Thoughts on Week 4 Power Rankings

By pantherwoods | Wednesday, September 30, 2009 | ( 0 )

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I normally look at the NFL power rankings and say to myself “that looks exactly right”. This week I can’t even look at the rankings without trying to throw my computer out of the window. One game could not have changed the rankings as much as they show. When the Cincinnati Bengals came from behind to beat the Patriots 23-20 on Sunday it was an upset. It was a shocker. No one thought that the defending champions would go down, especially to the Bengals. The “experts” are giving them way too much credit. If the Bengals are the 11th best team in the league then I am going to beat up Kimbo Slice in a street fight on youTube. They are not as good as they were in 2005 when they won their division. Carson Palmer is looking sharper, but the loss of T.J. opposite of Ochocinco is proving to be frustrating. And number 85 has a lot of talking to back up.

On the other side of the ball, the Pittsburgh Steelers dropped ten spots to number 16 after two very disappointing losses back to back to teams they should have beat. The ball greedy re-invention of the Steel Curtain is looking more like a thick blanket without their long-locked leader on the field. Look for Steeler stock to rise in a couple weeks when Polamalu is slated to return.

Baltimore stayed atop the power rankings this week with an impressive win over the struggling Browns who remain at number 26. The Ravens are showing no signs of slowing down and as long as Derrick Mason can keep his form through the playoffs look to see Baltimore in the AFC Championship game.

The Colts and the Giants flip-flopped going 2 and 3 respectively. The Manning brothers are truly a joy to watch and they both are in MVP form.

New Orleans jumps to number 4 going undefeated and heading into five straight games at home.

Minnesota stays put at number 5 after Brett Favre’s 342nd last second comeback touchdown pass. Followed by Jets, Patriots and Falcons going 6, 7, and 8 respectively. Do not let Atlanta being left out of those elite teams up in the top 5 fool you, if Michael Turner finds a rhythm, watch out. The Eagles and the Packers round out the top 10.

Other teams making significant jump:

The Jaguars going from 27 to 22, heading into a winnable game with the Titans who still have a goose egg in the win column.

Denver is 3-0. Yes the same Bronco team that was falling apart at the seams a few weeks ago. With the same head coach that sent Jay Cutler packing and almost ran Brandon Marshall out of town. On the heels of defeating the Raiders, Brown and giant-slaying Bengals mentioned above on Brandon Stokley’s Miracle at the Mile-High jumped from 20 to 13. With quite possibly the toughest upcoming 5 week stretch on the schedule wait to see where the Broncos stand in the coming weeks.

And the rookie led Detroit Lion got the King Kong sized monkey of their back and scratched up a win over the Redskins who looked awful. The upside for Detroit is substantial, the downside for Washington could be disastrous.

We will see next week if Baltimore can stay at number 1 with a tough game at Foxborough.

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