BigAT's Week 4 Power Rankings*
*These are power rankings. These are
NOT standings. Ranks are based off of a variety of performance factors from this year, as well as some influence from how owners performed last year as well. I calls 'em likes I sees 'em.
1. Kansas City Chiefs (4-0) - One of only two 4 win teams so far, the Chiefs have started the season out extremely strong with impressive wins over both the Chargers and Raiders.
2. Oakland Raiders (3-1) - The defending Super Bowl champs suffered a hiccup in week 4, losing by a single point to the division rival Chiefs. Still, they have played fairly strong to open the season and have the league's second best point differential.
3. Carolina Panthers (3-0) - Not much challenge on their schedule so far, but the Panthers have looked impressive against who they have played.
4. Tennessee Titans (3-1) - The schedule makers completely flipped on their methods from last year, giving the Titans three divisional games in their first four, including two against the Colts (a series they split).
5. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1) - A couple of tough games to open up the season, but the Steelers have continued to be a solid team so far.
6. New York Jets (2-1) - Quite a rough schedule so far, but the Jets have managed to get through their opening games relatively intact.
7. Houston Texans (3-1) - The Texans have faced good competition in each of their games so far, but can they continue to win when their victories have been so close? The team actually has a negative point differential through four games.
8. San Francisco 49ers (2-1) - The defending NFC champs fell in a rematch of the NFC Championship game against the Giants, but have been solid aside from that.
9. Baltimore Ravens (3-1) - The Ravens have the highest point differential in the league right now, but their 3 wins come against teams that are a combined 1-10. Negative points for throwing up while already up 40 points on the Dolphins.
10. Washington Redskins (4-0) - The Redskins are undefeated so far, but have yet to face a playoff team from last year. Their explosive offense (#2 scoring in the league) has been saving their atrocious defense (5th worst in scoring defense).
11. New York Giants (3-1) - The Giants have started off the season quite poorly. Talks of another 16-0 season were immediately silenced with a week 1 loss to the Bills. New York has a solid victory over the 49ers, but none of their three wins so far have been a sure thing.
12. Indianapolis Colts (3-1) - The Colts sure like to keep it close. Their 3 wins have each been by an average of only 3 points.
13. San Diego Chargers (2-2) - Granted, San Diego has had a rough schedule so far. Even so, they have only won the games they were likely favored in and have already let two close divisional games slip away.
14. Seattle Seahawks (3-0) - The true strength of this Seattle team is still a mystery. While they are undefeated to open the extremely short season, their 3 wins have come against teams that are a combined 0-10.
15. Philadelphia Eagles (3-1) - See also: Washington Redskins. The Eagles have been amazingly offensively, leading the league with 47 points per game. They've needed it though as their defense allows 38.5 points per game, 4th worst in the league.
16. Tampa Bay Bucs (2-2) - The Bucs appear to be a solid team so far. They've battled hard in their losses (both of which came to good teams) and have the leagues 4th best scoring defense.
17. Denver Broncos (2-2) - Was someone controlling this team earlier? I can't keep track of all the comings and goings at this point. Regardless, the Broncos have faced a really tough schedule so far and have looked fairly good against the competition.
18. Minnesota Vikings (2-2) - The Vikings win big and they lose big. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, you never know what you'll get facing this team.
19. Buffalo Bills (2-2) - The Bills started the season with a shocking upset win over the Giants, unfortunately they haven't been able to fully capitalize on it in the games that followed. Still, given their tough schedule through 4, I think Buffalo would have gladly signed up for 2-2.
20. New Orleans Saints (1-3) - The Saints have had a rough schedule to start the season. Their record is not indicative of how competitive their games have been with some of the league's better teams.
21. Green Bay Packers (2-2) - Going 1-2 in three early division games was likely a disappointing outcome for the Packers. The NFC North is still anyone's division and Green Bay looks to be turning it around with a week 4 victory over the Falcons.
22. Atlanta Falcons (2-2) - The Falcons started off the season strong with solid victories over the Saints and Lions, but have dropped their last two games.
23. Dallas Cowboys (1-3) - Dallas could not have been pleased when they looked at their first four games of the season. Their three losses have come to teams that are a combined 9-2. It may not be reflected in their record (yet) but this is an improved team from last year.
24. Miami Dolphins (1-3) - Their losses may have all come to some of the league's better competition, but the Dolphins have still been beat pretty solidly in those games. It doesn't get any easier for them as the Giants come to town in week 5.
25. Detroit Lions (1-3) - Things will start to come together in earnest for the Lions when their coach returns shortly.
26. Arizona Cardinals (0-3) - Only three games so far and against pretty solid competition, the Cardinals still can't be pleased to already be three games back in the NFC West.
27. St. Louis Rams (0-3) - The Rams seem like they have put together a pretty good offense in St. Louis, but they won't be winning any games if their defense continues to allow 58 points per game.
28. Chicago Bears (0-4) - The Bears have had a couple of close games and some of their losses have come to very good teams. Chicago should be encouraged that they are hardly out of the chase for the NFC North.
29. New England Patriots (0-3) - The Pats have had some close games against good competition, but New England needs to learn how to finish games in order to translate those good performances into W's.
TIE 30. Cincinnati Bengals (0-4) and Cleveland Browns (0-3) - Both teams have faced surprisingly tough schedules so far, but have gone winless in those games. This tie will be broken when the two winless teams meet in week 5.
32. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-4) - Go easy on the CPU will ya?