NFL panic meter getting into Week 5: Concern degree for Cowboys, Jets, different contenders after first month of season

We are actually a month by the 2024 season, and there have been loads of surprises which have sprouted up over the primary 4 weeks. On a optimistic notice, the Sam Darnold resurgence in Minnesota, the place he has the Vikings undefeated and atop the NFC North, is a growth that the majority did not see coming. The identical might be mentioned in Washington, the place No. 2 general choose Jayden Daniels seems like the true deal and has the Commanders main the NFC East after the opening month. 

Whereas there are many optimistic storylines for groups throughout the league after the primary 4 weeks, there’s additionally the opposite aspect of that coin. There are different golf equipment who have been checked out as legit playoff contenders coming into the 12 months that now discover themselves floundering. We have collected these summer season playoff hopefuls who’ve struggled (to various levels) to start this season and have tiered them by way of how excessive their panic degree ought to be going ahead.

Panic degree: Ought to be positive

Groups: San Francisco 49ers (2-2), Green Bay Packers (2-2)

Each of those groups have handled accidents to key members of the roster.

In San Francisco, the membership has seen working again Christian McCaffrey land on injured reserve on account of an Achilles harm, and has but to play this season. Additionally, tight finish George Kittle and wideout Deebo Samuel have managed accidents, whereas defensive sort out Javon Hargrave is completed for the 12 months with a torn triceps. Even within the newest Week 4 win, linebacker Fred Warner suffered an obvious ankle harm. In fact, if these accidents proceed to pile up, there ought to be loads of trigger for concern within the Bay Space. That mentioned, they’ve a proficient sufficient roster and top-tier teaching employees to soak up these present hits. 

As an illustration, the Niners nonetheless have the third-highest yards-per-play common (6.3) within the league by 4 weeks, and Brandon Aiyuk has but to actually get going. The schedule is hard the remainder of the way in which, however the defending NFC champions ought to proceed to rival for a prime seed within the convention. 

As for Inexperienced Bay, there’s one thing comical about its two losses on the season coming in video games that Jordan Love has began, and its two wins have been when Malik Willis was beneath heart. The Packers had their franchise quarterback sidelined for 2 weeks after struggling an MCL harm within the closing seconds of the Week 1 opener. Whereas Love could not lead the Packers to a victory in Week 4 in his return, there’s nonetheless loads of room for Inexperienced Bay to make the playoffs. 

The division is hard with everybody no less than .500, however there’s quite a bit to love about Matt LaFleur’s group. Defensively, the Packers have been in a position to get off the sphere on third down (30.3% opponent conversion charge) however should be tighter within the crimson zone (60% landing charge). On offense, Love cannot have three-interception days like he did Sunday towards the Vikings, however the unit is explosive, averaging 6.4 yards per play (second finest within the NFL). Their remaining schedule additionally is not too daunting. 

Panic degree: Zero margin for error

Groups: Dallas Cowboys (2-2), Philadelphia Eagles (2-2), New York Jets (2-2)

This group includes a trio of 2-2 golf equipment which have the capabilities of getting again into the postseason, however cannot slip up as they transfer ahead by the remainder of the 12 months. 

With the New York Jets, they’re behind the Buffalo Bills (3-1) for first place within the AFC East and have, at occasions, regarded like a playoff contender. Nevertheless, there are different moments like Sunday, the place they managed simply 9 factors in a loss to the Denver Broncos at house. For a group that has one of many more durable schedules within the NFL, these are the video games that they cannot let slip away from them. They’ve a Week 5 matchup towards the red-hot Vikings in London earlier than coming house to host the Payments on Monday evening in Week 6. After that, three of their subsequent 4 video games are on the highway, so this can be a crucial interval for this proficient roster to start out taking part in at its prime degree. If they do not, issues may get out of hand in a rush. 

As we transfer to the NFC East, neither the Cowboys nor Eagles have actually impressed thus far this season, and each golf equipment are at the moment trying as much as Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders within the division. Dallas beat up on unhealthy opponents within the Browns and Giants to earn their two wins this season and have but to take pleasure in a victory at AT&T Stadium. Defensively, the unit ranks twenty fourth in yards per play allowed (5.7) and twenty seventh in dashing yards allowed (145.8) per recreation. On prime of that, the membership is now coping with accidents to the unit, with Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence set to overlook time. They’ve a much-needed bye week arising in Week 7, however the highway forward is hard: at Pittsburgh (Week 5), vs. Detroit (Week 6), at San Francisco (Week 8) and at Atlanta (Week 9). 

All that results in what may show to be a large divisional matchup with the Eagles in Dallas. Talking of Philly, they have been with out their prime pass-catching choices, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, on account of harm and are coming off a Week 4 loss to the Bucs. Their schedule is a bit of softer over the following few weeks main as much as that recreation towards the Cowboys, however the offense — even when discounting harm — has regarded off all through the season, which has the seat beneath head coach Nick Sirianni heating up. One other kind of lifeless effort within the coming weeks may ship people round Lincoln Monetary Discipline right into a frenzy. 

Panic degree: Hazard zone

Groups: Cincinnati Bengals (1-3), Los Angeles Rams (1-3), Jacksonville Jaguars (0-4), Miami Dolphins (1-3)

Each the Bengals and Rams discover themselves sitting at 1-3 after the primary month and in final place of their respective divisions. With Cincinnati, its lone win of the season got here Sunday towards the Carolina Panthers, which is hardly an indication of the tides turning. The protection is the important thing reason for concern because the Bengals are permitting 26 factors per recreation thus far (twenty sixth within the NFL) and wrestle to get off the sphere on third down (twenty second in opponent third-down conversion charge). Pair that with a division that options stout defensive items, and issues are beginning to look dire for the Bengals. That is significantly true in Week 5 after they have what seems like a must-win recreation at house towards the Baltimore Ravens, who simply decimated the Payments on Sunday evening. A loss there successfully eliminates any remaining hope of an AFC North title and has the Bengals presumably taking a look at a misplaced season altogether. 

An identical case might be made when talking concerning the Rams. Accidents have taken a large toll on Sean McVay’s group, particularly on offense, with high-profile targets Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua sidelined. Added to the harm bug taking a chew out of the roster is the merely poor play on protection. Los Angeles is permitting the second-most factors per recreation (28.8) and second-most yards per recreation (385.3). 

In Jacksonville, you can also make a fairly simple case that the season is already misplaced after dropping to 0-4. Now, all eyes are on the Jaguars brass, together with head coach Doug Pederson, to see if he’ll be the primary coach fired in 2024. Arising in Week 6 and Week 7, the Jaguars have back-to-back video games in London, and it will be fascinating to see if Pederson remains to be the coach by the point they get again to the US for Week 8 if issues do not subside. 

Lastly, the Dolphins dropped to 1-3 after a loss to Tennessee on Monday evening, and, after making the playoffs a season in the past, are treading water. They’re all the way down to their third quarterback, with Tua Tagovailoa on injured reserve and backup Skylar Thompson (rib) additionally injured. Tyler Huntley bought the beginning in Week 5, and the offense was glacial. Tagovailoa is reportedly symptom-free , which may pave the way in which for him to return when he is eligible to return off of IR in Week 8, however the Dolphins will desperately must get within the win column within the meantime. In Week 5, they will be in New England earlier than hitting the bye week after which will face the Colts in Indy in Week 7. If they’re 1-5 by the point Tagovailoa is eligible to step again onto the sphere, the season may very well be all however over.