Week 4 NFL Power Rankings
By Paul Novak
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
With Week 4 of the NFL season starting today, we look at our Power Rankings before each game is played.
Wins and losses are important and are obviously factored into where teams are ranked, however this early in the season it’s more important how we think they teams will perform the rest of the way as opposed to how they look this early.
#1 Seattle Seahawks 3-0
Seattle’s defense is already playing at mid-season form and they’re just now getting close to full strength on that side of the ball. Brandon Browner and Chris Clemons played their first game last week and Bruce Irvin will be coming back after the Texans game. There is no reason for the Hawks to not be ranked #1.
#2 Denver Broncos 3-0
If the Seahawks aren’t #1 in any Power Ranking, then it’s because the Broncos hold that spot. I almost put the Broncos in ours but I realized that if there is one secondary that could shut down Peyton Manning, it’s the Legion of Boom. The running game is looking good too and this is the dream Super Bowl matchup so far.
#3 New Orleans Saints 3-0
Drew Brees is still the best QB that’s 6 feet or under in the NFL, for now. What the Saints could do with their improved defense should scare both teams ahead of them in the PR’s. If they could figure out the run game and how to use their personnel they could be a threat for the top spot.
#4 New England Patriots 3-0
After starting the season with a couple of very close wins, the Patriots demolished the Bucs 23-3 and are ultimately undefeated. It doesn’t matter how you win the game. Tom Brady and Co. are 3-0 and aren’t even playing their best football.
#5 Chicago Bears 3-0
Jay Cutler has his weapons in Brandon Marshall and Matt Forte. He’s also got Martellus Bennett has become a TD target for Cutler too. With their defense the Bears are making the same kind of run they did early last season. It’s to be seen if they implode the same way too.
#6 Kansas City Chiefs 3-0
Andy Reid and Alex Smith are a match made in heaven for the Chiefs. A solid run game, a great defense and a QB that knows how to manage a game are turning the Chiefs into one of the best teams in the NFL. You think the 49ers wish they had Alex Smith?
#7 Cincinnati Bengals 2-1
Their only loss came against the undefeated Bears. A win against the Steelers and Packers at home is great but they’ll have to go on the road and win to make the playoffs. This weeks trip to face the Browns is a good start.
#8 Baltimore Ravens 2-1
Currently the Ravens sport the leagues 4th best rush defense. Impressive with their last game coming against the Texans and Arian Foster/Ben Tate. With the season opener embarrassment to the Broncos it appears Joe Flacco is righting the Ravens ship.
#9 Houston Texans 2-1
With the 49ers not looking like the team we thought them to be, the Texans could be the toughest team the Seahawks have had to face so far this season. With Houston only giving up 157 yards passing per game Russell Wilson and the Seahawks offense will have to go through Marshawn Lynch and Robert Turbin to score points. It’ll be a tough trip to Texas for the Seahawks to go 4-0 for the first time in franchise history.
#10 Miami Dolphins 3-0
The Miami Dolphins are 3-0. With someone not named Dan Marino as their starting quarterback. Ryan Tannehill has Mike Wallace now but yet he’s third on the team in yards receiving. Charles Clay is listed as a FB with one carry but even he has more yards than Wallace.