NFC North quarterback power rankings Week 4: Malik Willis continues to rise

We are fast approaching the quarter mark of the NFL season, and we are beginning to learn the real identities of these teams.

The Minnesota Vikings are surprisingly undefeated after wins over the San Francisco 49ers and Houston Texans, while the Green Bay Packers have won both games with Malik Willis at quarterback. Is the NFL MVP in Minnesota?

Let's see where the NFC North quarterbacks rank after three games.

NFC North quarterback power rankings entering Week 4

Honorable Mention: Jordan Love, Packers

For likely the last time, Jordan Love makes the honorable mention spot after practicing last week and being a game-time decision against the Tennessee Titans. After what seemed like could have been gamesmanship in Week 2, Love seemed pretty darn close to being able to go in Week 3. The Packers took care of business in Nashville without him at the helm and hope that Love can return this week.

Willis was great (more on him below), but the possibilities that Love can bring to this team should give Cheeseheads a lot of hope. This team did so much with a quarterback who was not as immersed in the offense and opened up so many new avenues that teams will have to defend. Love should thrive and jump up these rankings whenever he returns.

4. Caleb Williams, Bears

It took 11 and a half quarters of regular season football, but Caleb Williams has finally thrown his first NFL touchdown. The Bears' inability to run the ball against the Indianapolis Colts put the game heavily on the Bears rookie signal caller, and it went how many would expect. Williams was 33-of-52 for 363 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. The Colts also sacked him four times.

Williams had some big moments in this game, including the first two touchdowns of his NFL career. He had a long completion to Rome Odunze early in the second quarter before throwing another interception three plays later that would lead directly to a Colts touchdown. His second interception was more of an Aaron Rodgers-type pick in the sense that it came after a defensive back knocked the ball out of his receiver's hands, and it took an incredible play on the sideline.

Regardless, the Bears are not putting Williams in a great position to thrive despite all the weapons he has, and the game plan of throwing 52 times with the young quarterback was destined to fail.

3. Jared Goff, Lions

Jared Goff slides to third in this week's power rankings despite guiding the Lions to a 20-13 win against the Arizona Cardinals. Goff was 18-of-23 for 199 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.

By no means is this a bad day at the office, but it is just ho-hum. Officially, Goff threw one interception, but it should've been two. Goff threw a pick-six in a controversial moment before halftime. The officials ruled that the clock had reached the two-minute warning before the snap, but that's debatable, to say the least. We'll let you be the judge of what happened, but Cardinals fans were certainly less than pleased.

It was an aggressively average Jared Goff game, and while the Lions did win, Goff slides just barely down to third in our rankings.

2. Malik Willis, Packers

This may be a "prisoner of the moment" situation, but power rankings are based on perception, and this is a Packers site after all. Malik Willis rises to second after a dominant win for Green Bay down in Nashville, 30-14. Willis did exactly what he needed to do in relief of Jordan Love, completing 13 of 19 passes for 202 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing six times for 73 yards and a touchdown.

Willis did what was required to win the game. He didn't have a costly turnover and was able to make plays with his feet when guys weren't open. It was another perfectly schemed game by Packers head coach Matt LaFleur. Willis will never admit it, but this served as a revenge game against his former team, and one cannot help but wonder if Tennessee regrets moving on from him.

While it may be his last week in the starting gig, Packers fans should feel confident should there be any further stints where Love is unable to go. For his efforts in giving the Packers that comfort, Willis moves up to No. 2.

1. Sam Darnold, Vikings

I really am at a loss of words on this one. Sam Darnold is having a career renaissance with the Vikings. Darnold had his best game of the young season, completing 17 of 28 passes for 181 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions.

Minnesota outclassed the Houston Texans, leading the Vikings to a 34-7 win in Week 3. Darnold spread the ball around, throwing touchdowns to Justin Jefferson, Aaron Jones, Jalen Nailor, and Johnny Mundt. While he is not an MVP favorite yet, Darnold is rising up the ranks.

He faces another tough test against a Packers defense that sacked Will Levis eight times and forced two interceptions. In the meantime, Darnold remains at the top.

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