2011 NFL Power Rankings | Week 4 

After the first three weeks of the NFL season, just three unbeaten teams remain.

If, prior to the season, you predicted that the Buffalo Bills would be amongst that select group, please raise your hand now.

Now, put your hand down, liar.

1. Green Bay Packers (3-0, Last Week: 1)

Green Bay has picked up right where they left-off last season, and are clearly the odds-on favorites to repeat as Super Bowl champions.

2. New Orleans Saints (2-1, Last Week: 4)

The Saints’ defense is still cause for plenty concern, as they rank 30th in the league in points given-up through the first three games (88).

Luckily, that offense isn’t too shabby.

3. Detroit Lions (3-0, Last Week: 8)

Their undefeated status isn’t as shocking as that of the Bills, but the Lions have been extremely impressive thus far, especially considering the relatively lofty expectations levied upon them before the season began.

Detroit will be facing a tough test this week, when they travel down to the Death Star to take on the Cowboys.

4. New England Patriots (2-1, Last Week: 2)

The Pats were in control of the game against the Bills last week, but a massive collapse gave them loss No. 1 on the season.

Tom Brady threw as many interceptions last week (four), as he had all of last season.

5. Baltimore Ravens (2-1, Last Week: 6)

Not quite sure happened in that loss to the Titans, but the Ravens were back on-point last week in their blowout win over the Rams.

After an underwhelming preseason and training camp, Torrey Smith (five catches, 152 yards, three TD) enjoyed a stellar NFL debut.

6.  Buffalo Bills (3-0, Last Week: 14)

After an easy blowout win over the Chiefs on opening day, Ryan Fitzpatrick’s Bills have pulled off two straight heart-stopping wins over the Raiders and Patriots.

Are they for real?

7. San Diego Chargers (2-1, Last Week: 10)

It wasn’t as easy as most imagined it would be, but the Chargers improved to 2-1 with a win over the hapless Chiefs Sunday afternoon in Southern California.

Ryan Mathews appears to have seized the No. 1 running back job (for now), picking up 149 total yards with a pair of touchdowns.

8. Houston Texans (2-1, Last Week: 7)

There’s hardly any shame in losing to the Saints in New Orleans, but Houston had every opportunity to win that game.

Arian Foster should be healthy enough to return this week when the Texans host the Steelers.

9. New York Jets (2-1, Last Week: 3)

Oakland isn’t an easy place to play, and the Jets found that out the hard way, losing to the Raiders 34-24.

Things won’t be getting any easier for them in the near future, with the Ravens and Patriots up next on the schedule.

10. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1, Last Week: 9)

Pittsburgh has looked old on more than one occasion already this season, but they were just able to squeak by the shorthanded Colts in Indy on Sunday night.

Can that shaky offensive line keep Ben Roethlisberger upright?

11. Dallas Cowboys (2-1, Last Week: 13)

They couldn’t find the end zone, but the Cowboys got six field goals from rookie Dan Bailey on their way to an 18-16 win over the hated Redskins.

Will they be the first to topple the Lions in 2011?

12.Oakland Raiders (2-1, Last Week: 19)

Think Darren McFadden has thrust himself into the conversation of the best running backs in football?

The two-time Heisman runner-up leads the league with 393 yards rushing, and possesses a combination of size and speed matched only by Adrian Peterson at the position.

13. Washington Redskins (2-1, Last Week: 15)

Rex Grossman has been very solid thus far, but coughed up the ball at quite the inopportune time in the loss to the Cowboys on Monday.

14.  New York Giants (2-1, Last Week: 18)

Quite the statement game from the G-Men on Sunday, as they went into the Linc and whipped the Dream Team 29-16.

Mario, who? Victor Cruz filled in quite admirably for the sidelined Mario Manningham, catching three passes for 110 yards and a pair of scores.

15.Philadelphia Eagles (1-2, Last Week: 5)

Philly’s 2011 season hasn’t exactly gone according to plan thus far, as they looked flat-out bad for the majority of the aforementioned loss to the Giants.

Think they’re already giving second thoughts to handing the injury-prone Michael Vick that massive contract?

16.  Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1, Last Week: 17)

Last year’s 10-win effort hardly seems like a flash-in-the-pan at this point, as the Buccos have a chance to improve to 3-1 this Monday night at home against the winless Colts.

17. Tennessee Titans (2-1, Last Week: 16)

Chris Johnson has been miserable so far, as he’s run for just 98 yards on 46 carries in three games. That averages out to 2.1 yards-per-carry.

I…have no explanation.

18. Atlanta Falcons (1-2, Last Week: 12)

The trendy pick to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl is looking quite shaky, and had no running game to speak of in the loss at Tampa last week.

19. Chicago Bears (1-2, Last Week: 11)

Chicago is 1-2, but, to be fair, they’ve opened the season with three tough games against Atlanta, New Orleans and Green Bay.

Protecting Jay Cutler might help their cause.

20.  Cleveland Browns (2-1, Last Week: 27)

Colt McCoy has been consistent, having thrown for between 210-213 yards in each of the first three games.

21. San Francisco 49ers (2-1, Last Week: 21)

Crazy to think, but the 49ers are an overtime loss to the Cowboys away from being 3-0 already.

Big test for Jim Harbaugh’s boys this week though, against an underperforming Eagles team.

22.  Carolina Panthers (1-2, Last Week: 26)

Cam Newton came down to earth a bit during the rain-soaked win over the Jaguars, throwing for just 158 yards on 18-34 passing.

The fact that they suddenly can’t run the ball makes Cam’s task even taller.

23. Arizona Cardinals (1-2, Last Week: 20)

Any team that loses to the Seahawks should automatically be dropped to No. 32.

24. Denver Broncos (1-2, Last Week: 25)

Eric Decker appears to have asserted himself as a force in the Broncos’ passing attack, as he put together his second-straight very strong effort against the Titans with seven catches for 48 yards on a team-high 12 targets.

25.Cincinnati Bengals (1-2, Last Week: 24)

Not as bad as I thought they’d be.

Not good, but not bad, either.

26.Jacksonville Jaguars (1-2, Last Week: 22)

What a mess.

I’m glad they’re starting Blaine Gabbert, but if you’re going to throw him into the fire by the time week three rolls around, why didn’t you just do it to begin the season?

27. Miami Dolphins (0-3, Last Week: 28)

The Dolphins aren’t a particularly good team, but that’s three tough losses to the Pats, Texans and Browns to start 2011.

Steve Slaton should be the savior. I’m sure of it.

28. St. Louis Rams (0-3, Last Week: 23)

I picked the Rams to win this division, and, at 0-3, it’s still far from out of reach at this point.

NFC West!

29. Minnesota Vikings (0-3, Last Week: 29)

That’s three 10+ point leads blown in three weeks for the Vikes.

With that Adrian Peterson fella they have up there, you’d think they would have the ultimate closer. Maybe giving him the ball would be a good plan.

30. Seattle Seahawks (1-2, Last Week: 31)

They won a game!

31. Indianapolis Colts (0-3, Last Week: 30)

So close.

32. Kansas City Chiefs (0-3, Last Week: 32)

I fear they may be occupying the No. 32 slot for the rest of the year.