'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#5 Chicago Bears (3-1)
That Bears defense was just unbelievable against the Vikings. Without Akiem Hicks and Roquan Smith, while having to balance the loss of starting quarterback Mitch Trubisky, that group held Minnesota scoreless for 57 minutes and the league’s leading rusher Dalvin Cook ran into a wall over and over again, as he went for only 35 yards on 14 carries.
With how things were set up, it felt like there was no way Chicago would be able to win this game, but they did not allow their division rivals to get anything going whatsoever, as they didn’t get inside the Bears 30 until that lone late touchdown.
That was coming off a game at Washington where the defense had scored more points themselves midway through the third quarter than the Redskins and intercepted Case Keenum three times. They also held Aaron Rodgers to ten points and didn’t allow a touchdown in Denver until half a minute left in that game. Khalil Mack is the best non-quarterback in the league right now.
Having a team with Chase Daniel or Mitch Trubisky for that matter under center in the top five isn’t easy, but when you have a dominant defense like that, I can’t ignore it. Oh, I also thought it was curious that Matt Nagy finally got the ball to rookie David Montgomery against one of the toughest run defenses.
#6 Dallas Cowboys (3-1)
That was a very disappointing showing by this Cowboys offense, that had been so successful through the first three weeks of the season. Dak Prescott and company had scored 13 touchdowns through three weeks before being held to only ten points in the Big Easy.
Amari Cooper could not shake free from Marshon Lattimore and Zeke went for 35 yards on 18 carries, with the longest one going for six yards. With a healthier, more talented roster to go with a lot of momentum coming into the weekend. I expected Dallas to win with a similar gameplan to last year’s matchup, which included Drew Brees at quarterback.
That resume for the Cowboys looks a lot different now with their three wins coming against the Eli Manning-led Giants, a now 0-4 Washington team that was within a touchdown at the start of the fourth quarter and the tanking Dolphins.
With that being said, I still think they can be a complete team. They can get pressure on the quarterback with four people, nobody has faster linebackers and OC Kellen Moore will learn from a lesson by that Saints defense.
#7 New Orleans Saints (3-1)
This was one of the most impressive and surprising victories of week four, despite being at home and a lot of people wanting to pick them. The Saints might have just won in Seattle the week before, but watching the tape it was a punt return and fumble return touchdown that decided that game.
Like I said in my last article on the new starting quarterbacks, Teddy Bridgewater was not asked to push the ball down the field and a lot of credit went to the guys around him. But who thought the Saints could win that Sunday Night matchup versus the 3-0 Cowboys without scoring a touchdown?
Alvin Kamara might be the best running back in the game without Saquon Barkley and that defensive front is ferocious, holding Todd Gurley, Chris Carson and Ezekiel Elliott to an average of only 50 rushing yards over these last three weeks.
Marshon Lattimore looked the elite talent he was as the Defensive Rookie of the Year and Will Lutz has been clutch for them with his only miss coming from 56 yards. This team, even with Drew Brees, is built around the run game and a physical defense.
#8 Seattle Seahawks (3-1)
Russell Wilson is just so damn good. I expected the Seahawks to miss the playoffs this year because we saw what happened to the offensive line when their running backs could not get going and they were asked to protect Russ in the dropback pass game, but regardless of how long they hold the ball, they are among average in quarterback hits.
No team in the league outside of Kansas City has a more potent deep passing game, because Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf can fly and Wilson throws those perfect rainbows to them. Defensively they are also a little better than I expected despite being without Jarran Reed. That Jadeveon Clowney trade has already paid off big-time, which was pretty ridiculous from the start, and that pick-six yesterday must have been tough to watch for any Texans fan who just saw his team lose at home to Kyle Allen and the Panthers.
Chris Carson finally started to get going and Will Dissly is emerging as a big target at the tight-end spot. For the last two years, I haven’t believed in this team, but as long as the Hawks have that quarterback and Pete Carrol, you can’t count them out.
