NFL Power Rankings, Week 4: Steelers Slide Into Top Spot After Perfect Start
Week 3 of the NFL season has come and gone and here’s how all 32 NFL teams are shaking out.
So which ones are for real?
Onto SB Nation’s NFL power rankings, where we’ve got a new top dog as well as a new basement dweller.
32. Carolina Panthers (0-3)
Last week’s rank: 29
Last game: Bengals (lost)
SB Nation: Cat Scratch Reader
What do the Panthers do well? This will be a rough year for Jimmy Clausen but ideally a good learning experience.
31. Buffalo Bills (0-3)
Last week’s rank: 31
Last game: Patriots (lost)
SB Nation: Buffalo Rumblings
The Bills stay at 31 after putting up 30 points on the Patriots. After the game, they released Trent Edwards, who was declared the starting quarterback just a few weeks ago.
30. Cleveland Browns (0-3)
Last week’s rank: 30
Last game: Ravens (lost)
SB Nation: Dawgs By Nature
Can't blame the Browns too much for battling the Ravens to a one-score game. They've still got major quarterback issues.
29. Oakland Raiders (1-2)
Last week’s rank: 28
Last game: Cardinals (lost)
SB Nation: Silver And Black Pride
Sebastian Janikowski. That was a tough miss and it drops the Raiders two games behind in the AFC West just three weeks in.
28. St. Louis Rams (1-2)
Last week’s rank: 32
Last game: Redskins (won)
SB Nation: Turf Show Times
A 14-point win for the Rams? Sam Bradford up for NFL rookie of the week? Big week in St. Louis but I can't imagine it lasts too long.
27. Detroit Lions (0-3)
Last week’s rank: 27
Last game: Vikings (lost)
SB Nation: Pride Of Detroit
Matthew Stafford should be coming back soon. You can't blame them too much for a 14-point loss with their backup quarterback.
26. Denver Broncos (1-2)
Last week’s rank: 25
Last game: Indianapolis (lost)
SB Nation: Mile High Report
Tough test against the Colts last week and I didn't think they had much of a chance. The good news is that Kyle Orton is off to a solid start at quarterback. There's hope in Denver.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-2)
Last week’s rank: 24
Last game: Eagles (lost)
SB Nation: Big Cat Country
The Jaguars don't seem to do anything really well and they were thoroughly dominated against Michael Vick and the Eagles.
24. San Francisco 49ers (0-3)
Last week’s rank: 23
Last game: Chiefs (lost)
SB Nation: Niners Nation
Wow that was a beating in Kansas City. The 49ers fired offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye after the game. This team is going nowhere in a hurry.
23. Washington Redskins (1-2)
Last week’s rank: 17
Last game: Rams (lost)
SB Nation: Hogs Haven
Two weeks later and it looks like the big Cowboys win to open the season was a mirage. You can't lose to the Rams if you're for real.
22. Arizona Cardinals (2-1)
Last week’s rank: 26
Last game: Raiders (won)
SB Nation: Revenge Of The Birds
They’ve got quarterback issues which means they’re more likely to stay on this side of the 20th spot but credit where credit is due starting with winning two of three.
21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1)
Last week’s rank: 21
Last game: Steelers (lost)
SB Nation: Bucs Nation
I’m not going to knock the Bucs down for losing to the Steelers, who are red hot right now. The next couple of weeks (at Cincinnati, New Orleans) will determine if they’re a contender.
20. New York Giants (1-2)
Last week’s rank: 19
Last game: Titans (lost)
SB Nation: Big Blue View
Trouble in New York and it doesn’t get any easier: The 3-0 Bears come to town next week. It’s very early but the Giants season is teetering.
19. Seattle Seahawks (2-1)
Last week’s rank: 22
Last game: Chargers (won)
SB Nation: Field Gulls
Three weeks into the Pete Carroll era and the Seahawks are 2-1. The start is impressive but the victories are against two teams a combined 1-5.
18. San Diego Chargers (1-2)
Last week’s rank: 12
Last game: Seahawks (lost)
SB Nation: Bolts From The Blue
The Chargers seem to always start slow and finish strong but losses to the Chiefs and Seahawks don’t look good at this point. The Chargers will more than likely rebound.
17. Miami Dolphins (2-1)
Last week’s rank: 9
Last game: Jets (lost)
SB Nation: The Phinsider
The 9th spot was probably a little high for the Dolphins last week but they're still a very good team in a tough division. They took the Jets to the wire last week.
16. Cincinnati Bengals (2-1)
Last week’s rank: 16
Last game: Panthers (won)
SB Nation: Cincy Jungle
We’ll place them at 16 for now but they’ll likely be rising in the next two weeks with games against the Bucs and Browns.
15. Tennessee Titans (2-1)
Last week’s rank: 18
Last game: Giants (won)
SB Nation: Music City Miracles
Good win for the Titans. Chris Johnson has had two big rushing days in both victories so it’s clear what the key is in Tennessee.
14. Kansas City Chiefs (3-0)
Last week’s rank: 20
Last game: 49ers (won)
SB Nation: Arrowhead Pride
Are you serious? I’m not sure how the Chiefs are doing it but they’re doing it. Sunday against the 49ers was a dominating performance. It gets tougher after the bye week: at Indy and at Houston.
13. Dallas Cowboys (1-2)
Last week’s rank: 11
Last game: Texans (won)
SB Nation: Blogging The Boys
We’ll call this correcting a mistake: The Cowboys won but at 1-2, 13 is a better spot for them than the 11 last week.
12. Minnesota Vikings (1-2)
Last week’s rank: 10
Last game: Dolphins (lost)
SB Nation: Daily Norseman
See above. The Vikings won but I bought into the hype and had to drop them a couple spots anyway. Get the offense up and running again and they’re a top 10 team.
11. Philadelphia Eagles (2-1)
Last week’s rank: 14
Last game: Jaguars (won)
SB Nation: Bleeding Green Nation
Quarterback controversy? Michael Vick is playing out of his mind. Vick needs to do it again a couple of times to make me a full believer. Upcoming games against the Redskins and 49ers should help.
10. Atlanta Falcons (2-1)
Last week’s rank: 13
Last game: Saints (won)
SB Nation: The Falcoholic
They took down the world champion Saints last week. Michael Turner is healthy and Tony Gonzalez is, well, Tony Gonzalez.
9. Houston Texans (2-1)
Last week’s rank: 3
Last game: Cowboys (lost)
SB Nation: Battle Red Blog
I wanted to see the Texans take it to the Cowboys and solidify that lofty No. 3 ranking last week but they faltered. This will be a tough team if they continue to score points like that.
8. Baltimore Ravens (2-1)
Last week’s rank: 8
Last game: Browns (won)
SB Nation: Baltimore Beatdown
You don’t get much credit for beating the Browns. The Ravens did what they were supposed to do so they stay here.
7. Green Bay Packers (2-1)
Last week’s rank: 2
Last game: Bears (lost)
SB Nation: Acme Packing Company
The Packers didn’t play their game on Monday night against the Bears. They’re still an elite team in the NFL and will be hanging around the top 10 all year.
6. New York Jets (2-1)
Last week’s rank: 6
Last game: Dolphins (won)
SB Nation: Gang Green Nation
Big win for the Jets on Sunday night against the Dolphins. That’s two division wins for this team and that’s huge in the competitive AFC East.
5. Chicago Bears (3-0)
Last week’s rank: 15
Last game: Packers (won)
SB Nation: Windy City Gridiron
Beating the Packers screams, “We’re for real!” How long can they stay undefeated? Here are there next five opponents: Giants, Panthers, Seahawks, Redskins and Bills.
4. New England Patriots (2-1)
Last week’s rank: 7
Last game: Bills (won)
SB Nation: Pats Pulpit
The Bills played the Pats a little tighter than they maybe thought. Giving up 30 points is a bit of a concern moving forward.
3. New Orleans Saints (2-1)
Last week’s rank: 1
Last game: Falcons (lost)
SB Nation: Canal Street Chronicles
They had to lose at some point so might as well make it early and avoid the undefeated talk. The Saints are still the among the top two offenses in the NFL.
2. Indianapolis Colts (2-1)
Last week’s rank: 4
Last game: Broncos (won)
SB Nation: Stampede Blue
Another year, another top five ranking for the Colts. They’re so consistent it has to just frustrate the heck out of the opponents.
1. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-0)
Last week’s rank: 5
Last game: Bucs (won)
SB Nation: Behind The Steel Curtain
Keep in mind that this 3-0 start is coming without Ben Roethlisberger. Their toughest test yet comes to town next week: Ravens. If they can take that game, then it’ll be 4-0 without Roethlisberger, which would be truly impressive.
