NFL Power Rankings: 3 Basement Teams That Will Ascend in Week 4

We're three weeks into the NFL season, and inevitably some teams are elite, some are terrible and the rest are in the middle. Rankings aren't static, however, and there are sure to be teams who fall out of favor or surge up the rankings.

Here are three teams that will start their ascent from the basement with wins in Week 4.

Carolina Panthers

Although the Carolina Panthers started the 2011 season off 0-2, it was very apparent that the Panthers were vastly improved from where they were a year ago. The main reason for that is the play of rookie quarterback Cam Newton, who threw for over 400 yards in each of his first two games. Newton didn't even get halfway to 400 this past week, but he was good enough to help the Panthers upend Jacksonville.

Carolina will face a true test on the road this weekend against Chicago. The Bears are just 1-2, but they went to the NFC Championship Game last season. Newton and the Panthers will maintain their momentum and pick up a victory.

Minnesota Vikings

Despite leading at halftime in each of their first three games of the season, the Minnesota Vikings enter Week 4 with an 0-3 record. Quarterback Donovan McNabb hasn't been particularly effective, but giving running back Adrian Peterson an increased workload should help turn things around.

The Vikes will take on the equally-hapless Kansas City Chiefs in a battle to see which team is less futile. While Kansas City hung with San Diego last week, the Chiefs just don't have the horses to get the job done due to injury. Provided Minnesota pounds Peterson, they should be able to to get in the win column.

St. Louis Rams

Picked by many to win the NFC West this season, the Rams have gotten off to a less-than-impressive 0-3 start. St. Louis' schedule has certainly been brutal, but each of their losses have been by double digits to this point.

The Rams will have to take on the 2-1 Redskins, who could very easily be 3-0. While the 'Skins seem to be legitimately better than they were last season, I think this game is a classic case of an overachieving team against an underachieving team. I expect the underachieving Rams to nip this slide in the bud.

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