NFL Power Rankings Week 4: Where Do the New Orleans Saints Belong At 2-1?

NFL Power Rankings are a subjective thing, and rarely are two peoples' lists ever exactly the same. At my site, www.GuysNation.com, I took a hard look at all 32 teams, compared their records, the average points they've scored and allowed per game, and their strength of schedule to come up with NFL Power Rankings for Week 4 in the 2010 NFL season.

One of the teams that was hard to place were the New Orleans Saints. They are one of several teams who have started off the season with a record of 2-1, so I really had to compare who they've played, where the games were held, what the final outcomes were, and what's going on with their team.

Their Week 1 victory against the Vikings down in New Orleans wasn't very inspiring. The defending champions faced a Minnesota team with a depleted wide receiver corp and only won by five. That is not the type of statement the defending Super Bowl Champions should've made. 

As the Saints traveled to San Francisco for Week 2, things didn't get much better. Despite the fact that analysts (myself included) saw the 49ers as a playoff team when predictions were made prior to this season, San Francisco doesn't look anywhere near that at this point (I had them slated for 2 losses all year and they've already exceeded that).

To only beat San Francisco by three points is shocking. Seattle beat them by 25 and Kansas City beat them by 21. Granted those were both road games for the 49'ers, but you would think that a high powered offense like the Saints should've done much better.

If you're a playoff team, you need to beat your divisional opponents when you host them at your stadium. Week 3 loss to the Falcons in New Orleans, I'm looking at you, kid. Though it was only a three point loss, it shouldn't have been a loss at all.

If the Saints want to make it to the playoffs, they're going to have to kick it up a notch or two the rest of the way, because at this point they don't look like the same team who beat the Colts back in February.

At this point there's no way I can rank the Saints above the Atlanta Falcons, that's a given. There are quite a few other 2-1 teams, though, and some seemingly flawed 3-0 teams. How do I think the Saints stacked up? 

View my full NFL Week 4 Power Rankings at my site, www.GuysNation.com! Unlike Power Rankings you see elsewhere, your comments could help persuade me to rank your team better after Week 4!