Baker Mayfield falls after win vs. Vikings, but how far? NFL Quarterback Power Rankings after Week 4

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Baker Mayfield knew he didn’t play well in the Browns’ 14-7 win against the Vikings on Sunday and didn’t mince words, calling it a “piss-poor performance.”

It was Mayfield’s third-worst game of his career in terms of completion percentage at 45.5 percent (15-for-33). His 59.5 rating was his worst in a game in which he had one or fewer turnovers.

The game might be an aberration, but in the world of our quarterback power rankings, every performance counts. Sunday’s game pushed Mayfield further down the list and out of the top half of NFL starters.

After Week 4, we have Mayfield No. 17 in the league, behind players such as Jalen Hurts of the Eagles, Taylor Heinicke of Washington and Ryan Tannehill of the Titans.

Mayfield’s talent isn’t questioned. But he just hasn’t produced with just two touchdowns in four games. He now ranks 18th in completion percentage (65.5) and 22nd in yards per game (233.8).

There’s a lot of time to improve and get back in this list. But of late, Mayfield has not played like a top quarterback.

Here is my ranking of the top-10 quarterbacks after Week 4, along with the next five in alphabetical order. If a player was in the top 10 last week, their previous rank will be in parenthesis next to his name:

Next five

* Joe Burrow, Bengals

* Derek Carr, Raiders

* Kirk Cousins, Vikings (6)

* Taylor Heinicke, Washington

* Jalen Hurts, Eagles

10. Justin Herbert, Chargers (next five)

Season stats: 113-164 (68.9 percent), 1,178 yards, 9 TDs, 3 INTs.

Herbert has successfully dodged the sophomore slump four games into his second NFL season. He was brilliant once again on Monday night in the Chargers’ 28-14 win vs. the Raiders, completing 25 of 38 passes for 222 yards and three TDs.

Herbert’s seven touchdown passes in the last two games went a long way to putting him into the top 10 ahead of Kirk Cousins.

He will have quite the test on Sunday against a Browns defense that is coming together and playing with tremendous confidence. That defense allowed a combined 13 points in wins against the Bears and Vikings.

This week: Home vs. Browns.

9. Lamar Jackson, Ravens (10)

Season stats: 75-124 (60.5 percent), 1,077 yards, 4 TDs, 3 INTs.

Jackson moves up one spot in this list after he threw for more than 300 yards for just the second time in his career. The only other time he had more than 300 passing yards was Week 1 in 2019 against Miami.

Jackson has had fewer carries in the last two games and thrown 68 passes. He responded with two of his three best games in terms of yardage in his career.

This week: Home vs. Colts, Monday night.

8. Josh Allen, Bills (9)

Season stats: 99-156 (63.5 percent), 1,055 yards, 9 TDs, 2 INTs.

Allen had a solid afternoon against the Texans, completing 20 of 29 passes for 248 yards and two touchdowns in a 40-0 win.

Houston is far from an elite opponent. But Allen and the Bills can only play who’s on the schedule, and they’re doing what needs to be done.

We’ll get a true gauge of where Allen and the Bills are when they go to Kansas City on Sunday night.

This week: At Chiefs.

7. Russell Wilson, Seahawks (7)

Season stats: 79-109 (72.5 percent), 1,044 yards, 9 TDs, 0 INTs.

Wilson once again stays at No. 7 after the Seahawks knocked off the 49ers in San Francisco, 28-21. He only threw for 149 yards, but had two touchdown passes.

It was his worst game of the season in terms of completion percentage (69.6) and yards. But it was still a good game, and he still has not thrown an interception this season. That matters along with his consistency.

This week: Home vs. Rams, Thursday night.

6. Dak Prescott, Cowboys (8)

Season stats: 100-133 (75.2 percent), 1,066 yards, 10 TDs, 2 INTs.

Prescott only made 22 throws in the Cowboys’ 36-28 win against the Panthers. But he made the most of them, throwing for 188 yards and four touchdowns.

Four of Dallas’ next six games come against the Giants, Vikings, Falcons and Chiefs. So Prescott should be able to continue to pad his numbers.

It continues to be impressive to watch Prescott play this well coming off his ankle injury from last season.

This week: Home vs. Giants.

5. Aaron Rodgers, Packers (5)

Season stats: 80-124 (64.5 percent), 897 yards, 8 TDs, 2 INTs.

Week 1 for Rodgers looks like a distant memory. In the Packers’ 27-17 win vs. the Steelers in Week 4, Rodgers threw for 248 yards and two touchdowns, and added a rushing score.

He’s thrown eight TD passes and no interceptions since his poor performance in Week 1.

But the upcoming schedule for Green Bay features four road games in the next five weeks. Among them are trips to Cincinnati, Arizona and Kansas City, each of whom have quarterbacks in the top 15. Those will be fun duels.

This week: At Bengals.

4. Tom Brady, Buccaneers (2)

Season stats: 119-184 (64.7 percent), 1,356 yards, 10 TDs, 2 INTs.

Brady’s slide is simply a combination of players in this area of the list playing great and his numbers not being as good of late. Bill Belichick and the Patriots limited Brady’s effectiveness on Sunday night even though the Buccaneers won, 19-17.

Brady completed 22 of 43 passes for 269 yards. It wasn’t spectacular by any means, but it was enough to get the win, which is all that really matters.

Brady’s cooled off somewhat with just one TD pass in his last two games after nine in the first two.

This week: Home vs. Dolphins.

3. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs (4)

Season stats: 102-141 (72.3 percent), 1,218 yards, 14 TDs, 4 INTs.

Mahomes looked like Mahomes again on Sunday as he completed 24 of 30 passes for 278 yards and five touchdowns to help the Chiefs outpace the Eagles, 42-30.

He did throw another pick, giving him a streak of three straight games with an interception. But you can live with that if he does what he usually does.

Mahomes leads all quarterbacks with 14 touchdown passes.

This week: Home vs. Bills, Sunday night.

2. Matthew Stafford, Rams (1)

Season stats: 92-135 (68.1 percent) 1,222 yards, 11 TDs, 2 INTs.

Stafford didn’t have a bad game in the Rams’ 37-21 loss to the Cardinals on Sunday. He finished 26 of 41 for 280 yards and two touchdowns. The problem was the quarterback on the other sideline. And we’ll get to him shortly.

Los Angeles didn’t lose because of Stafford. It lost because the Rams had no answers for the Cardinals’ offense. It doesn’t change the fact that Stafford has been great, and the Rams will be a Super Bowl threat.

It’s unfortunate for him and the Rams that the best quarterback right now plays in their division and that he’s playing at a nearly transcendent level.

This week: At Seahawks, Thursday night.

1. Kyler Murray, Cardinals (3)

Season stats: 102-134 (76.1 percent), 1,273 yards, 9 TDs, 4 INTs.

The Cardinals are the only undefeated team left in the NFL, and Murray may be the biggest reason why. Even Stafford and the Rams couldn’t keep up with Murray in Week 4.

The diminutive Murray leads the NFL in completion percentage and is second in yards per attempt at 9.5. His efficiency has been otherworldly and it’s a big reason Arizona has the NFL’s top scoring offense.

The only question is how long he can keep this up against the disruptive fronts that the 49ers and Browns will present in the next two weeks.

This week: Home vs. 49ers.

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