NFL Power Rankings: 10 Teams That Could Rise After Week 4 Games
We're three games into the NFL season and now we have a better idea of who are contenders and who are pretenders in the league.
There are plenty of big matchups this week, especially some that will help determine the fate of some division races. Inside you'll find 10 teams that stand to gain the most in the power rankings with a victory this weekend.
Agree? Disagree? Leave it in the comments.
No. 10: Houston
1 of 10
The Texans travel to Oakland this week to try and get the taste of their first defeat out of their mouths and a convincing win here would show people that this Houston team isn't as soft as the others that came before it.
These are games the old Texans would let slip through their fingers and in the end would keep them out of the playoffs. A team within their division, Tennessee, blasted Oakland in Week 1. Houston needs to keep itself in the mix at the top of the AFC South with a beatdown of the Raiders.
If the Texans struggle or lose to Bruce Gradkowski and company, we may have to re-evaluate Houston.
No. 9: Jacksonville
2 of 10
The last two weeks were embarrassing performances against San Diego and Philadelphia. The Jags just got blown out in both games and looked uninspired doing it.
This week, it doesn't get easier as Jacksonville hosts division foe Indianapolis and the Jags need a win badly and if they can get it, it would be a huge upset and have people talking about who the real Jacksonville Jaguars really are.
If Maurice Jones-Drew can get going like Arian Foster did two weeks ago, the Jags will have a shot at winning the game.
No. 8: Tennessee
3 of 10
The Titans beat the Giants on Sunday but it wasn't pretty. New York committed three turnovers and killed itself with stupid personal foul penalties.
The scoreboard said it was a blowout but your eyes told you differently had you watched the game. The Giants' offense moved up and down the field as the Titans just used awful playcalling to stagnate the offense.
Now the Titans host Denver and Tennessee will have to trust Vince Young and let him throw the ball in order to protect Chris Johnson. Johnson will get killed if he has to keep carrying the ball that much. A solid win against the Broncos could restore faith in the Titans.
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No. 7: San Diego
4 of 10
The Chargers had their second disappointing loss in three weeks as San Diego fell to Seattle on the road this Sunday two weeks after losing to the Chiefs in Week 1.
San Diego's biggest problem is that it can't run the ball. The Chargers have just had Philip Rivers throw until his arm almost falls off and when Ryan Mathews returns from his ankle injury, he has to produce better than he has in his rookie season.
San Diego hosts Arizona and it's a game the Chargers should win big against a Cardinals team that has looked bad at times this year.
No. 6: St. Louis
5 of 10
If there's one thing that you can say about St. Louis, it's that the Rams won't roll over and give you an easy win.
Washington found that out the hard way last week as the Rams didn't just escape with a win, they beat the Redskins down and took it, something St. Louis hasn't done in a good, long while. Now the Rams get to play host to division rival Seattle and who would think that this matchup would have major implications for the NFC West.
The Seahawks got blasted in their only road game this week and a win would not just give the Rams some control within the division, but help their standing in the eyes of the public.
No. 5: Washington
6 of 10
The Redskins haven't exactly been what you'd call impressive to start to season. Washington won ugly against Dallas in Week 1, not even scoring an offensive touchdown in the victory.
Then the Redskins were thrown all over in a overtime loss to Houston. I'm not sure what to make of last week as Washington fell to St. Louis. However, the Redskins travel to Philadelphia in Donovan McNabb's return to Philly and if that doesn't motivate him to play the game of his life, then I don't know what will.
It certainly will be interesting theater in Philly on Sunday afternoon.
No. 4: San Francisco
7 of 10
I feel like that we might be able to pencil in San Francisco to a spot on this article every week for the rest of the season.
C'mon San Francisco. C'mon! I'm not sure what the 49ers have to do to get the job done but if San Fran keeps shooting itself in the foot with dumb penalties and mental mistakes. That rests on the coach and I don't think Mike Singletary has caught enough grief for the job he's done this year under the expectations his team had coming into the season.
The 49ers are last in the NFC West and that's sad. San Francisco has Atlanta this week who looks much better in the past couple weeks and if desperation kicks in and gets the 49ers a win, it'll help their standing in the power ranks.
No. 3: Baltimore
8 of 10
Baltimore beat Cleveland this past week but it wasn't pretty. If the Ravens win this week, it won't be pretty either.
One of the top games this week is the Ravens traveling to Pittsburgh to take on the AFC North-leading Steelers. Pittsburgh has been the most impressive team in the league this year, especially on defense, and have just dominated their opponents this year.
If Baltimore can beat Pittsburgh on the road, it will be the second big statement win for the Ravens this season and could justify some of the expectations people had for them this season.
No. 2: NY Giants
9 of 10
The Giants may be on the verge of collapse.
New York got slapped around by Indianapolis two weeks ago and then the Giants just melted down against the Titans on Sunday. Eli Manning is throwing a pass left handed and the Giants just picked up stupid penalties all game long and turned the ball over and gave the game away.
The Giants are looking for redemption this week against Chicago, who is a surprising 3-0 coming off of a short week after beating Green Bay on Monday. A win would help save the season for the Giants.
No. 1: New England
10 of 10
The Patriots struggled against Buffalo last week and I can't believe I'm writing this sentence. New England just looked uninspired this week and maybe a big division game will wake the Pats from their slumber.
New England travels to Miami and a win in this game will help separate the field in the AFC East and keep the Patriots in the thick of things. A loss would tough to come back from, having lost games to the Jets and Miami, in terms of winning the division.
The Pats need this, and if they win, it would help establish them as a contender.
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