NFL Power Rankings: 3 Teams Who Are Quickly Becoming Pretenders

We're just three weeks into the regular season, but there are already a couple teams out there who are falling well short of expectations.

Whether you want to blame it on the lockout, tough matchups or bad luck, these teams are just not who we thought they were going to be. We all thought they were going to be playoff teams when all was said and done, but they look more like teams that will be lucky to stay out of the cellar in their divisions.

There are probably five or six of these teams out there, but I think there are three in particular that stand out more than the rest. We had them pegged as contenders, but they are quickly becoming pretenders.

3. Chicago Bears (No. 18)

I wasn't sure the Bears could be called a legit playoff contender at the outset of things this year, but they definitely opened my eyes when they stomped the Atlanta Falcons at Soldier Field in Week 1.

After that game, the Bears went to New Orleans to take on the Saints in a game that offered a chance to make yet another loud statement. Unfortunately, the Bears suffered an ugly loss.

This Sunday, Chicago were outplayed once again. This time, it was the Green Bay Packers.

At this point, it's hard to determine what exactly the Bears do well. They don't seem to be a great defensive team, nor are they a great offensive team. They're good enough on both fronts to beat up on the lesser teams in the league, but they seem doomed to fall flat against contenders.

Given the toughness of Chicago's schedule going forward, that could very well be their undoing.

2. Atlanta Falcons (No. 15)

Speaking of the Falcons, I have to be honest about how I feel about them.

They're letting me down, man.

The Falcons started the season in the Top 5 in my power rankings, but they've looked just plain lousy in two of their three games. They lost to the Bears in Week 1, before losing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 3.

Even though they went 13-3 last year, the Falcons had the look and the feel of an overachiever. I figured they would be better this year, but it looks like they're not.

Such a shame.

1. Philadelphia Eagles (No. 13)

At this point, what can we really say about the Eagles?

Well, I think a good way to put it would be to say that the Eagles are exactly what many people wanted them to be. They are loaded with talent, but it's talent that just doesn't mesh.

Furthermore, I fear that it won't mesh at any point this season.

We knew there were things the Eagles were not going to be able to do (i.e. stop the run), but these things weren't going to matter as long as one man played up to his capabilities.

That one man is Michael Vick. All the offseason moves notwithstanding, the Eagles' 2011 season was always going to revolve around Vick. So far, that plan has proven rather disastrous.

You can argue that the Eagles are still a good team if you want. However, from where I'm sitting, I see a team that is riddled with holes and one whose only win came against one of the worst teams in the league.

If there is a way to fix things, the Eagles had better figure it out, and quick.

Zachary D. Rymer's Week 4 Power Rankings

Rank	Team	Record
1	Green Bay Packers	3-0
2	New Orleans Saints	2-1
3	Baltimore Ravens	2-1
4	New England Patriots	2-1
5	Buffalo Bills	3-0
6	Detroit Lions	3-0
7	Houston Texans	2-1
8	San Diego Chargers	2-1
9	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	2-1
10	Washington Redskins	2-0
11	Pittsburgh Steelers	2-1
12	New York Jets	2-1
13	Philadelphia Eagles	1-2
14	Oakland Raiders	2-1
15	Atlanta Falcons	1-2
16	New York Giants	2-1
17	Dallas Cowboys	1-1
18	Chicago Bears	1-2
19	Cleveland Browns	2-1
20	Tennessee Titans	2-1
21	San Francisco 49ers	2-1
22	Denver Broncos	1-2
23	Arizona Cardinals	1-2
24	Carolina Panthers	1-2
25	Jacksonville Jaguars	1-2
26	Cincinnati Bengals	1-2
27	Miami Dolphins	0-3
28	Minnesota Vikings	0-3
29	St. Louis Rams	0-3
30	Seattle Seahawks	1-2
31	Indianapolis Colts	0-3
32	Kansas City Chiefs	0-3