After a chalky start to the season, the NFL found its thrills and unpredictability in Week 3. A surprising turn of events unfolded as an expected Super Bowl contender, the Green Bay Packers, suffered a shocking loss to the anticipated No. 1 draft pick contender, the Cleveland Browns. A potential Super Bowl preview between the Baltimore Ravens and Detroit Lions lived up to the hype, showcasing the excitement that fans have come to expect from the league. Throughout the week, seven games were decided by a score within the final 2:30 minutes, and a total of nine non-offensive touchdowns were scored, adding to the drama. Kickers had a significant presence in this week, either having their field-goal attempts blocked or playing hero with last-second victories, particularly in the thrilling Jets vs. Buccaneers matchup. As the dust settled, the standings revealed six undefeated teams and seven winless teams. Below are The Post’s NFL power rankings for Week 4.
The Buffalo Bills continue to impress, sealing a 31-21 victory against the Miami Dolphins with a late interception by Terrel Bernard, which set up Matt Prater’s crucial field goal. Quarterback Josh Allen threw three touchdown passes, with the final one being a 15-yarder to Khalil Shakir after a critical penalty by the Dolphins negated a punt in a tie game. This victory improved Allen's career record against Miami to an impressive 14-2.
The Philadelphia Eagles mounted a remarkable comeback against the Los Angeles Rams, overcoming a 19-point deficit in the third quarter. Quarterback Jalen Hurts threw his first three touchdown passes of the season to Dallas Goedert, A.J. Brown, and DeVonta Smith, sealing a nail-biting 33-26 win. Defensive standout Jordan Davis blocked a field goal to protect a one-point lead, showcasing the Eagles' resilience.
In a statement-making 38-30 victory against the Baltimore Ravens, the Detroit Lions demonstrated their offensive prowess with two touchdown drives covering at least 95 yards. Head coach Dan Campbell’s bold play-calling was on display as the Lions went 3-for-3 on fourth down attempts, including a key completion from Jared Goff to Amon-Ra St. Brown. The dynamic duo of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs combined for an impressive 218 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
The Los Angeles Chargers remain undefeated after three games for the first time since 2002, edging out the Denver Broncos 23-20 with Cameron Dicker’s 43-yard walk-off field goal. Justin Herbert connected with Keenan Allen for a tying touchdown with 2:44 left, and the defense forced a quick three-and-out, allowing Herbert to go 4-for-4 on the final drive to set up Dicker's game-winner.
Despite high expectations, the Baltimore Ravens fell to 1-2 after a costly loss to the Lions. Derrick Henry’s struggles continued as he fumbled in three straight games, with a critical turnover occurring deep in Ravens’ territory during the fourth quarter. Lamar Jackson managed to throw two of his three touchdown passes to Mark Andrews, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the loss.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers survived a roller-coaster game against the New York Jets, winning 29-27 with a last-second field goal by Chase McLaughlin. Baker Mayfield threw for 233 yards, and despite a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown earlier in the game, the Bucs managed to secure the victory.
The Kansas City Chiefs finally found their footing, defeating the New York Giants 22-9. Patrick Mahomes delivered crucial passes to Tyquan Thornton, including one for a touchdown. The defensive strategy devised by Steve Spagnuolo proved effective against his former team, marking a necessary win for the Chiefs.
The Green Bay Packers experienced a shocking downturn, scoring only 10 points against the Browns and blowing a 10-point lead in the last four minutes, ultimately losing 13-10. Jordan Love's interception and a blocked field goal by Brandon McManus contributed to this disappointing outcome.
The Indianapolis Colts improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2009 after a convincing 41-20 win over the Tennessee Titans. Jonathan Taylor shined with 102 rushing yards and three touchdowns. The game started strong for the Colts, thanks to a 32-yard pick-six by Kenny Moore on the third play.
In a nail-biting finish, the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Arizona Cardinals 16-15, overcoming the NFL’s first tiebreaking safety in 11 years. Eddy Pineiro kicked a 35-yard game-winning field goal on the final play, while Mac Jones filled in for Brock Purdy and completed key passes during the decisive drive.
11. Rams 2-1 (9)
12. Commanders 2-1 (11)
13. Seahawks 2-1 (18)
14. Vikings 2-1 (19)
15. Broncos 1-2 (12)
16. Bengals 2-1 (13)
17. Cardinals 2-1 (17)
18. Steelers 2-1 (20)
19. Jaguars 2-1 (24)
20. Bears 1-2 (28)
21. Cowboys 1-2 (15)
22. Panthers 1-2 (30)
23. Falcons 1-2 (16)
24. Raiders 1-2 (22)
25. Patriots 1-2 (23)
26. Browns 1-2 (29)
27. Texans 0-3 (21)
28. Jets 0-3 (27)
29. Giants 0-3 (25)
30. Dolphins 0-3 (31)
31. Titans 0-3 (26)
32. Saints 0-3 (32)
As the NFL season progresses, the excitement and unpredictability continue to rise, making each week critical for teams fighting for playoff positions. Stay tuned for more updates and in-depth analysis as the season unfolds.
