Rodgers has Pack on rise
1. Patriots 5-0 (Last week: 1): The Pats are lights-out on defense, allowing only 6.8 points per game, seven-plus points better than anyone else. They’re tied for 1st in takeaways.
2. Saints 4-1 (3): The Saints rolled to their third straight win with Teddy Bridgewater filling in at QB. So far, so good, but the defense needs to buckle down a little more.
3. Chiefs 4-1 (2): It’s not surprising a defense finally had a good night against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. Every great QB runs into that once in a while.
4. Seahawks 4-1 (8): Russell Wilson had what coach Pete Carroll described as “one of the best games I have ever seen him play” in a 30-29 victory over the Rams on Thursday.
5. 49ers 4-0 (7): The 49ners are 4-0 for the first time since 1990, and it appears coach Kyle Shanahan and GM John Lynch have the organization turned around.
6. Packers 4-1 (14): Aaron Rodgers ran his record at AT&T Stadium to 4-0, including a Super Bowl win, and he did it without the Packers’ top playmaker in Davante Adams.
7. Bills 4-1 (10): Defense travels and the Bills’ did when they swarmed the Titans in a 14-7 victory. It was the third consecutive road win for the Bills. They last achieved that in 2004.
8. Rams 3-2 (5): It’s early, but the Rams defense has some clear issues after allowing 30 points to the Seahawks five days after the Buccaneers hung 55 on them.
9. Eagles 3-2 (9): After stifling the Jets and third-string QB Luke Falk, the Eagles take the NFL’s No. 1 rushing defense to Minneapolis for a matchup vs. Vikings RB Dalvin Cook.
10. Cowboys 3-2 (4): The Cowboys have wins over the Redskins, Giants and Dolphins and losses to the Saints and Packers. The Cowboys must play better vs. better teams.
11. Lions 2-1-1 (11): The Lions were able to take stock with a week off, and one thing that’s clear is new offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell is a nice fit for QB Matthew Stafford.
12. Colts 3-2 (24): Coordinator Matt Eberflus got the Colts defense going in an upset of the Chiefs. The Colts also ran the heck out of the ball and controlled the clock.
13. Texans 3-2 (21): Deshaun Watson carved up the Falcons, finishing with a perfect passer rating (158.3). If the Texans continue to win, you’re looking at a legit MVP candidate.
14. Raiders 3-2 (23): Jon Gruden’s Raiders should be fired up spending a full week in England and beating the Bears a week after winning in Indianapolis.
15. Bears 3-2 (6): The Bears have deep offensive struggles. The open date comes at the right time, and it will be interesting to see how the team responds on the other side.
16. Vikings 3-2 (15): The Vikings offense got back on track in a road win vs. the Giants.
17. Ravens 3-2 (13): The Ravens snapped a two-game skid by edging the Steelers, but it was a rocky outing for QB Lamar Jackson. He has five picks and two fumbles in two weeks.
18. Panthers 3-2 (20): Multidimensional RB Christian McCaffrey had another huge day in a victory over the Jaguars.
19. Chargers 2-3 (17): Coach Anthony Lynn’s Chargers have lost three of four and looked mighty lethargic when the desperate Broncos came to Los Angeles and won.
20. Browns 2-3 (12): There’s no question the Browns are improved. They’re not improved to the point they should play three prime-time games in the first five weeks.
21. Jaguars 2-3 (16): There’s a feeling the Jaguars are headed in the right direction, but the defense has to play better with the Saints coming to town Sunday.
22. Buccaneers 2-3 (19): The Bucs defense has started well almost the entire season, allowing only 12 first-quarter points. It’s the next three quarters that don’t go so well.
23. Titans 2-3 (18): The misfortune of kicker Cairo Santos — he missed four FGs in a seven-point loss to the Bills — opened the door for Cody Parkey.
24. Giants 2-3 (22): The Patriots aren’t the measuring stick the Giants are seeking right now, but that’s who they get on a short week in a Thursday night road game
25. Cardinals 1-3-1 (27): The good news: The Cardinals got their first win under coach Kliff Kingsbury vs. the winless Bengals. The bad: They don’t play the Bengals again in 2019.
26. Broncos 1-4 (29): The Broncos needed a win in the worst way, and after a fast start on the road vs. the Chargers, they were able to hold on in the second half.
27. Steelers 1-4 (25): The Steelers are hoping QB Mason Rudolph will be cleared from the concussion protocol. He had shown some sparks before being knocked out cold Sunday.
28. Falcons 1-4 (26): If Arthur Blank was one of the more reactionary owners in the league, coach Dan Quinn could have joined the Redskins’ Jay Gruden on Monday.
29. Bengals 0-5 (28): Coach Zac Taylor is asking Bengals fans to “hang with us,” and that’s about all he can do as this season is quickly spinning out of control.
30. Redskins 0-5 (30): Team President Bruce Allen has overseen a decade of mostly horrendous football as the Redskins fan base has turned its back on the organization.
31. Jets 0-4 (31): The offense, predictably, was a disaster with third-string QB Luke Falk facing the Eagles.
32. Dolphins 0-4 (32): The unstated but seemingly unmistakable goal of earning the No. 1 pick in the 2020 draft was on hiatus during the open date.