NFL Power Rankings: Examining What Each Team Must Improve Entering Week 5

The 2012 NFL season is all over the place so far. Three teams remain undefeated through four weeks, one of which is the Arizona Cardinals. Does that tell you anything?

No franchise, outside of the Houston Texans, has been dominant so far. Every team, win or lose, has had to fight for what it's got.

That means every squad has room for improvement entering Week 5.

Let's take a look at one thing each group needs to work on.

1. Houston Texans

Houston's 17th-ranked passing attack could be a potential weakness down the line. Finding flaws on this team right now wouldn't do the Texans' dominance justice.

2. Atlanta Falcons

Atlanta managed to improve to 4-0 with Matt Bryant's game-winning field goal against the Panthers, but that doesn't mean the team is perfect. The Falcons are running for fewer than 100 yards per game, while allowing nearly 129.

3. Arizona Cardinals

It's hard to believe that I put a No. 3 next to Arizona's name, but the Cardinals have earned it. Despite averaging fewer than 300 yards per game, the Cardinals have vanquished all comers through four weeks of play.

Kevin Kolb has 752 yards and seven touchdowns so far this season, leading the Cardinals by possessing the ball rather than making big plays.

Arizona must find a way to get the ball into Larry Fitzgerald's hands. The All-Pro receiver has 22 catches for 252 yards and just two touchdowns, a far cry from where a player of his caliber should be.

More vertical plays will make this team even more difficult to beat in the coming weeks.

4. Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles scored a major win over the Giants on Sunday night. They only allowed Ahmad Bradshaw to run for 39 yards, but they're still allowing more than 100 yards per game as a team.

5. San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers bounced back from their loss to Minnesota with a 34-0 drubbing of the Jets. Alex Smith has plenty of new toys to play with, but the Niners are still averaging fewer than 200 passing yards per contest.

6. Baltimore Ravens

This works two-fold for me. Not only are the Ravens No. 28 in the league at defending the pass, but quarterback Joe Flacco is handling the ball nearly three times more than Pro Bowl running back Ray Rice.

Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron loves to throw the football, despite having arguably the league's best ball-carrier at his disposal. It's puzzling, especially when Flacco still has his struggles.

Baltimore is right there in the AFC, and the entire NFL, but things need to be refined. Pounding the ball with Rice on a more consistent basis is a fine place to start; stopping the pass is another.

7. San Diego Chargers

The Chargers' stingy run defense has them at 3-1, but they need more from their offense. Philip Rivers isn't stretching the field like in years past, and their run game is almost nonexistent.

8. Minnesota Vikings

Who saw this coming? The Vikings are 3-1. If they allow Christian Ponder to start making more plays down the field, this team is very interesting.

Ponder is completing over 70 percent of his passes, but he's only averaging about seven yards per completion. Jerome Simpson's presence on the outside should help that situation, giving him an opportunity to make more vertical plays.

Minnesota opts for a ball-control offense and scrappy defensive approach, but opening up the passing attack will only help this team as the season moves along.

9. Green Bay Packers

The Packers' pass defense is No. 1 in the league, but their run-stoppers are allowing nearly 136 yards per contest.

10. Chicago Bears

Jay Cutler turned in an excellent performance against the Cowboys on Monday night, but Chicago's passing offense still lacks explosiveness at times.

11. New England Patriots

If you want a big play through the air against the Patriots, chances are you're going to find it. The Buffalo Bills gashed New England consistently, as the Patriots continue to struggle against the passing game.

12. Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals are riding their explosive passing attack to victory. At 3-1, it's hard to argue, but a 31st-ranked run defense won't get them very far in the long run.

13. Denver Broncos

A 24th-ranked rushing attack isn't taking any pressure off of Peyton Manning—not like it did for Tim Tebow last season.

14. Dallas Cowboys

Dallas' run game is averaging fewer than 80 yards per game, and it only seems to be getting worse.

15. Washington Redskins

As dynamic as Robert Griffin III has been, the Redskins have been that bad at stopping the pass. They currently rank No. 31 in the league, allowing 337.3 yards per game through the air.

16. New York Giants

The Giants run game has improved from last season, but the team is allowing opponents to hit big pass plays down the field. Allowing nearly 262 passing yards per game has put New York in a few unfavorable positions.

17. Seattle Seahawks

Rookie quarterback Russell Wilson has been OK, even though his team is ranked last in the league in passing yards per game.

18. Pittsburgh Steelers

These are definitely not your grandfather's Steelers. Their 30th-ranked rushing offense puts the ball firmly in Ben Roethlisberger's hands, leaving him open for punishment behind their inconsistent offensive line.

19. St. Louis Rams

The Rams need to run a less controlled attack. Without a consistent downfield target, opposing teams stack the box against Steven Jackson and Sam Bradford's short throws.

20. Buffalo Bills

C.J. Spiller has been a revelation, leading the Bills to the league's No. 3 rushing attack, but Ryan Fitzpatrick is still inconsistent. Add that to a middle-of-the-road defense, and you have yourself a .500 squad.

21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tampa Bay is 30th in passing offense (149 yards per game) and 32nd at defending balls in the air (353.3 yards against per game).

22. Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jags have shown some bright spots this season. Throwing for fewer than 150 yards per game isn't one of them.

23. Carolina Panthers

Cam Newton is dynamic, but he must cut down on the critical mistakes. He's thrown five interceptions, and his fumble against the Falcons in the fourth quarter cost Carolina a chance to ice the game.

24. Detroit Lions

The Lions have lost three straight. They were outscored 47-21 in the first half of those games, something that must change if they want to turn things around.

25. Miami Dolphins

Miami is a top-five team in terms of running the ball and stopping the run. Passing the ball is a different story, where the Dolphins stand 25th offensively and 29th defensively.

26. Tennessee Titans

Chris Johnson has 58 carries for 186 yards. What else can I say? Oh yeah, they're allowing nearly 38 points per game.

27. New York Jets

Where to start? The Jets have no consistency on either side of the ball. Matters are made worse by their 28th-ranked run defense. Expect major changes from Rex Ryan at some point.

28. Indianapolis Colts

Andrew Luck is improving slowly but surely behind center. That can be helped by giving Donald Brown the ball more often. The running back only has 43 carries for 155 yards this season, which is a big reason the Colts are No. 23 in the league at running the football.

29. Oakland Raiders

Oakland's best player—running back Darren McFadden—only has 44 carries on the season. With a talent like that, a team's rushing offense shouldn't be 31st in the NFL.

30. Kansas City Chiefs

Kansas City stepped up to beat New Orleans in Week 3, but it's allowed 35-plus points in three losses.

31. New Orleans Saints

I'd like to put them higher after nearly beating the Packers in Lambeau, but the fact is the Saints are 0-4. New Orleans is still having trouble stopping anyone, allowing Aaron Rodgers to throw for 319 yards and four touchdowns on Sunday.

32. Cleveland Browns

The Browns are 20th or worse at defending the run and the pass, leaving their offense to pick up the slack. But that's also a problem. Rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden has nearly 1,000 yards, overshadowed by the fact that he has seven interceptions.