NFL Power Rankings: 3 Preseason Favorites in Need of Quick Turnarounds

Through three weeks of the NFL season, some teams look good. Others have looked bad at times, but have managed to survive the bumps and managed a 2-1 start. We're aren't looking at them. We're looking at the next tier of teams. Which teams that are at 1-2 or 0-3 most need to come back with a Week 4 win?

Atlanta Falcons

With the Saints and Buccaneers both bouncing back after Week 1 losses, the Falcons now sit in third place behind two hot opponents.

Awaiting the Falcons in Week 4 is a seemingly easy game against the Seahawks. Still, the Seahawks are coming off of a win and are always a challenge at home.

The Buccaneers and Saints play the Colts and Jaguars in Week 4, so Atlanta can't rely on a lot of help there.

Atlanta simply can't afford to fall two games back of those teams at this point. Remember that one of their two losses was against Tampa Bay, so that hurts Atlanta even more.

The Falcons simply can't afford to lose to Seattle.

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles are another team in a game that they need to win. On paper, hosting the 49ers shouldn't give Philadelphia many problems.

But the 49ers have an innate ability to play to the level of their opponents. What other team can take the Cowboys to overtime one week and then struggle to beat the Bengals in the next?

With Michael Vick in a questionable state, the Eagles do have a little bit of doubt over their heads.

The "Dream Team" sits at 1-2 in a division with three 2-1 teams. If they lose to the 49ers and any or all of the other three NFC East teams wins in Week 4, Philadelphia will be in full panic mode.

St. Louis Rams

Maybe I am using the word favorite a little liberally here, but the Rams were generally favored to win the NFC West. They have had a tough schedule, but have also been unimpressive in all three losses that they have endured this year.

The Redskins are off to a good start, although they did lose a Monday night heartbreaker in Week 3. The Rams need to find a way to beat them.

In 2010, the 49ers were the favorites to win the NFC West but started the season 0-5. Now, the Rams are in a similar role and in danger of a similar fate.

Even in the poor NFC West, an 0-4 start is a pretty good sign that the playoffs aren't likely. If the Rams lose, they will at best be two games back in their division.

Michael Dixon's Week 4 NFL Power Rankings

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