Joseph Morgan’s Top 5 Winners in the NFL, Week 4

Top 5 Winners

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1: The Philadelphia Eagles

After a win against a very good Jacksonville Jaguars team, the Eagles remain the only undefeated team In the NFL. After the Smackdown the Jaguars had just given the L.A. Chargers a week earlier in L.A. I actually had Philly down for their first loss of the season, however, they continue to impress. They now have two wins against two teams that should also make the playoffs this year. It wouldn’t shock me at all if the Jags win their division, and the Minnesota Vikings are right there with the Green Bay Packers in the NFC North. The Vikings are actually in first place in the NFC North at the moment due to a dominant game one win vs Green Bay. The Eagles beat the scrappy Lions who are a good team but not a playoff team in week one 38 to 35, then they crushed the Vikings at home 24 to 7 on Monday Night Football.

I wasn’t surprised that they won, however, I was surprised that they won by three scores. After week one which mostly featured the offense, the Eagles began to play complimentary football with two sacks, plenty of pressure, and three takeaways via three interceptions of QB Kirk Cousins and still looked great on offense as well led by MVP Candidate QB, yes you read that correctly, MVP Candidate QB Jalen Hurts who had a great game on the ground and through the air. He has developed greatly as a passer and is perhaps the league’s most dangerous dual-threat QB as he displays more patience than Lamar Jackson and Russel Wilson seems a shell of himself this season in Denver. In week three against the lowly Washington Commanders, the Eagles simply did what good football teams do: They took care of business on the road and beat Washington 24 to 8.

The Eagle’s defense sacked QB Carson Wentz who looks befuddled for the third year in a row nine times and forced two turnovers. The Defense had 27 total QB pressures on Wentz. On offense QB Jalen Hurts had the best game of the season to this point throwing three TDs while spreading the ball around. While some think the Vikings are the best team that the Eagles have beaten this season I personally think that the Jaguars have that distinction so far. The Jags are a complete team much like the Philadelphia Eagles. After having leads in their first three games it was impressive to see the Eagles come back from 14 to 0 after the first quarter and rally to score 29 unanswered points while the defense again stepped up in a major way by causing 5 turnovers with 5 sacks, an interception and 5 forced fumbles 4 of which the Eagles defense recovered.

The Eagles arguably have the most complete team in the NFL, and they play complementary football better than anyone in the league. GM Howie Roseman first improved the defense via free agency acquisitions Edge/LB Hasson Reddick, and LB Kyzir White followed by an excellent draft that featured one of the best trades for any team during the offseason by landing superstar WR A.J. Brown in a trade for late first and third-round picks in 2023. I think it’s safe to say that the Tennesee Titans really miss him. Combine that with improved play from the defense and other offensive playmakers from last season such as star WR Devonta Smith and RB Miles Sanders stepping up and this team should easily win the NFC East this season.

I don’t have them in the Super Bowl just yet but they should beat the Arizona Cardinals in the desert in week five to improve to 5-0 and they should win their division (keyword should). Keep an eye on RB Trey Sermon. Two carries for 19 yards against the Jags is obviously not a lot but with those limited carries, he showed power, awareness, and a quick burst. Look for him to get more carries as the Eagles look to turn the lights off other teams in the fourth quarter. I think that the Eagles will win at least one home playoff game this season and threaten to be in the NFC Championship Game, but I won’t jinx them by going further at this point.

2: The Green Bay Packers

After an ugly week one loss to the Vikings at home the Packers have rattled off three straight wins, and QB Aaron Rodgers has found his favorite target in 4th round rookie WR Romeo Dobbs who has looked like a stud at the position for three weeks in a row for the Pack. It wasn’t pretty but Green bay found a way to win 27 to 24 in what’s still a pretty hostile environment in New England in OT against the Patriots. The Packers needed this win to keep pace with the Vikings who are also 3-1 and in first place at the moment via tie-breaker. Expect a very different Packers team when those two NFC North Juggernaugts face off again.

The running game could use a little boost if I were to nitpick, but their defense is playing better and Rodgers has looked comfortable for three weeks straight. Other NFL teams quite obviously do not want to see future Hall of Fame QB Aaron Rodgers looking as poised and as comfortable as he has of late. The big story for Green bay is that while WR Randall Cobb is serviceable they needed a big play threat at the position and it hasn’t been the WR they took in the first round whose name I’ve honestly forgotten. I have forgotten because 4th round rookie WR Romeo Dobbs is a star in the making for the Packers and has become Rodgers’s go-to guy.

3: The Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings improved to 3-1 and remain in first place in their division proving that despite QB Kirk Cousins’s ups and downs they can hang with any team in the NFL. The Vikings beat a scrappy Lions team in a come-from-behind effort after their loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and while the Saints are no juggernaut The Super Dome is always a tough place to play. That didn’t matter as the Vikes would win their third game over the Saints 28 to 25. Can they hang with the Packers will be the story as we enter the second month of the season. That Justin Jefferson might be pretty damn good.

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4: The Cincinnati Bengals

Yes, I know they are 2-2 but they just beat the Miami Dolphins in Miami, and in a division that includes the lowly Steelers, the unpredictable Ravens, and The Browns who are good just not elite by any stretch would it really surprise anyone if the team with the best QB in Joe Burrow, the best trio of WRs in Tee Higgins, Jamar Chase, and Tyler Boyd along with an improving defense won the AFC North? No, It shouldn’t. I have the Bengals down to keep playing complimentary football and to win their division.

5: The San Franciso 49ers

The 49ers not only saved their season on Monday Night Football against the Reigning Super Bowl Champion L.A. Rams but they also completely destroyed the Rams in their most dominant win of the season 24 to 9. Think about all the weapons the Rams have for a moment…then think again…24 to 9! That was one impressive victory for San Fran that catapults them into the driver’s seat in the NFC West where their 2-2 record actually now has them in the first place.

For some reason, I think that’s a standing they won’t relinquish. They are finally getting solid QB play thanks to Jimmy Garrapolo aka Jimmy G and a defense that has the ability to be a top-three NFL defense all season long. Tonight They took apart Ram’s offense piece by piece never allowing QB Matthew Stafford and the rams to find any sort of footing. The 49er’s defense not only held the ram’s high-octane offense to 9 points but managed 5 sacks and an interception on what was a long night for Ram’s offense. Jimmy G and Superstar WR Deebo Samuel hooked up for 115 yards and a TD through the air.

They are a lethal combination. I’m going to say after one of the more impressive team wins of the season that the 49ers win their division this season for two reasons. 1) They are now playing up to their potential. 2) QB Trey Lance got hurt which has become a blessing in disguise for this football team as Jimmy G thus far is quite simply the better QB. If you think about it this team is one flukey safety away from being 3-1 on the season.

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