NFL Power Rankings Week 4: Vikings, Saints Among Risers and Fallers
With Week 3 of the NFL season almost concluded, it's time to take a look at some of the big movers and shakers in the power rankings.
No, this is not the actual rankings; more like a teaser.
It's 20 teams, 10 who are moving up the ladder, and 10 who find themselves sinking into the proverbial quicksand. We'll tell you where they stood, where they stand, and what prompted the boost.
Tumbler 10: New Orleans Saints
1 of 20
Where They Were: 1
Where They Stand Now: 3.
Why The Change: When the No. 1 team loses, they drop in the rankings, even if it is in overtime after your idiot kicker shanks a potential game-winning field goal.
Climber 10: Philadelphia Eagles
2 of 20
Where They Were: 13
Where They Are: 11
Why The Boost: With each successful game, Michael Vick becomes more confident, and defensive coordinators everywhere get nervous. Another week, another win, another boost in the rankings.
Tumbler 9: Arizona Cardinals
3 of 20
Where They Were: 21
Where They Stand: 23
Why The Fall: I don't care that you won the game, Derek Anderson. You guys looked really shaky out there and only beat the Raiders by a point.
So, down the charts you go.
.jpg?w=256 "Cowboys Giants Football")
Climber 9: New York Jets
4 of 20
Where They Were: 11
Where They Stand: 9
Why the Boost: It would appear that it was Week 1's result that was the aberration for the Jets, not Week 2. Thirty-one points against a good Dolphins defense is nothing to sneeze at, even if I'm not convinced Mark Sanchez is a competent NFL quarterback.
Tumbler 8: Jacksonville Jaguars
5 of 20
Where They Were: 23
Where They Are: 25
Why the Fall: When you can't score more than seven points against Philly's defense with Maurice Jones-Drew as your running back, you're in deep trouble. I hope Jack del Rio's wearing flame-resistant pants, because that seat's on fire right now.
Climber 8: Kansas City Chiefs
6 of 20
Where They Were: 15
Where They Stand: 13
Why the Boost: I said the Chiefs needed to beat a team when there wasn't a hurricane going on.
They clearly listened.
Who would've thought Thomas Jones would still be chugging along after 11 seasons? Not the Bears!
Tumbler 7: San Francisco 49ers
7 of 20
Where They Were: 26
Where They Stand: 29
Why the Fall: Well...I guess now we know for sure. The Niners stink on ice.
I thought that Kool-Aid tasted kind of strange.
Climber 7: Baltimore Ravens
8 of 20
Where They Were: 9
Where They Are: 7
Why The Boost: Sure, they only beat the Browns. But they put up 24 points and Joe Flacco looked great.
Tumbler 6: Washington Redskins
9 of 20
Where They Were: 14
Where They Stand: 18
Why the Fall: Apparently, the Redskins' defense is going to be a serious problem after all. Maybe Mike Shanahan shouldn't have made Albert Haynesworth feel so fat.
Climber 6: Tennessee Titans
10 of 20
Where They Were: 19
Where They Stand: 15
Why The Boost: I feel like this is going to be a recurring theme each week. Whoever the Giants play gets a boost.
Plus, Chris Johnson reminded us that he can, in fact, dominate a game.
Tumbler 5: Houston Texans
11 of 20
Where They Were: 3
Where They Stand: 8
Why The Fall: When you lose like that at home to an 0-2 team, even if it's the Cowboys, you should be glad you only dropped five spots.
Climber 5: Minnesota Vikings
12 of 20
Where They Were: 24
Where They Stand: 19
Why The Boost: Who would've thought that giving Adrian Peterson free range was the best way to win a football game?
Tumbler 4: Miami Dolphins
13 of 20
Where They Were: 7
Where They Stand: 12
Why The Fall: Well, their defense finally got figured out, but their offense looked decent.
So we can't punish them too much for the loss. Five spots seems fair.
Climber 4: Seattle Seahawks
14 of 20
Where They Were: 22
Where They Stand: 17
Why the Boost: Pete Carroll can thank Leon Washington for this boost in the rankings. Maybe he'll make him the starter next week.
Tumbler 3: San Diego Chargers
15 of 20
Where They Were: 18
Where They Stand: 23
Why the Fall: The Chargers spent too much of the fourth quarter whining to the refs about calls, and not enough time...you know...actually winning the game.
Climber 3: Atlanta Falcons
16 of 20
Where they Were: 16
Where They Stand: 10
Why the boost: That was the second impressive win in a row for the Falcons. Can they make it three and get the Super Bowl bandwagon started?
Tumbler 2: New York Giants
17 of 20
Where They Were: 18
Where They Stand: 24
Why the Fall: Two terrible performances in a row. I feel like Tom Coughlin's face is always so red because his chair is so hot.
Climber 2: St. Louis Rams
18 of 20
Where They Were: 29
Where They Stand: 22
Why the Boost: We knew it was coming sooner or later.
The Rams won a game. Now that that's out of the way, they need a winning streak.
Tumbler 1: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
19 of 20
Where They Were: 10
Where They Stand: 16
Why The Fall: Well, that was a blast, wasn't it? The Steelers certainly gave the Bucs a reality check.
Climber 1: Dallas Cowboys
20 of 20
Where They Were: 27
Where They Stand: 20
Why the boost: We knew it was only a matter of time before Tony Romo got the Cowboys back on track. But who would've thought Roy Williams and his stone hands would make the difference?
.jpg?w=480 "Cowboys Giants Football")
.jpg?w=480 "Rams Eagles Football")
.jpg?w=600 "Rap Shuts Down Rodgers Rumor")
.jpg?w=600 "SEA Saw Simpson as 3rd Rounder")