NFL Analysis
9/24/24
13 min read
2024 NFL Week 4 Expert Power Rankings: Vikings Challenge Chiefs for Top Spot
There were a ton of upsets around the NFL in Week 3, which means significant movement in the power rankings. What has become clear is that there are not many elite teams right now, but the gap between teams No. 2 and No. 14 is small.
That will certainly change as we get further into the season, but there are a lot of good but not great teams right now. Here is our full set of rankings coming out of the third week of action:
>> READ MORE: 1st & 10 for NFL Week 3
NFL Week 4 Power Rankings
1. Kansas City Chiefs (3-0) 
Previous Ranking: 1 
It certainly wasn’t pretty, but the Kansas City Chiefs won and covered against the Falcons in primetime. The defense was outstanding once again, stopping the Falcons twice inside the red zone in the second half.
Kansas City is still finding its way on offense, and no one else has stepped up outside of Rashee Rice. But the fact that the Chiefs have escaped this part of their schedule with a 3-0 record bodes well for them for the rest of the season.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 29 vs. Chargers
>> READ MORE: Why Rashee Rice Is Chiefs No. 1 Option
2. Buffalo Bills (3-0) 
Previous Ranking: 4 
You can make a case that the Buffalo Bills should be at the No. 1 spot. Their wins have been much more impressive than Kansas City's, and Josh Allen is playing out of his mind.
The Bills scored five first-half touchdowns against the Jaguars, and that game was well over before 9 PM ET. As long as Buffalo can stay healthy, it is the clear-cut No. 2 team in the AFC, and we would all be so lucky if we could get another Bills-Chiefs matchup in the playoffs.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 29 vs. Ravens
3. Minnesota Vikings (3-0) 
Previous Ranking: 13
The Minnesota Vikings are easily the most surprising team in the NFL this season. Not only are they 3-0, but they’ve defeated two excellent teams in the 49ers and the Texans.
Both wins were done in convincing fashion, and they managed to win those games without Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson. Time will tell whether the Vikings are a legitimate contender in the NFC. But their high-flying offense, paired with Brian Flores’s defense, make them a tough opponent for any team.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 29 vs. Packers
4. San Francisco 49ers (1-2) 
Previous Ranking: 2 
It’s tough to win a game when three All-Pro caliber players are on the sideline (Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, George Kittle), but this was a game the San Francisco 49ers were supposed to win.
The Rams had just as many injuries as the 49ers and San Francisco held a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter. Still, the 49ers let the game slip away. San Francisco will still be fine in the long run, but there is no doubt that this was a disappointing loss.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 29 vs. Patriots
5. Detroit Lions (2-1) 
Previous Ranking: 5 
The Detroit Lions haven’t been as dangerous on offense this year as expected, but the defense showed up in a big way on Sunday. They allowed just 13 points to the Cardinals in Arizona and allowed 277 yards of offense.
Detroit's offense will eventually start to click, but it’s encouraging to see the defense playing this well early in the year.
Next Game: Monday, Sept. 30 vs. Seahawks
6. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-0) 
Previous Ranking: 11
The Pittsburgh Steelers are 3-0 with three touchdowns scored this season. Somehow, someway, the Mike Tomlin voodoo continues in Pittsburgh. The defense deserves a ton of credit, as it has held all three opponents to 10 or fewer points.
Justin Fields is playing within himself and not making a bunch of mistakes. It’s fair to wonder how this team will look against better opponents, but those games won’t come until much later in the year. Pittsburgh has a real chance to open up a huge lead in the AFC North over the next month.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 29 vs. Colts
7. Seattle Seahawks (3-0) 
Previous Ranking: 17
The Seattle Seahawks have had some luck in terms of their early-season opponents and injuries, but they have taken care of business in all three games.
The most encouraging thing for Seattle is that its defense looks fantastic under Mike Macdonald. It didn’t take him long to turn around that unit and make them one of the best in the league. We’ll see how it looks against better offenses, but so far, so good for the 3-0 Seahawks.
Next Game: Monday, Sept. 30 vs. Lions
8. Green Bay Packers (2-1) 
Previous Ranking: 6
The Green Bay Packers have managed to win back-to-back games without Jordan Love. That is the sign of a great team. They’ve managed to not only keep their season afloat but play well in the first few weeks with Love on the sideline.
He’s expected to return to the field in Week 4, and there is no doubt that the Packers are one of the NFL's better teams.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 29 vs. Vikings
>> READ MORE: How Willis Saved His NFL Career & Packers Season
9. Philadelphia Eagles (2-1) 
Previous Ranking: 10
It was anything but convincing, but the Philadelphia Eagles got a much-needed win against the Saints in New Orleans. The offense continues to have major problems figuring out the blitz, but Saquon Barkley looks fantastic, and the defense stepped up to the challenge.
The Eagles are a flawed team, but at least they found a way to win on a short week on the road. They deserve a lot of credit for not allowing one tough loss to turn into another one the following week.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 29 vs. Buccaneers
10. Houston Texans (2-1) 
Previous Ranking: 3
Houston had no chance on offense against the Vikings in Week 3, as it was another masterclass by Brian Flores. The Texans had no success rushing the ball, finishing the game with just 38 yards on 14 carries (2.7 yards per attempt).
C.J. Stroud was sacked four times and was under constant pressure all game. Houston is a young team and will grow from this loss, but this was a rough outing by everyone involved.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 29 vs. Jaguars
11. New Orleans Saints (2-1) 
Previous Ranking: 7
The New Orleans Saints came back to earth on offense in Week 3 after two massive performances to start the year. They only scored 12 points, and their only touchdown drive started at the 50-yard line after Jake Elliott missed a field goal.
The Saints are still a good team, and we shouldn’t overreact to a 3-point loss to the Eagles. However, Derek Carr’s performance makes it hard to completely buy into the Saints moving forward.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 29 vs. Falcons
12. New York Jets (2-1) 
Previous Ranking: 12
The offense finally clicked for the New York Jets in Week 3, and Aaron Rodgers had his best performance in years. He was accurate and moved well in the pocket, which was a big concern coming off of the Achilles injury.
The Jets still have some concerns on that side of the ball, but their run game looked fantastic with the new duo of Breece Hall and Braelon Allen. New York's schedule continues to be pretty soft, and it could start stacking up wins early in the season.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 29 vs. Broncos
>> READ MORE: Rodgers Shakes Up The AFC
13. Baltimore Ravens (1-2) 
Previous Ranking: 15
The Baltimore Ravens needed a win in Week 3 to avoid a 0-3 start, and they got one in Dallas. They ran for 273 yards, and Lamar Jackson averaged 12.1 yards per passing attempt. Yet, the Cowboys managed to hang around and make the game tight after scoring 19 points in the fourth quarter.
Baltimore has to figure out a way to be more effective in the fourth quarter after nearly blowing another double-digit point lead. But a win is a win, and the Ravens are moving back up the rankings.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 29 vs. Bills
14. Los Angeles Chargers (2-1) 
Previous Ranking: 16
The Los Angeles Chargers played well in the first half against the Steelers, but a second-half injury to Justin Herbert took all of the air out of their sails.
The good news is that the injury isn’t overly serious, so he might only miss a game or two. The Chargers are a well-coached team for the first time in years, but the injury bug continues to haunt them.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 29 vs. Chiefs
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1) 
Previous Ranking: 8
Injuries are certainly to blame for a lot of Tampa Bay’s struggles in Week 3, but the offense still wasn’t good enough. Baker Mayfield has been sacked 12 times in the last two weeks, and he is starting to drop his eyes and look at the rush.
The defense is without several Pro Bowl players, including Vita Vea and Antoine Winfield Jr., so don't overreact too much to its performance against the Broncos. But this was certainly a discouraging loss against a much less talented roster.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 29 vs. Eagles
16. Washington Commanders (2-1) 
Previous Ranking: 29
What a performance by Jayden Daniels. In primetime, the Heisman trophy winner was the best player on the field. The Washington Commanders scored 38 points and scored on every single drive.
They have not punted since late in Week 1 and the offense is clicking under Kliff Kingsbury. The Commanders are finally fun again.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 29 vs. Cardinals
17. Dallas Cowboys (1-2) 
Previous Ranking: 9
The Dallas Cowboys have a major problem on defense. They have allowed 888 yards in the last two games at home. Mike Zimmer is one of the most respected defensive minds in the league, but his defense is underperforming, and it can’t get off the field.
The Cowboys' upcoming schedule is brutal, and things could get out of control if they don’t win on Thursday against the Giants.
Next Game: Thursday, Sept. 26 vs. Giants
>> READ MORE: Can Dallas' Defense Be Fixed?
18. Arizona Cardinals (1-2) 
Previous Ranking: 19
This was another winnable game for the Arizona Cardinals in Week 3, but the offense just didn’t show up this week. Kyler Murray and the Cardinals were held to just 13 points against the Lions and had no semblance of a run game.
Arizona’s offense is fun to watch, but it can be a bit streaky, depending on the opponent. That’ll need to get fixed if they want to be viewed as a playoff contender in the NFC.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 29 vs. Commanders
19. Cleveland Browns (1-2) 
Previous Ranking: 14
The Cleveland Browns had no business losing in Week 3. They were gifted a touchdown to open the game after the Giants fumbled the opening kickoff. After that score, they scored just eight points in the rest of the game.
The defense got some turnovers but couldn’t make key stops late. Deshaun Watson played another poor game, taking far too many sacks. The Browns have had a tough start, losing two home games against NFC opponents, and their schedule will only get tougher as the season progresses.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 29 vs. Raiders
20. Los Angeles Rams (1-2) 
Previous Ranking: 24
Sean McVay deserves some kind of award or honor for his coaching performance in Week 3. He was without both of his top receivers (Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua), multiple starting offensive linemen and several defensive backs.
Yet, his team found a way to win against the 49ers. The Los Angeles Rams aren’t loaded with talent, but they are one of the best-coached teams in the league, and McVay will always give them a chance.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 29 vs. Bears
21. Indianapolis Colts (1-2) 
Previous Ranking: 26
The Indianapolis Colts needed a win to avoid an 0-3 start and got one against the Bears. Jonathan Taylor had a massive day, and the Colts made several plays on defense whenever needed.
However, Anthony Richardson's play continues to be an issue; he had another two-interception performance while completing only 50 percent of his passes.
That just won't work against better teams and will likely play out again next week when the Colts host the Steelers. Richardson needs to develop much faster if the Colts want to have any hope of sneaking into the playoffs.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 29 vs. Steelers
22. Atlanta Falcons (1-2) 
Previous Ranking: 18
The Atlanta Falcons have had a brutal schedule to start the year, but they’ve been competitive in all three contests. They went toe-to-toe with the Chiefs in Week 3, and if it hadn’t been for a few missed calls, they probably would have beaten the back-to-back Super Bowl champs.
The good news for the Falcons is that the schedule will lighten up in the next few months. If Kirk Cousins can continue to get healthier, they should have no problem racking up wins.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 29 vs. Saints
23. Las Vegas Raiders (1-2) 
Previous Ranking: 22
The Las Vegas Raiders might be the most Jekyll-and-Hyde team in the NFL. Last week, they completed a double-digit comeback to beat the Ravens in Baltimore. But in Week 3, they were blown out by Andy Dalton and the Panthers in a game that was never competitive.
Dalton shredded the defense, and the offense never found a groove. As we saw last year, the Raiders can beat anyone on the right day. But they can also get embarrassed by the league’s worst team. It’s hard to trust them week-to-week.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 29 vs. Browns
24. Cincinnati Bengals (0-3) 
Previous Ranking: 21
The Cincinnati Bengals never stopped the Commanders in Week 3. Not once. They scored on every single possession, and that's why they're at 0-3. The Bengals feel like a team that thought a healthy Joe Burrow would solve all of their issues.
While he's played better, they can't find a way to win these early-season games. With a brutal backend of the schedule, it's getting late early for the Bengals. Again.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 29 vs. Panthers
25. Chicago Bears (1-2) 
Previous Ranking: 23
The Chicago Bears are a bit of an enigma. Their defense looks really good, and Caleb Williams is making progress as a passer. Yet, the offense can’t punch the ball into the end zone, and the defense has failed to get stops when it absolutely needs them.
The Bears have a lot of talent, especially on offense. But we need to exercise patience with this team as it figures out how to win with Williams under center.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 29 vs. Rams
26. Miami Dolphins (1-2) 
Previous Ranking: 20
It’s going to be tough for the Miami Dolphins moving forward without Tua Tagovailoa. That’s about all that we learned coming out of Week 3. Skylar Thompson suffered a rib injury and was replaced by Tim Boyle.
Neither quarterback had success, and the Dolphins looked like one of the league’s worst offenses. The Dolphins have averaged just 13.6 points per game in the last five regular-season games without Tagovailoa. At some point, it’s fair to wonder if the Dolphins need to make a trade for a quarterback because this team might be one of the worst in the league without its franchise quarterback.
Next Game: Monday, Sept. 30 vs. Titans
27. Denver Broncos (1-2) 
Previous Ranking: 30
Kudos to the Denver Broncos for bouncing back and getting a much-needed Week 3 win. Their offense was a disaster in the first two weeks of the season, but they performed significantly better against the Buccaneers in Tampa Bay.
Bo Nix didn’t light up the scoreboard, but he didn’t turn the ball over and didn’t take any sacks. While that won’t be enough to beat some of the better teams in the AFC, it was a step in the right direction.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 29 vs. Jets
28. New York Giants (1-2) 
Previous Ranking: 31
The New York Giants had to win in Week 3 to avoid another 0-3 start, and they got an impressive win against the Browns in Cleveland. Things couldn’t have started worse after they fumbled the opening kickoff and allowed a touchdown to Amari Cooper on the next play.
However, the Giants showed some real heart and battled back to get the road win. Up next are the slumping Cowboys in Week 4 on Thursday Night Football, which suddenly feels like a winnable game.
Next Game: Thursday, Sept. 26 vs. Cowboys
29. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-3) 
Previous Ranking: 25
No team in the NFL has been as disappointing as the Jacksonville Jaguars. While they've had a tough schedule out of the gate, they have played worse each week.
They weren't even competitive against the Bills, and Trevor Lawrence showed no confidence. They have now lost their last eight games with Lawrence under center, and it feels like it's time for a major move in Jacksonville.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 29 vs. Texans
30. New England Patriots (1-2) 
Previous Ranking: 27
After a nice Week 1 win against the Bengals, the New England Patriots have struggled to put points on the board in their last two contests. They can’t protect Jacoby Brissett at all, and the lack of weapons in the passing game is very apparent.
The Patriots need to play Drake Maye to provide a spark, but their offensive line's lackluster play might keep him on the bench for his safety. New England is in a tough spot in Year 1 of its rebuild.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 29 vs. 49ers
31. Carolina Panthers (1-2) 
Previous Ranking: 32
The Carolina Panthers made the right decision to bench Bryce Young, and that decision was proven correct on Sunday. Andy Dalton lit up the Raiders in Las Vegas, and the Panthers were the week's highest-scoring team.
We’ll see how long the momentum lasts for Dalton and the Panthers, but it was nice to see them get a win and look dominant in doing so.
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 29 vs. Bengals
32. Tennessee Titans (0-3) 
Previous Ranking: 28
The Tennesee Titans are one of the most frustrating teams in the NFL. They have a lot of talent on both sides of the ball and yet, it hasn’t translated into wins.
That is mostly due to Will Levis, who regressed in Year 2. Levis continues to make rookie mistakes, and it’s only a matter of time before the Titans have real conversations about benching him.
Next Game: Monday, Sept. 30 vs. Dolphins
