DTTWSB Week 4 NFL Power Rankings

With the third week being concluded on Monday Night Football (where my upset pick of the Bears beating the Packers came through) we now turn to Week 4. In this edition of the Down To The Wire Sports Blog power rankings there is a new team at the number one position. There are some great games this week which should also tell us a little more about the teams that look like contenders. Without further ado, here are my Week 4 power rankings.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-0): This team is a bonafide Super Bowl contender. I liked them as the best team in the AFC during the preseason but not for one minute did I think the Steelers to start the season 0-3 without quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Their defense is playing lights out football that is similar to the way the played in 2008 when they won the Super Bowl. Nobody wants to play this team when Roethlisberger gets back.

2. New York Jets (2-1): It looks like the Jets are finally getting their feet underneath them. I didn't expect for them to travel down to South Beach for a Sunday night matchup with the Dolphins and come away with a victory. If Sanchez can continue to progress this team will be a hard out come January. Their defense didn't look as good without corner back Darrelle Revis but they should be able to play well enough while he's out to win games until he returns.

3. Baltimore Ravens (2-1): The Ravens look brilliant for trading for wide receiver Anquan Boldin. He has performed like an absolute beast this season. They have great balance on their team which is key in the playoffs. I would be completely sold on this team if it wasn't for their quarterback. I simply do not trust Joe Flacco. He seems to struggle when he plays zone defensive. I can't wait to see this defense when free safety Ed Reed gets back.

4. Chicago Bears (3-0): The Bears are looking like the real surprise team of the NFL. Their defense has been playing at the same high level they played when they made it to the Super Bowl. They've always been able to stop the pass but they can now stop the run as well. Offensively they have a questionable offensive line but the Cutler-Martz relationship seems to put just enough points up to win games. We'll see if they can keep it up.

5. Indianapolis Colts (2-1): There isn't much to say about the Colts these days. Peyton Manning will play the way he does week in and week out. Their running game is non-existent. The same goes for their soft defense. I don't see the Colts doing much in the post season, but Peyton Manning will have them atop the AFC South by the seasons end.

6. New Orleans Saints (2-1): Last week was a disappointment for the Saints and their fans. They had a chance to start the season 3-0 if it wasn't for Garrett Hartley's blunder of a game-winning field goal. There were some eye-popping mistakes that were made on Sunday. Their defense got shredded up and down the field. They need to focus playing defense instead of trying to cause turnovers.

7. Green Bay Packers (2-1): The Packers got exposed a little bit on Monday Night Football against Chicago. They have a problem at offensive line. Their running game is also very weak. When they play good teams, they will struggle because they don't have any balance. Their defense is predicated on quarterback Aaron Rodgers holding on to the ball. If the Packers can't control the time of possision, they will be in trouble.

8. Dallas Cowboys (1-2): In a must-win game, they went on the road and beat a decent Houston Texans team. If they can focus week in and week out, their is no reason they can't be the best team in the NFC. I'm not crowning this team yet, but the win at Houston and the bye week coming up should do them well. Look out for them if they can get hot.

9. New England Patriots (2-1): On Sunday, the Patriots found themselves in a hard-fought game against the Bills. Offensively they are very explosive and difficult to stop with all their weapons. The issue with them is that their defense is swiss chees. They allowed 30 points to a Ryan Fitzpatrick-led offense. If that defense doesn't clean its act up my preseason prediction of 9-7 will hold true.

10. Tennesee Titans (2-1): The Titans are very easily one of the better teams in the league. Their only loss is to an outstanding Pittsburgh Steelers team. Any team that is coached by Jeff Fisher is a well-coached ball club. I love their defensive and offensive lines. They dominated the New York Giants on the road at the Meadowlands. This is one of the better teams that nobody knows about.