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Week 4 NFL Power Rankings: Green Bay, Detroit, and Buffalo Top The List At 3-0

SB Nation Houston's power rankings for week four.

I am not one to gloat, but I can't not use this space to address those who said I had Buffalo and Detroit too high in the rankings last week. You can't say that this week as those two are among the only three undefeated teams in the entire National Football League. Enough of that though, time to get to what brings people to the table....the unimportant, subjective power rankings.

As always, and by always I mean two weeks, I look at record first with a nod to head-to-head meetings and who is winning more impressively. In other words, 3-0 is better than 2-1. Always. You are what your record says you are.


1. Green Bay Packers (3-0) - The defending Super Bowl champions haven't lost a meaningful game since December 19th, 2010. Until they do, they will be sitting at the top of these power rankings.

2. Detroit Lions (3-0) - Congrats to their fans who are seeing their first 3-0 start since 1980. Their plus-55 point differential is tops in the NFL and having a comeback win on the road (where they have been 2-22 the past 3 seasons) are reason enough to put them at #2 over the...

3. Buffalo Bills (3-0) - Coming back against New England? That’s always impressive. They are the AFC's only unbeaten team and have scored the most points in this young season.

4. New Orleans Saints (2-1) - Their only loss is to Green Bay in Green Bay. Their defense looks pretty weak, but that offense is averaging about 34 points a game behind a sparkling start by Drew Brees. Few teams can outscore them and match their pace.

5. New England Patriots (2-1) - Continuing in the "great offense, bad defense" category are Bill Belichick's boys. Somehow, someway he needs to reach those (defensive) kids. With that defense, Tom Brady cannot afford to throw four interception games.

6. Baltimore Ravens (2-1) - A blowout win is a great way to show that the Tennessee loss could have been a let down game. The upcoming Sunday night game is also a very good chance to show if they are dominant or inconsistent.

7. Houston Texans (2-1) - They fought hard, but Drew Brees was just a little better on Sunday. Losing by 7 in the Superdome is nothing to be ashamed of. How they bounce back against Pittsburgh will be a telling sign of their 2011 season.

8. Oakland Raiders (2-1) - I have to admit, I love watching Darren McFadden run. If the front seven continues to harass quarterbacks then this team will contend for the AFC West.

9. New York Jets (2-1) - I can't put them ahead of the Raiders after Oakland just won, but they can leap ahead with a win against Baltimore. Mark Sanchez cannot afford to make any mistakes in that one.

10. New York Giants (2-1) - They were the least talked about NFC East team this offseason, but they're 2-1 and firmly in the division hunt. If you haven't noticed, Jason Pierre-Paul leads the NFL with five sacks (with Jared Allen). The young fella from South Florida is becoming quite the terror off the edge.

11. Tennessee Titans (2-1) - Give 'em credit. They found a way to win after Kenny Britt went down. With no Britt and a struggling Chris Johnson, can they continue to find wins?

12. Cleveland Browns (2-1) - The Browns could very well contend for a wild card spot in December if they can keep Peyton Hillis healthy. Seriously, their schedule isn't so bad.

13. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1) - Blown out by Baltimore, stomp Seattle, and struggle against the Indianapolis ManninglessColts. I can't get a read on this team at all.

14. San Diego Chargers (2-1) - They're 2-1 despite the traditional September struggles. Fortunately, Ryan Mathews seems to be showing signs of life which could help them out in December and January.

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1) - They might have their eye on a showdown with New Orleans to take control of the NFC South, but they can't overlook Indy and San Francisco if they're thinking playoffs.

16. Dallas Cowboys (2-1) - An ugly win counts the same as a pretty win, but two ugly wins and an ugly loss have this team reading as average so far.

17. Washington Redskins (2-1) - Field goals and turnovers are not a way to inspire confidence that you can win the division. The defense looks like it can keep them in games though.

18. San Francisco 49ers (2-1) – The defense has looked good, but they are struggling mightily on the offensive side. They still stand tall in the NFC West though, but the offense will determine if they win it or not.

19. Chicago Bears (1-2) - Are they a bad team with a bad offensive line or have they just been beaten by two good teams (Green Bay and New Orleans)?

20. Denver Broncos (1-2) - Two losses by six points, one win by two points. Coming down to the end of the game will put you near the top of the 1-2s but also has to have fans thinking "They could've been 3-0 if...."

21. Atlanta Falcons (1-2) - The offense hasn't clicked and the defense is a bit porous. This isn't the team anyone predicted them to be.

22. Philadelphia Eagles (1-2) - The Dream Team is having a nightmare start (hey-o!). Vick's second straight week with an injury also has to make some nervous about that long-term investment in him as the franchise quarterback.

23. Carolina Panthers (1-2) - A rainstorm kept Cam Newton from having a big game, but the Panthers still won a game they should have won. That's progress.

24. Cincinnati Bengals (1-2) - Andy Dalton may not get the Newton/ESPN hype, but he's been good in his first three game and the Bengals have been more competitive than most people thought they could be.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-2) - Blaine Gabbert > Luke McCown. Jacksonville now needs to find out if he's a franchise guy.

26. Arizona Cardinals (1-2) - Woulda, coulda, shoulda. A missed opportunity they may regret in December.

27. Seattle Seahawks (1-2) - Yes, they beat Arizona and should be ahead of them by my own definition of meaningless power, but they are averaging 10 points a game and have a minus-37 point differential. Arizona should be kicking themselves.

28. Minnesota Vikings (0-3) - If NFL games were two quarters long then they'd be 3-0. Unfortunately, there's a second half and they've blown 10, 17, and 20 point leads in them.

29. Indianapolis Colts (0-3) - They put up a fight and played inspired on Sunday. They seem to be getting, relatively, better as well.

30. St. Louis Rams (0-3) - They're still in the NFC West hunt, sadly, but this team is missing some secondary parts.

31. Miami Dolphins (0-3) - If they don't beat San Diego then Tony Sparano could be fired during the bye week. His seat is that hot right now.

32. Kansas City Chiefs (0-3) - They played San Diego close, but they still have a lot of injured talent.

Images by eflon used in background images under a Creative Commons license. Thank you.