Every NFL team is now 4 games into their season, just short of 25% of the season. We put together our power rankings heading into week one of the season, so let’s check in and update where these teams were and where they are now.
We know Aaron Leming handles the WCG weekly power rankings, but here’s another opinion as the Bears head to the bye (we will update at each quarter of the season).
1. Philadelphia Eagles (Previously 1)
The Eagles haven’t looked like the sharpest team in the NFL, but they are one of just two undefeated teams and
they clearly just know how to win.
2. Kansas City Chiefs (2)
Plenty of people have dropped the Chiefs further down in their rankings. But that’s because they want to overreact week to week. They’ve been missing Xavier Worthy, and he’s back. Rashee Rice’s return is right around the corner. This might be a Patrick Mahomes MVP-type season when the offense gets cooking.
3. Buffalo Bills (3)
The other undefeated team in the league. Josh Allen is clearly going to be in the MVP conversation once again. This team isn’t perfect, but they are certainly going to be contenders for a Super Bowl championship.
4. Detroit Lions (9)
I dropped the Lions further in the week one rankings because of the loss of the coaching staff, but Dan Campbell and his new look staff have looked really good after a flat week one performance. Jared Goff is proving that he wasn’t just Ben Johnson’s puppet.
5. Green Bay Packers (6)
The tie against the Cowboys was uninspiring and Jordan Love almost cost them even the chance at a tie, but Micah Parsons is truly a menace and this team is headed for the playoffs.
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10)
Baker Mayfield keeps playing excellent football. Bucky Irving has become one of the best backs in the league. Emeka Egbuka might win rookie of the year. This team is legit.
7. LA Rams (22)
I placed the Rams wildly low because I truly believed Matthew Stafford wasn’t going to be able to play and if he did, I thought the back would not allow him to be himself. I was wrong.
8. Los Angeles Chargers (7)
The Chargers are showing that they are going to be a very good football team. But they are still showing holes that show they may not be ready to jump into that true contender level.
9. San Francisco 49ers (5)
The 49ers have been suffering injury after injury. They have won 3 of their first 4, but if they continue to lose players, it seems impossible that they are going to be able to keep this up.
10. Baltimore Ravens (4)
Should this team be lower than this? Probably. They have a ton of injuries, including Lamar Jackson, and their defense stinks. But right now, do you think the Ravens will miss the playoffs? I’m not ready to count them out yet.
11. Indianapolis Colts (30)
I certainly was way off about the Colts. I don’t know how they are playing this well. I don’t know how Daniel Jones is doing what he’s doing, but this team is certainly good and will push to make the playoffs.
12. Pittsburgh Steelers (12)
The Steelers are winning football games and I don’t think Aaron Rodgers has turned the clock all the way back, but he certainly looks significantly better than he did last season. It would be shocking if Mike Tomlin didn’t have yet another winning record and another playoff appearance.
13. Jacksonville Jaguars (16)
The Jaguars are interesting. Trevor Lawrence doesn’t look great. Travis Hunter has not been just putting up the numbers we expected. But the defense is playing solid football and looks like the Jaguars are going to be a threat to win the South.
14. Washington Commanders (11)
The Commanders don’t look like they have the same mojo they had last year and Jayden Daniels has already missed a couple of games. Even so, the team still looks like they will be challenging for an NFC playoff berth.
15. Denver Broncos (13)
To be fair, this is probably too low for the Denver Broncos, but at the same time, they don’t seem to be this quiet juggernaut that so many people that cover the league hoped they would be. Only wins against the Titans and the Burrow-less Bengals doesn’t earn them a rise in the rankings.
16. Seattle Seahawks (23)
I came into this season with the thought process that Geno Smith was better than Sam Darnold and the Seahawks downgraded the QB position. They did not. The Seahawks may not be quite ready for primetime, but they play hard and have enough talent that they will be scrappy all season.
17. Houston Texans (8)
The Texans probably could be even lower on this list, but I’ll let them cling to a decent spot in the rankings. Four weeks from now, if they don’t figure things out, they could absolutely be in the 20s.
18. Minnesota Vikings (18)
JJ McCarthy hasn’t looked great, and that is going to be holding them back unless he looks much better soon, but of course, now he’s hurt and its Carson Wentz’s show right now. They have pieces, but they may not have the quarterback.
19. Chicago Bears (14)
Bears fans might be angry with me for dropping them in the rankings, but if we’re being objective, this team lost to Minnesota, Detroit slapped them around, and they have certainly looked better the last two weeks, but they’ve done it against two teams that are in the bottom third in the league.
20. Atlanta Falcons (15)
Some people felt the Falcons could push for the NFC South crown, but I was a wait-and-see mode with this team. I’m still waiting and seeing on Michael Penix because right now I’m not seeing it.
21. New England Patriots (17)
Drake Maye is looking really good, but there are other holes on this roster and that’s going to hold them back. If Maye keeps playing this well (and improving) this team should be moving on up the rankings, despite dropping a couple spots here.
22. Arizona Cardinals (21)
This offense just isn’t good. The Cardinals are another team that some people thought could be a sneaky challenger to win the NFC West, but as long as Kyler Murray is the quarterback, the team will be limited.
23. Cleveland Browns (31)
Some people may be surprised with how high this team is, but this defense is legit, Judkins is performing well and they have elite 12 personnel. They have no quarterback, if they did, this would be a playoff team.
24. Dallas Cowboys (25)
Imagine if this team still had Micah Parsons.
25. Las Vegas Raiders (19)
Geno Smith is having more bad games than good ones and that’s going to be hard to overcome if he doesn’t start playing better.
26. Cincinnati Bengals (20)
This is probably a generous place to put this Bengals team without Joe Burrow, but the Jake Browning-led Bengals look like the Bungals once again.
27. New York Giants (28)
Their defensive line is legit. We will see what Jaxson Dart has, but with no Malik Nabers, this season isn’t going anywhere for Big Blue.
28. Miami Dolphins (24)
Anyone who follows the NFL should not be surprised how this season is going for Miami. Add the Tyreek Hill injury on top of it and they won’t be rising in the ranks anytime soon.
29. Carolina Panthers (26)
Bryce Young does not look like the development is continuing. This team doesn’t have much talent and they are staring straight at another top 5 pick in next year’s draft.
30. New York Jets (27)
All Aaron Glenn should be focused on this year is fixing the culture. The defense should be better, but this wasn’t a one or two year project to turn this franchise around.
31. New Orleans Saints (32)
The Saints stink. They have been scrappy to give them credit, but this team needs a lot of new talent and needs to rebuild.
32. Tennessee Titans (29)
“If we keep it a buck right now, we ass.” – Cam Ward. I really don’t think I need to add anything else.
