Week 4 NFL Power Rankings

1. Indianapolis Colts, 3-0 (Last week: No. 1): The Colts' victory over the Jaguars was a quality win with a lot at stake. Jacksonville has been building to catch Indianapolis for years, and after a huge victory over a stunned Pittsburgh Steelers team in Week 2, the Jags looked ready to contend. The Colts simply absorbed the Jaguars strongest punches and then calmly, methodically picked their division rivals to bits. It was only one game, but it was a telling game.

2. Seattle Seahawks, 3-0 (Last week, No.6): OK, so at some level, the first half of the Seahawks home game against the Giants was an anomaly. But did you see what the Seahawks can do in a single anomalous half? My God: They dismantled a playoff team in just two quarters. They did it with stifling defense, but here's the headline: They did it with passing. And they're going to have to continue throwing, because Shaun Alexander has a broken bone in his foot. Let me tell you what that feels like: It hurts. A lot. He broke his foot before he broke 100 yards in a game this year, and even when he comes back, it's going to be affecting him.

3. Chicago Bears, 3-0 (Last week, No. 3): Rex Grossman put up gaudy numbers in Week 2, but he progressed farther in Week 3, leading the Bears on two consecutive scoring drives after tossing up a stupid interception near the goal line to give the Vikings the lead. Other defenses will put up better statistics, but this Bears unit is composed of confident defensive playmakers. DT Tommie Harris' 4th-quarter fumble-causing hit on Chester Taylor was simply big-time football, as was Grossman's subsequent game-winning drive. Their win over the Vikings was ugly, but it gives these guys control over their division. Next week's matchup in Chicago against the Seahawks is huge.

4. Cincinnati Bengals, 3-0 (Last week, No. 10): Carson Palmer is on his way to being an MVP candidate and the Bengals are out to a 3-0 start despite one of the toughest schedules in the league.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars 2-1 (Last week, No. 5): I said it before: The Jags are great against physical teams, but they don't match up as well against the intellectual attack of the Indianapolis Colts. This week's loss could be demoralizing, so we'll have to see what happens, but let's give the Jaguars credit, too: They played hard against the best team in football. Most other NFL squads would have melted under the pressure these guys brought.

 

2. Seattle Seahawks, 3-0 (Last week, No.6): OK, so at some level, the first half of the Seahawks home game against the Giants was an anomaly. But did you see what the Seahawks can do in a single anomalous half? My God: They dismantled a playoff team in just two quarters. They did it with stifling defense, but here's the headline: They did it with passing. And they're going to have to continue throwing, because Shaun Alexander has a broken bone in his foot. Let me tell you what that feels like: It hurts. A lot. He broke his foot before he broke 100 yards in a game this year, and even when he comes back, it's going to be affecting him.

3. Chicago Bears, 3-0 (Last week, No. 3): Rex Grossman put up gaudy numbers in Week 2, but he progressed farther in Week 3, leading the Bears on two consecutive scoring drives after tossing up a stupid interception near the goal line to give the Vikings the lead. Other defenses will put up better statistics, but this Bears unit is composed of confident defensive playmakers. DT Tommie Harris' 4th-quarter fumble-causing hit on Chester Taylor was simply big-time football, as was Grossman's subsequent game-winning drive. Their win over the Vikings was ugly, but it gives these guys control over their division. Next week's matchup in Chicago against the Seahawks is huge.

4. Cincinnati Bengals, 3-0 (Last week, No. 10): Carson Palmer is on his way to being an MVP candidate and the Bengals are out to a 3-0 start despite one of the toughest schedules in the league.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars 2-1 (Last week, No. 5): I said it before: The Jags are great against physical teams, but they don't match up as well against the intellectual attack of the Indianapolis Colts. This week's loss could be demoralizing, so we'll have to see what happens, but let's give the Jaguars credit, too: They played hard against the best team in football. Most other NFL squads would have melted under the pressure these guys brought.

6. San Diego Chargers, 2-0, (Last week, No. 8): Talk about bad timing for a bye week. In the first two weeks of the season the Chargers put up some shiny statistics against weak teams. The question in Week 4: Will a week off early in the season break their rhythm? If the Chargers play well against the Ravens this week, they'll cement a place in the top 5.

7. Denver Broncos, 2-1 (Last week, No. 13): The defense still doesn't suck, and the offense -- hereafter referred to as Mr. Javon Walker, showed up big time. And yet... there's just a sense that this Broncos team isn't as good as last years' team, and last year's team wasn't as good as its record.

8. Philadelphia Eagles 2-1 (Last week, No. 12): They put pressure on Alex Smith without Javon Kearse in the lineup. They managed to contain Antonio Bryant despite multiple injuries in their secondary. They played gritty defense on the goal line over and over. They pulled off a 14-point swing with a 98-yard fumble return by a defensive lineman. Credit the Eagles for putting together a team effort against an under-rated 49ers squad.

9. Pittsburgh Steelers, 1-2 (Last week: No. 2):The Jaguars and Bengals aren't exactly the Little Sisters of the Poor, so you'd have to be pretty harsh to accuse this team of underachieving at 1-2. Remember, these guys started slowly in 2005, too. But let's face it: As good as that defense is, the offense is struggling to find an identity, and this just might not be Ben Roethlisberger's year. If they don't stop the bleeding this week, I'm going to let them plummet.

10. Minnesota Vikings, 2-1 (Last week, No. 16): Brad Childress is a grown man, and he's got his players acting and executing like real tough guys. They played hard, physical, nasty football against the Bears -- in fact, they actually looked more like a traditional Bears team out there than they did the usual flash-and-dash Vikings we've come to expect. This is a new beginning for this franchise, even if it does look a bit like Back to the Future.

11. New England Patriots 2-1 (Last week, No. 4): I figured this squad was going to play down to the level of its opponents all year but still win. On Sunday night, however, the Patriots not only played down, they just looked down. John Madden was right: There's something wrong here, and its an emotional issue.

12. Dallas Cowboys, 1-1 (Last week, No. 14): This week's game is crucial for the Cowboys: Beat the Eagles and take control of the NFC East, or drop this one and fall back into the pack.  All the media focus will be on T.O., but the real key is the Dallas offensive line. If it can keep Bledsoe vertical for more than three seconds per pass play, the Cowboys will pick apart a suspect Eagles secondary and give Parcells a chance to take the division lead. An early game with a lot riding on it. (10 p.m. Sept. 26 author's note: All wrong. They play the Titans this week. I got a week ahead of myself on the schedule)

13. Atlanta Falcons, 2-1 (Last week, No. 7): I figured NFL defensive coordinators would crack the Falcons' bizarro running game within a few weeks, but I never figured the Saints would figure it out so well just a week after Vick and Company put up franchise-record rushing numbers. This team got out-hustled, out-witted and outplayed by the Saints. The Saints may be better than I've given them credit for, but the Falcons may not be as good, either.

14. Carolina Panthers, 1-2 (Last week, No. 15): The Panthers have played two close, gutty games in a row. Sunday against the Bucs the Panthers avoided the critical errors that doomed them in Week 2, but they also went out and took the game away from a now-shellshocked Bucs team. Their schedule over the next couple of weeks is favorable, too. If they win the next two and don't catch any more injuries, the Panthers will be in great shape for a playoff run.

15. Baltimore Ravens, 3-0 (Last week, No. 9): They escaped Cleveland with a win, but they got their asses handed to them by the Browns for much of the game. I said last week that I wanted to see them against a quality opponent and then I dissed the Browns. Yours truly won't make that mistake again. Steve McNair got it done late, but there were stretches where he looked average, if not ineffective.

16. New York Giants, 1-2 (Last week, No. 11): That was just sad. The Giants have some weapons, but they got exposed on the West Coast. Despite playing in the Big Apple, these big boys are not yet Big Time. Shockey may be a punk, but his tirade about the coaching was truthful: The Giants looked utterly unprepared for the Seahawks.

17. Kansas City Chiefs, 0-2 (Last week, No. 20): The Week 3 bye came at a lousy time for the Chargers, but it was beautiful timing for the Chiefs. Replacement QB Huard got another week of practice, and if he can perform at the level of a competent backup, this team could improve to the point of contention. The playoffs are probably out of reach, however.

18. New Orleans Saints, 3-0 (Last week, No. 25): I've been down on these guys all year, and -- despite their fantastic, emotional performance Monday night, I'm still still not a believer. The skill positions here are all fine, and Drew Brees can get the job done most weeks. But I don't understand how that defense held the Falcons in check, and until I do, color me skeptical. Emotion is a powerful weapon in football, but it's like any other drug: When you're on it, it's the best; When you come down, you're down. Which is why I've got one tip for Week 4: Take what you've got, and put it on the Panthers. The Saints are the undisputed leaders of the NFC South this week, but it's going to be a short week at the top.

19. San Francisco 49ers, 1-2 (Last week, No. 23): I thought the 49ers were primed to upset the Eagles, but Andy Reid's aggressive play-calling rocked their game plan right from the first snap.  Still, they fought back hard and might have made a real game out of this were it not for Frank Gore's astounding fumble at the 2 yard line. San Fran lost both Gore and TE Vernon Davis on the play but never showed any loss of intensity. If Mike Nolan gets better at managing the flow of a game, this team could be a playoff contender in the weak NFC West. That's a big if, though.

20. Buffalo Bills, 1-2 (Last week, No. 18): I'm not quite sure how the Bills managed to blow that game to the Jets. They beat the heck out of them when it comes to stats. How very Dick Jauron: his teams will play respectably against far better opponents, then drop crucial, winnable division games like this.

21. Arizona Cardinals, 1-2 (Last week, No. 17): How Arizona didn't win its game against the Rams is beyond me. That fumbled snap in the 4th quarter was an enormous D'OH! moment for this Homer-esque franchise, which appeared to be ascending the ladder of mediocrity. The really ugly part came after the play, when a frustrated Kurt Warner gestured to the sidelines that it wasn't his fault, then confronted his center and gave the man a televised lecture. You couldn't hear the words, but Warner clearly didn't consider himself to be at fault. But you know what? I saw the tape. The snap was fine. Warner lost concentration and the Cardinals lost the game. I think that off-the-field performance, moreso than what Warner did in the game, is why we're going to see Matt Leinart at quarterback now.

22. St. Louis Rams, 2-1 (Last week, No. 21): When do you win a game and not get credit for it in the power rankings? When you deserved to lose the game. On the bright side, Bulger finally got the passing game going, but that's not a huge accomplishment against the Cards. This team doesn't deserve a 2-1 record. It's just shameful how out-of-synch this offense looks.

23. Miami Dolphins, 1-2 (Last week, No. 19): Yes, they won, but they looked weak doing it. If you want a power-ranking boost out of a win against the Titans, you can't play down to their level. Which is exactly what the Fish did.

24. Washington Redskins, 1-2 (Last week, No. 22): So they ran up the score on the lowly Texans. Big deal. They also acted like they'd done something really cool. Hey Redskins! Here's a lesson on class: When you finally get to a good place, act like you've been there before. These guys are losers, and they showed it while winning.

25. Green Bay Packers, 1-2 (Last week, No. 28) : Beating the Lions isn't much of an accomplishment, but it's something. Favre's still a dangerous QB, the wide receivers can play football, and the front seven is strong enough to force opposing teams the pass. They'll win some games so long as they avoid good teams, and when the good teams show up, you'll really notice the flaws.

26. New York Jets, 2-1 (Last week, No. 24): I don't know how they did it, but they did it. The Jets are now tied for the AFC East lead, too.

27. Cleveland Browns, 0-3 (Last week, No. 29): Charlie Frye is a transitional QB -- good enough to get them out of the dungeon, but probably not good enough to lead the Browns to the promised land. In the meantime, however, he's a tough competitor who almost pulled off a season-boosting upset of the resurgent Ravens. That was a big improvement over the previous week for this young team.

28. Detroit Lions, 0-3 (Last week, No. 26): Remember three weeks ago when the Lions were some people's trendy pick for the playoffs, if not the NFC North title? Remember how Mike Martz was going to make this offense so great? We're all still waiting. But I'm not holding my breath, boys. It's still Detroit. Matt Millen is still the GM.

29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 0-3 (Last week, No. 27): Last week the pirate ship was sinking. This week the ship is on the rocks and it's every man for himself. There's no offensive line. They're starting over with an unheralded rookie at quarterback. The defense is still good, but it's aging. This is a team without impact players, which means it's time to evaluate, plan, trade and maneuver. Warhorses must be put out to pasture. Young players must be given a chance to prove themselves. Gruden is one of the few coaches with the front-office stability to rebuild his team on the move, and he should begin to do so now.  A note on Chris Simms: The kid showed incredible toughness playing with that level of pain, but he's basically done for the year. Did he take a bad injury and turn it into a season-ending injury out of hard-headed competitiveness? I don't know, but I know this: If Simms isn't the answer in Tampa, they need to decide this before February. 

30. Houston Texans, 0-3 (Last week, No. 29): Yep, drafting a defensive end No. 1 overall really paid off for Bob McNair and his group of management geniuses. Rewind!

31. Tennessee Titans, 0-3 (Last week, No. 31): I used to like Jeff Fisher when he played for the Bears and was learning his coaching trade from Buddy Ryan. Now he's just a punk on the verge of an aneurism every Sunday. He's also on the verge of unemployment.

32. Oakland Raiders, 0-2 (Last week, No. 32):  The Raiders had two things going for them in Week 3: They didn't have to play, and they we already had them at the bottom of the power rankings. So they couldn't get any worse. Now their bye week is over, and anything is possible...

                

Orgininally posted on Xark! on Sept. 26, 2006.

6. San Diego Chargers, 2-0, (Last week, No. 8): Talk about bad timing for a bye week. In the first two weeks of the season the Chargers put up some shiny statistics against weak teams. The question in Week 4: Will a week off early in the season break their rhythm? If the Chargers play well against the Ravens this week, they'll cement a place in the top 5.

7. Denver Broncos, 2-1 (Last week, No. 13): The defense still doesn't suck, and the offense -- hereafter referred to as Mr. Javon Walker, showed up big time. And yet... there's just a sense that this Broncos team isn't as good as last years' team, and last year's team wasn't as good as its record.

8. Philadelphia Eagles 2-1 (Last week, No. 12): They put pressure on Alex Smith without Javon Kearse in the lineup. They managed to contain Antonio Bryant despite multiple injuries in their secondary. They played gritty defense on the goal line over and over. They pulled off a 14-point swing with a 98-yard fumble return by a defensive lineman. Credit the Eagles for putting together a team effort against an under-rated 49ers squad.

9. Pittsburgh Steelers, 1-2 (Last week: No. 2):The Jaguars and Bengals aren't exactly the Little Sisters of the Poor, so you'd have to be pretty harsh to accuse this team of underachieving at 1-2. Remember, these guys started slowly in 2005, too. But let's face it: As good as that defense is, the offense is struggling to find an identity, and this just might not be Ben Roethlisberger's year. If they don't stop the bleeding this week, I'm going to let them plummet.

10. Minnesota Vikings, 2-1 (Last week, No. 16): Brad Childress is a grown man, and he's got his players acting and executing like real tough guys. They played hard, physical, nasty football against the Bears -- in fact, they actually looked more like a traditional Bears team out there than they did the usual flash-and-dash Vikings we've come to expect. This is a new beginning for this franchise, even if it does look a bit like Back to the Future.

11. New England Patriots 2-1 (Last week, No. 4): I figured this squad was going to play down to the level of its opponents all year but still win. On Sunday night, however, the Patriots not only played down, they just looked down. John Madden was right: There's something wrong here, and its an emotional issue.

12. Dallas Cowboys, 1-1 (Last week, No. 14): This week's game is crucial for the Cowboys: Beat the Eagles and take control of the NFC East, or drop this one and fall back into the pack.  All the media focus will be on T.O., but the real key is the Dallas offensive line. If it can keep Bledsoe vertical for more than three seconds per pass play, the Cowboys will pick apart a suspect Eagles secondary and give Parcells a chance to take the division lead. An early game with a lot riding on it. (10 p.m. Sept. 26 author's note: All wrong. They play the Titans this week. I got a week ahead of myself on the schedule)

13. Atlanta Falcons, 2-1 (Last week, No. 7): I figured NFL defensive coordinators would crack the Falcons' bizarro running game within a few weeks, but I never figured the Saints would figure it out so well just a week after Vick and Company put up franchise-record rushing numbers. This team got out-hustled, out-witted and outplayed by the Saints. The Saints may be better than I've given them credit for, but the Falcons may not be as good, either.

14. Carolina Panthers, 1-2 (Last week, No. 15): The Panthers have played two close, gutty games in a row. Sunday against the Bucs the Panthers avoided the critical errors that doomed them in Week 2, but they also went out and took the game away from a now-shellshocked Bucs team. Their schedule over the next couple of weeks is favorable, too. If they win the next two and don't catch any more injuries, the Panthers will be in great shape for a playoff run.

15. Baltimore Ravens, 3-0 (Last week, No. 9): They escaped Cleveland with a win, but they got their asses handed to them by the Browns for much of the game. I said last week that I wanted to see them against a quality opponent and then I dissed the Browns. Yours truly won't make that mistake again. Steve McNair got it done late, but there were stretches where he looked average, if not ineffective.

16. New York Giants, 1-2 (Last week, No. 11): That was just sad. The Giants have some weapons, but they got exposed on the West Coast. Despite playing in the Big Apple, these big boys are not yet Big Time. Shockey may be a punk, but his tirade about the coaching was truthful: The Giants looked utterly unprepared for the Seahawks.

17. Kansas City Chiefs, 0-2 (Last week, No. 20): The Week 3 bye came at a lousy time for the Chargers, but it was beautiful timing for the Chiefs. Replacement QB Huard got another week of practice, and if he can perform at the level of a competent backup, this team could improve to the point of contention. The playoffs are probably out of reach, however.

18. New Orleans Saints, 3-0 (Last week, No. 25): I've been down on these guys all year, and -- despite their fantastic, emotional performance Monday night, I'm still still not a believer. The skill positions here are all fine, and Drew Brees can get the job done most weeks. But I don't understand how that defense held the Falcons in check, and until I do, color me skeptical. Emotion is a powerful weapon in football, but it's like any other drug: When you're on it, it's the best; When you come down, you're down. Which is why I've got one tip for Week 4: Take what you've got, and put it on the Panthers. The Saints are the undisputed leaders of the NFC South this week, but it's going to be a short week at the top.

19. San Francisco 49ers, 1-2 (Last week, No. 23): I thought the 49ers were primed to upset the Eagles, but Andy Reid's aggressive play-calling rocked their game plan right from the first snap.  Still, they fought back hard and might have made a real game out of this were it not for Frank Gore's astounding fumble at the 2 yard line. San Fran lost both Gore and TE Vernon Davis on the play but never showed any loss of intensity. If Mike Nolan gets better at managing the flow of a game, this team could be a playoff contender in the weak NFC West. That's a big if, though.

20. Buffalo Bills, 1-2 (Last week, No. 18): I'm not quite sure how the Bills managed to blow that game to the Jets. They beat the heck out of them when it comes to stats. How very Dick Jauron: his teams will play respectably against far better opponents, then drop crucial, winnable division games like this.

21. Arizona Cardinals, 1-2 (Last week, No. 17): How Arizona didn't win its game against the Rams is beyond me. That fumbled snap in the 4th quarter was an enormous D'OH! moment for this Homer-esque franchise, which appeared to be ascending the ladder of mediocrity. The really ugly part came after the play, when a frustrated Kurt Warner gestured to the sidelines that it wasn't his fault, then confronted his center and gave the man a televised lecture. You couldn't hear the words, but Warner clearly didn't consider himself to be at fault. But you know what? I saw the tape. The snap was fine. Warner lost concentration and the Cardinals lost the game. I think that off-the-field performance, moreso than what Warner did in the game, is why we're going to see Matt Leinart at quarterback now.

22. St. Louis Rams, 2-1 (Last week, No. 21): When do you win a game and not get credit for it in the power rankings? When you deserved to lose the game. On the bright side, Bulger finally got the passing game going, but that's not a huge accomplishment against the Cards. This team doesn't deserve a 2-1 record. It's just shameful how out-of-synch this offense looks.

23. Miami Dolphins, 1-2 (Last week, No. 19): Yes, they won, but they looked weak doing it. If you want a power-ranking boost out of a win against the Titans, you can't play down to their level. Which is exactly what the Fish did.

24. Washington Redskins, 1-2 (Last week, No. 22): So they ran up the score on the lowly Texans. Big deal. They also acted like they'd done something really cool. Hey Redskins! Here's a lesson on class: When you finally get to a good place, act like you've been there before. These guys are losers, and they showed it while winning.

25. Green Bay Packers, 1-2 (Last week, No. 28) : Beating the Lions isn't much of an accomplishment, but it's something. Favre's still a dangerous QB, the wide receivers can play football, and the front seven is strong enough to force opposing teams the pass. They'll win some games so long as they avoid good teams, and when the good teams show up, you'll really notice the flaws.

26. New York Jets, 2-1 (Last week, No. 24): I don't know how they did it, but they did it. The Jets are now tied for the AFC East lead, too.

27. Cleveland Browns, 0-3 (Last week, No. 29): Charlie Frye is a transitional QB -- good enough to get them out of the dungeon, but probably not good enough to lead the Browns to the promised land. In the meantime, however, he's a tough competitor who almost pulled off a season-boosting upset of the resurgent Ravens. That was a big improvement over the previous week for this young team.

28. Detroit Lions, 0-3 (Last week, No. 26): Remember three weeks ago when the Lions were some people's trendy pick for the playoffs, if not the NFC North title? Remember how Mike Martz was going to make this offense so great? We're all still waiting. But I'm not holding my breath, boys. It's still Detroit. Matt Millen is still the GM.

29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 0-3 (Last week, No. 27): Last week the pirate ship was sinking. This week the ship is on the rocks and it's every man for himself. There's no offensive line. They're starting over with an unheralded rookie at quarterback. The defense is still good, but it's aging. This is a team without impact players, which means it's time to evaluate, plan, trade and maneuver. Warhorses must be put out to pasture. Young players must be given a chance to prove themselves. Gruden is one of the few coaches with the front-office stability to rebuild his team on the move, and he should begin to do so now.  A note on Chris Simms: The kid showed incredible toughness playing with that level of pain, but he's basically done for the year. Did he take a bad injury and turn it into a season-ending injury out of hard-headed competitiveness? I don't know, but I know this: If Simms isn't the answer in Tampa, they need to decide this before February. 

30. Houston Texans, 0-3 (Last week, No. 29): Yep, drafting a defensive end No. 1 overall really paid off for Bob McNair and his group of management geniuses. Rewind!

31. Tennessee Titans, 0-3 (Last week, No. 31): I used to like Jeff Fisher when he played for the Bears and was learning his coaching trade from Buddy Ryan. Now he's just a punk on the verge of an aneurism every Sunday. He's also on the verge of unemployment.

32. Oakland Raiders, 0-2 (Last week, No. 32):  The Raiders had two things going for them in Week 3: They didn't have to play, and they we already had them at the bottom of the power rankings. So they couldn't get any worse. Now their bye week is over, and anything is possible...

8. Philadelphia Eagles 2-1 (Last week, No. 12): They put pressure on Alex Smith without Javon Kearse in the lineup. They managed to contain Antonio Bryant despite multiple injuries in their secondary. They played gritty defense on the goal line over and over. They pulled off a 14-point swing with a 98-yard fumble return by a defensive lineman. Credit the Eagles for putting together a team effort against an under-rated 49ers squad.

9. Pittsburgh Steelers, 1-2 (Last week: No. 2):The Jaguars and Bengals aren't exactly the Little Sisters of the Poor, so you'd have to be pretty harsh to accuse this team of underachieving at 1-2. Remember, these guys started slowly in 2005, too. But let's face it: As good as that defense is, the offense is struggling to find an identity, and this just might not be Ben Roethlisberger's year. If they don't stop the bleeding this week, I'm going to let them plummet.

10. Minnesota Vikings, 2-1 (Last week, No. 16): Brad Childress is a grown man, and he's got his players acting and executing like real tough guys. They played hard, physical, nasty football against the Bears -- in fact, they actually looked more like a traditional Bears team out there than they did the usual flash-and-dash Vikings we've come to expect. This is a new beginning for this franchise, even if it does look a bit like Back to the Future.

11. New England Patriots 2-1 (Last week, No. 4): I figured this squad was going to play down to the level of its opponents all year but still win. On Sunday night, however, the Patriots not only played down, they just looked down. John Madden was right: There's something wrong here, and its an emotional issue.

12. Dallas Cowboys, 1-1 (Last week, No. 14): This week's game is crucial for the Cowboys: Beat the Eagles and take control of the NFC East, or drop this one and fall back into the pack.  All the media focus will be on T.O., but the real key is the Dallas offensive line. If it can keep Bledsoe vertical for more than three seconds per pass play, the Cowboys will pick apart a suspect Eagles secondary and give Parcells a chance to take the division lead. An early game with a lot riding on it. (10 p.m. Sept. 26 author's note: All wrong. They play the Titans this week. I got a week ahead of myself on the schedule)

13. Atlanta Falcons, 2-1 (Last week, No. 7): I figured NFL defensive coordinators would crack the Falcons' bizarro running game within a few weeks, but I never figured the Saints would figure it out so well just a week after Vick and Company put up franchise-record rushing numbers. This team got out-hustled, out-witted and outplayed by the Saints. The Saints may be better than I've given them credit for, but the Falcons may not be as good, either.

14. Carolina Panthers, 1-2 (Last week, No. 15): The Panthers have played two close, gutty games in a row. Sunday against the Bucs the Panthers avoided the critical errors that doomed them in Week 2, but they also went out and took the game away from a now-shellshocked Bucs team. Their schedule over the next couple of weeks is favorable, too. If they win the next two and don't catch any more injuries, the Panthers will be in great shape for a playoff run.

15. Baltimore Ravens, 3-0 (Last week, No. 9): They escaped Cleveland with a win, but they got their asses handed to them by the Browns for much of the game. I said last week that I wanted to see them against a quality opponent and then I dissed the Browns. Yours truly won't make that mistake again. Steve McNair got it done late, but there were stretches where he looked average, if not ineffective.

16. New York Giants, 1-2 (Last week, No. 11): That was just sad. The Giants have some weapons, but they got exposed on the West Coast. Despite playing in the Big Apple, these big boys are not yet Big Time. Shockey may be a punk, but his tirade about the coaching was truthful: The Giants looked utterly unprepared for the Seahawks.

17. Kansas City Chiefs, 0-2 (Last week, No. 20): The Week 3 bye came at a lousy time for the Chargers, but it was beautiful timing for the Chiefs. Replacement QB Huard got another week of practice, and if he can perform at the level of a competent backup, this team could improve to the point of contention. The playoffs are probably out of reach, however.

18. New Orleans Saints, 3-0 (Last week, No. 25): I've been down on these guys all year, and -- despite their fantastic, emotional performance Monday night, I'm still still not a believer. The skill positions here are all fine, and Drew Brees can get the job done most weeks. But I don't understand how that defense held the Falcons in check, and until I do, color me skeptical. Emotion is a powerful weapon in football, but it's like any other drug: When you're on it, it's the best; When you come down, you're down. Which is why I've got one tip for Week 4: Take what you've got, and put it on the Panthers. The Saints are the undisputed leaders of the NFC South this week, but it's going to be a short week at the top.

19. San Francisco 49ers, 1-2 (Last week, No. 23): I thought the 49ers were primed to upset the Eagles, but Andy Reid's aggressive play-calling rocked their game plan right from the first snap.  Still, they fought back hard and might have made a real game out of this were it not for Frank Gore's astounding fumble at the 2 yard line. San Fran lost both Gore and TE Vernon Davis on the play but never showed any loss of intensity. If Mike Nolan gets better at managing the flow of a game, this team could be a playoff contender in the weak NFC West. That's a big if, though.

20. Buffalo Bills, 1-2 (Last week, No. 18): I'm not quite sure how the Bills managed to blow that game to the Jets. They beat the heck out of them when it comes to stats. How very Dick Jauron: his teams will play respectably against far better opponents, then drop crucial, winnable division games like this.

21. Arizona Cardinals, 1-2 (Last week, No. 17): How Arizona didn't win its game against the Rams is beyond me. That fumbled snap in the 4th quarter was an enormous D'OH! moment for this Homer-esque franchise, which appeared to be ascending the ladder of mediocrity. The really ugly part came after the play, when a frustrated Kurt Warner gestured to the sidelines that it wasn't his fault, then confronted his center and gave the man a televised lecture. You couldn't hear the words, but Warner clearly didn't consider himself to be at fault. But you know what? I saw the tape. The snap was fine. Warner lost concentration and the Cardinals lost the game. I think that off-the-field performance, moreso than what Warner did in the game, is why we're going to see Matt Leinart at quarterback now.

22. St. Louis Rams, 2-1 (Last week, No. 21): When do you win a game and not get credit for it in the power rankings? When you deserved to lose the game. On the bright side, Bulger finally got the passing game going, but that's not a huge accomplishment against the Cards. This team doesn't deserve a 2-1 record. It's just shameful how out-of-synch this offense looks.

23. Miami Dolphins, 1-2 (Last week, No. 19): Yes, they won, but they looked weak doing it. If you want a power-ranking boost out of a win against the Titans, you can't play down to their level. Which is exactly what the Fish did.

24. Washington Redskins, 1-2 (Last week, No. 22): So they ran up the score on the lowly Texans. Big deal. They also acted like they'd done something really cool. Hey Redskins! Here's a lesson on class: When you finally get to a good place, act like you've been there before. These guys are losers, and they showed it while winning.

25. Green Bay Packers, 1-2 (Last week, No. 28) : Beating the Lions isn't much of an accomplishment, but it's something. Favre's still a dangerous QB, the wide receivers can play football, and the front seven is strong enough to force opposing teams the pass. They'll win some games so long as they avoid good teams, and when the good teams show up, you'll really notice the flaws.

26. New York Jets, 2-1 (Last week, No. 24): I don't know how they did it, but they did it. The Jets are now tied for the AFC East lead, too.

27. Cleveland Browns, 0-3 (Last week, No. 29): Charlie Frye is a transitional QB -- good enough to get them out of the dungeon, but probably not good enough to lead the Browns to the promised land. In the meantime, however, he's a tough competitor who almost pulled off a season-boosting upset of the resurgent Ravens. That was a big improvement over the previous week for this young team.

28. Detroit Lions, 0-3 (Last week, No. 26): Remember three weeks ago when the Lions were some people's trendy pick for the playoffs, if not the NFC North title? Remember how Mike Martz was going to make this offense so great? We're all still waiting. But I'm not holding my breath, boys. It's still Detroit. Matt Millen is still the GM.

29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 0-3 (Last week, No. 27): Last week the pirate ship was sinking. This week the ship is on the rocks and it's every man for himself. There's no offensive line. They're starting over with an unheralded rookie at quarterback. The defense is still good, but it's aging. This is a team without impact players, which means it's time to evaluate, plan, trade and maneuver. Warhorses must be put out to pasture. Young players must be given a chance to prove themselves. Gruden is one of the few coaches with the front-office stability to rebuild his team on the move, and he should begin to do so now.  A note on Chris Simms: The kid showed incredible toughness playing with that level of pain, but he's basically done for the year. Did he take a bad injury and turn it into a season-ending injury out of hard-headed competitiveness? I don't know, but I know this: If Simms isn't the answer in Tampa, they need to decide this before February. 

30. Houston Texans, 0-3 (Last week, No. 29): Yep, drafting a defensive end No. 1 overall really paid off for Bob McNair and his group of management geniuses. Rewind!

31. Tennessee Titans, 0-3 (Last week, No. 31): I used to like Jeff Fisher when he played for the Bears and was learning his coaching trade from Buddy Ryan. Now he's just a punk on the verge of an aneurism every Sunday. He's also on the verge of unemployment.

32. Oakland Raiders, 0-2 (Last week, No. 32):  The Raiders had two things going for them in Week 3: They didn't have to play, and they we already had them at the bottom of the power rankings. So they couldn't get any worse. Now their bye week is over, and anything is possible...