Teams like the Colts, Giants and Bears won games we all figured they'd win. The Saints, Steelers and Patriots all served notice that they'll remain a part of the playoff picture until the very end. And Brett Favre capped off the week with a huge Monday night performance against his old team.
With another bunch of games in the books, here are my predictions after Week 4 for this season's Super Bowl champions, the NFL Most Valuable Player, Defensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year. I'll update my picks each week as the season goes on. I'd love to get your picks as well in the comments section below.
Now let the games begin.
Super Bowl Champs
1. New York Giants (4-0, first in NFC East)
The Giants feature the league's top-ranked defense and is the NFL's toughest unit against the pass, allowing a minuscule 115 yards passing per game to opposing quarterbacks. Their offense doesn't look overly flashy, but Eli Manning (20-of-34, 292 yards, three touchdowns Sunday against the Chiefs) has been incredibly consistent and the two-headed rushing monster of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw continues to perform well (33 carries for 156 yards for a 4.73 average on Sunday). After the Giants host Oakland in Week 5, a matchup in New Orleans against the also-unbeaten Saints looms on Oct. 18.
2. New Orleans Saints (4-0, first in NFC South)
The league's most dangerous offense faced its biggest test of the season in Week 4 and came away with a 24-10 win over the Jets and their vaunted defense. Once again, quarterback Drew Brees' numbers weren't outstanding, but Pierre Thomas had a solid day on the ground and the defense returned both a fumble and an interception for scores. Under new coordinator Gregg Williams, the Saints D is ranked ninth in the league, and with an offense like they have, all they'll have to do is keep opponents close to win plenty of games this year.
3. Indianapolis Colts (4-0, first in AFC South)
Much like the Saints, when you think of the Colts, you think offense, offense and more offense. And rightfully so, with Peyton Manning making another run at the MVP award and new receiving targets like Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie stepping in seamlessly. But Indy is improving on the other side of the ball as well, as shown by the defense holding opponents to the fourth-fewest points per game in the league. The Colts also sacked Seattle five times — including three by Robert Mathis — on Sunday and are tied for fourth in the league in sacks.
4. Minnesota Vikings (4-0, first in NFC North)
The combination of Favre and Adrian Peterson has boosted the Vikings offense into one of the league's more dynamic units, scoring nearly 30 points a game. Favre is even making use of new targets Bernard Berrian and Sidney Rice. The Minny defense, too, led by mulleted pass-rusher extraordinaire Jared Allen and his 6.5 sacks, has been very solid. With fellow defensive end Ray Edwards and a solid set of linebackers, they're putting plenty of pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
5. Denver Broncos (4-0, first in AFC West)
How on earth are rookie head coach Josh McDaniels and the Broncos 4-0? Well, their schedule (at Cincinnati, vs. Cleveland, at Oakland, vs. Dallas) has been soft to start. But their defense has been the stingiest in the league, allowing a league-low 6.5 points a game. They're also second in the league in yards allowed per game (239.8), passes defended (25) and sacks (15). And Brandon Marshall's ridiculous run-after-catch for the winning touchdown against the Cowboys didn't hurt, either. Are the Broncos the fifth-best team in the NFL? Probably not. But they're deserving of this position … at least until Sunday, when they take on the Patriots in the Mile-High City.
Most Valuable Player
1. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts
Last week's leader in the MVP race didn't do anything to hurt his chances in Week 4, going 31-of-41 for 353 yards and two touchdowns and an interception in the Colts' 34-17 spanking of Seattle. His 1,336 yards, nine TD passes and 114.5 QB rating all lead the NFL.
2. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
Brees was less than dominant (20-of-32, 190 yards) for the second straight week, but his numbers are still better than the next QB on this list, whose team also happens to be 4-0. He's still among the league leaders in all of the significant quarterback stats.
3. Eli Manning, New York Giants
If the Giants are the league's best team right now, it only seems right to have their leader among the MVP contenders. He's only eighth in the league in passing yards through four games (1,039), but he's fourth in QB rating and has only two picks to go with his eight touchdowns through the air.
4. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers
Yes, the Steelers have lost two early games. But if they're going to get back into the thick of the AFC playoff race — as many believe they will — it will be because their defense buckles down and because Big Ben keeps getting it done in the air as he did on Sunday against the Chargers. The improved protection from his line allowed him to complete 26 of 33 passes for 333 yards and two scores.
5. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings
It was tempting to consider Favre for this spot, but I'd still venture to say that Peterson is more important to Minnesota's success on offense. He rushed for only 55 yards and a touchdown against a Packers defense stacked up to stop him, but his big-play ability opened things up for his soon to be 40-year-old quarterback.
Defensive Player of the Year
1. Elvis Dumervil, Denver Broncos
Two more sacks Sunday against the Cowboys won't hurt the linebacker's chances, especially while he's playing for the league's toughest defense. His eight sacks on the season are tied for the league lead with Bengals lineman Antwan Odom.
2. Jared Allen, Minnesota Vikings
Allen had one of the more dominant defensive games in recent memory on Monday night against the Packers, sacking Aaron Rodgers 4.5 times (once for a safety), earning seven total tackles and forcing a fumble in the Vikings win. And with that hair and that odd gesticulation he calls a sack dance? Well, as NESN.com fantasy guru Michael Salfino wrote on Wednesday, "Jared Allen, you are ridiculous."
3. Darren Sharper, New Orleans Saints
Sharper has been threatening to make this list for weeks now, but he couldn't be denied again after two more interceptions (he now has an NFL-high five) and another touchdown (he has two pick-sixes already this season) in Sunday's win over the Jets. His 59 career picks are ninth all time and tops among active players.
4. Patrick Willis, San Francisco 49ers
The seventh leading tackler in the NFL with 37, Willis also had a pick-six in Week 4. He's the man in the middle for arguably the league's most surprising unit to this point in 2009, the now-tough San Francisco defense, which scored a total of three — yes, three — touchdowns against St. Louis on Sunday.
5. James Harrison, Pittsburgh Steelers
Last year's winner in this category had two sacks on Sunday against San Diego, vaulting him right back into the race for this season's award. He also had 21 tackles, 12 QB pressures and three forced fumbles already and will benefit even more when safety Troy Polamalu returns to the fray.
Rookie of the Year
1. Mark Sanchez, New York Jets
"San-chise" is looking a little bit less polished after his 14-for-27, 138-yard, three-pick performance Sunday against the Saints. If that weren't enough, he got fined $5,000 for a low block. But he should benefit from the arrival of ex-Browns wideout Braylon Edwards and could stay in this spot for weeks to come.
2. Knowshon Moreno, Denver Broncos
Subbing for dinged-up Correll Buckhalter, Moreno led the Broncos with 65 yards on 14 carries in Week 4 against the Cowboys and added two catches for 11 yards, including his first career touchdown. His 249 yards on the ground are tops among rookies by over 100 yards.
3. Johnny Knox, Chicago Bears
Knox made five receptions for 31 yards and returned the second-half kickoff 102 yards and a score in Chicago's win over the Lions on Sunday. He'll continue to be one of Jay Cutler's more looked-at targets.
4. Percy Harvin, Minnesota Vikings
Harvin's stock drops a bit after just two catches for 43 yards Monday night, but this was just the first time all year the playmaker didn't get into the end zone.
5. James Laurinaitis, St. Louis Rams
The rookie leader in tackles with 34 is one of the few bright spots on an otherwise struggling Rams defense.
