NFL Power Rankings Week 4: Steelers on Top, Panthers at The Bottom, and More

1. Pittsburgh Steelers: 3-0, 1^st AFC North

Clearly, it doesn’t matter who starts under center for the Steelers, as this team is anchored by its defense. Although he may not be the best player in football, safety Troy Polamalu may very well be the most important to his team.  

2. Chicago Bears: 3-0, 1^st NFC North

The most surprising team in the NFL, nobody expected this type of start from the Bears.

Jay Cutler looks reborn under new coordinator Mike Martz, and Julius Peppers has clearly revitalized the Chicago defense. This team is a legitimate contender.

3. Green Bay Packers: 2-1, 2^nd NFC North

Green Bay would be 3-0 if not for a pass-interference call late in the game, so the slide in the rankings isn’t very steep. Still blessed with the most potent aerial attack in the game, the Packers will continue to be one of the toughest teams to beat on a weekly basis.

4. New York Jets: 2-1, T-1^st AFC East

Mark Sanchez threw for three touchdowns for the second straight week, and the Jets' offense looks as fluid as ever with Tomlinson in the backfield. With the emergence of Dustin Keller and the impending return of Santonio Holmes, even without corner Darrelle Revis, this team will continue to roll next week against Buffalo. 

5. Indianapolis Colts: 2-1, T-1^st AFC South

Has anyone else been watching Peyton Manning this season?

I wouldn’t bet against him in a contract year. It seems that, year after year, a new wide receiver emerges in Indy, and Austin Collie is certainly looking to follow suit.

The defense has played pretty well, too.

6. Philadelphia Eagles: 2-1, 1^st NFC East

After being named full-time starter, QB Michael Vick made sure that the rest of the NFL is taking him seriously after his performance on Sunday. As long as the defense doesn’t play like it did against Detroit, the offense should be able to outscore just about any other squad.

7. Atlanta Falcons: 2-1, T-1^st NFC South

After an overtime Week 1 loss to Pittsburgh, the Falcons have looked unbelievable over the last couple of games. Coming off a victory against the Super Bowl champs, Atlanta looks poised to stay in contention all season long.

8. Baltimore Ravens: 2-1, T-2^nd AFC North

Mr. Flacco returned from vacation, and Anquan Boldin finally showed off his real skill set in this week’s victory against division-rival Cleveland. When Ed Reed comes back from the PUP list, this already intimidating defense is going to get that much better.

9. Kansas City Chiefs: 3-0, 1^st AFC West

Looking like they’re very much for real, the Chiefs made a statement by steamrolling a 49ers team that many had picked to win the NFC West. The sugar needs to be a little sweeter, but the flavor of the Kool-Aid is sweetening. They have a real test coming up over the next two weeks.

10. Miami Dolphins: 2-1, T-1^st AFC East

Credit to Chad Henne and the offense, but the defense was finally exposed in a loss to the Jets where they let up 31 points. With a matchup against the Pats next week, this Miami team could make a big statement with a win; and they will.

11. New Orleans Saints: 2-1, T-1^st NFC South

Despite a deflating loss to the Falcons last week, this Saints team is too talented to stay down for very long. The Saints will have to find a way to compensate for the absence of Reggie Bush, and while that may be near impossible, they have the pieces to try. 

12. Houston Texans: 2-1, T-1^st AFC South

Losing to the Cowboys doesn’t slide their stock too far, as Dallas is far better than its record indicates. If WR Andre Johnson does indeed have the dreaded high-ankle sprain, Arian Foster is going to be more heavily leaned upon to shoulder the load.

13. San Diego Chargers: 1-2, T-2^nd  AFC West

Same old story for the Chargers: another slow September start. Very similar to the Dallas Cowboys, both teams are notorious for strong finishes. Despite the Chiefs' quick start, the Bolts should find their way back to the top before long.

14. Dallas Cowboys: 1-2, T-2^nd NFC East

A very convincing victory at Houston has their critics singing a different tune this week. Although they indeed proved capable of running the football, the real story of the game was the defense.

They should ride this wave of momentum, and be able to rattle off a few straight.

15. Tennessee Titans: 2-1, T-1^st AFC South

They looked much better against the Giants than the Steelers, but so does every other team in the NFL. Vince Young still doesn’t look as confident as he should in the pocket, so per usual this team’s success will ride on CJ2K.

16. New England Patriots: 2-1, T-1^st AFC East

There’s always a lot to like on the offensive side of the football in New England.

But, boy, has the defense been atrocious. After having trouble rushing the passer last season, the Patriots now have even bigger problems with an absolutely embarrassing secondary.

17. Seattle Seahawks: 2-1, T-1^st NFC West

Pete Carroll has this team believing in themselves, and they’re off to a fast start in a very winnable division. If QB Matt Hasselbeck can up his level of play and rookie safety Earl Thomas can continue to anchor the defensive unit, this team could be better than most expect.

18. Cincinnati Bengals: 2-1, T-2^nd AFC North

Carson Palmer is bad. Looking like a shell of his former self, the former No. 1 overall selection looks more like a loser than a leader on the field.

RB Cedric Benson is struggling to find the same holes he did last season, and the defense is..well…

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 2-1, T-1^st NFC South

They are who we thought they were! After being handed a good old-fashioned shellacking, the Bucs are looking to wipe the dirt off and go back at it.

There’s a lot to like here, but this team is still very young.

20. Denver Broncos: 1-2, T-2^nd AFC West

This team would be a whole lot better if they had a running game. Kyle Orton has been all that Coach Josh McDaniels could’ve hoped for, but the defense will have to step up if they want to climb the rankings.

21. Minnesota Vikings: 1-2, 3^rd NFC North

This isn’t about Brett Favre; it’s all about Adrian Peterson. The best running back in the NFL is on a mission this season, and it seems Brad Childress finally got his TO-type message of “give me the ball.”

Having said that, they still have a lot to prove.

22. Washington Redskins: 1-2, T-2^nd NFC East

Donovan McNabb’s arm is coming up firing a little short during his initial tenure in Washington. With RB Clinton Portis about 5,678-years-old in running back years, the offense better get creative if they hope to avoid a sub-.500 season under Shanny.

23. New York Giants: 1-2, T-2^nd NFC East

Different season, same story.

A defense filled with talent, but continually underachieves, new coordinator Perry Fewell hasn’t improved this unit at all. The offense looks cohesive, aside from a few boneheaded plays fro Eli Manning.

But, wow, is that defense awful.

24. St. Louis Rams: 1-2, 3^rd NFC West

Sam Bradford is for real, and the Rams are a sleeper pick to take home the NFC West.

As long as Steven Jackson can avoid serious injury, the offense will be just fine despite a suspect receiving core. The defense has been much better than most predicted.

25. Oakland Raiders: 1-2, T-2^nd AFC West

They should really be 2-1, but the team has kicker Sebastian Janikowski to thank for that. Darren McFadden is the current favorite for breakout player of the year, and like it or not, Bruce Gradkowski really seems to fuel that offense.

26. Arizona Cardinals: 2-1, T-1^st NFC West

Derek Anderson is the worst starting quarterback in the NFL, yet the Cardinals are somehow 2-1. This team’s offensive woes will catch up with them sooner or later, and it looks like a top-16 draft pick coming in 2011.

27. Jacksonville Jaguars: 1-2, 4^th AFC South

Maurice Jones-Drew hasn’t run with the same authority that we’ve seen in seasons past, and David Garrard looks to have regressed from last season. After a thrashing at the hands of the Eagles, this is a team that could be headed for disaster rather quickly.

28. Cleveland Browns: 0-3, 4^th AFC North

The Browns are simply a better team with QB Seneca Wallace under center and RB Peyton Hillis in the backfield. Still looking for their first win, the defense is going to have to step it up and play at a higher level, as they are not blessed with a highlight offense. 

29. Detroit Lions: 0-3, 4^th NFC South

Already on the outside looking in for a playoff berth, the Lions just can’t catch a break. As long as Matt Stafford remains sidelined, the only direction this team will move in the rankings is closer to the bottom.

30. Buffalo Bills: 0-3, 4^th AFC East

Actually moving up this week, the change at quarterback has seemed to provide the spark that the team was looking for. Ryan Fitzpatrick showed off some nice moves against the Pats secondary, but let’s see if he can do it against a real one next week against the Jets.

31.San Francisco 49ers: 0-3, 4^th NFC West

This team doesn’t look ready to compete for anything right now. It seems that nobody is on the same page in the San Francisco locker room, and coach Mike Singletary could be next on the chopping block should his team continue to mail it in.

32. Carolina Panthers: 0-3, 4^th NFC South

It should be interesting to see how long the Jimmy Clausen experiment lasts in Carolina. If last week was any indicator of future performance, the outlook is bleak for the Panthers.

Looking mediocre on defense and downright awful on offense, the Panthers are going to be scrambling for an identity all year long.  

Ethan Norof is a writing intern for BleacherReport.com, follow him on Twitter here.