1. Cleveland Browns (4-0) (LW:1): The Cleveland Browns are the highest scoring team per game in PML and they have certainly looked the most dominant, but they suffered a huge blow to their receiver group this week when Amari Cooper tore his abdominal. The Browns will be without their leading pass catcher for the next three games. One of those games is against the back to back champions in the Los Angeles Rams, definitely a must watch game.
2. Denver Broncos (4-0) (LW:4): After a couple close calls in recent weeks, the Broncos find themselves at 4-0. Nick Chubb was once again sensational in week 4, carrying the ball 16 times for 105 yards. Jerry Jeudy also had a great day, reeling in 7 catches for 143 yards and a touchdown. If there’s one thing the Broncos should be concerned about after this win, it’s their run defense. After an early injury to Devon Achane, 4th year back Tyler Badie entered the game and put on a show, carrying the ball 24 times for 195 yards and a touchdown with 8.1 yards per carry. The Broncos will look to rectify that as they travel to Cincinnati for a showdown with the Bengals.
3. Kansas City Chiefs (4-0) (LW:7): The Chiefs continue to charge forward, steamrolling the Raiders in a game that was more lopsided than the final score indicates. They jumped out to a 35-0 lead at halftime, before ultimately going on to win 41-27. Patrick Mahomes had an efficient day with 2 touchdowns and Isiah Pacheco led the way on the ground, carrying the ball 7 times for 74 yards and a touchdown. The Chiefs defense also forced three interceptions on the day. They travel to LA to play the Chargers next week in what should be a highly entertaining contest.
4. New England Patriots (3-1) (LW:6): Riley Leonard has thrown 63 passing attempts in the past two weeks as the Patriots aim to find balance in their offensive attack. They have the 12th ranked rushing attack, but the 31st ranked passing attack. SP and Riley Leonard are out to prove that they can sling the ball with the best of them and this week against Carolina Leonard averaged 8.1 yards per pass and threw for a season high of 242 yards.
5. Los Angeles Rams (2-1) (LW:2): Tough to really gauge the Rams this year with their second FS incoming. In the end they’re still reigning back to back Super Bowl champions and will remain in the top 5 until further notice. In other news, Cooper Kupp was in the news this week for being way above usage limits. Would be a huge loss if Cook can’t get on the sticks soon and provide some damage control to the ultra high usage the CPU did in the previous simulated game.
6. Los Angeles Chargers (3-1) (LW:8): The Chargers were victorious over the Jaguars in what was a very entertaining game. Justin Herbert was near flawless on the day, throwing for 416 yards and 5 touchdowns. Second year running back Raheim Sanders had a solid day as well, carrying the ball 20 times for 72 yards and a touchdown. The Chargers defense gave up 3 passing touchdowns, but also forced 2 critical Trevor Lawrence interceptions and sacked him 5 times on the day. They’ll need to keep that same level of tenacity next week as Patrick Mahomes and Coach Matigy come to town.
7. Baltimore Ravens (3-1) (LW:12): Upset of the week, or cycle for that matter. If so many coaches were already knocked out of PML knockout, this game by the Ravens would have been the kicker. The Baltimore defense forced Jordan Love into throwing six interceptions, with rookie Travis Hunter having his first multi-interception game of his young career. Lamar Jackson protected the football this week and continues to be the leading rusher for the Ravens, it’s fitting considering he is their fastest player.
8. Atlanta Falcons (3-1) (LW:10): 10 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, 143.1 qb rating. Dartmania is sweeping the PML as the Falcons sit in a tie atop of the NFC South looking every bit of a team ready to make a return to the postseason. With the Saints looking a bit more vulnerable this year, who is to say the Falcons can’t dethrone the Saints this season? If they could take care of the Bills this week, they come out their bye week primed for what could be a first place showdown with JC and the Saints.
9. New Orleans Saints (3-1) (LW:11): The Saints were on upset alert late Saturday night trailing the 49ers for a good portion of the game. Thankfully, Christian McCaffrey fumbled in a spot where the 49ers looked to be setting themselves up for a victory. Nevertheless the Saints came away with the win behind a strong game from rookie Maalik Murphy (4TD, 400 yards). They will be tested this week as they head to Seattle to take on Z and the Seahawks.
10. Green Bay Packers (3-1) (LW:3): In the shocker of the week, the Packers fall to the Ravens. Despite what the score may indicate, a furious fourth quarter push (22-0 run) is what it took from Green Bay to make this game close. Jordan Love threw 6 interceptions and rookie Jawhar Jordan was unable to get it going on the ground. While I’m not sure what led to this outcome (plenty of kudos to the Ravens for shocking the world), the Packers will need to get it in gear quickly as the Vikings come to town next week.
11. Minnesota Vikings (3-1) (LW:5): The Vikings game against the Cowboys came down to the final play as they were unable to make an iced field goal to send the game to overtime. Other than that, the Vikings have been playing great football through the first 4 weeks. Joe Milton will need to clean up the interceptions, but Bucky Irving was once again dominant, rushing 23 times for 157 yards and two touchdowns. The Vikings have a very important game in week 5 as they travel to Green Bay to play the Packers, who eliminated them from playoff contention last season.
12. Detroit Lions (3-1) (LW:14): The Lions came out victorious in this rendition of the Siblings Bowl. Their defense played outstanding, making Quinn Ewers’ life an absolute h***. Jahmyr Gibbs was also efficient on the ground with another 100 yard game. Despite a solid victory, the Lions have to be concerned only putting up 26 points after forcing 8 turnovers. However, it is to be expected in games like this where you know your opponent very well. The Lions travel to Chicago to take on the Bears next week.
13. Houston Texans (3-1) (LW:16): Second year receiver Malik Benson leads the league with 8 touchdowns and he has surpassed his touchdown total (5) for last season and is well on his way of eclipsing his receiving yards (691) for last season. Houston has been finding ways to get their star players the football this season and after their 8 win season last season, they are almost halfway to that point just four weeks into the season.
14. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-2) (LW:9): Jacksonville is 10 points short of being 4-0 on the season and in each of their losses, the games have come down to the last few minutes of the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, this week, Trevor Lawrence threw up a prayer with just under a minute left in the game. The throw was ill-advised because the receiver was covered and there was plenty of time to drive down the field. Nonetheless, Trevor Lawrence has proved to be a dynamic passer this season helping the Jaguars achieve a top five passing offense. But, going forward, Water will have to be able to clutch out fourth quarter comebacks in order to make it to the playoffs in PML.
15. Carolina Panthers (2-2) (LW:13): The Panthers have now dropped two straight, and the early season success seems destined to become just a distant memory as we move along in the season. The defense is playing at a high level, it just seems the offense over the past two weeks has had a difficult time matching that energy. They could get back into the win column and climb above .500 this week as they host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a game that we could call a must-win for both teams if they want to keep their necks in the divisional race.
16. New York Jets (2-2) (LW:15): Caleb Williams has thrown 20 touchdowns and 21 interceptions in his short PML career. You’d consider that bust material for the first overall pick in the draft. He hasn’t really moved the needle in terms of wins for the team and this week he was more of a liability after throwing three interceptions. Williams has 7 interceptions on the season, that’s half of what he had in 16 games last season. New York is at an impasse and it needs its superstar signal caller to protect the football and help them win games, especially games they are favoured to win.
17. Philadelphia Eagles (2-2) (LW: 21): The Eagles had another prolific outing, defeating the Commanders 59-35. Devin Leary had an absolute monster day, throwing for 336 yards and 3 touchdowns. Rookie Jaydn Ott (17/120/1) and 6th-year back D’andre Swift (3/115/1) had an incredible day on the ground as well. The Philly defense also forced 5 Drake Maye interceptions on the day as it appears the UNC quarterback curse (Trubisky, Howell, now Maye) will continue. Unfortunately, not all is well in the City of Brotherly Love. Star quarterback Jalen Hurts will miss the remainder of the regular season, if not more time, with a fractured knee cap he suffered in the early portions of this game. It is yet to be seen if Philly will stick with Devin Leary, or if they’ll hand the reins to newly acquired Desmond Ridder. Only time will tell as the Eagles host the Dolphins in what should be a high scoring game next week.
18. Seattle Seahawks (2-2) (LW:22): Z is a man of pride, and starting 0-2 we all know wasn’t sitting well with him. I spoke to him personally and he assured me he was ready to right the ship in Seattle this cycle. He’s put time in the lab, and it’s paying off as the Seahawks have now won two straight, and could very well upset the Saints in what could be a statement game for their reemergence in the NFC. The offense must get going if they’re going to match the firepower of the Saints high scoring attack. Seattle averages 10 points per game less than the Saints, so either the defense has to work overtime to fill the gap, or Bo Nix needs to find a way into the endzone a tad more.
19. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-2) (LW:23): Pittsburgh is on a two game winning streak and in those two games Zach Wilson has thrown 9 touchdowns and just two interceptions, unlike in the first two games of the season where he threw 3 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. Zach Wilson is the point of attack for the Steelers and he will be the weight that determines how likely Pittsburgh is to get back to the playoffs.
20. Cincinnati Bengals (2-2) (LW:26): Joe Burrow has thrown 13 interceptions in 4 games, he is averaging just over 3 interceptions a game and is on pace to lose his abilities, but Cincinnati has climbed out of that 0-2 hole after beating up on two teams in the AFC East. Silence has some big shoes to fill after coming into the league with his chest puffed out and so far, he has beaten coaches that have the caliber to compete at a high level each week.
21. Miami Dolphins (1-3) (LW:17): Miami is on a three game losing streak BUT this season is very different from last season because Deebo is fighting in every game. Despite the losing streak, Miami has lost by one score in each game. Trading Jalen Ramsey was a cap move, but it has left the Dolphins with very lackluster corners. 32 year old Xavien Howard is the highest rated corner on the team and he is near retirement. Miami needs to address this, maybe trade for AJ Terrell, I heard he’s available in Atlanta.
22. Tennessee Titans (1-3) (LW:18): A three game skid in Tennessee, but it has been against the Chargers, the Saints, and the Seahawks, all three teams that have potential to make the playoffs in their respective conferences. Still, the Titans need to find a way to compete against better teams. Will Levis is protecting the ball better, he has a 10 touchdown to 7 interception ratio, but the biggest issue for the Titans is the fact that they are giving up almost 40 points a game. Even in their lone win of the season, they allowed 30 points. They have to get more aggressive on defense or learn to control the ball longer and limit offensive touches to their opponents.
23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-3) (LW:19): Has the cycle been a disappointment for Cammy and the Buccaneers at this point? The Buccaneers may have had their peak roster in season 1 as they were equipped with several older, but dangerous superstars to compete out the gate. They’ve since entered a semi mid-cycle rebuild and are having a difficult time matching the firepower of the AR stacked Saints and Falcons rosters. It may very well be a playoff-less cycle for Cammy after a very strong showing last year.
24. Chicago Bears (1-3) (LW: 20): Is there a #WineGate scandal in Chicago? After playing a solid first half against KMFO and the Browns, the Bears fell apart in the second half, allowing 32 points before ultimately losing 53-32. There’s no secret that Coach Jefe had the intention of stepping out on the town after this game’s conclusion, and you have to wonder if that added onto the Bears’ second half collapse. Justin Fields also had some costly inconsistency on the day, completing 18 of his 34 passes, even though he had 314 yards and 2 touchdowns. The bright side of this game was Breece Hall. Finally staying healthy enough for the Bears to rush for 152 yards and two touchdowns. The Bears currently sit at 1-3, and have a big matchup with the Lions next week. If they don’t win soon, we could see another wasted season in the Windy City.
25. New York Giants (1-3) (LW:24): After a statement win over the Cowboys, the Giants come up short this week, losing the Sibling Bowl 26-14. Quinn Ewers was absolutely awful, throwing an insane 7 interceptions on the day. He was also sacked 3 times. If you had Saquon Barkley on your fantasy team this week, you’re assuredly disappointed as he only carried the ball 7 times on the day for 26 yards. The one bright spot on the day was the Giants forcing 2 Jared Goff interceptions. However, they could not stop Jahmyr Gibbs, allowing him to rush for 107 yards and a touchdown. The Giants travel to Dallas for a huge rematch with the Cowboys next week.
26. Indianapolis Colts (1-3) (LW:25): Score 48 one week, get 48 put up on you the next week. The Colts are a very enigmatic team. They have potential to compete with better rosters and one week they will and the next they will let off a complete dud. Jonathan Taylor is a workhorse, but he is facing stacked boxes almost every week. CB needs to add some speed to his receiving core, something to make defenses respect his passing game. If not, the Colts will be picking in the top once again.
27. Dallas Cowboys (1-3) (LW:29): The Cowboys get in the win column for the first time this season, with a surprising victory over the previously undefeated Minnesota Vikings. When the Cowboys do put it together, they can compete with just about anyone in the league. Dak Prescott was efficient, throwing for 333 yards and three touchdowns. Ceedee Lamb and Luke Schoonmaker had the exact same statline, hauling in 4 catches for 91 yards and a touchdown each. The defense also forced three Joe Milton III interceptions on the day. There have been unsettling rumors coming from the Dallas front office as it appears Micah Parsons has been in trade talks in the past 48 hours. This Cowboys team could look completely different next week.
28. San Francisco 49ers (1-3) (LW:27): CEO was playing inspired football and looked to be on the verge of upsetting the Saints last night- but superstar running back Christian McCaffrey had other plans. After a costly fumble, the 49ers were never able to regain their footing and ultimately dropped a game they looked in the driver seat to win. Post-game got a little ugly in the 49ers locker room as they put McCaffrey, Jackson, Hargrave, and Kittle on the trading block. Not sure of their plan, but this roster was designed to compete all cycle long, not rebuild at the halfway point.
29. Arizona Cardinals (0-3) (LW:28): The Cardinals season could be over before it even began this season. Dropping their previous game 48-40 against the Colts, a bottom tier team most the cycle, was not how Que envisioned the week going. Demercado still has yet to get his feet moving this season and it is truly holding back the offensive attack as Kyler threw 4 interceptions trying to pick up the slack. Cardinals have definitely taken a few steps back as we approach the midway point of the cycle.
30. Buffalo Bills (0-4) (LW:30): 0-4. When Josh Allen lost his abilities, so did the Bills lose their playoff dreams. The 1992 Chargers made the playoffs after starting 0-4, so it’s possible that the Bills could turn their season around, but trading Stefon Diggs has not helped their offense at all. In his two games with the Bills, Hyatt has 7 receptions for 85 yards. Kayvon Thibodeaux has just three tackles and no sacks in those two games as well. So far the trade for the Bills has not come to fruition, but on the side of optimism, maybe Beast has a plan for his team.
31. Las Vegas Raiders (0-4) (LW:31): The Raiders continue to struggle in what is looking like another lost season. Through 4 weeks, second year quarterback Jayden Daniels has thrown 14 interceptions to only 8 touchdowns. What’s more concerning is him completing less than 59% of his passes. The game plan might need to shift to one that creates simpler throws for Jayden as he hasn’t shown the ability to continue to make routine throws at a high level. Josh Jacobs also only has 283 yards on 61 carries as he seems to be in a temporary usage timeshare with 4th year back Zonovan Knight. The Raiders run defense didn’t give up 200+ yards this week, but can still be considered porous. They travel to Indianapolis to take on the Colts next week.
32. Washington Commanders (0-4) (LW:32): Another week, another instance of the Commanders conceding 48+ points. The Commanders are currently conceding 53 points per game (an NFL record and 32nd in the league to no one’s surprise), 588 yards per game (32nd), 401 passing yards per game (32nd) and 186.8 rushing yards per game (29th). This is obviously not a formula for success, but with in even more head-scratching fashion, the Commanders traded their best defensive player (again) in Chase Young for another strong safety, giving them 4 starting caliber strong safeties when you can only reasonable play 3 at a time (unless you put them at corner #speedtrees). Miles seems to be in way over his head and hasn’t done anything to make things better.
