NFL Power Rankings Week 4: Green Bay Packers and 3 Overrated Top 10 Teams

With all 32 teams having played three games, it is safe to say that we finally have enough of a sample size to judge what kind of season it is going to be for teams this NFL season.

Sure, there are some teams who can overcome deficiencies on offense with a good defense or vice versa. But for the most part, if you are weak in one area, you are going to be in a lot of trouble as the season wears on.

But this season, in which there are no great teams, these flawed teams are going to be ranked in the Top 10 of the weekly power rankings. That does not mean they are great teams. It just means that other teams are so weak that they look better.

Here are three playoff contenders who are getting more credit than they deserve based on their performances so far this season.

New England Patriots

It is easy to go gaga over the Patriots offense, but if there is ever a day when they don’t play well, like Sunday against Buffalo, this team is going to struggle because the defense is not good enough.

Tom Brady showed his human side by throwing four interceptions. He also threw for 387 yards and four touchdowns, but he was not good enough for his team this week.

You have to include the Patriots in the Top 10 of the power rankings just because there are no great teams in the NFL this season, but this team has done nothing to inspire confidence with the way that it has played thus far.

The 2011 Patriots will be lucky to win 11 games this season with a defense that is one of the worst in the NFL.

Green Bay Packers

If I am going to criticize the Patriots for their lack of defense, I have to criticize the Packers. They have given up 74 points through three weeks, just five fewer than the Patriots.

Aaron Rodgers is proving that last season was not a fluke and he is one of the early-season candidates for the MVP award.

But one man can’t lead a team to a championship.

The secondary, which was supposed to be a source of strength for this team, has given up 1,102 yards passing through three games. They have yet to hold an opposing quarterback under 300 yards.

There are legitimate concerns surrounding this team that are being masked by their 3-0 record.

New Orleans Saints

The common theme among all the teams on this list is defense, specifically how terrible all three teams play it.

The Saints can be given a little break because they have played the Packers and Texans—two of the best offensive teams in the NFL—but eventually you have to hold a team under 30 points if you want to win a game.

The defense was a problem for this team at the end of last season and in the playoff game against Seattle. They did not make a lot of changes to the unit in the offseason, but were expecting better performances from returning players.

That hasn’t happened yet and the team is going to suffer as the season moves along.

Adam Wells' Week 4 NFL Power Rankings

1. Detroit Lions

2. Green Bay Packers

3. Baltimore Ravens

4. Buffalo Bills

5. New Orleans Saints

6. New England Patriots

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

8. Houston Texans

9. Pittsburgh Steelers

10. San Diego Chargers

11. New York Jets

12. Philadelphia Eagles

13. Oakland Raiders

14. Dallas Cowboys

15. New York Giants

16. Tennessee Titans

17. Atlanta Falcons

18. Washington Redskins

19. San Francisco 49ers

20. Jacksonville Jaguars

21. Cleveland Browns

22. Chicago Bears

23. Carolina Panthers

24. Arizona Cardinals

25. Cincinnati Bengals

26. Minnesota Vikings

27. St. Louis Rams

28. Kansas City Chiefs

29. Denver Broncos

30. Seattle Seahawks

31. Miami Dolphins

32. Indianapolis Colts