NFL Power Rankings Week 4: Breaking Down Where Teams Will Stand After Monday

Week 4 of the NFL is about to get underway, and after these games are played, we'll get a pretty good sense of where teams stand. Four weeks is a quarter of the season, giving us a solid body of evidence to see where each team is headed.

Here are detailed power rankings of where each team will stand after Monday.

1. Denver Broncos

The offense is explosive, historic even. It's up to the defense, which gives up nearly 24 points a game and 327 yards in the air, to make a Super Bowl run happen.

2. Seattle Seahawks

By far the best defense in football and one of the best running games. As long as Russell Wilson doesn't turn the ball over, the 'Hawks have an excellent chance to win it all.

3. Indianapolis Colts

Now that Trent Richardson is familiar with the offense, the second-year back will show why he was the third-overall pick in the 2012 draft. There is a ton of talent on this offense, and their defense is stout. An impressive rebuild in just over a year.

4. Chicago Bears

Marc Trestman has done wonders for Jay Cutler. The quarterback has just three picks and has thrived under better protection. Alshon Jeffery needs to step up, though. The No. 2 receiver is averaging just 34.6 yards per game.

5. Cincinnati Bengals

Giovani Bernard is a future star and the defense is legit. Like always, it's up to Andy Dalton to take this team far.

6. New England Patriots

Once Danny Amendola and Rob Gronkowski return, the Patriots offense should be back to normal. The AFC East is more competitive this year, so the sooner they get back, the better. 

7. New Orleans Saints

If the defense is for real, then the Saints could end up winning the NFC. They let up just 184.3 yards per game in the air. 

8. Kansas City Chiefs

Kansas City has the best pass rush in football, and as the New York Giants will tell you, a good pass rush can take you far. Justin Houston could easily be the Defensive Player of the Year.

9. San Francisco 49ers

Big win against St. Louis. Colin Kaepernick is going through some struggles, which is to be expected now that defenses have had a full offseason to prepare for him. The Niners need to stick to the run. Frank Gore had 153 yards and a touchdown on Thursday.

10. Baltimore Ravens

The Denver game was a fluke. The Ravens have not allowed a passing touchdown since that game. Ray Rice needs to stay healthy and pick up the production if the Ravens want to repeat as champs.

11. Dallas Cowboys

Dallas should easily win the weakened NFC East. Does that make the Cowboys a good team? Not sure. The loss of Anthony Spencer is devastating, and their offense is just mediocre. They should make the playoffs, but that has more to do with their competition than their talent.

12. Miami Dolphins

Huge litmus test against the Saints this week. I think they are for real, but this week will tell us a lot. Even if they lose, a good performance will show that they are on the right track.

13. Green Bay Packers

They are better than their record, and Aaron Rodgers is his usual great self. Defense is struggling and they really miss Charles Woodson's leadership in the secondary.

14. Atlanta Falcons

Injuries have been rough, to be sure, but this does not look like a team that almost made it to the Super Bowl a season ago. Matt Ryan needs to elevate his game, as well as the people around him. 

15. Houston Texans

Got a dose of reality against the Ravens. On Sunday, they face Seattle, and next week they face San Francisco. We'll get a good sense of what kind of team they are after that.

16. New York Jets

The defense is menacing, and Geno Smith looks promising. If Smith continues to progress and improve each week, they will be a playoff team.

17. Detroit Lions

Defense is holding on, and Matt Stafford is putting up big numbers. Sunday is a good litmus test against the Bears. Calvin Johnson needs to have a big game against Charles Tillman. Last year, he had only 106 yards in two games.

18. Tennessee Titans

If Jake Locker can continue his strong play, the Titans could make the playoffs. More consistency is needed before I completely buy in.

19. Carolina Panthers

They have probably the best running game in the league, stayed close with the Seahawks and dominated the Giants. Could they be a team on the rise? Cam Newton has been lost in the weeds after the emergence of Robert Griffin III, Russell Wilson and Colin Kaepernick, but he might be better than all three.

20. San Diego Chargers

Philip Rivers is having a great year and is second to Peyton Manning in touchdown passes. They could easily be 3-0 heading into this week. They are better than their record suggests.

21. Philadelphia Eagles

The offense is as advertised, particularly in the run game. But the defense is paltry and will keep them out of the playoffs until the unit can improve.

22. Pittsburgh Steelers

The return of Le'Veon Bell and the continued presence of Heath Miller could not come at a better time. Big Ben needs to take care of the ball better. The Steelers have the third-most turnovers in football.

23. Buffalo Bills

The sooner C.J. Spiller can get going, the better. He's averaging nearly half the yards per carry that he did last year. 

24. Washington Redskins

RG3's knee is only a minor issue. Their defense, 31st against both the run and the pass, is the real problem.

25. Arizona Cardinals

Carson Palmer isn't anything special, and the offensive line is still porous. They need to invest a high draft pick on a left tackle. Taylor Lewan of Michigan could be a nice fit. 

26. St. Louis Rams

The Rams were a hot team this summer, but we have to face the facts: Sam Bradford is just not good. He missed way too many open throws against the 49ers. It might be time for a change in St. Louis.

27. Cleveland Browns

Brian Hoyer is not a long-term answer, and I don't think that their Week 3 win was indicative of something bigger. This is still a team that traded away its best player, and it will struggle because of it.

28. Oakland Raiders

Concussion aside, Terrelle Pryor represents the first real hope for the Raiders in some time. The more refined as a passer he can become, the better. 

29. New York Giants

The Giants still have a lot of offensive talent; they just cannot protect the quarterback. Injuries have beset this offensive line, and it is in dire need of an upgrade, at every position. The Giants would benefit from getting David Wilson more in space, to utilize his speed and elusiveness.

30. Minnesota Vikings

Adrian Peterson is bound to break out eventually, but defenses will continue to stack the box until Christian Ponder or Matt Cassel can prove he can capably manage an offense for more than a few quarters at a time. If Cassel plays well in London, he will probably be the starter going forward.

31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Mike Glennon is probably not the answer, at least not yet. If he is the quarterback the rest of the way, it will be a long season for Bucs fans. It could end up resulting in a new coach.

32. Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars are bad in pretty much every category. They need an infusion of talent in every position. The rest of the season will be a march toward the No. 1 overall pick.