NFL: Quarter season review

A quarter of the NFL regular season is in the books, and there have been a fair number of teams that’ve surprised the public and a few that’ve been disappointing.

Here’s a recap, one positive and one negative, of each team’s performance after four games.

AFC EAST

Buffalo Bills: 4-0

Positive: James Cook has the second-most rushing yards and Josh Allen has the second-highest QBR (Quarterback Rating).

Negative: The Bills' defense averaged 6.0 yards per carry allowed.

New England Patriots: 2-2

Positive: The Patriots’ defense is allowing 3.3 yards per carry, which ranks second in the NFL.

Negative: The pass defense is lacking as they’ve allowed over 240 yards per game and a 71 percent completion rate.

Miami Dolphins: 1-3

Positive: Darren Waller balled out, scoring two touchdown receptions in the Dolphins’ first win of the season against the Jets.

Negative: Tyreek Hill is out indefinitely. The Dolphins’ defense is also atrocious, averaging 158 opposing rush yards allowed per game.

New York Jets: 0-4

Positive: The Jets’ offense is averaging the third most rushing yards per game with 144.5 yards.

Negative:. They are the only team in the NFL that has yet to force a turnover this season.

AFC NORTH

Pittsburgh Steelers: 3-1

Positive: The Steelers are the least penalized team in the NFL and they have the second-best turnover margin per game.

Negative: The Steelers’ defense ranks 28th in opposing yards per game. They’ve let up over 380 yards per game.

Cincinnati Bengals: 2-2

Positive: At least they’re 2-2.

Negative: Burrow is another victim on the long list of turf injuries this season.

Baltimore Ravens: 1-3

Positive: Lamar Jackson has done extremely well, throwing a league high 10 passing touchdowns. However, he’ll be sidelined for the next couple of weeks due to a hamstring injury.

Negative: The Ravens’ defense allows 33.3 points per game, which ranks last in the NFL.

Cleveland Browns: 1-3

Positive: The unbelievable upset against the, at the time, undefeated Green Bay Packers.

Negative: The entire offense. The Browns average 14 points per game, which ranks 31st in the NFL.

AFC SOUTH

Indianapolis Colts: 3-1

Positive: The Colts’ offense tallies the fourth-most passing yards per game, even when throwing the ball the fourth-least per game.

Negative: They average 4.5 yards per carry allowed, which is just below average.

Jacksonville Jaguars: 3-1

Positive: The rush defense is allowing a little over 80 yards per game, which ranks 4th best.

Negative: Quarterback Trevor Lawrence is still not playing up to expectations, having thrown five touchdowns to four interceptions.

Houston Texans: 1-3

Positive: The Texans’ defense is allowing under 13 points per game, which ranks first.

Negative: The offense is a different story. They are scoring 16 points per game, which is the fourth-worst in the league.

Tennessee Titans: 0-4

Positive: The Titans are Top-10 in takeaways per game.

Negative: The offense continues to struggle in Nashville, as they’ve scored 12.8 points per game through the first four games.

AFC WEST

Los Angeles Chargers: 3-1

Positive: Through four weeks, wide receiver Quentin Johnston has the third-most receiving yards and touchdown receptions.

Negative: The Chargers are quite one-dimensional on offense, as they pass more than 63 percent of the time.

Kansas City Chiefs: 2-2

Positive: Steve Spagnuolo’s defense is still elite, as they’re ranked eighth in opposing points per game.

Negative: Isiah Pacheco has fewer rushing yards than Patrick Mahomes.

Denver Broncos: 2-2

Positive: The Broncos’ defense continues to dominate, allowing the second-fewest points per game.

Negative: They have forced one interception this season.

Las Vegas Raiders: 1-3

Positive: Ashton Jeanty averaged 6.6 yards per carry in the Raiders’ week four matchup against the Bears.

Negative: Geno Smith has a 6:7 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

NFC EAST

Philadelphia Eagles: 4-0

Positive: The Eagles are first in the NFL in takeaways per game.

Negative: Statistically, the offense has been lacking, as they’ve produced the third-least offensive yards per game.

Washington Commanders: 2-2

Positive: The Commanders expect Jayden Daniels to return for their week five game against the Chargers.

Negative: The pass defense has allowed the sixth-most passing yards per game at 248.5 yards allowed.

Dallas Cowboys: 1-2-1

Positive: The Cowboys’ offense produces the most yards per game.

Negative: Simultaneously, the Cowboys allow the most yards per game.

New York Giants: 1-3

Positive: Jaxson Dart is 1-0 to start his NFL career.

Negative: Malik Nabers is another victim of the MetLife turf.

NFC NORTH

Detroit Lions: 3-1

Positive: The Lions have the largest point differential in four games at +49.

Negative: The only negative was their disappointing showing in week one against the division

rival Packers.

Green Bay Packers: 2-2

Positive: The Packers’ offense is first in the NFL in third-down conversion percentage.

Negative: They could be 3-1 if they only beat the Joe Flacco-led Cleveland Browns.

Minnesota Vikings: 2-2

Positive: The Vikings are top 10 in points per game scored and points per game allowed.

Negative: Viking fans have to watch at least one more game of Carson Wentz at quarterback.

Chicago Bears: 2-2

Positive: The Bears have held their opponents to converting third downs 29 percent of the time, which is first in the NFL.

Negative: They average an underwhelming 3.8 yards per carry on offense.

NFC SOUTH

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 3-1

Positive: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers allowed 3.3 yards per carry through the first four weeks.

Negative: They are in the bottom four in red zone touchdown percentage.

Atlanta Falcons: 2-2

Positive: Atlanta has allowed the second-fewest passing yards per game.

Negative: Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has thrown zero touchdown passes in two of four games this season.

Carolina Panthers: 1-3

Positive: When the Panthers get into the red zone, they’re efficient, averaging the sixth-highest red zone touchdown percentage.

Negative: The Carolina offense is in the bottom 10 in points per game and yards per game.

New Orleans Saints: 0-4

Positive: The season is a quarter of the way over.

Negative: The Saints allow almost twice the number of points they score.

NFC WEST

San Francisco 49ers: 3-1

Positive: The 49ers are top 10 in points per game allowed, yards allowed, opposing 3rd down conversion, opposing yards per rush, and passing yards allowed.

Negative: On offense, they average the second-worst yards per carry, at 3.3 yards per carry.

Seattle Seahawks: 3-1

Positive: The Seahawks' defense has yet to allow a rushing touchdown.

Negative: Similar to the 49ers, the Seahawks lack in offensive rushing yards per carry. Through four games, the Seahawks have averaged 3.6 yards per carry, which is sixth-worst in the NFL.

Los Angeles Rams: 3-1

Positive: Puka Nacua is averaging 125 receiving yards per game.

Negative: The Rams are one made field goal away from being undefeated.

Arizona Cardinals: 2-2

Positive: The Cardinal rush defense is stout, as they averaged 96 opposing rushing yards per game.

Negative: Wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. has averaged 52 receiving yards per game so far this season.

Vinny Jones is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email vtj5006@psu.edu