NFL Elite Eleven (Week 3 Edition)
Three weeks in and the only thing we know for sure is… hmm, well ok, the Chiefs are still the Chiefs. Now we just have to figure out the rest of the 31 teams. Let’s take a dive into the Elite Eleven teams heading into Week 4 of the 2024 NFL season.
NFL Elite Eleven (Week 3 Edition): Bye for now: Bucs, 49ers, and Cowboys. Welcome to the Party: Seattle, NY Jets, and Baltimore.
#11. Baltimore Ravens 1-2 (+700/+1300) - A late letdown defensively can’t spoil a big road win for the Ravens on Sunday. It won’t get any easier this week when they welcome the Bills to town. Last Week’s Ranking: Unranked
#10. Houston Texans (+650/+1300) - Perhaps it WAS a little too soon to print those AFC Championship game tickets for later this season. The Texans got a huge wakeup call from the Vikings on the road this week. They’ll get a chance to bounce back against the struggling Jags at home this week. Last Week’s Ranking: 3rd
#9. New York Jets 2-1 (+700/+1400) - Well, well, well, look whose here. The Jets looked like the team their diehard fans hoped they’d be last year in a win over New England. A dominating defensive effort and an offense carefully orchestrated by Aaron Rodgers. Home game against Denver this week. The AFC is not that deep…I’m just saying. Last Week’s Ranking: Unranked
#8. New Orleans Saints 2-0 (+1400/+3500) - The defense did its thing this week but the offense was shut down by the Eagles. The deep passes weren’t there and the Eagles forced them to methodically move down the field. The results weren’t great. Doesn’t get easier this week with a battle in Atlanta. Last Week’s Ranking: 4th
#7. Philadelphia Eagles 2-1 (+450/+1100) - The Eagles’ defense showed that they still have the juice this week and Saquon Barkley more than made up for last week’s drop with a huge performance. They are back out on the road for a revenge game against the Bucs, the team that embarrassed them out of the playoff last year. Last Week’s Ranking: 10th
#6. Detroit Lions 2-1 (+450/+1100) - There weren’t any clock issues this week as the Lions’ defense manhandled the Arizona offensive line to lead them to a big win. The Lions now welcome undefeated Seattle to Detroit this week. Last Week’s Ranking: 7th
#5. Pittsburgh Steelers 3-0 (+450/+1100) - The Steelers keep on winning and Justin Fields continues to lead the way at quarterback. He’s done just enough with both his legs and arm that should keep him first string for the foreseeable future. Next up is a date with the Colts in Indy. Last Week’s Ranking: Unranked
#4. Seattle Seahawks 3-0 (+1600/4000) - The Seahawks just keep beating the team that is put in front of them. They’ve done it with timely passing and a punishing ground game along with a very hard hitting defense that is starting to remind me of the Super Bowl teams. This week, they travel to Detroit. Last Week’s Ranking: Unranked
#3. Minnesota Vikings 3-0 (+1200/+2500) - If you had mentioned QB Sam Darnold as an MVP candidate prior to the season, you’d have been laughed out of the room. Don’t look now but…Ok, it probably won’t hold up that well but HC Kevin O’Connell has this guy pointed in the right direction. A showdown in Green Bay looms this week. Last Week’s Ranking: 5th
#2. Buffalo Bills 3-0 (+400/+800) - Josh Allen is the MVP favorite and he should be. Everything is smoothly running through him this season and he looks as comfortable as he ever has. That comfort level will be tested this week, when the Bills travel to Baltimore. Last Week’s Ranking: 2nd
#1. Kansas City Chiefs 3-0 (+220/+450) - Are the Chiefs the only sure thing left in the NFL? They very well could be. Even they are going through a transition though as Travis Kelce slowly becomes a third or fourth target. No matter, they still have a great defense and the best QB in the game. The Chiefs take on the Chargers in LA this weekend. Last Week’s Ranking: 1st
Game of the Week: Buffalo Bills at Baltimore Ravens (-2.0)
The Ravens barely get to breathe after their big win in Big D. Here come the undefeated Bills in a clash of AFC titans. The Ravens should be the more motivated team here, desperate to avoid a 1-3 start but the Bills have never looked looser and more confident than they have thus far.
*All odds courtesy of Draftkings.com
By Mark Ruelle
