NFL Power Rankings: Which Teams Are Better Than Their Record?

Although it doesn't really garner a team any actual success, being a better team than your indicated record is the next best thing.

A good example would be a team that finishes something like 8-8 or 9-7, but played a very difficult schedule and lost three or four games by only a few points.

Hence, they could easily be more like 10-6 or 11-5, but because of the rough schedule the record is not indicative of how good they really are.

As for 2011, it's early in the year, but nonetheless there are two teams who are better than what you see in the win-loss column.

Oakland Raiders

The Raiders are literally one fourth down away from being 3-0 right now.

When they lost to the Bills in Week 2, Buffalo converted two fourth downs on their final drive that ultimately gave them the W over Oakland.

Had the Raiders' defense stopped the Bills on just one of those fourth downs, they would be 3-0 right now.

Nonetheless, the Raiders are proving to be a force within the AFC, and they also have the No. 1 rushing offense (averaging 185 yards per game) in the NFL.

QB Jason Campbell is managing games to a T, and RB Darren McFadden is bowling over every defense that lines up opposite the scrimmage line.

The defense still has some improving to do, but they are playing with much confidence, and Week 4 could be a tell-all sign when the New England Patriots invade Oakland.

It's not so much whether the Raiders win that game (although it would be a huge boost), but how they respond thereafter, because not dwelling or celebrating the past, no matter how brief, is very crucial.

Carolina Panthers

After losing their first two games by only one TD each, the Carolina Panthers finally brought it all together and won their first game.

Cam Newton displayed a lot more maturity than your typical rookie QB, because after throwing for over 400 yards in his first two games, he only hit just over 150 in game three.

The only difference was, not only did Carolina win, but they were losing for much of the second half.

In addition, the game was played in dreadful, rainy conditions (which is the most fun by the way), and Newton never got flustered.

He kept his cool, took what the defense gave him and eventually connected with TE Greg Olsen to gain the lead.

Carolina is only 1-2, but their losses were to Arizona on the road and Green Bay at home.

And once Cam Newton really comes into his own, the Panthers are going to make some noise in the NFC South.

Much more work is needed, but it's clear that the Panthers are headed in the right direction.

Week 4 Power Rankings (LW = last week's rank.) (Teams with * is Monday Night Game)

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

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