Week 4 Power Rankings: Fox Sports

[JerseySTEEL]

Rk Team W-L Last Wk 2005 Only Offense Rk Defense Rk Sp. Tms Rk
1. STEELERS 2-1 1 2 1 8 21
Pittsburgh's drive to tie the game was just as impressive as New England's comeback to take the lead. Coming off a 15-1 season, they dominated their first two opponents and then lost a close game to the defending Super Bowl champions. Since they've been more consistent than the Patriots this year, I think it's fair for them to stay at number one. NEXT: Bye week, then at SD
2. EAGLES 2-1 2 4 4 5 27
Eagles are this high for two reasons: First, our pre-season projections had them as the best team in the NFL, and second, they stomped all over the 49ers. But they haven't looked impressive in two out of three games. The Akers injury is killing them on both field goals and kickoffs. Do you really want a subpar kicker to face Dante Hall? NEXT: at KC
3. BENGALS 3-0 3 1 5 1 9
The best team in the NFL through three games. Really. See extended commentary below. NEXT: vs. HOU ? Houston? Man, you have got to be kidding me.
4. COLTS 3-0 6 6 9 6 22
Us hate beauty. Us love ugliness. Is big crime for Peyton Manning to throw touchdown pass on Bizarro World. NEXT: at TEN
Rk Team W-L Last Wk 2005 Only Offense Rk Defense Rk Sp. Tms Rk
5. BUCS 3-0 5 3 15 2 12
For two years, the Football Outsiders DVOA ratings have said that the Bucs were better than their record. Two years ago, they went 7-9 and ranked 8th. Last year, they went 5-11 but ranked 16th. Our preseason projection had them winning the NFC South, but our brains simply couldn't believe it. In the battle of cold, heartless stats vs. human scouting, this is a win for cold, heartless stats. NEXT: vs. DET
6. PATRIOTS 2-1 7 14 13 12 16
This was one of the all-time great New England regular season wins: they came from behind on the road, against one of the best teams in the NFL, after losing two of their most important players to injury early in the contest. But that doesn't change the fact that they lost to Carolina, and not by a slim margin either. Thus, the lower ranking. The bad news, of course, is the loss of Rodney Harrison for the season, and Matt Light for most of it. The good news is that they may have just put their two hardest games of the season behind them, and as important as Harrison was -- dare I disrespect him? -- he wasn't as important to the Patriots as Takeo Spikes and Chad Pennington were to the Bills and Jets. NEXT: vs. SD
7. BILLS 1-2 4 15 21 10 4
The Bills had the NFL's best defense for the second half of last year, and looked pretty good coming into this season, which is why they get ranked this high in a formula that isn't entirely based on 2005. But the defense hasn't been close to last year's level, giving up a lot of yards on second and third down, and it is going to get even worse without Spikes. Are the Saints the cure for J.P. Losman's woes? NEXT: vs. NO in San Antonio
8. CHARGERS 1-2 14 11 3 25 7
Very impressive offensive performance as your Super Bowl XLI Champion San Diego Chargers get off the schneid. NEXT: at NE
Rk Team W-L Last Wk 2005 Only Offense Rk Defense Rk Sp. Tms Rk
9. SEAHAWKS 2-1 18 9 2 20 23
First week loss to Jacksonville looks like a bit of a fluke, as the Seahawks have put up two straight games with big offense and slightly above-average defense. See extended commentary below. NEXT: at WAS
10. PANTHERS 1-2 8 18 19 11 11
People are going to get whiplash jumping on and off the Carolina bandwagon. See extended commentary below. NEXT: vs GB in the renewal of that annual tradition, the "Wow, that's not such a great matchup after all" Monday night game.
11. CHIEFS 2-1 10 13 8 21 15
Monday loss was like watching the words we wrote in Pro Football Prospectus 2005 come to life. Without Willie Roaf, the Chiefs offensive line looked bad. If the offense is hitting on all cylinders, this team is extremely dangerous, but too many of those cylinders are old. Old players get injured more often, and the only Kansas City star with a trustworthy backup is Priest Holmes. By the way, the book also noted that Tony Gonzalez is 29, the age when the greatest tight ends all started to decline. Gonzalez is averaging 41 yards per game this year (with no touchdowns) after 79 yards per game in 2004. NEXT: vs. PHI
12. BRONCOS 2-1 15 19 18 16 19
Game-by-game ratings for this season: -54%, -5%, 48%. The offense has improved each game, the defense has improved each game, and the special teams have improved each game. If they lose this week, they'll be 2-0 in Colorado, 0-2 in Florida, and 0-0 in the other 48 states. NEXT: at JAC
Rk Team W-L Last Wk 2005 Only Offense Rk Defense Rk Sp. Tms Rk
13. JAGUARS 2-1 12 10 17 7 3
Story of the season has been Byron Leftwich pulling the offense out of the fire on third-and-long, making up for another stuff-a-riffic year from the aging Fred Taylor. Offensive DVOA ranks 20th on first down, 22nd on second down, 8th on third down. If that can continue, the defense is good enough for this team to get into the playoffs. NEXT: vs. DEN
14. DOLPHINS 2-1 16 8 16 4 10
The league's top run defense DVOA after three games, and it didn't exactly come against cupcake opponents. They stopped the Denver running factory, last year's rushing leader Curtis Martin, and now the Carolina committee. Offense has been delightfully mediocre instead of the train wreck we all expected going into the season. How happy are people who bet the Miami over right now? NEXT: Bye week, then at BUF
15. GIANTS 2-1 9 5 6 22 1
The greatly improved, playoff caliber defense of the New York Giants -- Wow, I remember it like it was yesterday. Well, three days ago, actually. Jumping to the conclusion that the Giants are overrated based on one game against LaDainian Tomlinson is as rash as jumping to the conclusion that the Giants have a good defense based on games against Arizona and New Orleans. For now, Giants fans should just be happy that Eli Manning, after a terrible rookie year, has put together two very nice games. NEXT: vs. STL

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/4910694

[Koopa]

wow, i guess losin was the best thing we could've done this weekend, everyone seems to like it.

[CantStop85]

3. BENGALS 3-0 3 1 5 1 9
The best team in the NFL through three games. Really. See extended commentary below. NEXT: vs. HOU ? Houston? Man, you have got to be kidding me.

Supposedly the best team in the NFL through three games, but only ranked third...do I smell contradiction?

I would put the Colts, the Bengals, and the Bucs as the top 3 at this point (in that order).

[clevestinks]

Lucky to be at 3. Who have you played?

[WittleWillie39]

Huh...thats pretty good for having a loss.

[CantStop85]

Originally Posted by clevestinks

Lucky to be at 3. Who have you played?

Four teams that we beat. That's all I can say.

[CowherLover]

Originally Posted by CantStop85

Four teams that we beat. That's all I can say.

It's a long way to go, so be happy with what you have and keep prayin for more after the narrow victory today

[CantStop85]

Originally Posted by CowherLover

It's a long way to go, so be happy with what you have and keep prayin for more after the narrow victory today

The Midterm Exam comes next week I suppose.

[Koopa]

y'all will probably win that game, the jags don't look all that great this season