Jan 20, 2013; Foxboro, MA, USA; General view of fireworks during the playing of the national anthem before the AFC Championship game between the Baltimore Ravens and the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. The Ravens defeated the Patriots 28-13. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports

NFL Power Rankings: Week 4

Chris Sitek·
SportsSports Articles

Running backs highlighted week four as they wrecked the league. Ten starting running backs had at least 70 yards rushing or more in week four. The biggest of those stars could be Atlanta’s Devonta Freeman. Freeman had three rushing touchdowns and 149 all-purpose yards in a win against the Houston Texans. In just four games, Freeman leads all running backs with seven rushing touchdowns.

The Arizona Cardinals suffered their first loss at home to the St. Louis Rams in a NFC West division game. Where the New Orleans Saints got their first win at home in an overtime thriller against the Dallas Cowboys.

The NFL was in London Sunday as the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins squared off in an AFC battle. The Jets prevailed 27-14. This led to the firing of Dolphin’s head coach Joe Philbin. 

Six teams remain undefeated: the Patriots, Packers, Broncos, Panthers, Falcons, and Bengals. 

  1. New England Patriots (3-0): Bye-Week. Still On Top.
  2. Green Bay Packers (4-0): Run Pack Run. Eddie Lacy had 90 rushing yards and Quarterback Aaron Rodgers had two passing touchdowns. This team’s not going anywhere but up.
  3. Denver Broncos (4-0): The Broncos just find ways to win. They did it again against the Minnesota Vikings behind running back Ronnie Hillman’s 103 rush yards on 11 carries and a score.
  4. Atlanta Falcons (4-0): These Falcons are the real deal, especially running back Devonta Freeman. Freeman has seven rushing touchdowns in just four games. Matt Ryan is dare I say, “Elite?” So is this team.
  5. Cincinnati Bengals (4-0): “Who Dey” loves the running game and run they did. Cincy rushed for 124 rush yards and four scores behind backs Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard. Cincy’s defense is ferocious: racking up five sacks in a win over the Chiefs.
  6. Carolina Panthers (4-0): Don’t sleep on Quarterback Cam Newton for the league MVP. He had two touchdowns and the Panthers continue to win. Cornerback Josh Norman had two interceptions and a touchdown as well.
  7. Arizona Cardinals (3-1):  R.I.P. Cardinals defense. Arizona gave up three passing touchdowns to quarterback Nick Foles and 146 rush yards to rookie running back Todd Gurley.
  8. New York Jets (3-1): The Jets run game grounded Miami in a 27-14 win. Running back Chris Ivory had 166 yards of 29 carries and a score. The game was the first matchup in London this year.
  9. New York Giants (2-2): Two straight wins for the Giants. This one in a hostile environment. Quarterback Eli Manning (3 passing touchdowns) looked like the best player on the field in a 24-10 win against the Bills.
  10. Pittsburgh Steelers– (2-2): Was it Antonio Brown’s crucial touchdown drop in the second quarter? Or was it the Mike Vick trick play in overtime? Brown should have caught that touchdown. Vick should have handed it off to Le’Veon Bell. That’s why they lost to their AFC North rival.
  11. San Diego Chargers (2-2): Looks like San Diego is doing something right. Quarterback Phillip Rivers was brilliant with 358 yards and three scores in 30-27 win over the Browns.
  12. Dallas Cowboys (2-2): Tough loss for the Cowboys but quarterback Brandon Weeden needs more help on offense. Backs Joseph Randle and Darren McFadden had just 57 yards on 21 carries, COMBINED.
  13. Buffalo Bills– (2-2): 17 penalties, 2 fumbles and an interception. Miscues and turnovers won’t win you games. Right Buffalo?
  14. Indianapolis Colts (2-2): Gritty win for the Colts edging the Jacksonville Jaguars 16-13 in OT. Tight end Colby Fleener was dominant with 83 yards off nine receptions and a score.
  15. Seattle Seahawks (2-2): Safety Kam Chancellor is a game-changer. Chancellor punched the ball out from Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson as Johnson was nearing the end-zone to score; the Seahawks won because of this.
  16. Louis Rams (2-2): The Rams played like a team on mission dethroning the undefeated Cardinals in Arizona. Nick Foles stood tall passing for three touchdowns. While running back Todd Gurley ran for 146 rush yards on 19 carries.
  17. Minnesota Vikings (2-2): Reason For Hope: Running back Adrian Peterson plowed for 81 rush yards of 16 carries and a score against a stout Denver defense. Reason To Mope: The Viking’s defense gave up 103 rush yards and a score to Broncos running back Ronnie Hillman: Denver’s back-up running back.
  18. Oakland Raiders (2-2): A loss to the Bears on the road isn’t necessarily the worst thing for the Raiders. But losing the last 12 of 13 games on the road is. So is running back Latavius Murray’s rush total that game: 16 carries-49 yards.
  19. Washington Redskins (2-2): Quarterback Kirk Cousins did not turn the ball over and LOOK, the Redskins won over their NFC East rival, Philadelphia.
  20. Kansas City Chiefs (1-3): Hard schedule or not: Seven field goals isn’t good enough. Touchdowns win games. So does a defense. The Chiefs defense gave up four rushing touchdowns to the Bengals in a loss. Three-game skid for Kansas City.
  21. New Orleans Saints (1-3): Quarterback Drew Brees is a winner. He also throws touchdowns. He threw his 400th career touchdown pass on Sunday Night football. That pass was an 80-yard game-winning touchdown in overtime against the Dallas Cowboys.
  22. Baltimore Ravens (1-3): A much-needed win that couldn’t have come at a better time. The Ravens beat their AFC North rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers behind running back Justin Foresett’s huge Thursday night. He finished with 150 rushing yards of 27 carries and a score.
  23. Philadelphia Eagles (1-3): Two words: Demarco Murray. The running back was only on the field for half the snaps in the Eagles loss to NFC east rival, Washington. If the Eagles want to win they need to get Murray the ball.
  24. Cleveland Browns (1-3): Is quarterback Jonny Manziel starting? No. Is Cleveland still losing? Yep. Quarterback Luke McCown isn’t the answer.
  25. Miami Dolphins (1-3): After their 1-3 start, the Dolphins elected to fire head coach Joe Philbin. They still need to fire their entire defense and quarterback Ryan Tannehill if they expect to win.
  26. Tennessee Titans (1-2): Bye-Week
  27. Houston Texans (1-3): Houston’s rush defense was porous against Atlanta giving up four rushing touchdowns and 135 yards in a loss.
  28. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-3): Tough overtime loss to the Colts, but two missed field goal attempts can do that. This team is improving but it’s just not there yet.
  29. Chicago Bears (1-3): Quarterback Jay Cutler can win you games and lose you games. This time it was a win over the Oakland Raiders. Cutler threw two passing touchdowns.
  30. Detroit Lions (0-4): This team just finds ways to lose. Wide Receiver Calvin Johnson fumbled the ball in the end-zone before the potential game-winning touchdown. Seattle recovered. The Lions lost. Again.
  31. San Francisco 49ers (1-3): Where do you begin? Quarterback Colin Kaepernick has thrown five interceptions in just four games. The 49ers gave up six sacks in their loss to the Packers. Their defense has given up 17 points or more in every game this season. Time to blow it up.
  32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-3): Quarterback Jameis Winston is a rookie. It shows. He has thrown seven interceptions on the season. Two of which, are pick-sixes. Looks like a long season ahead for the Bucs.