If the 49ers' defense can stay reasonably healthy, they don't need an offensive juggernaut to be a contender. 2 pick was in control during the games final scoring drive -- a 65-yard march in which Wilson went 5 for 5 through the air. Welcome to Week 14 of the NFL regular season. -- Sarah Barshop, Defensive efficiency: 39.6 After a wild week highlighted by a series of improbable comebacks, Dan Hanzus has 30 teams on the move in his updated NFL Power Rankings. Starting safety Khari Willis, pass-rusher Kwity Paye and cornerbacks Xavier Rhodes and Rock Ya-Sin have all missed games with injuries, too. They had a pile of big gains against the nickel, including a 43-yard run by Josh Jacobs in the third quarter. The Eagles are first in sacks (16), tied for first in takeaways (10), third in yards allowed (277.3 per game) and 10th in points allowed (17.8). The Rams were without cornerbacks Troy Hill (IR), David Long Jr. and Cobie Durant on Monday night against the 49ers, although they did get safety Jordan Fuller back. JAX | KC | LV | LAC | LAR | MIA | MIN That means Rhule is probably stuck with Mayfield, who was on the receiving end of a resounding chorus of boos from the Panthers faithful on Sunday. The biggest issue on defense is a banged-up defensive line. League rank: 26th. The Texans are winless through four games for the fourth time since the franchises inception in 2002, but the news isnt all bad. League rank: 31st. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques, Defensive efficiency: 58.2 A healthy Adams would be making a difference as a run defender and a pass-rusher. They're losing one-on-one matchups and committing too many penalties on the back end, where they're playing three young corners plus a backup at safety in Josh Jones because of the serious knee injury Adams suffered in the opener. His 490 receiving yards through four games is the second-most by a Niner behind only Jerry Rice's 522 in 1995. Tennessee was expected to maintain its high-scoring ways after adding Julio Jones to the mix. When it was over, FOX cameras captured Packers coach Matt LaFleur removing his headset with a look of epic relief etched across his face. -- Rob Demovsky, Defensive efficiency: 46.2 A match with a lowly opponent like Houston is a nice spot to get your feet wet, but the challenge will be far greater if Myles Garrett returns to the lineup for the Browns in Week 5. -- Lindsey Thiry, Defensive efficiency: 53.6 Its defense has faced the third-most pass attempts in the NFL this season. A disappointing setback, no doubt, but Tampa Bay got out of the teeth of its schedule in respectable shape, with a much softer slate of opponents ahead. December 6, 2022 11:55 am ET. Denver Broncos (power rating: 28.5) The Broncos continued to take care of business in their 35-21 win over San Diego for their fourth straight point-spread cover after . Sunday's 26-16 loss to Arizona was a prime example as the Cardinals had the ball for just over 38 minutes to 21:25 for Carolina. JAX | KC | LV | LAC | LAR | MIA | MIN -- Jeff Legwold, Defensive efficiency: 39.5 The biggest issue on defense is stopping the run. #LVvsKC on ESPN: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co . The Niners' defense has been mostly dominant for the season's first month, but the win column doesn't reflect just how good it has been. In the fourth quarter, opposing quarterbacks have posted an NFL-best 88.6 QBR against the Ravens, throwing five touchdowns and getting sacked twice. The biggest issue on defense is Jamal Adams' absence. The Chiefs are doing a nice job of pressuring the quarterback, so it figures the turnovers will come. The biggest issue on defense is run defense. The biggest issue on defense is points allowed. Could Carolina swap soon? "He keeps building, keeps getting better week by week, and our chemistry keeps growing, and we're finally building an identity for ourselves.". League rank: 27th. The Rams were without cornerbacks Troy Hill (IR), David Long Jr. and Cobie Durant on Monday night against the 49ers, although they did get safety Jordan Fuller back. play. -- Brady Henderson, Why it's a surprise: On one hand it shouldn't be a surprise, as it's been quite some time since the Broncos special teams' units and consistency were paired together. In fact, the reigning MVP made several brilliant throws Sunday. Jacoby Brissett has thrown just two interceptions through four games, but they've both been killers. That kind of run-pass disparity worked when the Saints were running out the clock in big wins over Green Bay and New England but has been called into question now after they allowed the Giants to rally for a stunning comeback win Sunday. Only four teams have forced fewer turnovers, and all of them have losing records. -- Brooke Pryor, Defensive efficiency: 36.3 With explosive offenses coming up, the D-line better healthy fast. Without T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, the Steelers didn't record a single sack against the Bengals, and against the Packers, they only had two -- including one that appeared to just be a trip by Watt. Check out the full league pecking order, 1-32. You have come to the ESPN Africa edition, for other ESPN editions, click above. Quinn said he is in a better place mentally and spiritually this season -- and it's showing on the field. Expect Miami to handle this situation with extreme caution moving forward. There are only three teams allowing more rushing yards after contact than the Packers. Players and coaches have talked about the need to communicate more from the get-go, and not just as the game progresses. In an NFC defined by parity, the G-Men are stacking wins with an eye on an improbable playoff return. Reed and rookie Sauce Gardner are holding up nicely on the outside, but they're giving up too many chunk plays in the middle of the field. The Chiefs superstar was unstoppable in a 41-31 win over the Bucs, gleefully shredding Todd Bowles' well-regarded defense. Football Power Index rankings The Saints didn't have much of a pass rush to speak of to start the season, but they did get after Kirk Cousins on Sunday, finishing with three sacks. We'll know for sure after Sunday night's showdown with the Ravens in Baltimore. The biggest issue on defense is defending the run. "But if you look at it analytically, you understand why we did it." The Dolphins' offensive line also ranks 29th in pass block win rate and has given up the fourth most sacks -- despite seeing the eighth fewest blitzes in the league. It's officially time to start worrying about the Rams. Stephen A.: Mahomes put questions about Chiefs' offense to bed (1:55) . League rank: 20th, The Texans are allowing 5.1 yards per carry and have allowed 688 total rushing yards, the second most in the NFL. Four of them came through the air, which has sparked questions about the secondary. Minnesota Vikings (+2000) LW: No. The Bears are the NFL's worst team against the run, having allowed 733 rushing yards through four games (183.3 yards per game), and are on pace to reach historically low marks. Path to the playoffs: The Browns face an uphill battle in winning the AFC North, looking up at both the Bengals and the Ravens in the standings right now. Even that's a reach, as corners Darius Slay (forearm) and Avonte Maddox (right ankle) are expected back soon. The Rams do have four interceptions this season. In the fourth quarter, opposing quarterbacks have posted an NFL-best 88.6 QBR against the Ravens, throwing five touchdowns and getting sacked twice. 7. An offense averaging just 18.5 points per game needs a reliable kicker. The offense added some important pieces this season and it was expected that they would all jell, but for all of it to come together and to be undefeated, lead the NFC West, have one of the best offenses in the league and an early MVP candidate at quarterback -- well, that is what's surprising. The Giants are 19th in the NFL with a pass rush win rate of 41.2%. It's preferable, not easy, to land the best of them. -- Rob Demovsky, Biggest surprise: How quickly the defense has come together, Why it's a surprise: After finishing 19th in defensive efficiency last year, the Browns overhauled their defense in the offseason, bringing in or drafting eight new starters. The biggest issue on defense is injuries. The Bills are for real this season, with a high-octane offense powered by an early . -- Nick Wagoner, Defensive efficiency: 51.0 -- Eric Woodyard, Defensive efficiency: 41.1 Presumably, they'll return to form once Byron Jones returns from the physically unable to perform list -- which he's eligible to do this week. Quarterback Jalen Hurts looked pedestrian for the first time all season, so Miles Sanders did the heavy lifting, with 134 yards and two scores on 27 carries. The last Cowboy cornerback to have five interceptions in a season was Terence Newman in 2010. Have we mentioned Shaquille Leonard has already been ruled out for Thursdays game against the Broncos with a concussion? This bodes well for a team that figures to play in plenty of close games this season. You're messing with me. They don't have an edge rusher with more than one sack and have called the third-most blitzes (57) so far this season. San Francisco ranks near the top of the NFL in nearly every major defensive category, but the offense has been near the bottom of the league in a number of areas, most notably points scored. Here's our new No. Playing in rainy conditions and with multiple important players forced out of action with injuries, Philly relied on its ground attack (210 yards rushing) and an opportunistic defense (five turnovers) to hold off a game Jaguars team at the Linc. From injuries to defending the run, every team has something it can improve on. The biggest issue on defense is sluggish starts. Miami currently has the second-worst pass defense in the NFL through its first four games, although that hasn't translated to the scoreboard. League rank: 24th. The Titans are not as efficient in the red zone anymore either. They've allowed 415 yards off play-action, which is the fourth most in the NFL. Dan Hanzus. The Chiefs have taken the ball from their opponent just four times. Where do the Tampa Bay Buccaneers rank in Week 14 across Power Rankings? The defense still has some faults, but if it can continue to get takeaways, that will give an offense that is rolling more possessions. -- Adam Teicher, Defensive efficiency: 69.1 -- Jordan Raanan, Biggest surprise: Defense has overachieved, Why it's a surprise: The defense ranks in the top half of the league in points and yards allowed despite some tough circumstances. Rank: 16; NFL Top 5: Eagles, Chiefs, Bills, Cowboys, Vikings . Football Power Index rankings League rank: 6th. However, in the Week 4 loss to the Raiders, the Broncos were pushed off the ball far too often in run defense. 1 pass rush win rate, the Browns own a defense that has the look of a championship-caliber unit. Entering Monday night, Kupp leads the NFL with five receiving touchdowns and ranks third with 431 receiving yards. The Broncos had surrendered only six points in the second half of their first three games combined, so they were rolling. It's hard to be a top defense like what was expected with a pedestrian pass rush. The Bengals are 26th in sacks per dropback, according to ESPN Stats & Information research, and are tied for 22nd in total sacks. Can the red-hot Bengals finally get a win against the Browns? A home affair against a lesser Patriots team playing its third-string, rookie quarterback should not have stretched to overtime, but Green Bay is a team fighting itself while still in possession of enough muscle memory to win in the process. Adams has rushed the passer 13 times through four games after averaging 8.25 rushes per game last year, per ESPN Stats & Information research. Tua Tagovailoa's current stint on injured reserve has not helped, but even he can't single-handedly solve Miami's offensive woes. Sunday had to be a soothing day for the defending AFC South champions. "The NFL hasn't seen anything like Mahomes -- I promise you that," Travis Kelce said after the victory. The Cardinals' four sacks are the fewest in the NFL, and their sacks per pass attempt rate is a league-low 2.88%. But they do need much more than what they've gotten thus far. CeeDee Lamb emerges as a WR1 Here's the weird part: It's not because of the pass rush. (1:55). Even though Arizona started hot last year and then went into a tailspin, this start feels different. League rank: 22nd. The big question in Cleveland: When will Myles Garrett return to the lineup following his scary car accident last week? Jump to: The Bucs have given up 27 total points in the first quarter through four weeks -- fourth most in the league -- yet their 68 total points given up would be fifth fewest. Defensive efficiency: 69.1. It didn't hurt . Derrick Henry ran all over the rival Colts like in the good old days, and Tennessee pulled itself back to .500 with a 24-17 win over its longtime rival. -- Tim McManus, Why it's a surprise: Name the offensive category and the Dolphins are either near or at the bottom of the NFL's rankings. -- Jordan Raanan, Defensive efficiency: 68.3 The biggest issue on defense is the 49ers' offense. With an Eagles team that runs the ball effectively in their division, the Cowboys have to get better. This might be a minor quibble given how well the unit is playing as a whole. The Falcons are allowing opponents to convert 44% of third-down chances, ranking 24th out of the 32 teams. The biggest issue on defense is forcing turnovers. The Niners picked a nice moment to deliver their best performance of the year. They are allowing 5 yards per carry and have given up 20 runs of 10 yards or more in four games, including two runs of at least 33 yards in the past two games. League rank: 15th. Defensive efficiency, powered by ESPN's Football Power Index, is rated on a 0-100 scale, based on the defense's contribution to scoring margin on per-play basis and adjusted for strength of opposing offenses faced. Betting Takeaways from ESPN.com NFL Power Rankings: Are the Cowboys ranked too low? Not only are the Packers allowing nearly 5 yards per rush, but they're having troubling bringing runners down. Washington has surrendered an NFL-best 12 plays of 30 yards or more -- 10 of those have been pass plays -- often because of blown coverages. In related news, the much-hyped addition of presumptive No. -- Tim McManus, Defensive efficiency: 57.9 But good or bad, we asked the reporters of all 32 teams to identify the one thing about the teams they cover that has startled them most through 23.52% of the season (we did the math). They look really solid from front to back, even with safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, formerly of the New Orleans Saints, acclimating to a new position and team. After dropping three straight, there are plenty of issues to point to on the defensive side, but the root of it stems from Watt's absence. It's possible, not probable, to win in spite of them. How far do the 49ers fall in the wake of Jimmy Garoppolo's season-ending injury? The Lions need to make some changes immediately, and head coach Dan Campbell knows it. That luck has changed quickly, with all three starting cornerbacks potentially out now after Carlton Davis left their Week 4 win against the Patriots with a quad injury. League rank: 15th. NOTE: Up/down arrows below reflect team movement from the Week 4 Power Rankings. League rank: 8th. More NFL coverage . 1. Defensive efficiency, powered by ESPN's Football Power Index, is rated on a 0-100 scale, based on the defense's contribution to scoring margin on per-play basis and adjusted for strength of opposing offenses faced. The biggest issue on defense is allowing explosive plays. Brown's right calf injury, which has knocked him out of action for everything but the first series of the season, has been a factor in the performance, but is far from the only reason for the struggle. SEA | TB | TEN | WSH, Defensive efficiency: 62.7 With or without Drew Brees at quarterback . The biggest issue on defense is injuries to the secondary. The Dolphins have been stout against the run, and the numbers they've given up are a bit skewed considering Josh Allen's 63 pass attempts in Week 3 and Lamar Jackson's prolific first half in Week 2. Entering Monday night, Miami was 31st in scoring, 31st in total yards, 30th in first downs, 30th in passing yards, 26th in rushing yards -- need I go on? Four games in, Samuel is first in the NFL in receiving yards (490) and yards after catch (266) and fifth in yards per reception (17.5). The biggest issue on defense is a consistent pass rush. So, let's get to it. Sometimes inexperience has led to the big plays, but other times it's just corners getting beat, whether outright or because they anticipated help that didn't arrive. Our power panel -- a group of more than 80 writers, editors and TV personalities -- has evaluated how teams are stacking up through 13 weeks. With explosive offenses coming up, the D-line better healthy fast. But when the players say they still need to get better, slowing the run is their biggest must. NFL and the NFL shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League.The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. The biggest issue on defense is stopping the run. -- Courtney Cronin, Why it's a surprise: After an uninspiring 2020 season, Quinn has been all over the field for the Bears defense through four games. You won't want to miss a moment of the 2022 season! When Quinn is paired with Khalil Mack, the Bears have one of the most formidable edge rusher duos in the NFC North. Los Angeles' defense, which ranked second in Football Outsiders' rush DVOA going into the Week 4 matchup, ranks significantly worse against the pass (23rd in the NFL). League rank: 26th. League rank: 32nd. Published: Oct 06, 2020 at 09:29 AM. Wilson was predictably rusty in his first game action since knee surgery in August, but the former No. He looked poised for a big season, but even the biggest Samuel believers probably didn't see this coming. Defensive efficiency, powered by ESPN's Football Power . The Cowboys have given up a single touchdown in each of their four games, taking the pressure off Cooper Rush and allowing the backup QB to play in a controlled environment with a positive game script. 1 wasn't even in the top 10 a week ago. Stephen A. Smith explains how Patrick Mahomes proved that no one should be worried about the Chiefs' offense anymore. The Ravens have lost two games this season in which they have led by 17 points or more because they can't stop teams late in games. The Falcons are allowing opponents to convert 44% of third-down chances, ranking 24th out of the 32 teams. Watt is the cog in the defense that makes everything go, and without a formidable pass rush, the rest of the defense isn't succeeding in picking up the slack. Jones has occupied double-teams and affected the passer, but for Crosby to remain effective, the Raiders would love for Jones, who signed a three-year, $51 million free agent deal with Las Vegas this spring, to start getting home, too. The biggest issue on defense is sluggish starts. Do Giants trust Jones? While we're not at the one-quarter mark of the season yet (thanks to the new 17-game schedule), the NFL Power Rankings thought this week was the perfect time to discuss each team's biggest surprises in the early going. On Sunday against the Cowboys, there were 11 penalties for 136 yards, with two of those infractions wiping away Cooper Rush interceptions in a 25-10 loss. Cleveland was missing three of its four starters along the defensive line in Sunday's loss to the Falcons, including star pass-rusher Myles Garrett. The Steelers have shown an ability to play championship-level defense, but the lack of replication is surprising. -- Michael DiRocco, Defensive efficiency: 47.3 -- Mike Triplett, Biggest surprise: The struggles on offense, Why it's a surprise: The Titans' offense averaged 30 points per game last year. But they're going to have to rush the passer more effectively if that is going to continue. San Francisco ranks near the top of the NFL in nearly every major defensive category, but the offense has been near the bottom of the league in a number of areas, most notably points scored. But injuries to key players have made it difficult for the unit to develop an identity through four games. In Week 2, he sailed a pass that sealed Cleveland's fate in a collapse against the Jets. But what has also stood out is how many injuries the Bills have accumulated, especially in the secondary. They haven't gotten a consistent pass-rush from anyone other than linebacker Uchenna Nwosu. It's one of the many reasons they're winless, and it has made them vulnerable in the play-action game, too. -- Brooke Pryor, Defensive efficiency: 36.3 His 19 completions of 20-plus yards rank third in the NFL, trailing only Tom Brady (23) and Derek Carr (21). NFL Power Rankings: Week 5. Lawrence fumbled the ball four times (losing all four) and threw a crushing red-zone interception -- an avalanche of giveaways that allowed the undefeated Eagles to wipe away an early 14-0 deficit. Suspended receiver DeAndre Hopkins can return after two more games. Yes, the growing pains rolled on for the young former first-round pick, who took six sacks and had three trips inside the red zone without scoring a touchdown in a 20-12 loss to the Giants at MetLife Stadium. The Giants have a top-10 pass defense at the moment. Last week: No. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. White gets shot at redemption, Defensive efficiency: 69.3 -- Mike Wells, Why it's a surprise: Minnesota signed Breeland to shore up the secondary and put a player with experience and good coverage skills (ranked 18th by Pro Football Focus in 2020) opposite Patrick Peterson at outside corner. The awfulness of the Houston Texans knows no bounds, and while there was an undeniably grim undertone surrounding the game, the Texans provided some dark humor that made everyone - except . It boasted a top young line, the defensive rookie of the year (Chase Young) and added parts in the offseason through free agency (corner William Jackson III) and the draft (linebacker Jamin Davis, corner Benjamin St-Juste). -- Lindsey Thiry, Defensive efficiency: 53.6 -- Paul Gutierrez, Defensive efficiency: 42.7 -- Josh Weinfuss, Defensive efficiency: 29.6 2 receiver Allen Robinson (two catches, 7 yards on Monday) is fast approaching boondoggle territory. 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