The Big Lead

NFL Power Rankings, Week 4

By Jason Lisk

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(1) record; (2) scoring margins; (3) opponent’s scoring margin; (4) passing efficiency on offense and defense, and opponent’s passing efficiency for and against numbers; (5) recent performance of the team/key players in last few seasons; (6) key injuries or personnel changes.

Three weeks in, and it’s highly likely that at least one of the teams that will ultimately play in the Super Bowl already has a loss. Only three undefeated teams remain, none of which were in the playoffs last year.

Pittsburgh is #1 with a bullet in the first rankings – that’s what you get when you go 3-0 against teams that have not lost to anyone else yet, and you don’t even have your quarterback. Impressive. After that, it’s a jumble where very little separates teams so far. Chicago has the impressive wins over Green Bay at home and Dallas on the road, while Kansas City finally played a complete game in week 3, but has faced a schedule easier than most 2-1 teams. Green Bay gets the top spot among 2-1 teams, as I’m not going to penalize them to greatly for a road loss against another good team in a game decided at the end. Indianapolis is next; constantly winning 12 games will get you the benefit of the doubt there.  You could make a case for any of the 2-1 teams in my top 10, based on recent pedigree and 2010 performance. At the other end, Carolina is my early favorite for the worst team, as this team has been struggled offensively, and been blown out by the opposite of a murderer’s row in the Giants and Bucs. Jacksonville ranks below several 0-3 teams who have actually looked better in losses than the Jags. Jacksonville has been dreadful against the pass, and I have a feeling that win over Denver at home in week 1 is going to look more like a fluke as the year goes on.

  1. Pittsburgh (3-0)
  2. Green Bay (2-1)
  3. Indianapolis (2-1)
  4. Chicago (3-0)
  5. New York Jets (2-1)
  6. Atlanta (2-1)
  7. Tennessee (2-1)
  8. New England (2-1)
  9. Philadelphia (2-1)
  10. New Orleans (2-1)
  11. Kansas City (3-0)
  12. Baltimore (2-1)
  13. Houston (2-1)
  14. San Diego (1-2)
  15. Dallas (1-2)
  16. Cincinnati (2-1)
  17. Miami (2-1)
  18. Minnesota (1-2)
  19. Denver (1-2)
  20. Seattle (2-1)
  21. Washington (1-2)
  22. Tampa Bay (2-1)
  23. New York Giants (1-2)
  24. Arizona (2-1)
  25. Cleveland (0-3)
  26. Saint Louis (1-2)
  27. Detroit (0-3)
  28. Oakland (1-2)
  29. Buffalo (0-3)
  30. San Francisco (0-3)
  31. Jacksonville (1-2)
  32. Carolina (0-3)

[image via Getty]