The Case for C-Mac. Quarter-Season Power Rankings. | The Ride

Four weeks down. Fourteen more to go.

In honor of hitting the quarter-mark (or as close as we can get to it), it’s time to update the power rankings. Nobody is in the same place as they were before the season, the last time I made the rankings. I’m ashamed.

The Jaguars and Eagles are the big risers. The Colts and Rams are the big fallers.

But before we get into all that, I think the Broncos have to ask about Christian McCaffrey.

Let’s Ride.

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Bring Back C-Mac

The Broncos need a spark.

The offense has ground its way to 66 points, the third-fewest in the league, and now Javonte Williams is gone for the rest of the season. He had a reasonable case for best offensive player in Denver before his injury.

So how do you fix it?

The answer might be Christian McCaffrey.

Jason La Canfora reported in the Washington Post on Tuesday that execs around the league think the Panthers might finally move on from the often-injured running back before the Nov. 1 trade deadline. Rumors were flying ahead of this year’s draft that McCaffrey could be on the move, too.

McCaffrey could be the spark the Broncos are looking for. Obviously, any help at running back would make sense following Williams’ injury but McCaffrey’s ability in the passing game would be even more intriguing.

Russell Wilson’s passing attack hasn’t lived up to the hype through four weeks. While that doesn’t mean it’s doomed—there’s plenty of ball left to play and new schemes take time to set in—one more weapon might put it over the top.

McCaffrey has 270 rushing yards and 138 receiving yards through four weeks. Over 100 yards from scrimmage per game is impressive, but it’s even more impressive when considering the Panthers are last in the NFL with 262 yards per game. He’s provided 39% of the team’s offensive production. Only Saquon Barkley has a larger share of his offense’s production.

The obvious question is his health. McCaffrey played in every game of the first three years of his career. He was a second-team All-Pro in his second season and a first-team All-Pro in his third. Since then, he’s hardly been on the field. He played three games in 2020 and seven games in 2021.

The price tag on his contract wouldn’t be overly extravagant. The Broncos would owe him about a million dollars this year than $12 million per season for the next three season. He would be 29 in the final year of his deal. The Broncos could get out of the contract at any time with no additional cost.

Plus, the Walton-Penner group should be able to use cash to manipulate the cap and make those numbers feel much smaller. I wouldn’t be surprised if they want to add a new toy after a 2-2 start.

The rumor during draft season was the Panthers wanted a first-round pick and a young player. Nobody bit, obviously. That’s an unreasonable price, unless they plan on taking on significantly more of McCaffrey’s contract. Even if they do, a first-rounder is a stretch.

For what it’s worth, I think a McCaffrey trade is more likely a week or two down the road. Matt Rhule is on the hottest seat in the league and synching up a firing and a fire sale makes the most sense. Plus, the optics aren’t great if they take away the best player from a coach who is fighting for his job.

The Broncos don’t have a lot to trade. They’re lacking a first- and second-round pick this year because of the Russell Wilson trade. They have a pair of third-rounders though, and picks in every round afterward. They basically have a full slate of picks in 2024.

If the Broncos can land McCaffrey for a pair of third-rounders, I’d be all in.

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Power Rankings

Tier 1 – Clear Contenders

#1 – Kansas City Chiefs (3-1) ↑3

The Sunday night beatdown of the Buccaneers was enough for them to take the top spot on this list. There have been hiccups, including a fluky loss to the Colts, but the Mahomes-led offense looks unbeatable. Especially if the running game continues to improve.

#2 – Buffalo Bills (3-1) ↓1

Two weeks is a long time in the NFL and that’s how long it’s been since the Bills looked unstoppable. Any close loss to the Dolphins is no big deal, but the slow start against the Ravens the next week opens the door to critique. At least they ended their streak of seven consecutive losses in one-score games. A top-tier quarterback paired with a massively talented roster makes Buffalo an easy choice for the second spot.

Tier 2 – The Eagles

#3 – Philadelphia Eagles (4-0) ↑15

I can’t believe I’m putting the Eagles this high on this list. I’m not a believer. Convincing wins over the Commanders and Vikings don’t impress me. Narrower wins over the Lions and Jags are tricky to evaluate this early in the year.

But how could I justify anybody else in front of them? Everybody below the Eagles has shown flaws.

I’m curious how this next stretch of games (against the Cardinals, Cowboys and Steelers) plays out. Three wins, or even two convincing wins and a loss, and I’ll buy that Philly is above the league’s middle class. I’m just not quite there yet.

(Their season win total is at 13.5 right now. I’m all over that under.)

Tier 3 – The Upper Middle-Class

#4 – Baltimore Ravens (2-2) ↑6

This is where things get tough. Every team has flaws. The Ravens blew a 17-point lead to the Bills this week. They blew a 21-point lead to the Dolphins two weeks prior. Yikes. But the talent is obviously there and I’ll take a team that built some massive leads over good teams but blew them over teams with other flaws. At least for now.

#5 – Green Bay Packers (3-1) ↓2

I’m ready to forgive the Packers for the season-opening disappointment against the Vikings. I’ll take tight wins over the Patriots and the Bucs. The Green Bay defense looks mean but the offense still isn’t clicking. More of Aaron Jones would seem like a good idea. The Packers seem fine but there’s a faint feeling that they may be on thin ice. They’ve got a few cupcakes up next and that should be a good thing… unless the bottom falls out.

#6 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-2) ↓1

Tom Brady. An elite defense. A .500 record. Something doesn’t add up.

The Bucs will figure it out. Right?

#7 – Jacksonville Jaguars (2-2) ↑19

Trevor Lawrence has arrived. He’s a legit top-10 quarterback and he’s running a remarkably efficient offense. Four fumbles in one game catches your eye but that has to be a fluke right?

Oh, and the defense is why the Jags are so good.

#8 – Cincinnati Bengals (2-2) ↓1

The defending AFC champions still aren’t protecting Joe Burrow, but the offense has kicked up a little bit as they’ve rebounded from an 0-2 start. This feels like a safe place for them in the rankings.

#9 – San Francisco 49ers (2-2) ↓1

The defense is legit. Jimmy Garoppolo kick-started the offense. Honestly, this might be too low for San Francisco.

#10 – Minnesota Vikings (3-1) ↑4

The wins over the Lions and Saints in the last two weeks were too close for comfort. But the Vikings are well-rounded, even if a Kirk Cousins-led offense feels like it has a clear ceiling. Who knows, maybe the Week 1 win over the Packers will help Minnesota take over the NFC North. I’m skeptical.

#11 – Miami Dolphins (3-1) ↑5

The offense is for real, even if it has been a little streaky. So much speed. And the defense has held up for the most part. The win over the Bills is a statement. But how long will Tua Tagovailoa be out? They’d be a handful of spots higher if Tua was playing.

Tier 4 – Holding on by a Thread

#12 – Los Angeles Chargers (2-2) ↓6

The injuries are adding up but the Chargers still have a quarterback and a bunch of talented pieces. Losses to Chiefs and Jaguars are disappointing but they aren’t dealbreakers. Getting Keenan Allen and others back will help.

#13 – Denver Broncos (2-2) ↓4

The Broncos have skated through the opening stretch with a .500 record but they aren’t playing up to standards. Losing Javonte Williams won’t help.

#14 – Los Angeles Rams (2-2) ↓12

You could make a case for the Rams as top-end contenders early in the season. The Bills came out with a vengeance. Close wins are still wins. A Super Bowl hangover is expected for a couple of weeks. But the blowout loss to the 49ers on Monday Night Football was the turning point; the Rams aren’t what they were last year and they need to improve significantly to be a postseason factor.

#15 – Las Vegas Raiders (1-3) ↓4

Is Josh Jacobs finally back? Probably not. But like the Broncos, Chargers and Rams, there’s plenty of reason to believe the best football is still in front of the Raiders. Getting Hunter Renfrow back could jumpstart the passing attack and the defense has a couple of playmakers who can change games. Their backs are up against the wall though.

#16 – Dallas Cowboys (3-1) ↑1

The Dak Prescott-less Cowboys are still pretty good. They’ve won all three games. The real tests are on the way though and you’d be hard-pressed to find somebody who will pick the Cowboys to take out the Rams and Eagles in the next two weeks.

#17 – Arizona Cardinals (2-2) ↓5

The results for the Cardinals aren’t bad. Wins over the Raiders and Panthers are fairly solid, and losses to the Rams and Chiefs aren’t the end of the world. The eye test is ugly though. We’ll learn on Sunday whether the Cardinals can keep up with the Eagles.

Tier 5 – Deeply Flawed Teams

#18 – New England Patriots (1-3) ↑1

Mac Jones? Brian Hoyer? Bailey Zappe? Call me crazy, but I don’t think it matters. They’re all pretty solid but limited. The bigger problem for the Patriots is the lack of talent across the roster. Good coaching keeps them out of the dumpster pile, though.

#19 – Cleveland Browns (2-2) ↑5

So far, the Browns are doing what they need to do. If they can cling to .500 until Deshaun Watson returns from his suspension, they’ll give themselves a chance at the playoffs. The problem is that all four of their games to this point have come against teams that rank behind them on this list. They’ll face a gauntlet over their next seven games.

Jacoby Brissett is fine. The running game is popping off. David Njoku continues to improve. This team isn’t bad.

#20 – Atlanta Falcons (2-2) ↑3

The Falcons are seven points away from being undefeated. Marcus Mariota looks competent, Drake London is living up to the hype and Kyle Pitts keeps showing flashes. Grady Jarrett is still one of the league’s top linemen. Cordarrelle Patterson is heading to the injured reserve list though, and the Falcons can’t afford to lose their most important playmaker. The margins are too slim.

#21 – Detroit Lions (1-3) ↑4

Who would’ve thought that Jared Goff would be leading the highest-scoring offense a quarter of the way through the season? The problem is that the defense is dead last in scoring and there are more reasons to think the offense will slow down than reasons to think the defense will improve.

#22 – Tennessee Titans (2-2) ↓1

Derrick Henry has strung together a pair of significantly-improved performances, and the Titans have won a pair of games. That’s no coincidence. Tennessee isn’t playing perfect ball but they’re inching closer to the formula that gave them the No. 1 seed in the AFC last season. With three ultra-winnable games in the next three weeks, don’t be surprised if Tennessee moves up these rankings quickly.

#23 – Seattle Seahawks (2-2) ↑7

It took everything in the tank but the Seahawks were able to keep their foot on the gas and close out a 48-45 win over the Lions this week, earning their second win. Geno Smith is leading an efficient offense that, obviously, can put up some points. The ceiling is low but the Seahawks might live up to it.

#24 – Pittsburgh Steelers (1-3) ↓4

It’s Kenny Pickett time in Pittsburgh and the Steelers ahve to hope that brings them life. The offensive playmakers are exciting but the rest of the roster leaves plenty to be desired. I can’t believe I’m leaving them this high, despite the loss to the Jets.

#25 – Carolina Panthers (1-3) ↓3

Baker Mayfield is struggling. He’s one of the least efficient quarterbacks in teh league by jsut about any metric. By ESPN’s QBR, he’s dead last. But what do you expect when you don’t have any receivers? At least they have Christian McCaffrey, for now.

#26 – New Orleans Saints (1-3) ↓11

The Saints have more talent than a handful of teams listed in front of them, but it hasn’t mattered yet. Chris Olave, Michael Thomas and Jarvis Landry are living up to the hype. Alvin Kamara can’t quite get going. Jameis Winston was playing well, other than all of the interceptions (who could’ve seen that coming?) before he got hurt.

#27 – New York Giants (3-1) ↑2

Saquon Barkley is back. The Giants have too many problems for him to cover up though. MAybe they deserve to be higher on this list but their wins were against nobodies and they just lost to the Bears. I’m giving them a gift keeping them out of the next tier…

Tier 6 – The Dumpster

#28 – Washington Commanders (1-3) ↓1

The speed at receiver makes for an occasional good time, but there’s a laundry list of problems in Washington. That list starts with Carson Wentz.

#29 – Indianapolis Colts (1-2-1) ↓16

Matt Ryan is struggling. Nine fumbles and five interceptions in four games. Yikes. The offensive line is weak. Jonathan Taylor is banged up. Shaquille Leonard is on the sideline. The Colts are in a tough spot.

#30 – Houston Texans (0-3-1) ↓2

Davis Mills and the boys have given the Broncos and Chargers almost all they can handle. I think they’ve peaked, though. There just isn’t enough talent in Houston and there’s nobody in town who can elevate it.

#31 – New York Jets (2-2) ↑1

Joe Flacco is better than Zach Wilson. There. I said it. And it’s true. Maybe Wilson get better, but his performance on Sunday was the worst of the Jets’ season so far.

#32 – Chicago Bears (2-2) ↓1

Justin Fields is completing 8.5 passes per game. In the NFL. In 2022. They’ve found ways to win games, but this isn’t sustainable.