NFL Power Rankings at the Quarter Pole: Packers Still No. 1

With one quarter of the 2011 NFL season in the books, let's take a glimpse at the updated NFL power rankings.  Please use the "comments" section to let me know where I was right and wrong!

1, Green Bay Packers (4-0): For all the yardage the offense racks up through the air, the Packers' D is allowing nearly as many to opposing QBs. Dom Capers needs to find ways to plug the holes left by Collins (injury) and Cullen Jenkins (offseason FA departure).

2. New England Patriots (3-1): The second half in Buffalo seems to be more the exception than the norm. Similar to Green Bay, some adjustments on D can pay dividends through January.

3. Detroit Lions (4-0): Hard to ignore 4-0, but hopefully, Jim Schwartz will find a way to wake up his team in the first half.  Even with Calvin Johnson's greatness, they can't keep putting themselves in big holes and expecting to come back.

4. Baltimore Ravens (3-1): Does anyone want to tell Ray Lewis and Ed Reed they were supposed to be a year older and not a year better in 2011? Neither do I. 

5, New Orleans Saints (3-1): Three straight wins after a tough loss on opening night in Green Bay. The offense is still clicking, and the addition of Sproles has paid dividends already.

6. Buffalo Bills (3-1): Tough loss at Cincy this weekend. Offense wasn't firing on all cylinders and looked very pedestrian. The schedule does them no favors until an 11/20 game against Miami.  This could be wasted start if they're not careful.

7. Houston Texans (3-1): After injuries to Ben Tate and Andre Johnson, Gary Kubiak better hope Foster's hammy is fully healed or else that offense might run out of playmakers quickly.  Regardless, tip of the cap to the defensive improvements with Wade Phillips as DC.

8. San Diego Chargers (3-1): They aren't winning pretty, but for a team that has historically struggled in September, a winning month early is never a bad thing. 

9. Tennessee Titans (3-1): After a tough loss in Jacksonville to start the season, the Titans have rolled off three straight wins (including a win against Baltimore). What's more impressive is that they have done so with Chris Johnson's slow start and one-and-a-half games without Kenny Britt. 

10. New York Giants (3-1): No "giant" letdown after a big road win in Philly. Although they started slow in the desert, the Manning-to-Nicks connection stepped up and helped to secure another road "W."

11. Washington Redskins (3-1): The Skins are combining a solid defense with a capable offense and just played hard-nosed football. Big division game against Philly this week. 

12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1): Needed that win against Indy plus another one against SF this Sunday before getting into a run of games that include: New Orleans, Chicago, New Orleans, Houston and Green Bay.

13. San Francisco 49ers (3-1): After a big comeback win on the road at Philly, they suddenly find themselves with an early two-game lead in the division.  If Alex Smith can limit the big mistakes, they are the front-runner in a division when the Rams have fallen on their faces coming out of the gates. 

14. Oakland Raiders (2-2): McFadden wasn't enough to down the Pats on Sunday, but he should be enough to keep them in contention in a soft AFC West division this year. 

15. Atlanta Falcons (2-2): Held on for the win in a hostile environment; however, the Packers are coming to town for a NFC Divisional Playoff rematch from 2010 on Sunday night. 

16. New York Jets (2-2): Things aren't going to get much easier with a trip to New England this weekend. The Ravens D is superior to the Patriots D, but Mark Sanchez has to have more pocket awareness than he displayed on Sunday. For his sake, let's hope Mangold can come back soon.

17. Chicago Bears (2-2): Once again, the special teams and defense provides some scoreboard help, but that's not to overlook Matt Forte's big effort yesterday. The O-line needs to provide some time to keep Cutler from throwing off his back foot which gets them into trouble. 

18. Dallas Cowboys (2-2): If not for some second half mistakes by Tony Romo, this could be the third undefeated team through week 4. 

19.  Pittsburgh Steelers (2-2): Both wins came against weaker teams and they almost lost to Indy. The O-line is decimated by injury, and not even Roethlisberger can evade the pressure he is seeing.

20. Philadelphia Eagles (1-3): Vick keeps taking big hits, and the run defense has big problems.  They really needed that home win on Sunday with a trip to Buffalo on the menu. Good chance they can be 1-4 with back-to-back division games in mid-October (at Washington, vs. Dallas).  Not exactly what the front office expected in early August. 

21. Cincinnati Bengals (2-2): Solid defense so far, and AJ Green has looked good, but the offense will be hard-pressed to keep up when the defense has off days. After a big win against the Bills, it will be interested to see what their record looks like in three weeks after games with Jacksonville, Indy, and Seattle.

22. Cleveland Browns (2-2): Could be higher, but both wins came against winless teams. Colt McCoy seems to be progressing nicely, but the Cleveland brass probably don't want to see him throwing 61 times a game.

23. Carolina Panthers (1-3): Cam Newton and the FA additions have helped to spark life back into the franchise, but injuries have taken a toll on both sides of the ball. A visit from the Saints will be an early mark-or-break game for them.

24. Seattle Seahawks (1-3):  After a nice win against AZ, Seattle nearly pulled off a nice comeback against Atlanta. Unfortunately, this particular Seattle product doesn't travel well.

25. Arizona Cardinals (1-3): Wanted to rank them at No. 22, but couldn't overlook loss to Seattle in Week 3.  If the pass defense doesn't materialize, it's going to be a long season in the desert. 

26. Denver Broncos (1-3): With players on defense getting healthy and Lloyd/Decker looking good on the outside, the Broncos have the pieces to keep their heads above water this season, but at what point does Orton get sat? 

27. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-3): Outside of the Week 2 beating at the Jets, the Jaguars have been coping about as well as could be expected from a team that lost their starting QB right before the opener. MJD won't have it easy with no one fearing Blaine Gabbert and putting eight in the box. 

29. Kansas City Chiefs (1-3): Late win on Sunday gets them off the canvas, but season-ending injuries to arguably three of their best players (Charles, Berry, Moeaki) will be nearly impossible to overcome. The best show going forward for the Chiefs might be the sideline antics of Toddy Haley.

30. Minnesota Vikings (0-4): As the season slowly slips away, fans must wonder when it's time to see what Ponder can do.

30. Miami Dolphins (0-4): Winless and being in one of the toughest two divisions in football is not a good cooler for Tony Sparano's hot seat. It could actually get uglier if Henne misses significant time.

31. St. Louis Rams (0-4): For as good as Bradford could be, he won't realize potential anytime soon with the O-line and WRs they are putting around him.

32. Indianapolis (0-4): I guess everyone was right when they said that this might be a three or four win 6team without Peyton Manning (which still might be generous). If the front office is smart, they'll put him on IR and let him recover for 2012.