Bottoms Up for NFL 2014 (Week 4): Raiders hit rock bottom
It’s nearly become a tradition in today’s National Football League, where up can be down and down can certainly be up.
Just about every season, we see a last-place club turn into a first-place club in the blink of an eye aka one season. Let’s take a look at some recent examples.
Last season, the Philadelphia Eagles rebounded from a 4-12 showing and won the NFC East in 2013 with a 10-6 record. The year before, it was the Washington Redskins going from a last-place finish to an unexpected division crown.
Once again, we are taking a look at how the eight teams that finished last a year ago and ranking them from worst to best.
It’s safe to say it was a week of mixed reviews for the six teams in action last week.
8. AFC West: Oakland Raiders (0-4)
It’s harder to get off to a rougher start than Dennis…uh, Tony Sparano’s team this season. Yes, following a 38-14 loss in London to the Miami Dolphins, Dennis Allen was fired after 36 games and an 8-28 record and replaced by Sparano, the one-time head coach of the Dolphins.
Dating back to last season, the Silver and Black have dropped 10 straight games. That streak won’t be extended this week as the Raiders have the week off following their trip overseas.
Sparano certainly has his work cut out for him. Oakland ranks dead last in the NFL in both total offense and rushing and only five teams have gained fewer yards through the air. On defense, only the Green Bay Packers have allowed more yards on the ground.
It will be interesting to see what other changes, if any, we see on this team when they return to action the second weekend of October.
Week 5: Off
7. NFC West: St. Louis Rams (1-2): off last week
The last time we saw Jeff Fisher’s club, they were busy blowing a 21-0 lead at home against Dallas Cowboys and wound losing, 34-31. It marked the second time in three games that the Rams had allowed 34 points, with both of those games coming at home.
Fisher and company are back in action after a week off and the team has its work cut out for itself as the club travels to Philadelphia to face an Eagles’ team coming off its first loss of 2014.
While Austin Davis remains the starting quarterback, the bigger question is what has happened to the St. Louis pass rush? Yes, defensive end Chris Long is sidelined but the team has one sack in three games. The Rams amassed a combined 105 sacks in their previous 32 games from 2012-13.
Week 5: at Philadelphia Eagle
6. NFC East: Washington Redskins (1-3)
Talk about a stunning turn of events?
Just when it looked like the Washington Redskins were turning things around on both sides of the ball, a humbling 45-14 home loss to the New York Giants raised serious doubts about Jay Gruden’s club.
Washington has now allowed 82 points in their last two games after giving up a combined 27 points in their split with the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars. The Redskins have also now lost eight straight games vs. their NFC East rivals dating back to last season.
And after committing just three turnovers in their first three games, Gruden’s team coughed up the football six times (five by quarterback Kirk Cousins) in last Thursday night’s debacle.
Week 5: vs. Seattle Seahawks
5. NFC South: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-3)
In the closing minutes of their Week 4 visit to Heinz Field, Lovie Smith’s Buccaneers were apparently staring at yet another loss.
Then came an eye-opening moment. Led by quarterback Mike Glennon (making his first start of the season) and some big catches by Louis Murphy and Vincent Jackson, Tampa rallied for a 27-24 win over the stunned Steelers and ended a six-game losing streak that dated back to last season.
Could this victory jump start the team’s season. This Sunday, they hit the road for the third consecutive week when they invade the Superdome. In four games, the Bucs have allowed 119 points and the Saints aren’t too far behind, giving up 110 points during their 1-3 start.
Week 5: at New Orleans Saints
4. AFC North: Cleveland Browns (1-2); off last week
Following an early off week, the Browns are back in action this week when they travel to Nashville to face the struggling Tennessee Titans.
Mike Pettine’s club has been in every game for all 60 minutes this season and all three games have been decided by three points or less. But the club’s two setbacks are to their AFC North rivals in the Pittsburgh Steelers (30-27) and Baltimore Ravens (23-21), bad news in a division they haven’t won since the league realigned in 2002.
The good news is the fact that Pettine’s team has been able to move the ball and find a way to put pressure on opposing defenses. For the first time since the franchise re-entered the league in 1999, the Browns have scored at least 21 points in their first three games of the season.
Can you say Brian Football?
Week 5: at Tennessee Titan
3. AFC East: Buffalo Bills (2-2)
Familiarity between teams not in the same conference?
Let’s take a look. Former Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz returns to the Motor City this week as defensive coordinator of the Buffalo Bills.
And it’s not like quarterback Kyle Orton, now the starting quarterback for Doug Marrone’s team, doesn’t know his way around Ford Field?
Enough of the nostalgia. The bottom line is that the Bills look to put an end to a two-game skid following their 2-0 start. And perhaps Orton can help an offensive unit that has scored six touchdowns in four games.
Week 5: at Detroit Lions
2. NFC North: Minnesota Vikings (2-2)
It’s safe to say that the Teddy Bridgewater Era in the Twin Cities got off to a terrific start last week.
Yes, the rookie quarterback saw action the previous week at the Superdome, replacing an injured Matt Cassel. But Bridgewater made his debut as a starter last week against the Atlanta Falcons.
The 2014 first-round pick from Louisville threw for 317 yards, wasn’t sacked, didn’t turn over the football and ran for a touchdown in the 41-28 victory. But Bridgewater also sprained his ankle late last week and is questionable for Thursday night’s game at Lambeau Field.
In any case, here’s something to consider in regards to Mike Zimmer’s club. Who would have guessed that with Adrian Peterson out of the picture, the Vikings would rank eighth in the NFL in rushing yards four weeks into 2014?
Week 5: at Green Bay Packers
1. AFC South: Houston Texans (3-1)
Remember, it’s about wins and losses and not style points.
Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick continues to have his ups and downs for Bill O’Brien’s club. And Romeo Crennel’s defensive unit has given up its share of yards.
But the Texans are doing one thing that they were unable to do with any consistency last season—force turnovers.
Houston had a problem last season when it came to takeaways, totaling seven interceptions (one less than Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman in 2013) and four opponent fumble recoveries. In four games this season, the Texans have already forced nine turnovers.
Four of those are interceptions and one is courtesy of defensive end J.J. Watt, who raced 80 yards with EJ Manuel’s errant throw last week in the 23-17 win over the Buffalo Bills.
This Sunday, Crennel and his head to Dallas to try and put the clamps on DeMarco Murray and the league’s best running game in 2014.
Week 5: at Dallas Cowboys
More from FanSided.com
NFL Power Rankings Week 4: Cowboys rise
College Basketball: Preseason AAC power rankings
NBA Power Rankings: 2014-15 training camp edition
Derek Jeter and MLB’s 20 richest players
All 30 NHL franchises ranked by all-time greatness