NFL Week 4 Power Rankings

Well, many teams are 25% through their season and for some, it's a good time to see where you've been and where your team is going. For some, that's nowhere. Case in point, the St. Louis Rams who were nice enough to let Scott Linehan go instead of game-planning for a team with no hope. But for others, that means continuing their super starts like Tennessee and Buffalo.

The season is still young though so plenty of time to see teams rise from the bottom or fall from the top. It only takes something like an injury to turn the tables on a team. But before we head into a wild week 5 of games, time to dish out my Power Rankings.

AFC
1. Tennessee (4-0) - Call me a believer. I gave this team no chance once Vince Young went down. I mean, really, Kerry Collins is leading this team? I guess so. I'm giving the most props though to that defense. Given up just 46 pts and they've played JAX and MIN. (Next @ BAL)

2. Denver (3-1) - That loss to KC was ugly but no doubt this is still a team you don't want to mess with. They exposed a bit of its run defense against KC but Arrowhead has been a bugaboo for Mike Shanahan for years. Game vs. TB will be a good test of how good they are. (Next vs. TB)

3. Buffalo (4-0) - No doubt they are playing great ball, as seen by their record. Slow start against STL was scary but they showed their true colors in the 2nd half. Only caution on this team: The combined record of the 4 teams they have beat is just 4-11. (Next @ AZ)

4. Pittsburgh (3-1) - Typical Steelers team this season. Gritty offense built around the run. Doesn't score at will but moves the ball continually. Defense is rugged and keeps teams honest on both sides of the ball. Getting Willie Parker back healthy too will make this team tough to beat. (Next @ JAX)

5. San Diego (2-2) - 25 points in the 4th quarter against a team like the Raiders may not seem impressive but it is against any team. LT and Sproles is gonna be a tough combo to stop. If the defense would actually do its job, then this team is gonna shoot up these Power Rankings. (Next @ MIA)

6. Jacksonville (2-2) - HOU played them tough but they have since their inception. David Garrard proved he is a dual threat (finally) and got threw for 236 yards. 57 yards between Taylor/Jones-Drew is a concern. Josh Scobee in crunch time though is not. (Next vs. PIT)

7. Indianapolis (1-2) - Coming off of a bye week so Peyton and the offense should be more than ready against HOU. Gets tougher after that though. Trips to GB, TEN and PIT are just three of the next 5 games for the Colts. Defense better be ready to stop the run. (Next @ HOU)

8. Baltimore (2-1) - Give Joe Flacco credit. The Delaware Blue Hen knows how to manage an offense. And with the Ravens D, he'll always be in the game. Put up a good effort against a depleted Steelers team but next week vs. TEN will be a step up. (Next vs. TEN)

9. New England (2-1) - This is the team to watch out for going into Week 5. Bill Belichick getting two weeks to prepare Matt Cassel for the rest of the season under center. Two games on the road out of the gate won't help. Defense also looking for redemption after Week 3's 38-13 loss to MIA. (Next @ SF)

10. NY Jets (2-2) - I never thought that this year, I would see Brett Favre do something he has never done before (besides miss a game). The 6 TD performance was impressive. But this defense needs work. And the running game is still a work in progress. (Next: BYE WEEK)

11. Miami (1-2) - Good news for the Dolphins. They are coming off a bye week and a convincing win over the Patriots in Week 3. Bad news is that they have to take on LT and the Chargers. For a defense that gave up 31 points to Arizona, that's not good. (Next vs. SD)

12. Cleveland (1-3) - The bottom of the AFC is really bad. That's the only reason Cleveland is this high. And just how much does ESPN not care about the Browns this season. Check this out. Bottom right...and you'll see Charlie Frye is leading the team in passing. Ouch. (Next: BYE WEEK)

13. Oakland (1-3) - Something tells me that this really isn't that bad a team but Lane Kiffin's job situation and the lack of experience on the roster is the reaosn behind the losses. They have a good core of talent though and Jamarcus Russell is turning into a solid QB. (Next: BYE WEEK)

14. Houston (0-3) - Matt Schaub did his best to get this team a win over JAX but it takes more than a QB. This defense needs to control the scoring. 99 points in 3 games? Gonna be tough to win ballgames when you are forcing your offense to score 5 TD every game. (Next vs. IND)

15. Kansas City (1-3) - Props to Herm Edwards and crew for beating the Broncos. They had no business winning the game but maybe this win turns their season around, though I highly doubt it. Too bad Tony Gonzalez couldn't break the TE receiving yards record at home too. (Next @ CAR)

16. Cincinnati (0-4) - The Carson Palmer injury gave them no chance to beat the Browns. Palmer says he should be ready for the Cowboys. He better be since he is gonna hafta throw about 5 TD passes to keep up with the offense on the other sideline. (Next @ DAL)

NFC
1. NY Giants (3-0) - Defending champs take the top spot after Dallas loses. It wasn't the quietest bye week though for the G-Men. Plaxico Burress suspended two weeks and will miss the SEA game this Sunday. I don't think the G-Men will miss him too much in the forthcoming blowout. (Next vs. SEA)

2. Dallas (3-1) - There once was a show on TV called "Dallas". Well, there's a second one going on now. T.O. crying about not getting the ball and it's only Week 4. Wade Phillips better get it under control because another first round playoff loss won't fly with Jerry Jones this season. (Next vs. CIN)

3. Tampa Bay (3-1) - Yet another team that I am sold on finally. Brian Griese is nowhere near spectacular, throwing 3 INT. But when your defense gets 3 INT and a TD of their own, it's a case of forgive and forget. Now time to see if that same defense can slow down Denver. (Next @ Denver)

4. Washington (3-1) - Give Jim Zorn credit. His team stepped up to the challenge of playing the Cowboys in Big D and won a tight one. Jason Campbell keeps playing smart football and the Redskins defense continues to find a way to keep games close. (Next @ PHI)

5. Carolina (3-1) - I thought the strength of this offense was its running attack but Jake Delhomme and this passing offense may be the strength in the end. Steve Smith and Mushin Muhammed are great targets and can stretch a field, allowing the running attack to flourish. (Next vs. KC)

6. Philadelphia (2-2) - So what happened against the Bears? They couldn't hold onto the ball. They couldn't slow down Kyle Orton and the offense. All in all, they took a big step backwards. Better correct it quick cause WAS is coming into town and the NFC East is a tight race. (Next vs. WAS)

7. New Orleans (2-2) - I said last week that the Saints may be better without Deuce McAllister. Well, I was wrong. When the Deuce is loose, he's also deadly. With his strong runs and Drew Brees' arm, this Saints offense is turning into the best show on turf: 2008 style. (Next Mon. vs. MIN)

8. Green Bay (2-2) - Initial reports about Aaron Rodgers is that it is just a sprain of his shoulder. Any more than that and it would really be panic mode in Packer town. 20 rush yds from Ryan Grant is just sad. Should get much more this week when he faces the Falcons D. (Next vs. ATL)

9. Chicago (2-2) - This team may be better than where I have them. Their two losses were by 6 points and their two wins are against the Colts and Eagles. The defense could tighten up a little bit more because they can't expect Kyle Orton to carry this team all season. (Next @ DET)

10. Arizona (2-2) - Well, there's no doubt what needs to happen with this team. Fix the defense and fast. They faced Brett Favre and his merry men and gave up 56 points. That's ridiculous. Couple home games in the desert heat may help the defense...or not. (Next vs. BUF)

11. San Francisco (2-2) - In the first four games, they are right where they should be at 2-2. But the next 3 games may be a tough time for the Niners. NE, PHI and a road game vs. the Giants. If they win just one of those games, they should be happy. (Next vs. NE)

12. Minnesota (1-3) - Talk about disappointment. The offense is stagnant and with a possible injury to Gus Frerotte, it could really be bad news. Good news for the team is that they still have 2 games against the Lions to come. But that won't help them vs. NO this Sunday. (Next @ NO)

13. Atlanta (2-2) - Falcons players, coaches and fans have to be happy with their record thru 4 games. But again, the 2 wins are versus DET and KC so their record may be a bit overblown. Next two weeks are not easy. At GB and at home vs. CHI. Uh oh. (Next @ GB)

14. Seattle (1-2) - They went into the bye week with a big win over the Rams. But every team is gonna beat the Rams. Hopefully, MAtt HAsselbeck found himself and can ignite an offense that showed no life in Weeks 1-3. No easy test though coming out of the week off. (Next @ NYG)

15. St. Louis (0-4) - I'd put them at the bottom but two things kept me from doing it. The first is that they were leading Buffalo for a half so they showed promise. The second is that Jim Haslett took over as coach and I am a huge Haslett fan. He'll whip them into decent shape. (Next: BYE WEEK)

16. Detroit (0-3) - Matt Millen is gone. Unfortunately, that does not make them any better on the field. Millen's dirty hands are all over this team and that means this is gonna be a long, long season. Week 7 @ Houston may be their best shot at a win this year. (Next vs. CHI)