NFL POWER RANKINGS: Where all 32 teams stand going into Week 4
1. New England Patriots
2. Green Bay Packers
Record: 3-0
Week 4 opponent: at San Francisco 49ers
Week 3 MVP: Aaron Rodgers is from another planet: 333 passing yards, five touchdowns, no interceptions, and a 138 passer rating.
One thing to know: Rodgers and the Packers have become masters at burning defenses once they get them to jump offsides, as SB Nation's Rodger Sherman noted.
3. Arizona Cardinals
Record: 3-0
Week 4 opponent: vs. St. Louis Rams
Week 3 MVP: Larry Fitzgerald, who with 134 receiving yards and two touchdowns, has found the Fountain of Youth with Carson Palmer back.
One thing to know: The Cardinals haven't faced world-beaters so far (Saints, Bears, 49ers), but they're the only team with more total points this year than the Patriots.
4. Denver Broncos
Record: 3-0
Week 4 opponent: vs. Minnesota Vikings
Week 3 MVP: DeMarcus Ware. The big outside linebacker was dominant against Detroit, logging 1.5 sacks, 2 tackles for a loss, and 3 hits on Matt Stafford.
One thing to know: Despite all the talk about Peyton Manning’s deterioration, the Broncos keep figuring out ways to win. This is, in large part, thanks to their defense, which is making a claim for the best in the NFL.
5. Cincinnati Bengals
Record: 3-0
Week 4 opponent: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Week 3 MVP: A.J. Green, who scored the game-winner, to finish off a 227-yard, two-touchdown day.
One thing to know: Andy Dalton has just one sack and one interception through three weeks, and has a ridiculous 140 passer rating when being blitzed this year.
6. Seattle Seahawks
Record: 1-2
Week 4 opponent: vs. Detroit Lions
Week 3 MVP: Tyler Lockett. The rookie speedster had a 105-yard kickoff return touchdown at the start of the 2nd half and now has 2 return TDs in his first 3 games in the NFL.
One thing to know: Seattle finally looked like its old self on Sunday. Kam Chancellor made his return and the defense conceded 0 points. Marshawn Lynch left with a hamstring injury, which is worrisome.
7. Atlanta Falcons
Record: 3-0
Week 4 opponent: vs. Houston Texans
Week 3 MVP: Devonta Freeman, who looks like he'll become the Falcons' primary rusher after a 141-yard, three-touchdown performance against the previously No. 1 run defense.
One thing to know: As impressive as 3-0 is, the Falcons victories have been a come-from-behind against the Eagles, a come-from-behind against the Giants, and a win over a battered Cowboys team. We're still waiting for a defining victory to show the Falcons are true contenders.
8. Buffalo Bills
Record: 2-1
Week 4 opponent: vs. New York Giants
Week 3 MVP: In the first road start of his career, Tyrod Taylor went 21-29, with 277 yards, and three touchdowns. Rex Ryan called him "legit."
One thing to know: Richie Incognito, who as SI's Peter King notes, is back, and has allowed no sacks and just one quarterback hit in 196 snaps.
9. Indianapolis Colts
Record: 1-2
Week 4 opponent: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 3 MVP: Andrew Luck. The quarterback threw two touchdown passes just 56 seconds apart in the 4th quarter to lead the Colts to their first W of the year.
One thing to know: With their 35-33 victory over the Titans in Week 3, the Colts pushed their division win streak to 13 games. That’s the 3rd-longest divisional win-streak in NFL history.
10. Pittsburgh Steelers
Record: 2-1
Week 4 opponent: vs. Baltimore Ravens
Week 3 MVP: Le'Veon Bell returned from a two-game suspension for 60 yards rushing, 70 yards receiving, and one touchdown.
One thing to know: Ben Roethlisberger sprained his MCL and will miss 4-6 weeks. Here comes Michael Vick...
11. Carolina Panthers
Record: 3-0
Week 4 opponent: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 3 MVP: Cam Newton. Who else? The quarterback threw for 315 yards (2 TDs and 0 INTs) and rushed for another score on Sunday. Even if the refs aren’t giving him calls, he’s still getting it done.
One thing to know: The Carolina defense looks fine without Luke Kuechly, but the Panthers are nevertheless hoping to have him cleared before the weekend.
12. Dallas Cowboys
Record: 2-1
Week 4 opponent: at New Orleans Saints
Week 3 MVP: Joseph Randle. The Dallas running back had 85 yards after just his first three carries of the game and ultimately found the end zone three times in the first half.
One thing to know: Brandon Weeden has now lost 9 consecutive games as a starter, dating back to his days in Cleveland. The Cowboys scored 0 points in the second half on Sunday.
13. Kansas City Chiefs
Record: 1-2
Week 4 opponent: at Cincinnati Bengals
Week 3 MVP: Jeremy Maclin had his best game as a Chief, bringing in 141 receiving yards and one touchdown.
One thing to know: In getting Maclin involved, it was the first time since the 2013 season that a Chiefs wide receiver scored a touchdown.
14. Minnesota Vikings
Record: 2-1
Week 4 opponent: at Denver Broncos
Week 3 MVP: Adrian Peterson, who after 126 more rushing yards (and two touchdowns), declared himself back.
One thing to know: Week 4 against the Broncos should be very revealing about who this Vikings team is.
15. Philadelphia Eagles
Record: 1-2
Week 4 opponent: at Washington Redskins
Week 3 MVP: Jordan Matthews, starting in the injured DeMarco Murray's place, gave the offense a lift with a combined 157 yards rushing and receiving.
One thing to know: Sam Bradford's inability to throw the deep ball is a concern. According to ESPN, he has no completions for over 20 yards this season.
16. New York Jets
Record: 2-1
Week 4 opponent: vs. Miami Dolphins in London
Week 3 MVP: Demario Davis: the linebacker led the game with 13 tackles, including two for a loss.
One thing to know: The Jets sorely missed Chris Ivory and Eric Decker against the Eagles. Their offense looked flat all day.
17. San Diego Chargers
Record: 1-2
Week 4 opponent: vs. Cleveland Browns
Week 3 MVP: Keenan Allen kept the offense afloat, hauling in 12 catches for 133 yards and two touchdowns.
One thing to know: The Chargers are currently battered by injuries — they had just five available linemen in Week 3's loss to the Vikings.
18. New York Giants
Record: 1-2
Week 4 opponent: at Buffalo Bills
Week 3 MVP: Rueben Randle. The wide receiver was a total non-factor in the Giants' first two losses, but bounced back for 116 yards and a TD against Washington.
One thing to know: Victor Cruz suited up for practice on Monday for the first time since August 17. He promises to be ready for Big Blue’s big tilt against the Bills.
19. Baltimore Ravens
Record: 0-3
Week 4 opponent: at Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 3 MVP: Steve Smith Sr., who with 186 yards and two touchdowns, continues to defy age.
One thing to know: The Ravens are 0-3 for the first time in franchise history, and the defense has given up 65 points in the last two weeks.
20. Oakland Raiders
Record: 2-1
Week 4 opponent: at Chicago Bears
Week 3 MVP: Derek Carr: The second-year QB averaged 9.8 yards per pass attempt against the Browns, and racked up 314 yds, two TDs, and no interceptions.
One thing to know: The Raiders snapped an 11-game road losing streak with their win in Cleveland. Derek Carr and Amari Cooper are growing up quickly and could pick apart Chicago’s defense next week at Soldier Field.
21. Detroit Lions
Record: 0-3
Week 4 opponent: at Seattle Seahawks
Week 3 MVP: Stephen Tulloch, who came up with 11 tackles vs. the Broncos, and leads the Lions in tackles for the season.
One thing to know: Matthew Stafford is playing through injuries, and after two interceptions and four sacks against the Broncos, is off to the worst start of his career, according to ProFootball Focus's grading terms.
22. Miami Dolphins
Record: 1-2
Week 4 opponent: vs. New York Jets in London
Week 3 MVP: Rishard Matthews found the back of the end zone twice for Miami, and picked up 113 yards on 10 targets. His performance was a rare bright spot in an ugly loss.
One thing to know: Their 41-14 loss to the Bills was the worst home opener loss in franchise history. Ryan Tannehill set a franchise record with 160 consecutive passes without an interception, and almost as soon as this was mentioned by the TV commentator, Tannehill ripped off 3 interceptions before the first half had ended.
23. Washington Redskins
Record: 1-2
Week 4 opponent: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Week 3 MVP: Tight end Jordan Reed is Kirk Cousins' favorite target, pulling in 90 yards on six catches. He had opportunities to score if not for Cousins' inaccuracy.
One thing to know: How long will the Redskins roll with Cousins? Jay Gruden insists he's the starter, but Cousins is throwing a ton of interceptions and generally doesn't look like the answer at QB.
24. St. Louis Rams
Record: 1-2
Week 4 opponent: at Arizona Cardinals
Week 3 MVP: The defense: giving up just 12 points to the high-powered Steelers offense is no easy feat. They forced a Michael Vick fumble late in the 4th quarter that might have been a game-changer if Le’Veon Bell hadn’t recovered it.
One thing to know: Their field literally caught on fire before the game started, which seems like a metaphor for the Rams over the past few years.
25. Cleveland Browns
Record: 1-2
Week 4 opponent: at San Diego Chargers
Week 3 MVP: Tight end Gary Barnidge was the most effective pass-catcher on the day, with 105 receiving yards on six catches and one touchdown.
One thing to know: Josh McCown is the starter again, and had an OK game in a loss. How many games does he get before people are calling for Johnny Manziel again?
26. Tennessee Titans
Record: 1-2
Week 4 opponent: Bye
Week 3 MVP: Marcus Mariota. He threw for 367 yards, two TDs, and continues to look better than Jameis Winston through three weeks (though they have the same record).
One thing to know: Marcus Mariota was solid, but still threw his first two career interceptions on Sunday, including a pick-6. However, the Titans had a chance to tie the game with under a minute to go in the 4th quarter, but their 2-point conversion was stuffed at the goal line.
27. Houston Texans
Record: 1-2
Week 4 opponent: at Atlanta Falcons
Week 3 MVP: Alfred Blue saw his carries skyrocket from five in Week 2 to 31 in Week 3, and came up with 139 yards and a touchdown.
One thing to know: After ranking 24th in rush defense, the Texans defensive line had a day, holding the Bucs to just 20 rushing yards.
28. San Francisco 49ers
Record: 1-2
Week 4 opponent: vs. Green Bay Packers
Week 3 MVP: It’s hard to find an MVP following a 47-7 loss, but NaVorro Bowman led his team in tackles with 9, so we’ll give it to him.
One thing to know: Colin Kaepernick threw two pick-6s in his first four throws against Arizona, and four total interceptions on the day. Not great!
29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Record: 1-2
Week 4 opponent: vs. Carolina Panthers
Week 3 MVP: Linebacker Lavonte David finished seventh in PFF's outside linebacker grades, finishing with 14 tackles and seven stops in Week 3.
One thing to know: Jameis Winston does indeed look like a rookie. Through three games, his completion percentages have been 48.5%, 66.7%, and 47.2%.
30. Jacksonville Jaguars
Record: 1-2
Week 4 opponent: at Indianapolis Colts
Week 3 MVP: Wide receiver Allen Hurns only had two catches, but racked up 70 yards and a TD against the Patriots.
One thing to know: The 51 points surrendered to the Patriots on Sunday was the most in Jaguars history.
31. New Orleans Saints
Record: 0-3
Week 4 opponent: vs. Dallas Cowboys
Week 3 MVP: Filling in for Drew Brees is no easy task, but Luke McCown made his first start and went 31-38 for 310 passing yards (but no TDs).
One thing to know: Usually one of the best homefield advantages in the NFL, the Saints have lost six games in a row at home.
32. Chicago Bears
Record: 0-3
Week 4 opponent: vs. Oakland Raiders
Week 3 MVP: Pernell McPhee continues to be the lone bright spot on this terrible Bears team.
One thing to know: Every single one of the Bears' possessions against the Seahawks resulted in a punt. Every. Single. One.
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