NFL Week 4 grades from around the league

Seven teams have already seen their starting QBs miss time due to injuries this year. The Rams (2-2) run the risk of Matthew Stafford joining that list. After Stafford battled an elbow problem for months, a battered Rams O-line allowed another night-game rampage. The 49ers even mowed down one of the two Rams starting blockers who dressed. Left tackle Joe Noteboom allowed three of the 49ers' seven sacks. By game's end, the Rams were down to a backup left guard, a third-string center, and a third-string right guard. Stafford has now been sacked seven times twice this season. He has only been dropped that many times in two other games in 14 years. With a menacing Dallas pass rush up next, this is the Rams' central issue.

RAMS GRADE: D | NEXT: vs. Cowboys (Sun.)

The 49ers' defense has played the lead role in wrecking two primetime games, but after Russell Wilson led a Broncos escape, Talanoa Hufanga slammed the door on the Rams. The 49ers (2-2) moved on from Jaquiski Tartt and have Jimmie Ward on IR. When Ward returns, he will have a breakout talent alongside him at safety. A 2021 fifth-rounder, Hufanga has been a force in his first month as a starter. His closeout pick-six offers the prospect of yet another impact player emerging on this defense, which dominated a third straight opponent. Also of note: Nick Bosa's five QB hits give him 23 this season; that leads the NFL by seven. The 49ers look to have assembled a second equation-changing defense in four years.

49ERS GRADE: A | NEXT: at Panthers (Sun.)

Assembled because of the Buccaneers' Super Bowl LV pass-rushing onslaught, the rebuilt Chiefs offensive line had not enjoyed a proper showcase stage. Patrick Mahomes' presence and Andy Reid's run-game apathy rarely allow for smashmouth windows. The Chiefs (3-1) rode their O-line in their first trip back to Tampa, outrushing the Buccaneers 189-3 (!). Kansas City's Orlando Brown-Joe Thuney-Creed Humphrey-Trey Smith configuration (feat. holdover Andrew Wylie) helped Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Isiah Pacheco gash the Bucs, who allowed their most rushing yards in the Vita Vea era. Reid's willingness to use the run game may always be an issue, but a Mahomes-led offense having this in its toolbox is quite dangerous.

CHIEFS GRADE: A | NEXT: vs. Raiders (Mon.)

The Chiefs offense crushed an elite Buccaneers defense -- top five in both points and yards entering Week 4 -- and finished 12-for-17 on third downs. Kansas City was 10-for-12 at one point in perhaps the Mahomes-Tom Brady finale. Brady had to go it alone, with Todd Bowles' troops bending and breaking at a rare rate and the Bucs (2-2) needing to abandon their rushing effort early. Many expected Mahomes to bedevil the Bucs in Super Bowl LV, but the de facto home team ruined his night. Not this time. Despite an uneven Week 3 outing, Mahomes had Cris Collinsworth gushing -- at the Bucs' expense. Tampa Bay's schedule should allow for an October regrouping, but this was a rough night for an experienced defense.

BUCCANEERS GRADE: D | NEXT: vs. Falcons (Sun.)

Although Poyer's offseason bid to secure a third Bills contract did not lead to a deal, the veteran safety demonstrated his value in a big spot. The sixth-year Bill made a major difference in the team's lineup, returning after being one of many defenders to miss Week 3, and piloted the defensive side of Buffalo's 17-point comeback. Poyer snagged interceptions to stall the Ravens' final two drives -- the second, on a fourth-and-goal sequence, one of the more momentous INTs this NFL season will produce -- and added three pass breakups to give Josh Allen a chance to complete the comeback. A dreary setting against an MVP quarterback represented a tough get-right spot for the Bills (3-1); Poyer helped make it work. 

BILLS GRADE: B-plus | NEXT: vs. Steelers (Sun.)

Harbaugh is a made man in Baltimore, but the 15th-year Ravens coach continues to come up short after relying on analytics to close out victories. Sunday's decision to eschew an automatic go-ahead field goal for a touchdown try against one of the league's better defensive nuclei burned Harbaugh, whose two all-or-nothing two-point conversion tries contributed to last year's season-closing six-game skid. The Ravens (2-2) now join the 2011 Vikings as the only teams to blow two 17-point leads in their first four games, per ESPN Stats and Info. Even if Harbaugh's explanation made sense, ending a 9 1/2-minute drive with no points capped another memorable Ravens loss to an AFC contender.

RAVENS GRADE: C-plus | NEXT: vs. Bengals (Sun.)

The Mid-Atlantic storm cell that mucked up the Bills-Ravens tilt did not help matters for the visiting Jaguars, whose ascending quarterback lost four fumbles -- the most by any QB since 1991, according to NFL.com -- and threw an INT in an oddly close (all things considered) game. The Eagles' pass rush keeps winning battles, and the Haason Reddick-Jawaan Taylor matchup (two sack-strips) swung in Philly's favor. But the Jaguars (2-2) still had a game-tying drive opportunity just inside of two minutes. Lawrence, who lost control of the wet ball on a fourth-down try and later fumbled a QB-sneak attempt, torpedoed a rising team's Week 4 upset bid. 

JAGUARS GRADE: D-plus | NEXT: vs. Texans (Sun.)

Annually annoying Sanders fantasy GMs, the Eagles limit their fourth-year starter's workloads. In a game requiring Philadelphia to lean on its top-tier O-line to close out Jacksonville, Sanders received an old-school assignment. The Pennsylvania native displayed his best stuff in the mud, stampeding for 134 yards and two touchdowns on a career-high 27 carries. Saquon Barkley's college backup only equaled that once at Penn State. The Eagles (4-0) did not receive a quality Jalen Hurts game, but the team's 2021 second half showed the damage its backfield could cause. Sanders was a big part of that committee, and his Week 4 lead role did well to display value in a contract year.

EAGLES GRADE: A-minus | NEXT: at Cardinals (Sun.)

As Brian Hoyer's rare starter chance ended with a concussion, the Patriots turned to a player who was at Houston Baptist two seasons ago. Of course, Bailey Zappe did plenty last fall -- Division I-record 62 TD passes, 5,967 yards at Western Kentucky -- to earn his fourth-round status, and the system-created prospect held his own against Aaron Rodgers. Although an uncalled delay-of-game penalty preceded the rookie's TD pass, Zappe did lead two scoring drives -- with a boost from six-O-lineman formations -- to force overtime. Zappe is the fourth post-Brady quarterback to start for the Pats (1-3), who are approaching a crossroads as Mac Jones rehabs.

PATRIOTS GRADE: B | NEXT: vs. Lions (Sun.)

A top-five pressure artist in his first starter season, Gary is turning those pursuits into sacks this year. Peaking with a second-quarter sack-strip-recovery sequence that stalled a progressing Patriots drive, the fourth-year edge rusher registered two sacks, a tackle for loss, and two more pressures. This helped a Packers team not getting much from its offense until the second half stave off a scrappy Pats outfit. Gary, who spent two years behind Za'Darius and Preston Smith, now has five sacks. Although Aaron Rodgers awakened to put away New England, Green Bay (3-1) needing a run of defensive stops in this lopsided QB matchup is a bit concerning as tougher challenges await.

PACKERS GRADE: B-minus | NEXT: vs. Giants (Sun., in London)

A John Elway misfire late in his GM run, Melvin Gordon continues to impede the Broncos' efforts. Gordon's first-carry fumble turned into a Raiders touchdown, marking his fourth fumble in four games and 11th in three Denver seasons. No other running back has more than nine in that span. Re-signing for $2.5 million this year after his $16M deal (one that led Denver favorite Phillip Lindsay out of town) expired, Gordon has lost fumbles in both Broncos losses. Despite benching the former first-rounder, the Broncos (2-2) may have to keep playing him. Javonte Williams' potentially serious knee injury guts Denver's offense, one already limited by Tim Patrick's ACL tear. Russell Wilson played well in Las Vegas, but his first Denver season is drifting off axis.

BRONCOS GRADE: D-plus | NEXT: vs. Colts (Thu.)

The 2019 running back class accounts for six starting backfield slots around the NFL, but none of the fourth-year players have been extended. No member of that class' value took a bigger hit than Jacobs' after a new Raiders regime passed on his fifth-year option. But the 2019 first-rounder made the biggest difference in the Raiders' first win, bulldozing a strong Broncos defense for 144 rushing yards. Jacobs, however, has made a habit of gouging the Broncos. Sunday was his fourth two-TD day against Denver, despite having just six career games in this rivalry. Jacobs may not be in the Raiders' 2023 plans, but his between-the-tackles work certainly benefited their 2022 squad (1-3) in a must-win spot.

RAIDERS GRADE: A-minus | NEXT: at Chiefs (Mon.)

Down top pass rusher Harold Landry, along with veteran starters Zach Cunningham and Amani Hooker, the Titans relied on their only healthy defensive position group in Week 4. Tennessee's defensive line delivered. Denico Autry (two sacks, a forced fumble, three QB hits) and Teair Tart (two pass batdowns, one setting up his own diving INT) led the way for a Titans team that shut down Jonathan Taylor. Sunday's 20-carry, 42-yard, one-fumble outing defanged the Colts' top weapon and led to the Titans picking up their fourth straight win in this rivalry. Like they did last year, the Titans (2-2) keep winning despite their inactive-starter count rising.

TITANS GRADE: B-plus | NEXT: at Commanders (Sun.)

Completing a three-year plan with September's record-setting Quenton Nelson extension -- which followed 2020 and '21 Ryan Kelly and Braden Smith re-ups -- the Colts (1-2-1) have three high-end O-linemen locked up long-term. This math has led to low-cost cogs supplementing the trio. Still, the result is unacceptable for a team with such payments going to blockers. Matt Ryan continues to face steady pressure, and Taylor -- the 2021 rushing champ by over 500 yards -- cannot find room. Ryan took three sacks Sunday, running his Colt count to 15, but Taylor bottoming out is a bigger concern. Colts' obits are not yet necessary. However, the team being unable to rely on a perennial strength has become a season-defining problem.

COLTS GRADE: D-plus | NEXT: at Broncos (Thu.)

One of Jon Gruden's spree of ineffective 2019 Raider additions, Joyner then played in one game with the 2021 Jets before a season-ending triceps tear. The former Rams Super Bowl starter re-emerged after years off the grid, intercepting two passes and deflecting three more -- including the third of the Jets' four INTs. Zach Wilson joined Mitch Trubisky as inconsistent starters in this AFC matchup, though the now-healthy Jets starter did not match Kenny Pickett in picks. The Jets (2-2) teamed up on three INTs, via tips, and made Pickett pay for testing their coverage. This is a step forward for a defense still trying to shake off its last-place 2021 ranking. 

JETS GRADE: B-plus | NEXT: vs. Dolphins (Sun.)

Based on early-season reports, Mike Tomlin did not want to give the keys to Kenny Pickett this early. The Steelers (1-3) are about to begin a Bills-Buccaneers-Dolphins-Eagles gauntlet. But an unraveling bridge plan left the 16th-year HC with no choice. Pickett submitted a boom-or-bust debut, going 10-for-13 at 9.2 yards per throw but seeing each of the misfires intercepted. But the first-round pick's willingness to test defenses downfield represents a necessary change from the limited Mitch Trubisky (NFL-worst 5.6 Y/A this season). Ben Roethlisberger's successor could unchain a listless Pittsburgh offense, but this ride will be far rockier than Big Ben's smooth 2004 debut.

STEELERS GRADE: D | NEXT: at Bills (Sun.)

The Giants did not allow Khalil Herbert to post a second straight monster game, but New York's offense could not run away from the one-dimensional Bears, either. Against a team that could barely attempt a fourth-quarter pass due to injuries, it still never felt as though the Bears (2-2) could mount a game-tying drive. Justin Fields is now at a 50.7 completion rate, with many of his 172 Week 4 yards coming on a well-placed heave to Darnell Mooney. Third-down run calls offered further evidence this Bears staff lacks Fields faith. The 2021 first-rounder is surrounded by a bad skill corps and is averaging 16.5 attempts per game. What answers will the front office obtain with this approach?

BEARS GRADE: D-plus | NEXT: at Vikings (Sun.)

Tyrod Taylor's concussion coming after a Daniel Jones ankle injury led the Giants to lean on their wildcat packages (strangely, with a gimpy Jones at receiver). Barkley made sure the QB injuries would not sink a well-dressed Giants squad, finishing off a 146-yard rushing day on a scary-sounding (given Barkley's past) 31 carries. Pre-injury, Jones had staked the Giants (3-1) a two-score lead earlier with two Mike Shanahan-ian bootleg TDs that featured strong downfield blocking and a bevy of befuddled Bears. This amounted to 262 Giants ground yards -- the team's 10th-best rushing day since 1940. It would seem relevant receiver contributions will soon be necessary, but they weren't in this rushing tour de force.

GIANTS GRADE: A-minus | NEXT: vs. Packers (Sun., in London)

The Cowboys, Eagles and Giants are a combined 10-2. While the Giants check in as a likely pretender, their record is still two games up on a Commanders team without answers in key places. The Cowboys only sacked Carson Wentz twice, after the team's O-line struggled against the Lions and Eagles, but they forced two intentional grounding penalties and intercepted him twice. Washington (1-3) tried to acquire better quarterbacks, but the team gave up two Day 2 picks and is paying Wentz's full salary. CeeDee Lamb also followed Amon-Ra St. Brown and DeVonta Smith in vexing a veteran Commanders secondary. Ron Rivera inherited a mess, and the well-regarded HC is in trouble two years later.

COMMANDERS GRADE: D | NEXT: vs. Titans (Sun.)

The NFL held Rush in low regard this year. To protect non-vested players from going to waivers, the Cowboys cut Rush before finalizing their 53-man roster in August. The vested vet was available as a free agent, but teams' apathy allowed Dallas (3-1) to stash him on its practice squad. Rush is now 4-0 as a starter. The Central Michigan alum did well to find Lamb (six catches, 97 yards) and locate lower-progression reads, particularly on Michael Gallup's TD. While the Cowboys' defense anchors this Dak Prescott-less effort, the team has steadied itself with an undrafted QB. Tuning out Jerry Jones will be harder for the football world's anti-Cowboys sect to accomplish for the foreseeable future.

COWBOYS GRADE: A-minus | NEXT: at Rams (Sun.)

The easy start to the Browns' schedule is over. The returns: less than ideal. The worst late-game collapse in 21 years and a scary Myles Garrett car accident may well have prevented Cleveland from a 4-0 start. Part four of the cozy intro for the Browns ending in defeat opens the door to the team's fortunes worsening to the point it could be a fringe contender at best when Deshaun Watson returns in Week 13. The Browns (2-2) needed their offense to come through with Garrett -- in his first injury-related absence since 2017 -- and Jadeveon Clowney out. The team ventured to Atlanta's 2-yard line on its first two drives but came away with three points against a low-level defense. Not a good prelude to a stiffer schedule sector.

BROWNS GRADE: C | NEXT: vs. Chargers (Sun.)

A Browns defense missing four of its box defenders (D-tackle Taven Bryan and linebacker Anthony Walker were also out) could not stop the Falcons' run game after halftime. Atlanta steamrolled for 172 of its 202 rushing yards in the third and fourth stanzas -- key as Marcus Mariota completed all of seven passes -- with trained backs Tyler Allgeier and Caleb Huntley doing the heavy lifting as returner convert/revelation Cordarrelle Patterson played hurt. The younger backs each averaged north of 5.6 yards a pop for an offense that keeps showing life. The Falcons (2-2) do not have the pieces to match up with the NFC's best this season, but they have competed in every game. Arthur Smith's rebuild is on the right track.

FALCONS GRADE: B | NEXT: at Buccaneers (Sun.)

Playing days after undergoing a heart operation, J.J. Watt helped the Cardinals to their season's most complete effort. The future first-ballot Hall of Famer batted down two Baker Mayfield passes, one of which led to a Dennis Gardeck INT and lead-cushioning James Conner TD. Zach Allen joined Watt in wrecking Mayfield's afternoon, swatting three passes -- including a fourth-down offering -- and tallying a sack. For the issues plaguing the Cardinals (2-2), they do have talent at defensive end. Both Watt and Allen are 2023 free agents; the younger lineman's showing in Charlotte may have furthered his extension case.

CARDINALS GRADE: B-plus | NEXT: vs. Eagles (Sun.)

Mayfield is not showing his woeful, career-altering 2021 was entirely injury-induced. The Panthers trade acquisition is floundering. In addition to Mayfield seeing Watt and Allen re-route five of his passes, compounding the struggles that have produced more batted balls than any other quarterback since 2018, the 6-foot-1 passer threw two INTs and closed with a 7.4 QBR figure. Mayfield's four-game Carolina QBR is 15.4. 31st-place Justin Fields (25.9) is closer to 24th than he is to Mayfield. The Panthers (1-3) are making the Broncos' post-Peyton/pre-Russ QB-staffing effort look sound. At this rate, the revolving door of underachieving first-round arms will cost Matt Rhule his job. Potentially before season's end.

PANTHERS GRADE: D | NEXT: vs. 49ers (Sun.)

While it is an obvious bet Russell Wilson will be quarterbacking the Broncos long after Geno Smith's Seahawks QB1 stay wraps, Wilson's longtime backup is putting up some eye-opening stats in his audition/bridge season. Smith sliced up the Lions for 320 yards and two scores, running his season completion percentage to 77.3 -- the best through-four-games number (min. 125 passes) in NFL history. Rashaad Penny, who curried favor with fantasy front offices with his Lions incineration in December, iced the game with 151 rushing yards and two TDs. These Seahawks may ultimately be a sub-.500 team, as most expected, but they are proving undeniably fun. 

SEAHAWKS GRADE: B | NEXT: at Saints (Sun.)

The Seahawks have scored 99 points over their past two Lions games, with Wilson and Smith (feat. Penny as a rushing constant) shredding Aaron Glenn's defense. Detroit (1-3) allowed 555 yards, leading to the hosts (520) coming out on the short end of this shootout between rebuilding teams. Dan Campbell is threatening staff shakeups after this loss, with the Lions' defense sitting dead last in the league. The Lions scoring 45 points without Amon-Ra St. Brown or D'Andre Swift is remarkable, but their defensive shortcomings undercut it. Detroit's rebuild still has a long way to go.

LIONS GRADE: C | NEXT: at Patriots (Sun.)

The Chargers' penchant for season-clouding injuries is overshadowing their on-field product, and the losses of Joey Bosa and Rashawn Slater could prove to be too much. Justin Herbert also continues to be without Keenan Allen. But center Corey Linsley returned Sunday, helping Ekeler rebound. Averaging 2.5 yards per tote through three games, Ekeler showed his pre-2022 form with 109 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns. This became necessary for a Chargers team that let the Texans, whose 2021 version had upset the Bolts to make Herbert an extraordinarily rare Pro Bowl (RIP) starter who missed the playoffs, back in the game. The Chargers (2-2) may still be reeling; drawing the Texans in this spot proved fortunate.

CHARGERS GRADE: B-minus | NEXT: at Browns (Sun.)

After two years of Bill O'Brien-hijacked drafts, the 2022 Texans class shows potentially valuable pieces. A week after Jalen Pitre's two-INT performance, Dameon Pierce showcased the talents that piqued the fantasy community's interest in August. The fourth-rounder was the only Texan to take a handoff, shaking off a two-fumble game by rushing for 131 yards -- 75 of those on a TD sprint. The Texans (0-3-1) traded for David Johnson in 2020 and formed a strange veteran coalition last year. Pierce is receiving his shot almost by default, due to the team's situation, but he looks like Houston's long-sought-after Lamar Miller replacement. 

TEXANS GRADE: C | NEXT: at Jaguars (Sun.)

This is a fairly typical Vikings performance; it actually produced the same unusual score (28-25) their Week 3 Lions win brought. But Minnesota's ace receiver returned to his All-Pro-caliber track in England. Jefferson did most of his damage against four-time Pro Bowler Marshon Lattimore, who covered the versatile Viking on 77% of his routes, per Next Gen Stats. That certainly enhances the appeal of Jefferson's 10-reception, 147-yard day. Without big Jefferson days, Kevin O'Connell's team (3-1) offers the same high-floor/low-ceiling M.O. past Kirk Cousins Minnesota teams did. This remains a flawed contender with hurdles to clear, but hardly any team can match its top weapon. 

VIKINGS GRADE: B | NEXT: vs. Bears (Sun.)

London brought the definitive modern battle of middling quarterbacks, with the slightly above-average arm of the moment (Cousins) taking on a player that once held a similar place in the QB lexicon. Dalton digs aside, he is a considerable upgrade from the Trevor Siemian-Taysom Hill-Ian Book mess the Saints (1-3) deployed after Jameis Winston went down last year. The 149-game starter kept the Saints around despite the absences of Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas. If Winston is forced to miss more time (likely), the Saints having Dalton for $3 million could make a difference -- especially with Kamara and Thomas. Though, New Orleans does need to start winning games.

SAINTS GRADE: B-minus | NEXT: vs. Seahawks (Sun.)

Once the firestorm surrounding the Dolphins dissipates, the AFC contenders will resume their season with or without Tua Tagovailoa. The team will face severe scrutiny if it clears Tagovailoa for Week 5 action, after this traumatic period. The door opens for Miami native Teddy Bridgewater, but it will be interesting to see what kind of effect Tua's potential loss -- and now-complicated return to the field -- has on a team that had rocketed to the top of select power polls entering Week 4. Another cloud that has not been discussed much amid this controversy: Bridgewater sustained two concussions last season, the second sidelining him for the Broncos' final three games.

DOLPHINS GRADE: C-minus | NEXT: at Jets (Sun.)

The Bengals will have a decision to make at safety in the months to come. Bell might be making it easier. The former Saints second-round pick has continued to provide steady play since the Bengals gave him a three-year, $18 million deal in 2020, when the previously rigid franchise (regarding outside hires, at least) started loading up around Joe Burrow. Bell intercepted two passes against the Dolphins, helping the Bengals (2-2) keep their rebound going. Paying Bell, who has missed just one Cincinnati start (Omicron), to pair with Dax Hill's rookie deal will be cheaper than venturing to the safety market's upper reaches -- a shaky Bengals proposition, as this summer showed -- to retain Jessie Bates.

BENGALS GRADE: B-plus | NEXT: at Ravens (Sun.)