to dress up as whatever/whoever you want with little to no repercussions? And an excuse to eat things you probably shouldn’t. Who doesn’t love that? I’m also a horror fan, and growing up, one of my favorite horror movies was “The Others” starring Nicole Kidman. I remember being able to scare my sister at any time of day just by simply saying “the otherrrrssss” and she would run and cry in fear. It was fantastic. But that movie pertained to ghosts, or beings who lurked in the shadows. And that is the purpose of this article today.

We are about to embark on Week 8 of the NFL season. And we have done a solid job talking up teams, players, fanbases, etc. But one area we haven’t really covered is the coaching department. More than any other sport in the United States, NFL coaching is wildly important. It’s the sport where motivation and messaging to your players is a key ingredient to yearly success. It’s also something that can absolutely derail a team. We always talk about how coaches come in and change the “culture” around the league for different squads all the time. Last year we saw Brian Daboll and Doug Pederson do it. This year DeMeco Ryans and Shane Steichen are doing a really good job at changing the culture in Houston and Indianapolis, respectively. But the purpose of today’s article is to highlight some of the guys who aren’t on the surface, and lay beyond the shadows - much like the ghosts in “The Others”. See how I’m connecting the dots here? I know, really invaluable writing.

I like to think I have a good eye for things like this - so I’ve been thinking about different positional groups and even coordinators who have gone under the radar over the past couple of years and to give them their opportunity to shine today. So if you’re looking for an article on Pete Carroll, Andy Reid, Ben Johnson or Wink Martindale - I apologize, but you won’t here those names. We are taking a much deeper look into some of the “other” best coaches in the NFL.

*These are in no particular order, just five guys who deserve recognition

1. Hank Fraley - Offensive Line Coach, Detroit Lions (4th Year)

Hank Fraley has been with the Lions now for six years, starting out as assistant offensive line coach in 2018 and taking over the main duties in 2020. Over his time with Detroit, we have seen the Lions become one of, if not the premiere team in the NFL when it comes to offensive line play. You want to hear something wild? This is the Lions current starting offensive line:

LT - Taylor Decker

LG - Jonah Jackson

C - Frank Ragnow

RG - Graham Glasgow

RT - Penei Sewell

Every single one of these players was drafted by the Detroit Lions. Three in the first round (Decker, Ragnow, Sewell) and two in the third round (Jackson, Glasgow). Four of them have spent their entire career with Detroit - Glasgow spent the last couple of seasons with Denver but then came back to Detroit for 2023. And the kicker?  Decker and Glasgow started in 2016, Ragnow in 2018, Jackson in 2020 and Sewell in 2021. Hank Fraley developed all of them. And now he is reaping the benefits of his boys dominating every week up front. The Lions currently rank 2nd in pass protection and 4th in run blocking in 2023, according to PFF. This is the second year in a row that they have been in the top 10 in run protection. We all know that EDGE rushers are the hot thing in the NFL today, and while there are plenty of men who make offensive lines sleep at night, the Lions are not one of those teams. They have consistently gotten better in Sacks Allowed since Fraley’s arrival. Their year over year ranking in Sacks Allowed since Fraley took over as OL Coach - 22nd, T-8th, T-5th, T-3rd. You are reading that right. They jumped from 22nd in 2020 to tied for 8th in 2021 (and that was with a Frank Ragnow season ending injury). They also have three all-pro caliber players on the line with Decker, Ragnow and Sewell. Fraley clearly has an eye for talent - he may not be a scout, but if you think he doesn’t have any impact on what lineman the Lions are taking, you are out of your mind. We have seen the Lions go through a massive culture shift since Dan Campbell took over. And Campbell kept Fraley on staff in 2021, believing in his ability to develop. Well, he has done that and then some as the Lions now have one of the most potent offenses in the NFL. And they wouldn’t be able to do it without the play of their dominant offensive line, and Hank Fraley has a ton to do with that. Ben Johnson gets a lot of chatter in Detroit, but don’t forget about Hank Fraley - one of the key cogs to the engine that makes the Lions go.

2. Clint Hurtt - Defensive Coordinator, Seattle Seahawks (2nd Year)

I remember the 2022 off-season. The quarterbacks stole a lot of the headlines - mainly Aaron Rodgers retirement talk and Russell Wilson’s impending trade from Seattle. Once Wilson was traded, everyone (and I mean everyone) had the Seattle Seahawks pegged as being one of the worst team in the NFL that season. Well, the season played out and Geno Smith garnered most, if not all of the attention. Winning comeback player of the year and leading the Seahawks to a playoff berth when everyone thought they would be picking in the top three in the 2023 draft.

Now, if I handed you a blank piece of paper and asked you to name the Seahawks defensive coordinator, would you be able to? Probably not. And that’s ok. They go under the radar, and that’s the way they like it. Clint Hurtt took over in 2022 from Ken Norton Jr. and immediately made some changes. Hurtt switched the Seahawks base defense from a 4-3 to a 3-4 leading to an increase in team sacks from 34 in 2021 to 45 in 2022. Per the Seahawks official website, Uchenna Nwosu and Darrell Taylor were the only pair of teammates to each have 9.5 sacks and three forced fumbles each last season. They also garnered one of the steals of the entire draft is Riq Woolen, a 5th round pick into a star corner who, if not for Sauce Gardner, probably would’ve won defensive rookie of the year. Fast forward to 2023 and the Seahawks are actually being carried by their defense. They are currently 7th in total defense according to PFF, the 6th best team against the run (87.2 YPG) and are one of thirteen teams giving up less the 20 PPG (19.7). They have also drafted extremely well - this past draft they spent their top 10 pick on Devon Witherspoon, the lanky, athletic corner out of Illinois - and that move is already paying dividends. He is currently the front runner for DROY as he already being matched up with top receivers on the other side of the field. They also drafted Derick Hall, the project rookie out of Auburn who is starting to make his presence known in the Seahawks D-line room.

Hurtt has been able to communicate extremely well during his stint in Seattle, and if he continues to impress and help lead the Seahawks to another playoff berth, ears may get perked up about possible NFL head coaching opportunities.

3. Bobby Slowik - Offensive Coordinator, Houston Texans (1st Year)

Let’s get one thing straight - DeMeco Ryans is a hell of a coach, and if the trend keeps on going, he will win coach of the year in 2023. Ryans is the second defensive coordinator to get hired from the Kyle Shanahan tree (Robert Saleh), but unlike Saleh, Ryans is making an immediate impact. He has the Texans at 3-3 through their bye week when people thought they were at least 1-2 years away. Ryans didn’t come alone though - he brought over Bobby Slowik from San Francisco to be his OC and help mold CJ Stroud into an NFL quarterback. Slowik was in San Francisco for 6 years and worked as the passing game coordinator under Shanahan - a role that will never get recognized because Shanahan gets all the praise for the offensive success. But think of the Quarterbacks that Slowik has worked with in his 6 years with the 49ers - Brock Purdy, Jimmy Garoppolo, Trey Lance and Nick Mullens. He has proven to be successful with Jimmy and Brock. He has now moved over to Houston and is working wonders with CJ Stroud. As we all know, Stroud broke the record for most passes before throwing his first INT for a rookie; folks, that’s Bobby Slowik. He has done a masterful job at putting Stroud in positions to succeed. Slowik’s passing attack ranks 12th in the NFL through seven weeks and his receivers rank 6th. The run game hasn’t been able to get going as much, but I think that has to do with the depleted offensive line. The Texans are in the top half of the league in total yards per game and rank within the top 10 for passing yards per game. The turnaround in Houston’s offensive ability has been remarkable.

Will Slowik be able to keep Stroud upright and keep up these kind of numbers all year? I’m not entirely sure. But there is reason to be optimistic. Coming from the San Francisco school of coaching hasn’t been the worst thing in the world. While Robert Saleh and the Jets haven’t been able to find team success yet, Saleh has transformed the Jets into one of the top defenses in the NFL - that’s no accident. He, as well as Ryans, both had schemes in San Francisco extremely conducive to today’s NFL. I have faith that Slowik will fall from the same tree. Kyle Shanahan’s offense has proven to be wildly successful in the NFL - just look at his track record. And Slowik is doing it with guys who many people thought were afterthoughts in the NFL - Nico Collins, Robert Woods, John Metchie; just like the QBs in San Francisco. It seems after the disaster that the Texans went through the past couple of years, they finally got it right with DeMeco Ryans at the helm and Bobby Slowik as the OC.

4. Deshea Townsend - Secondary/Cornerbacks Coach, Jacksonville Jaguars (1st Season)

The one common theme amongst Jacksonville Jaguars coaches? Experience. Playing experience that is. The majority of their coaches have NFL experience prior to coaching, and Deshea Townsend may be the most decorated of them all. He is a two time Super Bowl champ, both with Pittsburgh, and amassed 21 career interceptions as well as 15.5 sacks over nine NFL seasons. Townsend has been around the block, both coaching in the NFL and college ranks. But, one common theme with him is that his secondaries have been successful anywhere he’s been. Lets review:

2011 - Assistant DB’s coach (Arizona Cardinals) Limited opponents to 215.9 net passing yards, 5th best in the NFC.

13-15: Cornerbacks Coach, Mississippi State - Led the nation in passes defensed (89) and passes broken up (73) while ranking 15th nationally in Interceptions (15).

19-21: Secondary Coach, Chicago Bears - Defenses ranked inside the top 12 every year in passing yards per game, with the best output being in 2021 where the Bears ranked 3rd in passing yards per game while finishing 7th in first downs allowed.

*All info via Jaguars.com

Townsend took a year off in 2022 and was then hired by Doug Pederson in 2023 to lead a young, hungry Jaguars secondary that the team had put a lot of resources into. A group led by draftees Tyson Campbell (2nd Round, Georgia) and Andre Cisco (3rd Round, Syracuse) as well as FA signings Darious Williams and Rayshawn Jenkins, the Jacksonville defense saw an increase in 2022, but were looking for more of a spark in 2023. How’s this for a spark. The Jacksonville Jaguars are number one in the NFL in coverage grade in 2023 (90.4). When you think of secondaries, you think of the Ravens, Jets, Saints, Falcons, Chiefs. You normally don’t think of Jacksonville. You need to start doing so. Takeaways? Check. They lead the NFL in takeaways through 7 weeks with 16. 9 of those are interceptions to go along with 29 (!!!) PBU’s. None of their starting secondary has a receiving rate higher than 65.2. They have only been called for five penalties. Five. Stat watchers will point and look at the fact that they rank 31st in passing yards allowed per game and say they aren’t good, but when you actually look at the numbers, this is an elite secondary. The Jaguars have been up in the second half in each of their last 4 games, so the opposing team has had to throw the ball to try and climb out of a hole. Both Gardner Minshew and Derek Carr had 50+ pass attempts when they played Jacksonville, something neither of those offenses want to do. Townsend has come in and been a stud for the Jags secondary, and if Mike Caldwell does get calls for Head Coaching opportunities this year, Townsend will be a popular pick to replace Caldwell as DC for Jacksonville.

5. Stump Mitchell - Running Backs Coach, Cleveland Browns (4th Season)

Right now when you think of the Cleveland Browns, you think of defense. You think of Jim Schwartz. Nick Chubb. Hell, you may still think of Baker Mayfield. I guarantee you don’t think of Stump Mitchell, who outside of rocking a sick beard, is maybe the best running back coach in the entire league. Mitchell has been a coach for 21 years, but his work with Cleveland the past four has definitely been his best. A former player, Mitchell has overseen five running backs rush for over 1,000 yards (Ricky Watters, Shaun Alexander, Clinton Portis, David Johnson and Nick Chubb). That is an impressive list. He was also the man behind Andre Ellington (remember him?) when he had his 1,000 yard scrimmage season. He was the running backs coach when Shaun Alexander set the record for 28 touchdowns in 2005. He has an extremely established background.

His work with the Browns though is great. Starting in 2019, he guided Nick Chubb in rushing for 1,494 rushing yards (2nd in NFL) as well as 1,772 scrimmage yards, which is the 5th most in Browns history. In 2020, Mitchell used the two headed monster of Chubb and Hunt; both running backs had over 1,000 scrimmage yards for the season and amassed a combined 23 touchdowns. In 2021, the Browns led the NFL in rushing average at 5.09. Chubb again finished 2nd in rushing and has been a pro bowler every year under Mitchell. This season has been a little different though. Nick Chubb had a nasty injury on Monday Night Football a few weeks ago that sidelined him indefinitely, and the Browns had little to no avenues of where they were gonna go for a rushing attack. But have no fear, Stump Mitchell is here.

The Browns inserted Jerome Ford into their starting role and picked up Kareem Hunt for a second stint with Cleveland as he was roaming the free agent streets. Anyone who thought the Browns would skip a beat in the rushing department should receive an “F” for something. This year, the Browns rank 5th in rushing with an 82.8 grade according to PFF, and are second in rushing yards per game at 147.5. That’s an astounding number. And doing it without Nick Chubb is all the better. It really is a testament to how Mitchell prepares his room each and every week. This is a Browns team that has had injuries at the QB and RB spot this year, and yet they are 4-2 behind some old school football - a hard, physical, violent defense and a thumping running attack. The days of being an OC or even a HC for Stump Mitchell may be gone, but Mitchell will be in the NFL as long as he wants to be. He’s been nothing but successful every step of the way.

Rookie Report Card - Quarterbacks

We are about to enter into Week 6. And every year, we have guys under center who are new to this called the NFL. And it's job and judgement to decide if they will make it or not after their first handful of games. Screw the Peyton Mannings of the world and the Trevor Lawrence’s - their first year struggles don’t count. Sarcasm, for anyone who can’t read between the lines. We don’t know how these guys are going to perform. However, what we can do is talk about what we’ve seen so far and how they have seemed to progressed. The future is young and bright for the three guys we are about to discuss - no matter the record, TD:INT ratio, or the amount of turnovers they’ve committed. These kids are learning on the fly - something the old heads would’ve never done. But in 2023, it’s a “what have you done for me lately” kind of world. Let’s check in on the three QBs…

Bryce Young - Carolina Panthers

63% COM, 750 PaYds, 5 TDs, 4 INTs

Grade: Incomplete

I truly struggled with Bryce. He’s already missed some time with an ankle injury, but also the team around him is seriously struggling. That isn't to say Bryce isnt struggling himself. One of the first things i noticed is that he has struggled with the pace of the NFL; When at Alabama, he ran a very uptempo spread offense. The antithesis has occurred for him so far in the NFL, which is perfectly warranted by a Rookie QB. I went and reviewed some game tape from the game against the Lions and another blaring issue is something that a fellow Alabama alumni in Tua Tagovailoa had - looking for wideouts that are NFL open and not Alabama open. You can see him go through his progressions, but it almost seems like he’s a little too afraid to throw the ball when it should be thrown. Instead he waits and ends up having to throw it away. This is something that has consistently gone on since Week 1. He definitely needs to improve on his quick decisions, which he should due to his high football IQ. One thing that also may factor into this is his time to throw, or lack thereof. He’s getting killed out there behind his offensive line, so maybe a little bit of happy feet has lead to indecisiveness when it comes to ball placement. When Young does connect with his WRs, I will say it’s always an accurate, nice ball for the most part. I do belive in time alot of this will be sorted out but because of the situation around him in Carolina, I need to give him an incomplete 

CJ Stroud - Houston Texans

61% COM, 1,461 PaYds, 7 TDs, 0 INTs

Grade: A-

What can be said about Stroud that hasn't already been said? Hes off to one of the greatest starts by a rookie QB ever, and he’s way farther ahead than most people including myself thought he’d be at this point. One thing I've noticed in his first games as a rookie QB is that he sees the field incredibly well; way better then he did in college. He’s constantly making the right play and actually has the opposite issue that Young has. He is already seeing guys that are NFL open and isn't afraid to throw them the football. This is big, because one of our biggest questions back in April was could he adjust to playing with lesser talent then what he did at Ohio State? Nico Collins is turning out to become a true WR1, but he had some dawgs over there in Buckeye Nation. He’s really elevated the play of the guys around him and that says a lot. The boys at Perfect Spiral actually have an early comp for him of Matt Ryan with more mobility. But just the way he sits in the pocket and delivers the ball shows early comparisons. One thing I definitely think he needs to clean up on is ball security; He’s done a great job of not throwing interceptions but he’s lost 3 fumbles on sacks so that needs to be cleaned up.

Anthony Richardson - Indianapolis Colts

59% COM, 577 PaYDs, 3 TDs, 1 INT

25 Rushes, 136 RuYds, 4 TDs

Grade: C

It really sucks to see Richardson’s season cut short as he’s been placed on IR with a Grade 3 AC Joint sprain. It’s uncertain if he will return this season, but he is eligible to come off during Week 10. He’s already missed time with a concussion and possibly, if surgery is needed - the rest of his rookie season. When he did play, we definitely got some highlights. He’s everything we thought he would be - in both the good and bad department. Lets start with the good; Shane Stehien has done a really good job of trying to incoporate what Richardson does well. He took a little bit of what made Hurts successful in Philadelphia early on and has applied it here. Richardson has been a force with his legs. When he gets going, it’s pretty hard to stop him. He has done well on deep ball passing and immedietly felt like he built a rapport with the players around him. With all the amazing praise though comes the criticism, and that’s been the accuracy issues that plagued him at Florida. He’s sailed easy balls over his receivers heads on short routes time after time and that really needs to be cleaned up. The big…big…big issue is that he needs to learn to protect himself and SLIDE!!! Two serious injuries in five weeks isn’t a great look and one of them could have been avoided if he just knew when to give up on the play. 

Week 5 Power Rankings

Yes, we skipped a week. Very, very busy time for the guys over at PSP. However, we are back at it and we are ready to reveal our new and improved power rankings for the beginning of October. Things are coming into focus now. Teams can be crossed off and we have raised our eyebrows at some other teams. The month of October is a true test though that separates the men from the boys.

POWER RANKINGS - WEEK 4 (SEPTEMBER 28TH-OCTOBER 2ND

1. San Francisco 49ers (-) Through 4 weeks, the Niners are the most complete team in the sport. Brock Purdy has yet to lose a game and they haven’t played a game where they were in serious danger of losing. A big date with the Cowboys is on deck for Sunday Night.

2. Philadelphia Eagles (+2) People keep complaining the Eagles don’t look as good as last year. Why don’t you go back and look how Super Bowl losers do the following seasons. The list aint pretty.

3. Buffalo Bills (+5) The Bills are hammering opponents. A 37-3 drubbing of the Commanders and then dropping 48 on the Dolphins. This team is clicking after their week one hiccup. They travel to London to take on the Jags next.

4. Kansas City Chiefs (+2) Now these are the Chiefs that we know. After blowing out Chicago, they may have gotten bailed out by some shotty officiating at MetLife on Sunday. This is the best defense that Mahomes has ever had.

5. Dallas Cowboys (-3) The Cowboys take a small dip cause of their loss to Arizona, but they righted the ship when they handed Bill Belichick his worst career defeat. Their kryptonite is up next in San Francisco.

6. Miami Dolphins (-3) So they drop 70(!!!) on Denver, then give up 48 to Buffalo. The offense showed it can be tamed, but the defense needs to step up. Vic Fangio needs to earn his reputation. A get right game against the lowly Giants is up next.

7. Detroit Lions (+2) The NFC North goes through Detroit. That was proven emphatically in Green Bay last Thursday.

8. Baltimore Ravens (-3) After a weird loss to Indianapolis at home in Week 3, they shut down DTR and the Browns offense in a 27-3 wallop. Their rivalry with Pittsburgh continues in Week 5.

9. Seattle Seahawks (+9) The Week 1 one loss was an anomaly. This team is very, very good. They just get off playing Tecmo Bowl against the Giants on Monday Night.

10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+1) Are the Bucs for real? It sure seems so. They are the best team in the NFC South right now by a wide margin. And if Baker plays like this, they may run away with that division.

11. Houston Texans (+18) This is obviously from the last two weeks, but what looked like a fluke win in Jacksonville was backed up by an ass kicking at home against the Steelers on JJ Watt day. CJ Stroud looks like the real deal.

12. Washington Commanders (-5) After getting beaten to a pulp by Buffalo at home, they showed up in Philadelphia taking the Eagles to OT. I believe in Sam Howell. Tomorrow night at home vs. Chicago should serve them well.

13. Jacksonville Jaguars (-3) The Jags got right in London after getting blown out at home by Houston. What looked like a cakewalk of a division now seems like a dogfight. The Jags defense is legit, but a huge test awaits them in Tottenham against the Bills.

14. Los Angeles Rams (+2) They blew a 23 point lead on the road, but super hero Puka Nacua saved the day. The thought of him and Kupp together is agonizing.

15. Cleveland Browns (-1) The Browns are going to be “that” team this year. When you have them pegged, they will surprise you - for better or worse. Even without Watson, you woulda thought this team would show up at home against Baltimore. Think again.

16. Tennessee Titans (+3) They already are “that” team. After getting blown out in Cleveland, they give their own ass kicking to Cincinnati with the same score. Just asking for consistency!

17. Los Angeles Chargers (-1) Khalil Mack had an outer world experience Sunday, and Justin Herbert may be playing the best ball of his career, but for the second week in a row the talent on this team bailed out a Brandon Staley moronic decision.

18. Green Bay Packers (-1) The vibes were good around this team after Week 3. They failed their first test miserably, and now firmly planted in the “wtf” of the NFL.

19. Indianapolis Colts (+2) A surprising win over Baltimore behind Gardner Minshew was cute. Anthony Richardson returned and has been great as a runner, but he’s also been exactly what we expect as a passer.

20. New Orleans Saints (-8) Back to back losses and an offense stuck in the mud is not exactly what you want. This problem was supposed to be corrected with Derek Carr. However, it seems like his sub-par play carried over from Vegas to Nola.

21. Atlanta Falcons (-8) Desmond Ridder and this passing offense may be the worst tin the league. Rumblings are starting whether Ridder is the guy or not.

22. Minnesota Vikings (+3) What a difference a year makes. After starting 0-3, they struggled to get a win in Carolina, but got it done. Things may get worse before they get better though as they travel to KC this week. Is a firesale coming?

23. New York Jets (-3) Zach Wilson just outperformed Patrick Mahomes. That is a fact. If we can get that Wilson again, glory be to the father. But the Jets need WINS. They can get one this Sunday at Denver.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers (+2) Kenny Pickett needs to take a hard look in the mirror. There’s a conversation to be had he’s been the worst QB in the league this year. The Steelers offense was supposed to be fun, and its been anything but.

25. Cincinnati Bengals (-10) It’s time to push the panic button here. The Bengals look lifeless. Burrow is clearly hurt, and Ja’Marr Chase is now speaking out publicly against the offense. They statistically have the two worst safeties in the sport.

26. New England Patriots (+1) Add Mac Jones to the list of QBs who may lose their job in 2023. But Bill Belichick is not without blame here. This team is his construction and they seem lightyears behind all three teams in their division.

27. Las Vegas Raiders (-5) The players join the movement in wanting Josh McDaniels fired. Its getting ugly in Vegas.

28. Denver Broncos (-) After getting a 70 burger dropped on them, the Broncos responded with a come from behind win against the worst team in the sport! Hallelujah. Now picture this - this team can be 2-3 if they beat the Jets at home Sunday.

29. New York Giants (-6) 2022 was a mirage. The offensive line is at a college level. Seriously. And Daniel Jones has regressed back to the Joe Judge days. Its hard pressed to see how this team isn’t 1-5 after games against Miami and Buffalo.

30. Arizona Cardinals (+2) The Cards have been competitive in all 4 games they’ve played this year, which is more than we can say for last year’s group. Josh Dobbs has proven to be a more than capable backup in the league. They wont give up and no team should take them lightly. Just ask Dallas.

31. Carolina Panthers (-1) Woo boy. It’s gonna be a long, long season in Carolina. Can’t block. Can’t catch. Can’t run. Can’t do a lot of things.

32. Chicago Bears (-1) The dumpster fire is on fire. Add Chase Claypool to the list of pathetic things that has happened to this franchise in a month.