NFL Power Rankings: NFC East Teams Will Vault Up Rankings This Weekend

Let's take a look at the NFC East's schedule this week:

Detroit Lions @ Dallas Cowboys

Washington Redskins @ St. Louis Rams

New York Giants @ Arizona Cardinals

San Francisco 49ers @ Philadelphia Eagles

With games against NFC West opponents, the Redskins, Giants, and Eagles should walk away winners. Yes, should is the operative word there, but those three teams are in favorable matchups.

The Cowboys are the only team that's not really in a favorable matchup, so let's start with them.

Dallas Cowboys

The key in this one will be for them to come out of the game healthy. Given their issues on the offensive line and Detroit's nasty defensive front, that's much easier said than done.

But as long as they do stay healthy, the Cowboys have shown enough toughness over the last two weeks do believe that they belong in the top half of the power rankings.

I don't necessarily think they will stay at 10, but they won't drop far. Should they manage a win against Detroit, the Cowboys will at least earn consideration for the top five.

Washington Redskins

I am not exactly sure if what we've seen from them is real or not. Rex Grossman isn't as bad as people would like to have you believe, but I am not sold on him as a quarterback that will lead a team to the promised land.

But defensively, I am a fan of the Redskins. I really expect them to make Sam Bradford's life difficult on Sunday and move to 3-1.

Now, I don't know what the future holds for the team, but 3-1 deserves a high spot in the rankings.

New York Giants

Again, I am not sure what we can expect from this team long term. They certainly have issues, but have found a way to a 2-1 record. In the end, that's all that matters.

The Cardinals have been unimpressive this year on their way to a 2-1 start. Arizona is the home team here, but that's never been a particularly daunting place for road opponents.

Again, I don't know that a good start will turn into anything, but a 3-1 start will have the Giants up the rankings.

Philadelphia Eagles

If the Eagles lose to the 49ers, the city of Philadelphia will be in all out panic mode. Fortunately for residents of the City of Brotherly Love, I don't see that happening here.

We'll know a little more as the week progresses and injury reports become a little more clear. But Philadelphia's receivers match up very well against the San Francisco secondary.

I certainly didn't expect Philadelphia to be at No. 18 right now. But as bad as it's been, I don't expect them to be any lower next week.

Michael Dixon's Week 4 NFL Power Rankings

Team

1. Green Bay Packers

2. Buffalo Bills

3. Detroit Lions

4. New England Patriots

5. New Orleans Saints

6. Baltimore Ravens

7. Houston Texans

8. San Diego Chargers

9. Pittsburgh Steelers

10. Dallas Cowboys

11. Oakland Raiders

12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

13. New York Jets

14. Washington Redskins

15. New York Giants

16. Chicago Bears

17. Atlanta Falcons

18. Philadelphia Eagles

19. Cleveland Browns

20. San Francisco 49ers

21. Tennessee Titans

22. Arizona Cardinals

23. Carolina Panthers

24. Denver Broncos

25. Jacksonville Jaguars

26. Minnesota Vikings

27. St. Louis Rams

28. Seattle Seahawks

29. Cincinnati Bengals

30. Miami Dolphins

31. Indianapolis Colts

32. Kansas City Chiefs