We’re on three undefeated teams in the NFL, and those teams are at the top of my rankings this week.
The Las Vegas Raiders and Buffalo Bills suffered their first losses of the season and fell, but the No. 2 didn’t slip directly into the No. 1 spot Buffalo occupied last week. Instead, another jumped three spots to No. 1 after an impressive win.
Here’s where things stand behind Sunday’s Week 4 NFL schedule.
Kirk Cousins couldn’t pull out the win on Sunday, but the Raiders showed they can hang with the best in the NFL against the Chiefs. (Chris Unger/Getty Images)
Super Bowl Odds: +7400
A disappointing home loss to the Chiefs shouldn’t dampen the Raiders’ outlook after the first four weeks of the season. Coach Klint Kubiak has his offense clicking behind a creative scheme that features Raiders redshirt players in quarterback Kirk Cousins, running back Ashton Jeanty and tight end Brock Bowers).
Player statistics: Brock Bowers has reached 2,000 career receiving yards in his 31st career regular season game, tying Kellen Winslow for the second-fastest tight end to reach 2,000 career receiving yards in NFL history. The record is 30 games by Mike Ditka.
Record: 3-1
Previous Rank: N/A ↑
Browns kicker Andre Szmyt (25) and punter Corey Bojorquez (13) celebrate Szmyt’s game-winning field goal Thursday night against the Steelers. (Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Super Bowl Odds: +18000
Credit to head coach Todd Monken for helping Deshaun Watson rediscover some of his game magic. The quarterback posted a third straight win while showing steady improvement as a passer and playmaker in a new offensive scheme.
Player statistics: Rookie receiver Denzel Boston shares the league lead with three receptions of 40 or more yards this season, tied with Ravens’ Zay Flowers and Chiefs’ Tyquan Thornton.
Record: 3-1
Previous rank: 10 ↑
Another week, another Derrick Henry shot. This one came in a Ravens win over his former team, the Titans. (Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
Super Bowl Odds: +850
Derrick Henry’s presence and playmaking potential allow the Ravens to hit opponents with a downhill running game that tests the discipline and mettle of opposing linebackers. The super-sized running back continues to find dirt as the best weapon for a team that is quietly 3-1.
Player statistics: Henry’s second rushing TD on Sunday made him the second player in NFL history to score a rushing touchdown against a former team with which he recorded at least 9,000 career yards. Adrian Peterson did it in Week 17 of the 2020 regular season for the Lions against the Vikings.
Record: 3-1
Previous Rank: N/A ↑
In Week 4, Tyson Bagent became the third Bears quarterback to start and win a game this season. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Super Bowl Odds: +2000
Head coach Ben Johnson is showing the football world that his offense works with or without a franchise quarterback under center. The Bears’ underrated running game provides the keys to weekly offensive explosions, with D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai leading the way. Monangai took home the honors on Sunday, with a 30-carry, 146-yard effort that gives the Bears a pair of 10th-fastest this season.
Player statistics: Monangai’s 30 tackles are the most in a single game in the NFL this season.
Record: 3-1
Previous ranking: 1 ↓
Josh Allen set a Bills record on Sunday, but he couldn’t get the win against the Patriots. (Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)
Super Bowl Odds: +750
Despite dropping a tough game to a division rival, the Bills are off to another strong start under Josh Allen. The former MVP became the Bills’ all-time leader in scrimmages (88), surpassing a pair of Hall of Famers – Thurman Thomas and wide receiver Andre Reed. With the rugged dual threat continuing to spark the “take over the game” ability in coach Joe Brady’s revamped offense, the Bills always have a shot at an AFC heavyweight battle.
Player statistics: Allen is now the only quarterback in NFL history to hold a franchise’s all-time record for career regular-season scrimmages. In the other 31 active franchises, the all-time leader is either a running back, wide receiver or tight end.
Record: 3-1
Previous ranking: 6 ↑
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba continued his great start to the season in a win over the Chargers. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Super Bowl Odds: +950
The defending champions are overwhelming the opposition with a strong defense and an efficient attack of the pace of the wide potential of Jaxson Smith-Njigba. The reigning Offensive Player of the Year joined Randy Moss (2007) and Jimmy Smith (2000) as the only players in NFL history with 30 catches, 450 receiving yards and six touchdowns in the first four games of the season.
Player statistics: Smith-Njigba set Seahawks franchise records for receptions and receptions through the team’s first four games of a season.
Record: 3-1
Previous ranking: 8 ↑
Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars left Cincinnati with an impressive win against another potential AFC contender. (Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Super Bowl Odds: +1500
Trevor Lawrence and Co. they are quietly making progress that is making the league take notice. The former #1 overall pick is carving up opponents with surgical precision without force-feeding the ball to a WR1. The ball can go anywhere and everywhere based on his reads and progression on any given play, which will always keep opponents guessing.
Player statistics: With the Jaguars’ win against the Bengals, Trevor Lawrence has now beaten every AFC team in his career.
Record: 4-0
Previous ranking: 3
There is still room for improvement for Kyler Murray and the Vikings offense. Defense is why Minnesota is 4-0. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
Super Bowl Odds: +2200
If you want to win, but beautiful, Vikings will not attract you. This is a sharp and gritty team that lets the defense take the lead. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ unit disrupts and destroys opponents with an exotic scheme and relentless pressure from a collection of high-IQ, high-motor defenders.
Player statistics: TJ Hockenson caught all 13 passes thrown his way 13 for 119 yards, ranking second in the NFL in Week 4 receptions (behind only CeeDee Lamb’s 17) and tied for third in tight end receptions this season (22).
Record: 4-0
Previous ranking: 2
Running back Kenneth Walker III has taken the Chiefs offense to another level through four games this season. (Chris Unger/Getty Images)
Super Bowl Odds: +950
Kenneth Walker III has balanced the Chiefs offense with his dynamic running skills. The free agent leads the NFL in rushing yards, with his 537 yards ranking as the most by an NFL player through the first four games in more than a decade.
Player statistics: Walker has the most rushing yards through the first four games of a season in Chiefs history.
Record: 4-0
Previous ranking: 4 ↑
George Kittle put the cherry on top of the 49ers’ win over the Broncos with a late 56-yard reception. (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Super Bowl Odds: +850
The most consistent team in football continues to methodically beat opponents, with their veterans leading the way. George Kittle (32, four touchdowns), wide receiver Mike Evans (33, three), wide receiver Deebo Samuel (30, two) and defensive end Kyle Juszczyk (35, one) are all thriving in their specific roles in coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense.
Player statistics: The 49ers have the most TD catches ever by players who are at least 30 years old in four games, with 11. Wide receiver Demarcus Robinson (32) is the other player 30 or older to have a score for San Francisco this season.