1. Seahawks 4-0: No surprise CB Richard Sherman’s interception spearheaded the comeback in Houston. The best player for the NFL’s top defense. 1. Seahawks 4-0: No surprise CB Richard Sherman’s interception spearheaded the comeback in Houston. The best player for
1. Seahawks 4-0: No surprise CB Richard Sherman’s interception spearheaded the comeback in Houston. The best player for the NFL’s top defense.
2. Broncos 4-0: Chris Clark, replacing Pro Bowl LT Ryan Clady, is holding up on Peyton Manning’s blind side. He could be the key to the season.
3. Saints 4-0: It’s early, but every game will count in the race for home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs.
4. Patriots 4-0: The loss of NT Vince Wilfork puts added pressure on Tom Brady’s young receivers, who have been improving.
5. Colts 3-1: Chuck Pagano broke out mousetraps for the game in Jacksonville to signify it was a trap game. Get it?
6. 49ers 2-2: The offense mauled the Rams with a power running game, a necessity for a team with issues at WR.
7. Packers 1-2: Typically, teams prefer to get a week off at midseason, but a little time off might have come at the perfect juncture as the RBs heal up.
8. Lions 3-1: Lack of a No. 2 WR is a legitimate issue, but if RB Reggie Bush can remain healthy, they should be in the playoff hunt come late November.
9. Bears 3-1: Hunch here is Jay Cutler bounces back from his four-turnover stinker. But how will the defense fare vs. Drew Brees?
10. Chiefs 4-0: After winning two games last season, they could start 9-0. At the Titans this week is followed by the Raiders, Texans and Brown.
11. Dolphins 3-1: Saints LB Junior Galette said it best Monday night: “I just don’t feel that team was as good as everybody was saying they were.”
12. Bengals 2-2: Difficult to figure out this bunch. They didn’t show up in Cleveland after a comeback victory over the Packers.
13. Ravens 2-2: Hard to explain a five-interception effort by Joe Flacco in an ugly loss in Buffalo.
14. Titans 3-1: It will be interesting to see if the upstart Titans can remain on a roll with Jake Locker (hip) sidelined and Ryan Fitzpatrick taking over.
15. Texans 2-2 : All Matt Schaub used to do was win. Lately, he’s losing and doing so with some ugly interceptions.
16. Chargers 2-2: If it weren’t for Peyton Manning’s ridiculous start, there would be more Philip Rivers talk (73.9 percent for 1,199 yards with 11 TDs and just two picks).
17. Falcons 1-3: Suddenly Matty Ice is ice cold in the fourth quarter. Maybe a visit from the Jets will warm him up.
18. Cowboys 2-2: They have as many wins as the rest of the NFC East combined. An 8-8 record just might win the division.
19. Cardinals 2-2: Bruce Arians called his offense “putrid,” and he’s on the money. Serious shortage of playmakers after Larry Fitzgerald.
20. Browns 2-2: The offense came alive with Brian Hoyer, but interestingly coach Rob Chudzinski is calling him the starter on a “week-to-week” basis.
21. Bills 2-2: MLB Kiko Alonso, a second-round pick, has four interceptions and a sack to be an early leader for defensive rookie of the year.
22. Panthers 1-2: They come out of the open date with trips to Arizona and Minnesota. Ron Rivera must find a way to build momentum.
23. Jets 2-2: Rex Ryan says Geno Smith is still his starting QB after a four-turnover outing. The alternatives? Brady Quinn or Matt Simms.
24. Vikings 1-3: Christian Ponder will not lose his starting job because of injury. There are other reasons to bench him, though.
25. Eagles 1-3: After three straight losses to AFC West teams, there is nothing like getting back to the NFC East.
26. Rams 1-3: Something isn’t clicking for this offense, and grumbling about OC Brian Schottenheimer has begun.
27. Redskins 1-3: They went on the road to snap a three-game losing streak, but how much does a victory in Oakland tell us?
28. Steelers 0-4: Ben Roethlisberger: “You could say we’re the worst team in the league.”
29. Raiders 1-3: A concussion sidelined Terrelle Pryor, and the Redskins sacked backup Matt Flynn seven times in what was likely their last chance to reach .500.
30. Giants 0-4: Listless offense managed seven points a week after a shutout; they’re winless through four games for the first time since 1987.
31. Buccaneers 0-4: The Josh Freeman cloud will hang over them until he is released; his $8.4 million salary this season makes a trade tough if not impossible.
32. Jaguars 0-4: Free beer promotion for the blowout loss to the Colts didn’t go over well. Time to give away something stronger.