BoilerMacR's NFL Power Rankings - Week 4

Explain this season to me thus far, will you? Anyone - please. What the heck is going on? Buffalo gets jumped on by the Rams 13-0 to start the game, KC knocks off undefeated Denver, Tampa Bay is led by Brian Griese to a thumping of Green Bay, Jacksonville nearly loses at home to Houston and Washington gives Dallas everything they can handle in Big D. Incredible. This is one of the more topsy-turvy seasons that I can remember in a long while.

What I do believe is this: The top division remains the NFC East, followed by the NFC South and then a close race between the AFC South & AFC East. Following those four is the AFC West, then NFC North, AFC North and finally the NFC West. With that, here's the new power rankings for week #4.

1.(4) Tennessee (4-0) - This ballclub is for real and has its sights set on the AFC South Division title. They're in a good position to make it happen by extending their undefeated season to 4 games with the victory over Minnesota. This is not a group of over-achieving youngsters trying to will their way to win. This is a mostly veteran ballclub that is clicking in every facet of the game at present, and everytime rookie Chris Johnson touches the ball you're waiting to see what he does next. Good team.

2.(2) NY Giants (3-0) - Bye week.

3.(1) Dallas (3-1) - Chances to win division championships without winning the games you are supposed to win, especially against division opponents at home, are hard to come by. Now I'm not saying this is a season killing loss, because it isn't. But how is it that Marion Barber only touches the ball a half dozen times or so, and Felix Jones doesn't even see the ball in a big division game against an arch rival? Oh, and what's that I hear? It sounds like a TO outburst.....getcha popcorn ready Dallas fans.

The Cowboys continue to show signs of tightening up in big games and making mistakes in these types of games that they normally do not make against "lesser" teams. Speaking of which, the Bengals come to Dallas next week.

4.(10) Washington (3-1) - The Redskins had not allowed any points to any team in the 4th quarter coming into today's game. That feat didn't hold up, as they allowed the Cowboys to put up 7 late in the 4th quarter. Fortunately for the Redskins, they were already up by 9, and held on to knock off the Cowboys 26-24 in a thrilling game. Great gameplan, great effort by the entire team. The defense was solid, and Clinton Portis had a very good game as well. I'd like to give a special nod to Jason Campbell, who didn't wilt under the pressure of the Dallas defense.

5.(5) Buffalo (4-0) - At first I thought I had tuned in a game from a few years ago when I saw the first quarter score of 14-6 , Rams over the Bills. That score held up until the 3rd quarter before order was restored to the universe and Buffalo finally put St. Louis away. Although looking completely out of sync in the first half, Trent Edwards and the Bills got back on track soon enough to prevent an embarrassing (and possibly costly) loss on the road. Still, the shoddy play of the defense early on might cause some concern heading into a matchup next week with high-scoring Arizona.

6.(6) Baltimore (2-0) Monday Night Football vs Pittsburgh

7.(3) Philadelphia (2-2) - I thought the Eagles had the Bears right where they wanted them - with a lead late in the game and forcing Orton to put together a drive to lengthen their lead. Orton rose to the challenge. McNabb and the Eagles, with a chance to punch the ball in from a yard or so out, did not. But let us not forget they came THAT close to doing so....without Westbrook.

8.(13) Carolina (3-1) - Powerful defensive effort against the Falcon run forced Atlanta to a one-dimensional offense that didn't work out. Meanwhile Jake DelHomme tossed for almost 300 yards and 2 TD's, with no interceptions. Middle linebacker Jon Beason had a tremendous game with 7 solo tackles to help lead the defense shut down the Falcons. The Panther defense has held three teams with excellent running games to very low outputs.

9.(14) Tampa Bay (3-1) - Blessings and prayers to Matt Bryant and his wife, who had their personal life turned upside down over the weekend with the sudden death of their 3 month old infant. Playing through that horrible loss of life, the kicker hit on all 3 field goals, while the Buc defense decimated the Packers and QB Aaron Rodgers. The Bucs now face an interesting road test when they travel out west to Denver to meet the Broncos next week.

10.(7) Denver (3-1) - I am speechless on this one. Or should I say write-less? Either way, I don't know how to describe this loss except that it was absurd.
11.(11) San Diego (2-2) - Looked pretty ugly early on as they fell behind 15-0. The Chargers usually start in one of two extremes: Blowing out the other team, or falling behind while playing poorly. So it wasn't a complete shock that they came back after the poor start to shut down Oakland and send the Raiders (and probably Lane Kiffin) packing. The Chargers still don't look like a potential AFC Championship team.

12. (10) Pittsburgh (2-1) - Monday Night Football vs Baltimore

13.(18) Chicago (2-2) - Great job by the Bears defense when the game was on the line, but props also to Kyle Orton for not backing down when it counted. With rookie Matt Forte making some great catches and racking up some determined yards, the Bears kept the tough Eagle defense guessing many times throughout. It's the first time we've witnessed the potential balance that the offense could have when everyone contributes.

14.(17) New Orleans (2-2) - Here's the thing about the New Orleans Saints. If Drew Brees was not the quarterback, this team would probably be 0-4 right now. If this team had a healthy Deuce McCallister at the start of this season, this team would probably be 4-0 right now. Welcome back to Deuce, he was sorely missed and gave the Saints exactly what they needed on offense.

While Brees riddled the 49er secondary, McCallister blasted through the San Fran front lines for his first TD in a long, long time. Additionally, I would be remiss in not giving a salute to a pretty solid defensive frontline effort putting pressure on J.T. O'Sullivan, forcing two critical INT's, while limiting Frank Gore to just 82 yards and no scores.

15.(20) Jacksonville ( 2-2) - Not the greatest of showings in the win over Houston, but a win is a win and that makes two in a row within the division. That fact regarding a division win is even more important than how well they played, especially as it relates to keeping pace with the juggernaut that is the 2008 Tennessee Titans. Exceptional job by David Garrard in leading his team, especially on a critical 1st down conversion running the ball to keep a drive alive late in regulation.

16.(8) Green Bay (2-2) - Aaron Rodgers brought the Pack to within 20-14 after having three interceptions in the three quarters he played, before being forced to leave the game with an injury. The Buc defense was relentless, forcing 3 interceptions and a fumble that was returned for a touchdown. After Rodgers left the game in the third quarter, Matt Flynn couldn't move the team and then ended up losing by 9 points. The Packers don't look like a team that has all the talent to make the NFC Championship, but with Minnesota and Chicago not wanting to be the division leader, Green Bay might win it by default.

17.(12) Arizona (2-2) - After dropping a game to Washington late in the 4th quarter, the Cardinals were just obliterated by Brett Favre and the NY Titans (throwback day) while watching their top wideout Anquan Boldin leave the field on a stretcher after being sandwiched between two defenders. Hopefully Boldin will fully recover, but no doubt he is out at least for the upcoming game against undefeated Bills.

18.(19) New England (1-2) - Bye week

19.(21) Indianapolis (1-2) - Bye week

20.(25) NY Jets (2-2) - Simply amazing. Stunning. Superb. Sick. Silly. Stupendous. Pick an adjective of your own - it doesn't have to start with an "S", but it sure looked like one belonged on the chest of #4 for the Jets. And it happens to be the same letter that starts the word SIX, as in six touchdown passes in an offense that wasn't supposed to be as potent as Arizona's, nor able to do it as easily against an improved Cardinal defense. What's more, it looks like Favre and Coles are BFF now. The Living Legend ties the record of Joe Namath with 6 TD passes. Wow.

21.(16) San Francisco (2-2) - Completely had their butt kicked by the Saints. Three field goals was all the 49er offense could manage until it was so late it didn't really matter that they scored a TD. The defense was shredded by Drew Brees all day, so their is plenty of concern in the defensive secondary for that exploitation. They need to get it fixed as they entertain the Patriots next week.

22.(15) Atlanta (2-2) - The big test for Matt Ryan and the Falcons fell short, but not because of any problems on behalf of their rookie QB. This was a matter of a non-existent running game and being stymied by a brutal Carolina defense much of the day. The Falcon defense surrendered far too many passing yards as Jake Delhomme ended up with almost 300 yards passing. They'll need to regroup and get set for a big road test next week vs Green Bay.

23.(24) Seattle (1-2) - Bye week

24.(26) Minnesota (1-2) - This team is the best I've seen at totally screwing up a good thing. But in their overall defense, it also illustrates how badly they need a solid QB. But even with a good QB, they need some wideouts who know how to catch a football too. Perhaps they can take lessons next Monday night when they travel to New Orleans to play the Saints.

25.(27) Miami (1-2) - Bye week

26.(26) Oakland (1-3) - Probably not the best of games for Jamarcus Russell, who had several instances that could've helped his team but couldn't come through. Towards the end of the first half he had a certain running TD fall short when he failed to bull his way into the endzone from one yard away. This more than likely ends the Lane Kiffin era in Oakland, but not the losing.

27. (27) Houston (0-3) - The best winless team in the NFL, having lost to Pittsburgh, Tennessee and Jacksonville, while getting through the horror of Hurricane Ike's aftermath. This game was oh-so-close for the Texans.
To go into Jacksonville and nearly pull out a "W" speaks volumes as to how good this team is, but also, how much more they need to accomplish to overtake the likes of the Jags in the division. Heartbreaking loss after coming back at different times and holding the Jags running game in check all day.

28.(28) Cleveland (1-3) - Shrug of the shoulders from me in a win over hapless Cincinatti. Imagine winning the Ohio "0-fer" Bowl. Can't imagine that creating any super feeling of accomplishment, only relief they didn't lose the game and are winless no longer. The Browns now have a bye week before getting back to work against the defending Super Bowl champion Giants on Monday Night Football October 13th.

29.(32) Kansas City (1-3) - Herm Edwards saved his job, temporary as that may be. Thankfully the Chiefs braintrust took my pleads from last week to heart and started a real QB. He was already sitting on the bench, as Damon Huard came back this week and led the Chiefs to a stunning 33-19 thrashing of Denver. Big pats on the back to the offensive line for helping to spring Larry Johnson, while giving Huard time to find his receivers. Also, the Chiefs defense did a tremendous job shutting down the high-scoring Broncos

30.(30) Detroit (0-3)- See how well the Lions have done since firing Millen? They didn't lose. Course, I think much of that has to do with the fact it was their Bye Week. Just sayin'....

31.(29) Cincy(0-4) - I feel really, really bad for the Bengals. I really do.

32.(31) St. Louis (0-4) - The Rams came out swinging and had the undefeated Bills on the ropes early. Once things stablized a little, the game became even until Trent Green through an errant pass right into the hands of ....... who returned for a TD and a commanding lead for the Bills. My guess is that the Scott Linehan era is officially over in St. Louis by Monday afternoon.