NFL Power Rankings Week 4: Dallas Cowboys and the Most Unimpressive 2-1 Teams

Through three weeks of the 2011 NFL season, only three teams are still undefeated. That number will soon be down to one, and then to none.

But for now, the true intrigue lies with the teams who are 2-1 through three games. It's the kind of record that is indicative of a quality team, but not all the 2-1 teams fit the bill. Some of them are decidedly mediocre and are lucky to be tasting the rarefied air that exists above the .500 mark.

The point is definitely debatable, but listed below are five 2-1 teams in particular that I just don't think are as impressive as the other members of the club.

5. New York Giants (No. 16)

I have to admit, the Giants are better than I thought they would be. Shoot, with the amount of injuries they've suffered, I'm shocked they're not 0-3 right now.

That being said, I'm not so sure I buy the Giants as contenders just yet. They beat up on a bad team in the St. Louis Rams in Week 2, and then they took it to a Philadelphia Eagles team with a laundry list of issues in Week 3.

I'm willing to admit that the Giants might be good, but I think I need to see them beat a team we know is good before I can believe it. That's why I'm already looking ahead to their tilt against the Buffalo Bills in Week 6.

If the Giants win that one, they're going to be much higher than No. 16 in my power rankings.

4. Dallas Cowboys (No. 17)

How 'bout them Cowboys?! They're 2-1 with riveting wins over the San Francisco 49ers and Washington Redskins!

Actually, that doesn't sound so great. It sounds even less great when you consider how they barely managed to beat both teams.

As you can tell, I'm pretty unimpressed by the Cowboys. Some people might look at them and see a team that is gritty and determined. I see a team that is a sloppy wreck, not to mention one that is lucky to have one win, let alone two.

I had the Cowboys at No. 17 in my rankings before they beat the Redskins. I saw them do a lot of things on Monday night, and none of them convinced me that they actually deserved to move up.

3. Cleveland Browns (No. 19)

I have a lousy memory, so you'll have to excuse me if I don't remember the last time the Browns got off to a 2-1 start. Before you complain, that makes it easier for me to tip my cap to them.

But I can also wag my finger at them. I think it's cool that the Browns are 2-1, and I think they have some pretty good individual players, but they're a couple plays away from being 0-3, with the three losses coming against the Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts and Miami Dolphins.

Those are three of the worst teams in the league. That tells us that the Browns are better than them, but not a whole lot else. Until they show me something, I'm keeping the Browns at No. 19 in my rankings.

2. Tennessee Titans (No. 20)

I would like nothing more than to see the Titans win the AFC South this year. I just think that would be a great underdog story.

The Titans are looking pretty good so far, as their 2-1 record is good enough to tie them with the Houston Texans atop the division. It's too bad it won't last.

As much as I want to like the Titans, I think it's pretty clear that they've overachieving right now. They rank second in passing yards, second in passing yards allowed and ninth in rushing yards allowed. They're not going to keep those numbers up.

When things do level out, the Titans will probably start to plummet. I have them at No. 20 now, but they'll be scraping the bottom of the barrel when all is said and done.

1. San Francisco 49ers (No. 21)

As a resident of the Bay Area, you can take my word for it that not even the most hardcore Niner fans are buying the team's 2-1 start.

And it's easy to see why. Statistically, the 49ers are one of the worst offensive teams in the NFL, and they're solid defensive numbers exist primarily because of their two cupcake matchups against the Seattle Seahawks and Cincinnati Bengals.

Rest assured, the Niners won't stay above .500 for long. Their next three games are at Philadelphia, versus Tampa Bay and at Detroit.

Methinks those three games will bring the 49ers back down to earth where they belong.

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	Pittsburgh Steelers	2-1
11	New York Jets	2-1
12	Philadelphia Eagles	1-2
13	Oakland Raiders	2-1
14	Washington Redskins	2-1
15	Atlanta Falcons	1-2
16	New York Giants	2-1
17	Dallas Cowboys	2-1
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