Frisco

Cowboys, 49ers, Dolphins – some of the first flops

Bronwen Cerys September 23, 2024

In the 2024 season, NFL teams have only played three games.

But some teams were a big disappointment just three weeks into the season.

The Miami Dolphins, Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers and Cleveland Browns, all playoff teams last season, all lost on Sunday. All four teams are 1-2. All have been flops so far this season.

They are joined by the Los Angeles Rams and Baltimore Ravens as last year’s NFL playoff teams, who enter the fourth week of the NFL season with negative records.

But at least the Rams (1-2) and the Ravens (1-2) won on Sunday.

Will last year’s playoff teams disappoint again in the fourth week of the NFL season?

Here are our rankings of all 32 NFL teams entering Week 4 of the 2024–25 season, with some adjustments based on the results of Week 3 NFL games.

Previous placement in brackets.

Tips and predictions for Week 4 of the NFL: Who will win crucial games this week?

32. Tennessee Titans (29)

Last week: Lost to Green Bay Packers, 30-14

This week: Monday Night Football vs. Miami Dolphins (September 30)

Will Levis has thrown four touchdown passes this season… and five interceptions. It could be a long season in Tennessee.

31. New England Patriots (27)

Last week: Lost to New York Jets, 24-3

This week: Sunday against San Francisco 49ers

The Patriots surprised us with a win over the Bengals and an overtime loss to the Seahawks, but didn’t even show up for the game against the Jets.

Odds for Week 4 of the NFL: Point spreads, moneylines, over/unders for betting on this week’s games

30. Carolina Panthers (32)

Last week: Defeated the Las Vegas Raiders 36-22

This week: Sunday against Cincinnati Bengals

With Andy Dalton, the Panthers may not be so bad after all. In his first start for Carolina, he completed 26 of 37 passes for 319 yards and three touchdowns.

29. New York Giants (31)

Last week: Beat the Cleveland Browns 21-15

This week: Thursday Night Football vs. Dallas Cowboys

With eight catches, 78 yards and two touchdowns, Malik Nabers showed why New York selected him early in the 2024 NFL Draft.

NFL Week 4 Schedule: TV channels, how to watch and stream games

28. Denver Broncos (30)

Last week: Defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 26-7

This week: Sunday against New York Jets

We admit, we didn’t see the victory over the Buccaneers coming. Denver held Tampa Bay to a total of 223 yards.

27. Washington Commanders (28)

Last week: Monday Night Football vs. Cincinnati Bengals (September 23)

This week: Sunday against Arizona Cardinals

26. Jacksonville Jaguars (26)

Last week: Monday Night Football vs. Buffalo Bills (September 23)

This week: Sunday against Houston Texans

Monday Night Football: How to watch Jaguars-Bills, Commanders-Bengals

25. Las Vegas Raiders (24)

Last week: Lost to Carolina Panthers, 36-22

This week: Sunday against Cleveland Browns

How about a period of possession imbalance? The Raiders had the ball 23:58 on Sunday. The Panthers had it 36:02.

24. Miami Dolphins (20)

Last week: Lost to Seattle Seahawks, 24-3

This week: Monday Night Football vs. Tennessee Titans (September 30)

The Dolphins have scored the fewest points in the NFL after three games. Who would have expected that?

23. Los Angeles Rams (25)

Last week: Defeated the San Francisco 49ers 27:24

This week: Sunday against Chicago Bears

Just when we were about to write off LA, the Rams pulled off an impressive win over the 49ers. 1-2 is so much better than 0-3.

22. Arizona Cardinals (23)

Last week: Lost to Detroit Lions, 20-13

This week: Sunday against Washington Commanders

Yes, the Cardinals are 1-2, but they’ve lost to the Bills and Lions. There’s no shame in that. Arizona, however, has struggled with the running game. Runners not named Kyler Murray gained just 32 yards on Sunday.

21. Chicago Bears (22)

Last week: Lost to Indianapolis Colts, 21-16

This week: Sunday against Los Angeles Rams

The Bears could benefit from a little more balance on offense. Caleb Williams threw for 363 yards against the Colts, but the team only rushed for 63 yards.

NFL Monday schedule, TV: How to watch Jaguars vs. Bills and Commanders vs. Bengals today

20. Indianapolis Colts (21)

Last week: Beat the Chicago Bears 21-16

This week: Sunday against Pittsburgh Steelers

Jonathan Taylor still has it. He ran for 110 yards on 23 attempts and scored two touchdowns.

19. Atlanta Falcons (19)

Last week: Lost to Kansas City Chiefs, 22-17

This week: Sunday against New Orleans Saints

This team is so hard to judge. They are 1-2, but they have played the Steelers, Eagles and Chiefs. The AFC South race with the Falcons, Saints and Buccaneers could be very interesting.

18. Cleveland Browns (18)

Last week: Lost to New York Giants, 21-15

This week: Sunday against Las Vegas Raiders

The good news for Cleveland? The road record is 1-0 this season, where the Browns play their next three games.

17. Los Angeles Chargers (14)

Last week: Lost to Pittsburgh Steelers, 20-10

This week: Sunday against Kansas City Chiefs

The status of Justin Herbert plays a big role for the Chargers, who gained just 168 total yards in the loss.

16. Dallas Cowboys (13)

Last week: Lost to Baltimore Ravens, 28-25

This week: Thursday Night Football against the New York Giants

Dallas made the loss to Baltimore interesting by scoring 21 points in the fourth quarter. The Cowboys have allowed an average of nearly 30 points per game so far this season.

Super Bowl odds 2025: Who are the favorites now?

15. Cincinnati Bengals (15)

Last week: Monday Night Football vs. Washington Commanders (September 23)

This week: Sunday against Carolina Panthers

14. New York Jets (17)

Last week: Defeated the New England Patriots 24-3

This week: Sunday against Denver Broncos

Aaron Rodgers is still going strong, completing 27 of 35 passes for 281 yards and throwing two touchdowns in the Week 3 win.

13. Houston Texans (7)

Last week: Lost to Minnesota Vikings, 34-7

This week: Sunday against Jacksonville Jaguars

Houston was one of several teams that struggled in the running game on Sunday, gaining just 38 yards without Joe Mixon.

12. Baltimore Ravens (12)

Last week: Beat the Dallas Cowboys 28-25

This week: Sunday Night Football vs. Buffalo Bills

We still believe the Ravens will be in the thick of the AFC playoff race, and Derrick Henry (25 carries, 151 yards, two touchdowns) is a big part of that.

11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8)

Last week: Lost to Denver Broncos, 26-7

This week: Sunday against Philadelphia Eagles

We thought Tampa Bay’s defense would have an easy time against Bo Nix. We were wrong.

NFL MVP odds 2024-2025: Who are the favorites now?

10. San Francisco 49ers (3)

Last week: Lost to Los Angeles Rams, 27-24

This week: Sunday against New England Patriots

That’s a pretty steep drop for the reigning NFC champions, but San Francisco should be better than that despite their many injuries.

9. Green Bay Packers (9)

Last week: Defeated the Tennessee Titans 30-14

This week: Sunday against Minnesota Vikings

No Jordan Love, no problem? Malik Willis is now 2-0 as a starter in Green Bay, throwing a touchdown pass and running for a touchdown in Week 3.

8. New Orleans Saints (6)

Last week: Lost to Philadelphia Eagles, 15-12

This week: Sunday against Atlanta Falcons

The Saints offense came back down to earth after scoring 47 points in Week 1 and 44 in Week 2. They were outgained in total yards 460 to 219.

7. Seattle Seahawks (16)

Last week: Defeated the Miami Dolphins 24-3

This week: Monday Night Football vs. Detroit Lions (September 30)

The Seahawks are 3-0. That has to count for something. Seattle already has a 2-game lead in the NFC West, the Cardinals, Rams and 49ers are all 1-2.

6. Pittsburgh Steelers (11)

Last week: Defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 20-10

This week: Sunday against Indianapolis Colts

Justin Fields continues to impress in Pittsburgh, but it doesn’t hurt to have a defense that has allowed 26 points in three games.

What has changed? NFL Power Rankings Week 3:

5. Minnesota Vikings (10)

Last week: Defeated the Houston Texans 34-7

This week: Sunday against Green Bay Packers

Are the Vikings really the fifth best team in the NFL? We have our doubts. But three weeks into the season, Sam Darnold and Co. are playing like they’re the best in the NFL.

4. Detroit Lions (5)

Last week: Beat the Arizona Cardinals 20-13

This week: Monday Night Football vs. Seattle Seahawks (September 30)

The Lions rushed for 187 yards against the Cardinals. That will lead to a lot of wins on most NFL nights.

3. Philadelphia Eagles (4)

Last week: Defeat the New Orleans Saints 15-12

This week: Sunday against Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Eagles would have made our list of disappointing teams this season if they hadn’t scored 15 points in the fourth quarter against the Saints.

2. Buffalo Bills (2)

Last week: Monday Night Football vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (September 23)

This week: Sunday Night Football vs. Baltimore Ravens

1. Kansas City Chiefs (1)

Last week: Defeated the Atlanta Falcons 22-17

This week: Sunday against Los Angeles Chargers

The Chiefs have won their three games by a combined 13 points. Good teams find ways to win and we know Kansas City is a good team.

Reach Jeremy Cluff at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

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