Patriots woes, NFL power rankings and Deshaun Watson shines

It’s only four weeks, but the New England Patriots are in serious trouble for the first time in the Brady-Belichick era. Don’t expect that to change soon.

The New England Patriots have real problems for a multitude of reasons. They are both a leaky sieve defensively, and the AFC is better than anticipated.

Going into Monday night, the Chiefs are the league’s only undefeated team, and they are playing like a true Super Bowl favorite. The Raiders and Broncos are both dangerous when they play their best game, while the Texans are vastly improved with Deshaun Watson under center. While the Pittsburgh Steelers haven’t gotten going yet, they’re 3-1 and the class of the AFC North. They pose real issues for New England, especially with that offensive firepower.

Hell, the Buffalo Bills are shocking the world with a 3-1 start. Buffalo, which struggles offensively, looks dominant on the other side of the ball with Sean McDermott at the controls.

All of this spells trouble for the Patriots, who can’t stop a nosebleed. New England has allowed four straight 300-yard passing games, with three of them coming against Alex Smith, Cam Newton and Watson. Additionally, the Patriots rank toward the bottom in the NFL for points allowed (31st), yards allowed (32nd) and passing yards against (32nd). It’s terrible, and there is no easy fix, even for Bill Beilchick.

Despite a hot start by the Bills, the Patriots are going to win the East. They’ll find a win to get 11 victories and a home game in the postseason, perhaps even a bye.

But nobody associated with New England football is happy with a short postseason jaunt. After winning five Super Bowls and reaching seven during Belichick’s reign, nothing but a trip to Super Sunday will quench the pallet of Foxborough’s natives.

This year, it appears such a trip is going to be difficult. It’s true that the Patriots could get their act together, but it’s also true that the front seven doesn’t have reinforcements coming. The secondary should be better on paper and gives this defense its only real hope to improve, but even that unit is one blown assignment after the next.

New England’s offense will take a back seat to nobody, but it’s already seen that may not be enough. In their two losses, the Patriots are averaging 28.5 points. Both those defeats came at home against opponents known much more for their defenses than their explosive attacks.

For the better part of two decades, the road to the Super Bowl has consistently gone through Gillette Stadium. In 2017, it might very well be a road trip for New England instead, which could be traveling to Pittsburgh, or more likely, Kansas City.

Only a fool would count out the Patriots in early October, but unlike previous years, there doesn’t appear to be an obvious remedy.

Power rankings

Race for the top pick in 2018

1. Cleveland Browns
2. San Francisco 49ers
3. Chicago Bears
4. New York Jets
5. Indianapolis Colts
6. Los Angeles Chargers
7. Jacksonville Jaguars
8. Miami Dolphins
9. New York Giants
10. Cincinnati Bengals

Quotable

With Dalvin Cook likely out for the season with a torn ACL, the Vikings are up the proverbial creek. There’s no reason to believe Sam Bradford or Teddy Bridgewater will return soon, and at 2-2, Minnesota has the look of a team ready to sink despite a quality defense.

The Vikings also have the misfortune of playing in a division with the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers, two of the better NFC teams. The Chicago Bears are the weak sister of the division, and while that won’t change with Cook’s injury, neither will Minnesota’s current lot of third place.

Podcast

If you missed out Week 4 podcast, make sure to check it out before catching the Week 5 edition this Monday, coming out in the afternoon! Josh Hill and Matt Verderame go over each and every game, giving analysis and picks.

Random stat

Through four games, Marshawn Lynch has rushed for 151 yards on 3.35 yards per carry. Lynch is earning $156,250 per game. So far, he’s been paid $4,139.07 per yard.

The Chiefs have paid Kareem Hunt $308.13 per yard.

Info learned this week

1. Rams, Goff looking dangerous in NFC West

After beating the Dallas Cowboys, 35-30, Jared Goff and the Los Angeles Rams are all alone in first place of the NFC West. More importantly, they appear to have some staying power when you consider the rest of the group, and how Goff is playing.

The 2016 first-overall pick threw for 255 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while Todd Gurley rushed for 121 yards. Dallas struggled to stop the Sean McVay-led offense, which suddenly looks to be on a postseason push.

While the Seattle Seahawks are still the team to beat in the West, Los Angeles is making a case to be the favorite. If Seattle can’t fix its offensive line, and show some more consistency on defense, the Rams will be there when the weather turns.

By the way, Los Angeles and Seattle play at the Coliseum this Sunday.

2. Texans looking dominant behind Deshaun Watson

What is going on in the AFC South? Early on, it appeared the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans would be fighting atop the gaggle, but here come the Houston Texans. After starting 1-2 but showing signs of life last week in New England, the Texans dropped a 57-14 win on us, hammering the overmatched Titans.

Deshaun Watson threw for 283 yards and four touchdowns while Houston’s defense forced five turnovers. Marcus Mariota left with a hamstring injury, making the loss even worse for the Titans. If the Texans can continue to play even remotely like they have the last two weeks from an offensive standpoint, they’ll be a real force in January.

The same can’t be said for the Jaguars, who followed their 44-7 crushing of the Ravens with an overtime loss to the New York Jets. Give New York credit; the talent isn’t there, but the effort is.

3. Ravens need to tear the whole thing down

Everything in life, save a McDonald’s cheeseburger, has an expiration date. The Baltimore Ravens have reached theirs. It’s time to rebuild in a major way, with Baltimore losing 26-7 to the Pittsburgh Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium.

On the surface, it might seem like an overreaction. Baltimore is 2-2 and in the thick of the AFC playoff race. The problem is that the Ravens have no offense and an aging defense. You can’t win with Joe Flacco, who has 601 passing yards through four games. He also has four touchdowns and six interceptions to go with 5.09 yards per attempt.

General manager Ozzie Newsome, head coach John Harbaugh and any veterans who are releasable (Mike Wallace, Eric Weddle, Jeremy Maclin, Brandon Carr) should be sent packing. Then, when Flacco can be removed in a few years, do that as well.

The Ravens are in a tough, tough spot.

4. Broncos topple Raiders in West showdown

The Broncos were able to get a critical win against the Raiders at Mile High, winning 16-10 in any ugly game. Denver gashed Oakland for 143 rushing yards while limiting Marshawn Lynch to 12 yards on nine carries. For the game, the Raiders amassed 254 total yards, including only 24 on the ground.

Denver is 3-1 entering its bye and has to feel great about the defense. While Trevor Siemian is coming back to earth, the defensive efforts have been otherworldly, looking like the unit that led the Broncos to a Super Bowl victory in 2015.

As for the Raiders, something has to change. The offense has totaled 56 rushing yards over the past two games, both defeats. Lynch looks slow and the line, thought of as one of football’s best, isn’t getting enough push. Factor in Derek Carr, who is on pace for 3,012 passing yards, and Oakland must go back to the proverbial drawing board.

5. Chiefs, Redskins get after it on MNF

After the Atlanta Falcons fell on Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs enter Monday as the only team standing between the ’72 Dolphins and another celebration. Kansas City is hoping to keep that champagne on ice against the Washington Redskins, who come into Arrowhead Stadium hot off a resounding victory over the Raiders.

If Kansas City wins, it maintains a lead in the AFC West and runs its record to 4-0 before taking on the Texans on Sunday night at NRG Stadium. If Washington wins, it jumps over the Cowboys in the NFC East and stakes its claim as a real contender.

This should be one of the best Monday night games we’ve seen in a while.

History lesson

Since the NFL began playing championship/playoff games in 1933, the Arizona Cardinals (formerly Chicago and then St. Louis) have won six postseason contests. Their last championship was in 1947, culminating with a victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Last year’s champion, the New England Patriots, have won seven playoff games over the past three seasons.

Parting shot

The NFC South is going to be a dogfight all year. Through four weeks, the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers are leading the group respectively at 3-1, but have the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1) and New Orleans Saints (2-2) hot on their heels.

Withe the rest of the conference looking strong, there might only be a pair of playoff spots for the South, making this race all the more intriguing. Next week, the Buccaneers host the Patriots on Thursday night, perhaps giving us clues whether they are a legitimate contender moving forward.

As for the Falcons, how do they respond to a tough home loss against the Bills? Atlanta has themes complete roster in the conference and arguably the league, but they won’t have it easy in this gauntlet.