NFL Power Rankings - Week 4

Since I diligently update my rankings on Tuesday every week, and there have not been any posts in a while, I will bore you all again with my football devotion. As usual, feel free to post your own and discuss the last or the upcoming week of NFL or college football. I am missing Penn State now, especially since their games on never on TV and we only really got to see one great season while we were there...Anyway, onto the rankings.

1. New York Giants - Finally the Cowboys have been dethroned, and who would have thought it was at the hands of Jason Campbell!

2. Dallas Cowboys - Still the best team in my humble opinion, but they need to prove they can win a close game before they can regain the top spot.

3. Tennessee Titans - Definitely the biggest surprise of the season (started at #21 on my preseason poll), but they are showing a 2000 Baltimore Ravens-type season is still possible in the NFL - a veteran QB with a fast and talented defense spells success, especially in what is looking like an AFC that is still completely wide open.

4. San Diego Chargers - An 0-3 start last season led to a #2 seed in the playoffs (I think, do not fact check that), so an 0-2 start really should not have caused too much alarm. These guys are good and with Norv Turner leading the way we will be looking at another great season/ playoff collapse by the boys in powder blue.

5. Buffalo Bills - The enigma of the NFL right now, the Bills are only this high because they are 4-0. They'll meet San Diego in week 7 in game that may decide top billing in the AFC. For now they face a terrible Arizona defense in Week 5 and probably put up 84 points.

6. Pittsburgh Steelers - The fact that the Steelers are 3-1 and #6 in this poll truly shows how open (crappy?) the AFC is. Parity (not parody) in the NFL is alive and well!

7. Green Bay Packers - Anyone else sensing an Aaron Rodgers collapse? With Favre throwing 6 td's and Green Bay watching Rogers self-destruct against the Bucs, things could get rough in the Cheesy City.

8. Denver Broncos - There are 3 components to football and the Broncos forgot one of them to start the season. Guess which one (hint: LJ had 193 yards)

9. Jacksonville Jaguars - These guys haven't really proven much this year yet they're 2-2. If only the Texans had pulled the upset...

10. Washington Redskins - Toughest division in football history? Perhaps, but the 'Skins can definitely hold their own. I for one can't wait for the showdown with the Steelers. That may be a true test of which league is better. If only they were in the NFC West...

11. Indianapolis Colts - No real movement here for the Colts since they were on a bye. I still like their playoff chances just because of Peyton, but we will see. The over/under on new Manning commercials through the Super Bowl is 11.

12. Tampa Bay Bucs - Another surprise team in my opinion, the Bucs' defense looked young (although they are far from it). My guess is they will come close to the playoffs, but with Brian Griese at the helm I don't like their chances.

13. Carolina Panthers - These guys have the potential to be a top-tier NFC team, but something inside is holding me back from ranking them higher. Could it be health issues, or could it be female intuition? I suppose we'll never know...

14. New England Patriots - The bye week, and a number of surpise AFC teams, only hurt the Pats' ranking this week. Also, it was another week gone by to reflect upon the ineptitude of Matt Cassel. There might have been a reason he backed up Matt Lienart...

15. Philadelphia Eagles - The biggest drop this week by a long way. Is any team in the NFL more dependent on one player? McNabb and Westbrook are ticking injury timebombs, and so is this team's chances in the NFC East.

16. New Orleans Saints - With Reggie Bush anything is possible. With the New Orleans defense, nothing is possible. The Saints will be marching right out of the playoff picture come December, you can count on it.

17. Chicago Bears - How can you not like the scrappy Bears? Well, I can think of lots of reasons, but for now the Kyle Orton love train keeps on rolling. We'll see how long it will take to derail it...BRING BACK SEXY REXY! (Is that really his nickname or did I make that up? hmm)

18. New York Jets - 6 td's!? Brett Favre is back! Green Bay screwed up! Down with Rogers! (Oh wait, they still are only 2-2 and it was only the Cardinals that they thrashed. Did anyone see the highlights from that game? I'm 98% positive someone paid the Cardinals' secondary to not go more than 20 yards back from the line of scrimmage, and 1% positive Brett Favre developed mind control over the offseason.)

19. Baltimore Ravens - I'd say this team resembles the 2000 Ravens that won the superbowl with amazing defense, until I remembered that this IS the 2000 Ravens defense that won the superbowl with amazing defense. On a sidenote, did anyone catch when the announcers said how much of a role model Ray Lewis is to young players? Sheesh, maybe if they need advice on how to escape murder charges. Marvin Harrison must have a new best friend...

20. Arizona Cardinals - Speaking of the Cardinals, they still are the best team in the NFC West. I don't really have much more to say about them, but I will say that Kurt Warner is a great QB. He is somehow holding that team together, for now.

21. Minnesota Vikings - Gus Frerotte is clearly not the answer.

22. Seattle Seahawks - See opposite of New England posting. The bye week only helped these guys because you remember that Mike Holmgren is a good enough coach to lead this hapless group of scout teamers to the playoffs. Stranger things have happened...such as:

23. San Francisco 49ers - JT O'Sullivan leading these bottom dwellers to the playoffs. It could happen people...

24. Atlanta Falcons - Matt Ryan could be a great QB in the future, and Michael Turner could be a great RB in the nearer future, but there is just too much competition in the surprisingly potent NFC South for these guys to get there this year.

25. Miami Dolphins - The good news is, the Dolphins found a QB with a better arm than Chad Pennington. Too bad he's also the starting running back.

26. Cleveland Brownies - Three cheers for the Brownies! The Brady Quinn Era is nearly upon us and I for one can't wait to see him crash and burn.

27. Kansas City Chiefs - Like all the sports reporters, I will chalk this victory only up to poor Denver defense and a crazy home atmosphere. Nothing will change the fact that LJ is going to complain and Damon Huard is going to blow games.

28. Oakland Raiders - I wikipedia'd (spelling? word? reliable source?) Al Davis and found out he is in fact alive. With so much parity in the NFL, how can a franchise seriously act the way they do behind the scenes and expect to ever win? This team is a bad joke and won't win until Davis is gone. Anyone else think Madden would make a good owner??

29. Houston Texans - So close! The elusive first win will have to wait. On the bright side, Matt Schaub showed he is better than what he looked like in the first 2 weeks, and with Slaton and Mario Williams, this team does have some pieces to eventually be a contender.

31. Cincinnati Bungals - The Bungals are back! And just in time. You would be hard pressed to find a more demeaning nickname for a team...How can a team THIS bad really not be ranked last? HOW you ask.

30. Detroit Lions - Because of the Lions and the Rams. Actually, with the firing of Matt Millen, I will move these guys up. As I heard on the radio, it can't get any worse right? Right??

32. St. Louis Rams - I was wrong, it can. Luckily for the Rams they will probably win a game or two in the hapless NFC West. I would feel worse for Marc Bulger before I realized that this is his ticket out! Why is he so upset?? Would anyone want to play for the Rams? Now if Stephen Jackson can figure out how to escape...

Sorry that was so long, but I hate my job and look for any reason to avoid doing work. I hope you enjoyed this week's rankings and I look forward to comments. Until next week, good night and good luck.