NFL Power Rankings: Which Teams Are Just Pretenders?

As Week 4 comes to a close, there are still a lot of questions floating around regarding which teams are legitimate contenders, are which are just lucky.

Teams like the New England Patriots and Green Bay Packers are once again amongst the league’s elite. Teams like the Dolphins, Vikings and Panthers are just as bad as we expected.

These next four teams are getting a lot of credit due to either a hot start or for how well they’ve done in recent years past.

4. New York Jets

Rex Ryan would probably still tell you that his Jets are headed to the Super Bowl. After an embarrassing loss to the Ravens on Sunday Night Football, he needs to realize he’s playing pretend. The Jets came into 2011 off of back-to-back AFC Championship appearances.

After a noisy offseason featuring the acquisition of Plaxico Burress, fans and analysts were convinced that the Jets are one of the league’s elite.

The Jets have lost back to back games, and will head into New England for Week 5. Without Nick Mangold at center, the Jets’ offensive line has fallen from the ranks of the league’s elite to the ranks of the easiest to exploit. There’s a chance we will see Mangold in Week 5, but until then, they’ll continue to get dominated up front.

Even more surprising than their woes on the offensive line, the Jets run defense looks absolutely terrible. Teams will continue to exploit this young front seven. Unless the Jets can turn things around fast, they’ll be on the outside looking in come playoff time.

3. San Diego Chargers

The Chargers beat the Dolphins this week to improve to 3-1. However, the teams they handled to acquire each of those victories, combine for a 1-11 record. The Chiefs, Vikings and Dolphins are amongst the league’s worst.

In their only matchup against a serious opponent, the Patriots, the Chargers came out looking stale. Phillip Rivers made brutal throws into coverage and the defense looked ordinary against Tom Brady and New England’s aggressive passing game.

Luckily for the Chargers, they play in one of the worst divisions in football. The Raiders are the only team with a legitimate chance and getting into the playoffs, and even then, they aren’t that good.

This team will continue to play down to level of their opponent and will likely limp into the playoffs. They make this list as they’ll likely get to much credit form the media for winning a mediocre division. Once they do arrive, the Chargers will have trouble keeping up with legitimate contenders.

All season, their record will be better than they actually are. Don’t be deceived.

2. Buffalo Bills

In spite of their Week 4 loss at Cincinnati, there is no question that the Bills are one of the most exciting teams to watch in football.

Ryan Fitzpatrick is developing into an excellent quarterback and Fred Jackson is finally cementing his position amongst the league’s elite. Receivers Stevie Johnson and David Nelson are becoming a threatening 1-2 combo, and Shawne Merriman is rejuvenating the defense.

The problem with this Bills team comes in their secondary. They’re getting into shootouts with teams and putting too much pressure on their backs. They’ve allowed 89 points over the last three weeks and can’t seem to figure out how to slow down opponents through the air.

The Bills’ schedule is extremely difficult from here on out. They still need to face the entire NFC East, the Jets twice, the Patriots and the Chargers. The Bills are improving and they’ll likely sniff .500 for the first time since 2004. Regardless, they aren’t amongst the AFC’s elite as many “experts” are suggesting.

1. Washington Redskins

Michael Shanahan has made believers out of fans in the nation’s capital. However, any unbiased eye can see that Rex Grossman isn’t a good enough quarterback to carry this team to the playoffs. When the Redskins beat the Giants in week one, New York came out flat and had trouble assimilating young talent into their schemes.

Combine that with two wins against lofty NFC West teams, and the Redskins 3-1 start isn’t all that impressive.

Grossman does look smarter with the football, but his physical tools aren’t going to make his team any better. He kept the Rams in the game during Week 4, and continues to make questionable decisions with the football. If this trend continues, expect to see Shanahan’s pet, John Beck, behind center soon.

If Washington were in the NFC West, I’d tab them as a playoff contender. However, the strength of their division is undeniable. There is no way that they keep up with the pack all season, especially if they’re forced to lean on guys like Grossman and Beck.