NFL Power Rankings - Week 4: Seahawks return to No. 1; Chargers, Cardinals move up
The NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's NFL Editors, including David P. Woods, Michael Amato, Caitlyn Holroyd and Gino Bottero.
1. Seattle Seahawks
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
1st | 1st | 1st | 2nd |
Previous Rank: 2nd
After falling to the Chargers in Week 2, the Seahawks earned a thrilling overtime victory at home against Peyton Manning and the Broncos. After their Week 4 bye, they enter a favorable three-week stretch with matchups against the Redskins, Cowboys and Rams. - Caitlyn Holroyd
2. Denver Broncos
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
2nd | 2nd | 2nd | 3rd |
Previous Rank: 1st
The Broncos re-vamped their defense in the offseason in an effort to compete with the Seahawks, and while they didn't get the result they wanted Sunday, they did compete, silencing the Seattle crowd as they forced overtime. If the game was played at a neutral location the final score may have been different. - Gino Bottero
3. Cincinnati Bengals
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
3rd | 3rd | 3rd | 1st |
Previous Rank: 3rd
In a week in which A.J. Green doesn't catch a touchdown pass, Andy Dalton catches one. Everything's going right for the Bengals right now. The defense has weathered all perceived concerns to allow all of 33 points through three games. Opponents need to start viewing trips to Cincinnati like they do trips to Seattle. It's just as tough to play there right now. - Gino Bottero
4. Philadelphia Eagles
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
4th | 4th | 4th | 5th |
Previous Rank: 5th
No team has ever conceded 17 points in the first half in each of their first three games without losing - until the 2014 Eagles. Philly is still vulnerable in some areas on defense and their offense will be tested by three NFC West opponents in the next month. That stretch should show what kind of team the Eagles really are. - Michael Amato
5. New England Patriots
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
7th | 5th | 7th | 6th |
Previous Rank: 4th
A win is a win, but there's no way to put a positive spin on the Patriots' narrow (and probably undeserved) victory over the Raiders. The only thing more worrisome than Tom Brady's play is that of his offensive line. - David P. Woods
6. San Diego Chargers
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
5th | 11th | 5th | 4th |
Previous Rank: 9th
They've been best when leaning on the ground game, and now there's some concern as to who can carry the load due to injuries. They'll be fine waiting for Ryan Mathews to return as their schedule is soft as a cloud over the next four weeks: vs. Jaguars, vs. Jets, at Raiders, vs. Chiefs. - Gino Bottero
7. Arizona Cardinals
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
6th | 7th | 6th | 7th |
Previous Rank: 11th
The Cardinals were without starting quarterback Carson Palmer again in Week 3, and managed to come away with a big win over the division rival 49ers. This team is starting to look like the real deal. - Caitlyn Holroyd
8. Green Bay Packers
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
8th | 6th | 9th | 12th |
Previous Rank: 6th
Aaron Rodgers has thrown for less than 200 yards in two of Green Bay's three contests and the running game is stagnant right now. A loss to the Bears on Sunday and the Pack will slide well behind the eight ball in the NFC North. - Michael Amato
9. New Orleans Saints
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
11th | 8th | 11th | 9th |
Previous Rank: 10th
The Saints' Week 3 victory over the Vikings wasn't pretty, but it did provide the team with some much-needed momentum to keep pace with the Falcons and Panthers. - Caitlyn Holroyd
10. Chicago Bears
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
10th | 13th | 10th | 11th |
Previous Rank: 12th
The Bears have managed two-straight wins with Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery banged up. They've been powered by corner Kyle Fuller, who is putting in an early bid for Defensive Rookie of the Year. He'll be tested by the Packers passing attack on Sunday. If the Bears win, they will be two games up on Green Bay in the NFC North. - Michael Amato
11. Indianapolis Colts
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
16th | 9th | 13th | 10th |
Previous Rank: 13th
The Colts beat up on the woeful Jaguars like they were supposed to. This week they get another punching bag - the Titans. Andrew Luck and company need to seize this chance to build momentum. - David P. Woods
12. Carolina Panthers
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
14th | 10th | 8th | 16th |
Previous Rank: 7th
The Panthers took quite the beating from the Steelers in Week 3. In fact, things got so bad that Ron Rivera had to pull Cam Newton for his own safety. They will need to bring their A-game to Baltimore this week, because Steve Smith is out for revenge. - Caitlyn Holroyd
13. San Francisco 49ers
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
17th | 12th | 16th | 8th |
Previous Rank: 8th
Costly penalties and second-half collapses are taking a toll on the 49ers. Over the past two games, San Francisco has committed a whopping 25 penalties for 225 yards. The 49ers will need to be much more disciplined this week if they hope to defeat the 3-0 Eagles. - Caitlyn Holroyd
14. Atlanta Falcons
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
9th | 14th | 18th | 14th |
Previous Rank: 16th
Are the Falcons as good as their 56-14 thrashing of the Buccaneers indicates? Probably not. But they definitely turned some heads. - Caitlyn Holroyd
15. Baltimore Ravens
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
13th | 15th | 14th | 15th |
Previous Rank: 14th
Things would be very different if John Harbaugh's questionable decision to kick a field goal down four with five minutes remaining hadn't worked out, but it did, and the Ravens are 2-1. Losing Dennis Pitta hurts because Owen Daniels can't gain the kind of separation Pitta can anymore, and Flacco needs that checkdown. - Gino Bottero
16. Pittsburgh Steelers
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
12th | 17th | 12th | 17th |
Previous Rank: 15th
Credit to Le'Veon Bell for working his butt off in the offseason and transforming himself into one of the league's best running backs. Big Ben's looked good when he's wanted to, and Antonio Brown can't be covered. The defense is looking like Swiss cheese right now and won't be getting any better after the litany of injuries suffered Sunday night. - Gino Bottero
17. Detroit Lions
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
15th | 16th | 15th | 13th |
Previous Rank: 17th
Impressive win over the Packers last week. The Lions offense gets all the headlines, but their defense is quietly the best in the league after three weeks, conceding just 733 total yards. With that kind of balance Detroit could be playoff bound. - Michael Amato
18. Dallas Cowboys
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
19th | 24th | 17th | 20th |
Previous Rank: 22nd
The defense isn't as bad as eveyone thought and when DeMarco Murray isn't coughing up the football, he's one of the league's best backs. Still, their wins have come against the Titans and Rams, so let's keep things in perspective. - Michael Amato
19. Buffalo Bills
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
18th | 19th | 19th | 25th |
Previous Rank: 18th
We saw more of EJ Manuel in Week 3 than we had seen all year - and it wasn't pretty. The Bills can't contend until the play of their quarterback drastically improves. A loss this week will make the Bills' 2-0 start will feel like a distant dream. - David P. Woods
20. Kansas City Chiefs
Previous Rank: 24th
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
25th | 18th | 20th | 22nd |
The drop from Jamaal Charles to Knile Davis isn't as great as people think, but there's just not a lot to like about this Chiefs team apart from the backfield. The defense suffered some big injuries in Week 1, which will catch up with them eventually. - Gino Bottero
21. New York Jets
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
22nd | 20th | 26th | 19th |
Previous Rank: 21st
Tap the brakes on the notion that Geno Smith is ready to take a big leap in his second year. The Jets' season is teetering at the edge of a cliff. If the public starts demanding Michael Vick, it could spell the end of Smith and Rex Ryan in the Big Apple. - David P. Woods
22. Cleveland Browns
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
21st | 23rd | 27th | 18th |
Previous Rank: 23rd
A sneaky good 1-2 team that's not far from being 3-0. Their two losses came by a combined five points. Brian Hoyer's been good enough at quarterback that we haven't heard the cries for Johnny Manziel quite yet. - Gino Bottero
23. Houston Texans
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
24th | 22nd | 22nd | 21st |
Previous Rank: 19th
Ah, there's the Ryan Fitzpatrick that fans in Buffalo and Tennessee came to know all too well. This team better hope Ryan Mallett is spending every waking moment learning the playbook. He'll be called upon sooner than you think. - David P. Woods
24. Miami Dolphins
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
26th | 21st | 21st | 24th |
Previous Rank: 20th
Talk of benching Ryan Tannehill in favor of Matt Moore tells you everything you need to know about the state of this team. The Dolphins are in full-blown panic mode and Joe Philbin knows his job is hanging by a thread. - David P. Woods
25. Washington Redskins
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
20th | 25th | 23rd | 26th |
Previous Rank: 26th
Kirk Cousins looks like more than a suitable replacement for Robert Griffin III, but the next three weeks will be trying. After a quick turnaround for a dreaded Thursday night contest against the Giants, Washington gets Seattle and Arizona in succession. If Cousins can continue his current level of play through that stretch, RG3 may not see the field again in 2014. - Michael Amato
26. New York Giants
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
23rd | 28th | 24th | 23rd |
Previous Rank: 30th
The Giants were powered to a win by Rashad Jennings, but he won't be able to carry the ball 34 times every week and survive the season. The G-Men still need to clean up their ball security, as twice they came away with nothing after driving inside the Texans 15 last Sunday. You won't win many games when that happens. - Michael Amato
27. Minnesota Vikings
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
27th | 26th | 28th | 28th |
Previous Rank: 25th
It's the Teddy Bridgewater show in Minnesota now, but I'm sure no one expected to have the rookie playing without the luxury of Adrian Peterson in the backfield. Expectations should be very low for Bridgewater and the Vikings in 2014. - Michael Amato
28. St. Louis Rams
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
28th | 27th | 25th | 30th |
Previous Rank: 27th
The Rams' defense was supposed to be one of their strong points this season, but the team has managed just one sack through three games and is allowing an average of 28.3 points. A week's worth of rest should do them good. - Caitlyn Holroyd
29. Tennessee Titans
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
29th | 29th | 29th | 27th |
Previous Rank: 28th
Congratulations to Jake Locker for making it to Week 3 before getting hurt. Is that a record? The injury could be a blessing in disguise for a team that's probably better off with Zach Mettenberger behind center. - David P. Woods
30. Jacksonville Jaguars
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
31st | 30th | 31st | 29th |
Previous Rank: 31st
This is Blake Bortles' team now. There's reason for optimism about the overachieving rookie, but there's also reason to fear for his life behind that disaster of an offensive line. - David P. Woods
31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
32nd | 32nd | 30th | 31st |
Previous Rank: 29th
This was not the way the Lovie Smith era was supposed to begin in Tampa Bay. The Bucs have a lot of ground to make up following their embarrassing blowout loss to the Falcons. - Caitlyn Holroyd
32. Oakland Raiders
Woods | Holroyd | Amato | Bottero |
---|---|---|---|
30th | 31st | 32nd | 32nd |
Previous Rank: 32nd
The Raiders didn't play terribly against the Patriots, but that game told us more about New England than it did Oakland. The team still has major issues on both sides of the ball, and Derek Carr is playing like a rookie. - Gino Bottero