NFL Power Rankings Week 4: Dolphins, 49ers are 1-2, plus QB confidence ratings (2024)

Read our NFL Power Rankings Week 16

Every week in the NFL is a Quarterback Week. A disproportionate chunk of the energy spent by the league’s 32 teams year-round is on finding, keeping and/or supporting the sport’s marquee position.

Still, this week has felt like an especially quarterbacky Quarterback Week. Chicago’s Justin Fields started the conversation with his “coaching” quote on Wednesday, but quarterbacks were in the news in a lot of places. Two of the three rookie starters, Indianapolis’ Anthony Richardson and Carolina’s Bryce Young, missed Sunday’s games because of injury, which won’t quiet the talk about whether a running quarterback is a good long-term strategy in the NFL or the whispers about whether Young’s size might mean he’s too fragile. And, of course, Joe Burrow’s golden calf has been in the news since he strained it in the preseason.

The Athletic’s Mike Sando did some research this week that shows that the youth of Fields, Richardson and Young is hardly the exception in the league this year. The average age of the starting quarterbacks in Week 1 was the lowest since 1957.

Sunday added to the quarterback intrigue thanks to injuries and implosions. So the theme of this week’s Power Rankings is quarterback confidence. Who feels good about their starter? Who’s nervous? And who’s already starting to think about a change? The teams are still ranked on their overall merit, but we’re topping each nugget with a confidence rating (on a scale of 1-10) for their quarterback position.

1. Miami Dolphins (3-0)

(Last week: 2)

Sunday: Beat Denver Broncos 70-20

QB confidence rating: 10

The only thing anyone in South Florida is worried about is Tua Tagovailoa’s health. On Sunday, he had a passer rating of 155.8, the highest in any game since Matthew Stafford had a 156.1 against the Bears in 2021, according to TruMedia. Tagovailoa completed 23 of 26 passes for 309 yards and four touchdowns as the Dolphins’ offensive dominance continued. Miami took a knee on fourth-and-14 at the Denver 28-yard line on their final play rather than attempt a 45-yard field goal that would have allowed them to tie the NFL’s all-time single-game scoring record.

Tagovailoa is averaging a league-best 10.1 yards per attempt (two full yards more than anyone else) AND he’s completing 71.3 percent of his passes, which ranks sixth in the league.

Up next: at Buffalo Bills, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

2. San Francisco 49ers (3-0)

(Last week: 4)

Thursday: Beat New York Giants 30-12

QB confidence rating: 9

Brock Purdy’s path from Mr. Irrelevant to Mr. Wonderful didn’t take long. The 49ers are 11-0 in games in which Purdy leads them in pass attempts, and he’s second in the league in yards per attempt (8.1) and fourth in passer rating (106.3) through three games.

Up next: vs. Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

3. Kansas City Chiefs (2-1)

(Last week: 6)

Sunday: Beat Chicago Bears 41-10

QB confidence rating: 10

Patrick Mahomes is still the league’s gold standard. His overall numbers aren’t at their usual gaudy level, but he led the Chiefs to a 41-0 lead Sunday before coming out with almost five minutes left in the third quarter. And even with a slow (by his standards) start, he’s third in the league with seven touchdown passes. Mahomes now has 25,044 passing yards in 83 career games and is the fastest player to reach 25,000 yards in league history. Chiefs fans almost fainted when Mahomes rolled his ankle early, but he bounced back quickly.

Up next: at New York Jets, Sunday, 8:25 p.m. ET

4. Philadelphia Eagles (3-0)

(Last week: 3)

Monday: Beat Tampa Bay Buccaneers 25-11

QB confidence rating: 8

Jalen Hurts rushed for his 29th career touchdown Monday night, surpassing Cam Newton for the most rushing scores by a quarterback in their first 50 games. But Hurts’ passing efficiency hasn’t been as good as it was last season. In 2022, he was 10th in the league in offensive EPA per dropback (.09). Through three games this season, he’s 22nd (minus-.10).

Up next: vs. Washington Commanders, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

5. Buffalo Bills (2-1)

(Last week: 10)

Sunday: Beat Washington Commanders 37-3

QB confidence rating: 8

All is forgiven after Josh Allen’s Week 1 meltdown. In the last two weeks, he has thrown four touchdown passes and only one interception and has an NFL-best off-target percentage of 1.4 percent. Plus, he’s still making plays like this:

Josh Allen doing Josh Allen things.

📺: @CBS | @paramountplus pic.twitter.com/G90OJnJQbc

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) September 24, 2023

Up next: vs. Miami Dolphins, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

6. Dallas Cowboys (2-1)

(Last week: 1)

Sunday: Lost 28-16 to Arizona Cardinals

QB confidence rating: 7

The biggest upset of the young season essentially ended with Dak Prescott throwing an interception that looked too familiar to Cowboys fans. Prescott’s numbers this year are middling. He’s 12th in offensive EPA per dropback (.12), 12th in completion percentage (67.6 percent), 16th in passing yards (647) and 33rd in air yards per attempt (5.2), but the Cowboys looked so good in the first two weeks that Dallas fans must still be on board.

Up next: vs. New England Patriots, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

7. Detroit Lions (2-1)

(Last week: 13)

Sunday: Beat Atlanta Falcons 20-6

QB confidence rating: 7

In Year 8, Jared Goff has found his people. Lions general manager Brad Holmes and coach Dan Campbell have thrown their full support behind Goff, and so far this year he is fifth in the league in passing yards (819) and sixth in passer rating (101.6).

Up next: at Green Bay Packers, Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET

8. Baltimore Ravens (2-1)

(Last week: 5)

Sunday: Lost to Indianapolis Colts 22-19

QB confidence rating: 8

Lamar Jackson seems to be getting his feet under him in offensive coordinator Todd Monken’s new system, and he’s still Lamar. On Sunday, he became the first quarterback in league history with three games of at least 100 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. He has 13 career games with more than 100 rushing yards, the most by a quarterback.

Up next: at Cleveland Browns, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

9. Seattle Seahawks (2-1)

(Last week: 16)

Sunday: Beat Carolina Panthers 37-27

QB confidence rating: 6

Geno Smith is fourth in the league in passing yards (624) and 10th in passer rating (102.9) in the last two weeks. On top of that, the Seahawks have scored 74 points in those games, which trails only Miami and Buffalo in that span.

Up next: at New York Giants, Monday, 8:25 p.m. ET

10. Green Bay Packers (2-1)

(Last week: 8)

Sunday: Beat New Orleans Saints 18-17

QB confidence rating: 7

Packers fans can see whatever they want in Jordan Love at this point. He earned his first win at Lambeau Field on Sunday, but only barely, and despite completing just 50 percent of his passes. Love leads the league in air yards per attempt (10.6) and is in the league’s top 10 in EPA per dropback (.15), but his completion percentage (53.1) ranks 32nd and his off-target percentage (17.7 percent) ranks 33rd among quarterbacks with more than 50 pass attempts, according to TruMedia.

Up next: vs. Detroit Lions, Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET

11. New Orleans Saints (2-1)

(Last week: 11)

Sunday: Lost to Green Bay Packers 18-17

QB confidence rating: 5

The question in New Orleans is who is the quarterback? For now, it’s Jameis Winston. Starter Derek Carr suffered a sprained AC joint in Sunday’s loss, and the Saints didn’t score after he left the game. Winston did OK, going 10-for-16 for 101 yards after replacing Carr, but Winston was on the roster this offseason when New Orleans gave Carr a four-year contract that could be worth $150 million. That means the Saints clearly don’t have a lot of confidence in Winston.

Up next: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

12. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1)

(Last week: 18)

Sunday: Beat Las Vegas Raiders 23-18

QB confidence rating: 4

The Steelers are winning because of their defense, not because of Kenny Pickett. He was crisp enough Sunday (16-for-28 for 235 yards and two touchdowns) but his offensive EPA per dropback (minus-.25) is worse than Sam Howell, Bryce Young, Justin Fields and Desmond Ridder, among others.

Up next: at Houston Texans, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

13. Cleveland Browns (2-1)

(Last week: 19)

Sunday: Beat Tennessee Titans 27-3

QB confidence rating: 6

Watson had a 123.4 passer rating in a big win Sunday, but there’s not a Browns fan who is not still worried long term. For starters, Watson threw one pass straight backward (in the vague direction of a running back) while under pressure. He’s 25th in the league in offensive EPA per dropback (minus-.20), and he’s going to count $64 million against the salary cap in 2024, 2025 and 2026.

Up next: vs. Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

14. Cincinnati Bengals (1-2)

(Last week: 22)

Monday: Beat Los Angeles Rams 19-16

QB confidence rating: 7

They still love Joe Burrow in Cincinnati, but it’s been a stressful week, starting with Burrow getting a cryptic golf cart ride from owner Mike Brown and going right on through Monday night when he threw the ball 49 times. It wasn’t an efficient night (259 yards, no touchdowns, one interception), but that’s kind of how it has gone this season. Burrow is 32nd in the league in yards per attempt (4.7) and 31st in completion percentage (55.4).

During team stretches today—#Bengals Owner Mike Brown:

Drove his golf cart to Joe Burrow.
Picked him up.
Had a conversation.
Drove a circle.
Then dropped Joe back off, so he could finish stretching.@WCPO pic.twitter.com/c5ieasEsaF

— Caleb Noe (@CalebNoeTV) September 22, 2023

Up next: at Tennessee Titans, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1)

(Last week: 14)

Monday: Lost to Philadelphia Eagles 25-11

QB confidence rating: 3

Baker Mayfield has been about all the Bucs could have expected this season — a middle-of-the-pack quarterback. He’s on pace to have the best completion percentage (66.7 percent) and air yards per attempt (8.3) of his career, but he’s 21st in the league in yards per game (212).

Up next: at New Orleans Saints, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

16. Los Angeles Chargers (1-2)

(Last week: 25)

Sunday: Beat Minnesota Vikings 28-24

QB confidence rating: 8

Justin Herbert is so talented that Chargers fans and the rest of the NFL want any reason to believe. He gave it to them Sunday: 40-for-47 for 405 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. At 15,028 career yards, the 25-year-old is the second-fastest player to surpass 15,000, behind only Mahomes.

Up next: vs. Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET

yeah, mike dub caught that

📺 | @nflonfox pic.twitter.com/T49AaNsu96

— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) September 24, 2023

17. Los Angeles Rams (1-2)

(Last week: 9)

Monday: Lost to Cincinnati Bengals 19-16

QB confidence rating: 6

In the first two weeks, Matthew Stafford was sacked once, and the Rams averaged 26.5 points. On Monday night against Cincinnati, Stafford was sacked six times and the Rams needed a late touchdown just to get to 16 points. In his 15th season, Stafford needs more help than that. He has two touchdowns and four interceptions this season.

Up next: at Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

18. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-2)

(Last week: 15)

Sunday: Lost to Houston Texans 37-17

QB confidence rating: A shaky 7

Is Urban Meyer coaching the Jaguars again? Trevor Lawrence was a legitimate MVP candidate entering the season, but he is 26th in EPA per dropback (minus-.20) and 24th in off-target percentage (12.4 percent). Lawrence has three touchdowns and two interceptions, and Jacksonville is 24th in the NFL in points per drive (1.54).

Up next: vs. Atlanta Falcons in London, Sunday, 9:30 a.m. ET

19. Atlanta Falcons (2-1)

(Last week: 7)

Sunday: Lost to Detroit Lions 20-6

QB confidence rating: 3

The questions about Desmond Ridder and whether he can steer an offensive ship that includes running back Bijan Robinson, wide receiver Drake London and tight end Kyle Pitts got louder after Sunday when a hesitant and inaccurate Ridder had a passer rating of 70.2. A combination of 6.3 yards per attempt (25th in the league) and 62.5 percent completion rate (24th) for the season is not promising.

Up next: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars in London, Sunday, 9:30 a.m. ET

20. Washington Commanders (2-1)

(Last week: 12)

Sunday: Lost to Buffalo Bills 37-3

QB confidence rating: 3

The wheels came flying off the Sam Howell bandwagon Sunday. The fifth-round pick was 11th in the league in passing yards through two weeks (501). He had three touchdowns and one interception, and the Commanders were 2-0. Then Howell threw four interceptions against the Bills. Only five quarterbacks have thrown that many this season (and two of those are Justin Fields and Zach Wilson). Howell has been pressured on a league-high 15.4 percent of his dropbacks, but plenty of that is on him for holding the ball too long.

Up next: at Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

21. Indianapolis Colts (2-1)

(Last week: 26)

Sunday: Beat Baltimore Ravens 22-19

QB confidence rating: 6

Is it weird that winning a game might make Colts fans more nervous about their quarterback situation? With promising rookie Anthony Richardson (concussion) on the bench, backup Gardner Minshew led a win over the previously unbeaten Ravens. Richardson will be back when healthy, but it’s counterintuitive that Indianapolis had more rushing yards Sunday (139) than they have had in any game with Richardson in the lineup.

Up next: vs. Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

22. New England Patriots (1-2)

(Last week: 23)

Sunday: Beat New York Jets 15-10

QB confidence rating: 5

The idea that Mac Jones is second in the league in passing attempts (125) has to frustrate Patriots fans. Wasn’t this team going to run the ball and play defense? Instead, New England is 20th in rush percentage (39.9 percent) while Jones averages 6 yards per attempt (which ranks 27th in the league).

Up next: at Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

23. Las Vegas Raiders (1-2)

(Last week: 20)

Sunday: Lost to Pittsburgh Steelers 23-18

QB confidence rating: 6

Six is also the number of league-leading interceptions Jimmy Garoppolo has after throwing three Sunday night. He has thrown those six on 94 pass attempts, which ranks 18th in the league. The Raiders pushed Derek Carr out of the door and gave Garoppolo a three-year, $67.5 million contract for this, and now Garoppolo is in the concussion protocol.

Up next: at Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET

24. Tennessee Titans (1-2)

(Last week: 17)

Sunday: Lost to Cleveland Browns 27-3

QB confidence rating: 3

After a brief bounce-back performance in Week 2, Ryan Tannehill turned back into a pumpkin this week. The 35-year-old is 31st in the league in offensive EPA per dropback (minus.-.27) and 28th in completion percentage (59). It doesn’t help that he’s been sacked 13 times, the second most in the league, but he’s not doing himself any favors with one touchdown and three interceptions for the season.

Up next: vs. Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

25. Minnesota Vikings (0-3)

(Last week: 24)

Sunday: Lost to Los Angeles Chargers 28-24

QB confidence rating: 7

The only concern about Kirk Cousins in Minnesota is how long he’ll be there. He’s on pace for 6,091 yards and 51 touchdowns this year. Despite Patrick Mahomes existing and Tua Tagovailoa throwing to a collection of aliens, Cousins leads the league in passing yards (1,075) and passing touchdowns (nine). On Sunday, he became the fifth player ever with at least 325 passing yards and two touchdowns in each of his team’s first three games. The Jets, Falcons and maybe the Saints have to be interested in that.

Up next: at Carolina Panthers, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

26. New York Giants (1-2)

(Last week: 27)

Thursday: Lost to San Francisco 49ers 30-12

QB confidence rating: 5

The Giants are paying $40 million per year for this. Daniel Jones threw the ball 32 times and had 137 passing yards Sunday. That’s 4.3 yards per attempt. For the season, he’s 29th in the league at 5.8 yards per attempt. His 107 rushing yards don’t make up for that.

Up next: vs. Seattle Seahawks, Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET

27. Arizona Cardinals (1-2)

(Last week: 32)

Sunday: Beat Dallas Cowboys 28-16

QB confidence rating: 6

The Cardinals traded a fifth-round pick to the Browns for Joshua Dobbs on Aug. 24, and he’s been just fine. Arizona isn’t asking much. His 82 attempts are 30th among starters, but he’s completing 72 percent of those passes, which ranks fourth in the league. Dobbs is just a placeholder for whomever Arizona drafts next year, but he’s a serviceable one.

Up next: at San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

28. Houston Texans (1-2)

(Last week: 31)

Sunday: Beat Jacksonville Jaguars 37-17

QB confidence rating: 7

Rookie C.J. Stroud is the third player in NFL history to have at least 900 passing yards in his first three starts. He has four touchdowns and zero interceptions. It could be even better, too. His 14.9 percent off-target rate is the fifth worst in the league, and his receivers have dropped seven passes, the second most in the league. Picking at No. 2, it looks like the Texans got the quarterback draft decision right.

Up next: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

29. New York Jets (1-2)

(Last week: 21)

Sunday: Lost to New England Patriots 15-10

QB confidence rating: 1

Fox’s Jay Glazer reported Sunday that Matt Ryan and Carson Wentz, or at least their representatives, reached out to the Jets about playing quarterback, and the Jets declined. The question is “Why?” Zach Wilson is 31st in yards per attempt (5.6) and 33rd in completion percentage (52.4), which is a hard combination of numbers to put together. He also has four interceptions versus two touchdowns. On Sunday, Joe Namath commented on X, formerly Twitter, that Wilson makes decisions “not intuitive to the quarterback position.” Sounds about right. On Monday, Rainn Wilson, star of “The Office,” offered his services. We would 100 percent support this decision and would respond with an automatic 10-position bump in the Power Rankings.

I am available, @nyjets pic.twitter.com/1zpdZUYtcE

— RainnWilson (@rainnwilson) September 25, 2023

Up next: vs. Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET

30. Carolina Panthers (0-3)

(Last week: 29)

Sunday: Lost to Seattle Seahawks 37-27

QB confidence rating: 4

With No. 1 pick Bryce Young on the bench with an ankle injury, veteran backup Andy Dalton threw 58 passes to no avail. The fact that Carolina, with Young on the bench, scored more than 17 points for the first time this season is not comforting. The rookie’s passer rating (66.6) is better than only Zach Wilson’s so far. The Panthers might take their time getting Young back in the lineup.

Up next: vs. Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

31. Chicago Bears (0-3)

(Last week: 30)

Sunday: Lost to Kansas City Chiefs 41-10

QB confidence rating: 1

Justin Fields played the whole game and didn’t throw for 100 yards. He had 99 yards through the air on 22 attempts and 47 yards on the ground on a team-high 11 carries. It’s not all Fields’ fault that Chicago has lost 13 consecutive games, but the fact is he’s 5-23 as a starter and his passer rating (66.7) ranks 31st in the league.

Up next: vs. Denver Broncos, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

32. Denver Broncos (0-3)

(Last week: 28)

Sunday: Lost to Miami Dolphins 70-20

QB confidence rating: 3

Does it matter? The Broncos managed to at least briefly distract from their long-term Russell Wilson problem by giving up 70 points to the Dolphins and stealing last place from the Bears.

Up next: at Chicago Bears, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

(Top photo of Brock Purdy: Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images)

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