NFL Power Rankings: Heading into Week 4 of the 2011 Preseason

The third preseason game is traditionally the one where the starters play the most minutes. Some teams looked better than they have the first two games. While others looked pretty much the same and don't offer much hope. It's still preseason, so, don't expect much to change. With only a week left of these games that don't count, here is the third version of the preseason power rankings.

1. Green Bay Packers - Is it normal for five different receivers on one team to average a first down every reception?

2. New England Patriots - How come every time the Patriots play their starters in games that don't matter Wes Welker gets hurt? 

3. Pittsburgh Steelers - Seeing a lot of preseason match ups that should have been saved for the regular season. Pittsburgh against Atlanta was one of them.

4. Atlanta Falcons - Don't get used to seeing just 16 points next to the Falcons name once the season starts.

5. Philadelphia Eagles - Forget Michael Vick making it through all 16 regular season games, at times I didn't think he would last in the couple quarters of the preseason. Uh-O.

6. New Orleans Saints - Just when you think Drew Brees has enough weapons, Jimmy Graham begins to look like a great tight end.

7. Baltimore Ravens - Have to love the passion of Ray Lewis. He doesn't care if it's preseason or ping-ping, he wants to win.

8. New York Jets - Okay. So, did the Jets steal Jason Terry's celebration or is it the other way around?

9. San Diego Chargers - Penalties are one of the things that killed the Chargers last season. Having 23 in three games is an improvement compared to the 74 they had in one game a year ago.

10. Dallas Cowboys - Has there been a better play so far this preseason than the blocked field goal that happened Saturday?

11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Not a good sign when your top two leading receivers for the the game were running backs.

12. Houston Texans - It's really impossible to lose when you keep the ball over 40 minutes in a 60 minute game.

13. Indianapolis Colts - Curtis Painter or Kerry Collins? Uh, I'll take Peyton Manning.

14. New York Giants - First the defense suffers several injuries, then Eli Manning plays like a third-stringer. This team could drop rapidly if things don't change.

15. Chicago Bears - The Bears offensive line is making strides. The unit only gave up one sack in a game, instead of 19 a quarter like last year.

16. Detroit Lions - Detroit has won three-straight and although none of the games count, Lions fans can get used to their team finally winning.

17. Kansas City Chiefs - Can't wait for the season to start for the Chiefs, so they actually look like an NFL team and Jamaal Charles gets more than two touches.

18. St. Louis Rams - Breaking News: Cadillac Williams had 12 whole carries and didn't get hurt.

19. Oakland Raiders - Has anybody ever bothered to test Sebastian Janikowski's leg for steroids? Maybe a robot device? Something is not normal.

20. Miami Dolphins - Chad Henne just realized he has Brandon Marshall on his team and he can just throw it up there for him. Making progress. 

21. Minnesota Vikings - If Donovan McNabb and Adrian Peterson are clicking, things could get interesting in the NFC North. Just saying.

22. Arizona Cardinals - Larry Fitzgerald first gets his money, then gets his quarterback. Welcome back to the NFL, Larry.

23. San Francisco 49ers - The 49ers had the same amount of red-zone attempts as we did on Saturday night. 

24. Cleveland Browns - What Cleveland team is first to get back on track—Browns or Cavaliers?

25. Tennessee Titans - Hopefully that Chris Johnson deal gets done soon because the Titans used four running backs and only managed 60 yards.

26. Washington Redskins - The Cardinals traded a 35-year-old lineman and a late-round pick for Tim Hightower. Looks more and more like a steal with each carry.

27. Jacksonville Jaguars - Three preseason games and we still don't know who the starting quarterback is.

28. Seattle Seahawks - Lazarius Levingston is the only thing positive to have been associated with LSU in the past week or so.

29. Denver Broncos - Guess we can finally put the quarterback controversy to bed in Denver. Never seen so much hype over who will start for a team that will struggle to win five games but, oh well.

30. Carolina Panthers - So, since Cam Newton isn't allowed to get tattoos, I wonder what Jerry Richardson says to players like Jeremy Shockey. "You can't get anymore tattoos"?   

31. Buffalo Bills - What a game for Ryan Fitzpatrick. At 28-years-old, he has potential and could surprise some people this year, including Bills fans.

32. Cincinnati Bengals - Remember this preseason game against the Carolina Panthers. It may be the last time you see this team win in a long, long time.