NFL Standings 2018: Steelers, Raiders, Giants Among Last-Place Teams To Start Week 5
Several teams that had high expectations for the 2018 NFL season find themselves in last place at the start of Week 5. The Pittsburgh Steelers (1-2-1) and Atlanta Falcons (1-3) are at the bottom of their respective divisions after reaching the second round of last year’s playoffs. Despite hoping to bounce back from poor seasons, the New York Giants (1-3) and Oakland Raiders (1-3) sit alone in fourth place.
You can pretty much guarantee that either Pittsburgh or Atlanta will remain in last place for at least one more week. The two teams that were thought to be Super Bowl contenders in the preseason will meet at Heinz Field in one of the most highly anticipated games on the Week 5 schedule. The Steelers are 1.5 games behind the Cincinnati Bengals (3-1) and Baltimore Ravens (3-1), who share the lead atop the AFC North. It’s getting late early for the Falcons, who are the only one-win NFC South team and trail the New Orleans Saints (3-1) by two games.
The Raiders are the only last-place AFC team that doesn’t share that spot with a division rival, and they now trail the Kansas City Chiefs (4-0) by three games after Patrick Mahomes and Co. defeated the Denver Broncos (2-2) on “Monday Night Football.” The Indianapolis Colts (1-3) and Houston Texans (1-3) are tied for last place in the AFC South. It’s the New York Jets (1-3) and Buffalo Bills (1-3) in the AFC East’s basement. The Steelers are tied with the Browns (1-2-1).
The Miami Dolphins (3-1) still sit in first place ahead of the New England Patriots (2-2) after losing by 31 points at Gillette Stadium. The Tennessee Titans (3-1) currently hold the tiebreaker over the Jacksonville Jaguars (3-1) in the AFC South because of their head-to-head win in Week 3.
Every last-place NFC team is by themselves. Each NFC team that sits atop their division has sole possession of first place.
The Giants are the only NFC East team that doesn’t have two wins, and the Washington Redskins (2-1) have the division lead after their bye week. The Chicago Bears (3-1) are ahead of the Green Bay Packers (2-1-1) atop the NFC North, even after blowing the season opener at Lambeau Field. The Saints have a half-game lead over the Carolina Panthers (2-1) for first place in the NFC South.
Having looked like the best team in football, the Los Angeles Rams (4-0) could quickly run away in the NFC West. L.A. could take a commanding three-game lead over the second-place Seattle Seahawks (2-2), who they visit as seven-point road favorites Sunday afternoon, according to the early betting odds at OddsShark. The San Francisco 49ers (1-3) have little shot to make any kind of noise now that Jimmy Garoppolo is done for the season. The Arizona Cardinals (0-4) are the NFL’s only winless team.
The Minnesota Vikings (1-2-1) are below .500 after entering the season as a top Super Bowl contender. They’ll visit the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles (2-2) in Week 5.
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