NFL Power Rankings: Breaking Down League Landscape Heading into Week 4

The Denver Broncos closed out Week 3 with yet another dominant victory. Peyton Manning and the Broncos' offensive unit were nearly unstoppable, and the defense didn't blink against the run as Denver rolled to a 3-0 start. 

But somehow, that wasn't enough to earn the Broncos the No. 1 spot in my Week 4 power rankings. 

Read on to find out who's No. 1 and where the rest of the league stands heading into the final weekend of September. 

*Top Super Bowl contenders are italicized. 

1. Seattle Seahawks (3-0)

The Seattle Seahawks appear to be improving each win and are without a doubt the best team in football through three weeks. Not only is Seattle's defense fearsome, but the Hawks offense is starting to catch up.

Marshawn Lynch and the ground attack rank eighth in the NFL in rushing yards, racking up nearly 133 per week. 

More importantly, the Seahawks are the only team allowing fewer than 10 points per game in 2013. On top of that, Seattle is outscoring its opponents by 19.7 points per game heading into Week 4 and looking like the hands-down favorite to win the NFC, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport:

2. Denver Broncos (3-0)

The Broncos have won each of their first three games by at least 16 points and, thanks to Peyton Manning, boast the top-ranked passing attack in all of football. What makes Denver even more dangerous?

Its defense ranks first against the run and is giving up a ridiculous 2.3 yards per carry this season.

If the Broncos can improve in the secondary and find a way to force more turnovers moving forward, they'll be a virtual lock to win the AFC this year.  

3. New Orleans Saints (3-0)

New Orleans is back to playing defense in 2013, surrendering under 13 points per game. Only four teams have fared better when it comes to keeping opponents off the scoreboard. 

With Drew Brees and the offense firing on all cylinders, it's not crazy to think the Saints are once again a Super Bowl contender in the NFC. At 3-0, New Orleans is already on the fast track to earning home-field advantage in the playoffs, and beating the Saints inside their rocking dome is no easy task.

4. Kansas City Chiefs (3-0)

Andy Reid's Chiefs are one of only two teams in the NFL without a turnover heading into Week 4. The biggest question now is: Can Kansas City sustain that trend?

5. New England Patriots (3-0)

It certainly doesn't feel like these Patriots should be 3-0, but despite the mess on the offensive side of the ball, Bill Belichick's defense has answered the call, holding opponents to just 309 total yards per game and ranking second in the NFL in points allowed.

If you can't score more than 11.3 points per game against Tom Brady, you're going to lose. 

6. Miami Dolphins (3-0)

Miami proved that it's a real threat in the AFC in Week 3, battling back to beat the Atlanta Falcons 27-23.

Although there are plenty of concerns on defense and questions as to whether second-year quarterback Ryan Tannehill can lead them to the promised land, at 3-0, the Dolphins have earned their spot in this week's rankings. 

7. Indianapolis Colts (2-1)

Though many, including myself, aren't quite sure what to make of Indy's 20-point win at San Francisco in Week 3, all the Colts can do is win the games on their schedule. And regardless of the current state of the 49ers, throttling the defending NFC champions in their house is quite an accomplishment. 

8. Chicago Bears (3-0)

Yes, the Bears are 3-0 and sitting atop the NFC North division. But two of their wins have come against winless teams in Minnesota and Pittsburgh.

If Chicago can win at Detroit in Week 4, they'll be moving on up.

9. Cincinnati Bengals (2-1)

The Bengals managed to beat the Packers despite four turnovers in Week 3. While Green Bay aided Cincinnati by turning it over four times as well, there's no denying that this is a confident Cincinnati team trending up at the moment.

With Cleveland on tap for Week 4, the Bengals should be 3-1 heading into their Week 5 showdown with New England.

10. Baltimore Ravens (2-1)

The Ravens haven't given up a touchdown since their season-opening debacle in Denver and are allowing just 7.5 points per game over the past two weeks.

Joe Flacco and the offense will have to pick up the pace if Baltimore wants to return to the big game, but for now it appears that that vaunted defense hasn't gone anywhere. The Ravens rank fourth in the league against the run and are shutting opponents down in the red zone and forcing field goal attempts.

It may have been hard to believe after their dreadful Week 1 performance, but the Ravens are looking more and more like a legitimate championship contender with each game. 

11. Houston Texans (2-1)

The Texans were exposed by the defending Super Bowl champions in Week 3 and the questions surrounding Matt Schaub aren't going anywhere anytime soon. With upcoming matchups against Seattle and San Francisco, we'll soon find out just how much of a threat Houston will be in 2013.

12. Dallas Cowboys (2-1)

Dallas needs to prove it can win on the road in Week 4 at San Diego, otherwise the Cowboys could be staring at a 2-3 start with Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos coming to town in Week 5.

13. Detroit Lions (2-1)

The Lions are still searching for balance on offense, but as long as Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson and company can outscore the opposition, Detroit could be headed back to the postseason.

14. Green Bay Packers (1-2)

The bye week couldn't have come at a better time for the Green Bay Packers, who blew a 16-point lead to the Bengals in Week 3 after climbing out of an early 14-point hole.

Aaron Rodgers and the Pack will be kicking themselves for letting one get away, but with a home game against Detroit scheduled for Week 5, Green Bay should be able to right the ship soon enough.

15. Atlanta Falcons (1-2)

It's fair to say that the Falcons are unlucky to be 1-2 after three weeks. Both of Atlanta's losses were last-minute defeats, and both came against teams that are currently unbeaten in New Orleans and Miami.

16. San Francisco 49ers (1-2)

While there's no covering up the fact that the 49ers have looked awful over the past two weeks—being outscored 56-10—it's important to note that San Francisco was annihilated by two of the league's better teams in Seattle and Indianapolis. 

Both were playoff teams a season ago and should be in contention again in 2013.

The Niners still have an identity and a talented secondary to hang their hat on. Plus, they can rebound with a win over division-rival St. Louis on Thursday night. 

17. Tennessee Titans (2-1)

Mike Munchak has to be encouraged by the progress the Titans have made on the defensive side of the ball. Tennessee ranks inside the top 10 in scoring defense and could be looking at a 3-1 start to the year with the New York Jets coming to Nashville in Week 4.

However like many middle-of-the-pack teams, the Titans must find more balance on offense in order to become more of a threat to the league's elite teams.

18. New York Jets (2-1)

Unfortunately, the Jets won't be able to play the Bucs and Bills every week. The schedule gets much tougher in the coming weeks with New York scheduled to play at Tennessee, at Atlanta, vs. New England, at Cincinnati and vs. New Orleans before its Week 10 bye.

19. San Diego Chargers (1-2)

Despite boasting one of the league's worst defenses, San Diego has yet to lose a game by more than three points this season. If the Chargers can learn to finish games, they'll remain in the mix with matchups against Oakland and Jacksonville on the horizon. 

20. Philadelphia Eagles (1-2)

Chip Kelly's new-look Eagles are clearly trending in the wrong direction having lost two straight. Making matters worse, both of Philadelphia's losses came at home and now the Eagles, who are struggling in all three phases of the game, will hit the road for three straight away games, per former running back Brian Westbrook:

Next up, the undefeated Broncos in Denver.

21. Buffalo Bills (1-2)

The Bills boast a dynamic rushing attack led by Fred Jackson and CJ Spiller. But unfortunately, their defense have let them down thus far, ranking 30th against the run and surrendering over 24 points per game.

With three straight showdowns with the AFC North upcoming, the opposition will only get tougher for Buffalo.

22. Carolina Panthers (1-2)

Carolina relieved loads of pent-up frustration in Week 3's shellacking of the New York Giants. But a bye week in Week 4 slows the Panthers' momentum.

Ron Rivera's defense will have to travel better than it did against Buffalo in Weeks 5 and 6, though, if the Panthers hope to get above .500.

23. St. Louis Rams (1-2)

Rams fans have got to be encouraged by the performance of Sam Bradford through three games despite the fact that St. Louis has lost two in a row coming into Week 4. 

The Rams will have an excellent opportunity to build some momentum at home on Thursday night. The Niners are reeling, and if St. Louis can pick up a hard-fought win in the division, it will be eyeing a potential 3-2 start with Jacksonville paying it a visit in Week 5.

24. Arizona Cardinals (1-2)

A stout run defense is just about all the Cardinals have going for them through three weeks. But with a Week 4 showdown with the winless Buccaneers looming, we could be looking at a .500 team heading into October. 

25. Oakland Raiders (1-2)

There's a huge difference between starting 2-2 and starting 1-3. Oakland will need to get a whole lot more out of its third-ranked ground attack in Week 4 against Washington if it hopes to get back to .500 before a pair of divisional games. 

26. Cleveland Browns (1-2)

The Browns aren't going to win too many games when Brian Hoyer drops back 57 times and throws three interceptions. Consider them lucky to be 1-2 heading into Week 4's matchup with division-rival Cincinnati.

27. Minnesota Vikings (0-3)

Of the six winless teams in the league, Minnesota has definitely looked like the best thus far. The Vikings could easily be 2-1 heading into Week 4 if not for a pair of gut-wrenching, last-second touchdown passes from Chicago and Cleveland. 

While the defense is to blame for those late-game blunders, Christian Ponder and the offense have to become more productive in the coming weeks if the Vikings want to save their season. 

28. Washington Redskins (0-3)

The good news is that Washington overcame a 3-6 start in 2012 to win the NFC East and make the playoffs. The problem is, RG3 looks like a shell of himself and the defense has gotten even worse since last year. 

29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-3)

If not for another struggling Florida-based franchise, the Buccaneers would possess the least productive offense in the NFL in 2013. Averaging just over 11 points per game, Tampa Bay is wasting a quality defense and another season. 

30. Pittsburgh Steelers (0-3)

Pittsburgh is severely lacking playmakers this season and it's shown on offense. The Steelers have scored a total of 42 points through three games. As a result of poor offensive play and a high rate of turnovers, the defense is spending more time on the field and struggling to keep opponents off the scoreboard. 

31. New York Giants (0-3)

It looked like the Giants were close to figuring things out after two turnover-filled losses to the Cowboys and Broncos. But Week 3's brutal beatdown at the hands of the Panthers showed that this team is far from being a contender.

Eli Manning seemed to be the one good thing New York had going for it, but with eight interceptions through three games, even he can't be counted on, per NFL Network's Michael Fabiano:

The Giants are also one of only two teams in the league being outscored by more than 20 points per game in 2013.

32. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-3)

Keep those bags nearby Jaguars fans.

After all, none of the six remaining winless teams have scored fewer points or have been outscored by more points than the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars. Plus, the Jags are one of only four teams giving up more than 30 points per game this season and the only team failing to score at least 10 points per game.

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