This week's NFL Power Rankings feature the predictable Packers atop the rankings, but the surprises start at No. 2 and continue from there this week with the Patriots refusal to budge despite losing at Buffalo this weekend. Also, the Saints vaulted to No. 3 ahead of several other teams with their incredible offensive prowess. As for the basement, the Chiefs were already at home there, so we left them to rest for another week.
Here are the Week 4 NFL Power Rankings:
1. Green Bay Packers (3-0) - Aaron Rodgers and company will stay at the top as long as they keep winning. Until someone supplants them, the defending champs deserve at least that much.
2. New England Patriots (2-1) - Brady undone. Loss at Buffalo. By season's end, this will have no bearing whatsoever.
3. New Orleans Saints (2-1) - A rematch between Packers and Saints further down the road is going to be fun to watch.
4. Baltimore Ravens (2-1) - That's two dominant wins for a team that look like one of the most powerful in the league. At the top of their game, Ravens can beat any team in the NFL.
5. New York Jets (2-1) - A poor showing against Dallas and now another one against Oakland. The Jets are showing more bark than bite early on, but don't expect that to last.
6. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1) - Great gritty road win against an upstart Colts defense, but the inability to run away from the headless Colts is a bit disconcerting.
7. Buffalo Bills (3-0) - The undefeated record is impressive enough, but it's the second half comebacks in the last two games that should have everyone believing.
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1) - Close divisional win over Atlanta shows character of young team and games against Colts and 49ers could have Bucs at 4-1 soon enough.
9. Houston Texans (2-1) - The Texans spend top three draft picks on new defensive players and land Jonathan Joseph and the results are the same.
10. Oakland Raiders (2-1) - Who would have thought the offense would be this prolific? Raiders are looking like division favorites at this point.
11. Philadelphia Eagles (1-2) - If Vick is out for a month, things might get worse before they get better. The Bills show up in 2 weeks for what should be a great match-up.
12. Detroit Lions (3-0) - I know, I know, but I'm still not on board with this. Love Calvin Johnson as elite level talent, but I'll be the last one on the Lions bandwagon.
13. Atlanta Falcons (1-2) - Mike Smith has to find a way to get his team ready for the road. If not for surprising Eagles win, this team would be 0-3.
14. San Diego Chargers (2-1) - There's no reason they should have won against Kansas City with that poor display.
15. Dallas Cowboys (2-1) - Hats off to Tony Romo who should carry Dallas to the top of their suddenly very winnable division.
16. New York Giants (2-1) - Very solid game for Eli Manning and the G-Men finally have some confidence after suffering through so many injuries.
17. Washington Redskins (2-1) - Nice start to the season, but this is a balloon that will definitely deflate over time. Not enough talent on the roster to win in the NFL consistently.
18. Tennessee Titans (2-1) - They're not playing elite level talent, so don't get carried away, but Titans have a solid chance at AFC South crown.
19. Chicago Bears (1-2) - Those who believe Matt Forte deserves to be paid, note that Chicago is the 31st ranked rushing team in the league.
20. Minnesota Vikings (0-3) - Three weeks, three epic collapses. Donovan McNabb has to be very frustrated, but this team is not that bad (as in Chiefs bad).
21. Cleveland Browns (2-1) - Part of me believes that Colt McCoy is Bernie Kosar Jr. The full numbers aren't there, but some of his throws are mind-boggling.
22. Cincinnati Bengals (1-2) - Very, very easy schedule on front six and the Bengals aren't looking good enough. By season's end, an already sad fan base will be further depleted.
23. San Francisco 49ers (2-1) - Next three games: Eagles, Bucs, Lions. That makes them 2-4.
24. Denver Broncos (1-2) - The rebuild is going to take a while in Denver, but Von Miller is the real deal.
25. St. Louis Rams (0-3) - This is a team in trouble far beyond the loss of guys like Danny Amendola, and the week five bye can't come soon enough.
26. Arizona Cardinals (1-2) - Bad teams cannot win on the road. That makes this a bad team. Seriously, Cardinals schedule is just now getting difficult, so it's going to be a long season for Kevin Kolb.
27. Indianapolis Colts (0-3) - Toughness displayed in losing effort helps morale but does nothing for win column. Until QB situation is fixed, "close game" is as good as the news will get.
28. Carolina Panthers (1-2) - Cam Newton needs to enjoy his first win, because there's not another win on the horizon for a while.
29. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-2) - Could Blaine Gabbert be the second coming of Jimmy Clausen? The Jags certainly hope not.
30. Miami Dolphins (0-3) - Dolphins are surprisingly strong in offensive rankings for such a bad team. Signs of life exist beneath a miserable surface.
31. Seattle Seahawks (1-2) - A truly horrible team found a way to win. Such is life in the NFC West.
32. Kansas City Chiefs (0-3) - A win was handed to them on a silver platter, but the worst team in the league still couldn't get it done.