Los Angeles Tribune Magazine NFL Power Rankings

Plenty of surprises heading into week four and the final week of the first month of the NFL season. There are injuries as always making an impact, but the real surprises are the teams finding unlikely heroes. So much to say so let’s move the sticks!

(Don’t forget these power rankings are where teams stand today and not predictions of where we think they will end up.)

1. Philadelphia Eagles 3-0 with Jalen Hurts having a breakout year as QB with an offense leading the league in yards gained and the defense being seventh in points allowed and fifth in yards allowed.
2. Miami Dolphins 3-0 with Tua Tagovaila having his own breakout year as QB after many questioned whether the Fins would even keep him on the roster. This team has a couple comeback wins including one against the previously power-ranked number one team the Buffalo Bills.
3. Buffalo Bills 2-1 even with a close loss to the before-mentioned Dolphins 19-21 this team is still as likely as any team to be in the Superbowl. The Bills are in the top three teams in offense and fourth in defense. Look for them to learn from this and keep getting better.
4. Kansas City Chiefs 2-1 is another top team with a close loss that has them falling on the power rankings right now. This loss felt a little more real and potentially signs of greater problems ahead. Just not sure if the Colts is a team you can feel good about losing to.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2-1 which is one of many 2-1 record teams so why do I place them so high? Tom Brady. Need I say more? Their latest loss was to a good team, the Green Bay Packers, and even then they were in it till the end with a chance to win with the clock winding down. Hard to believe with all their injuries and old age they are still this good.
6. Green Bay Packers 2-1 with their last close win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the fact they lost the opener to the Vikings and their only solid win being against the Bears they find themselves at 6 this week. Hard to say if this team will miss Adams too much.
7. Minnesota Vikings 2-1 were off to a good start beating the Packers, then losing what should have been a win and then barely beating one of the worst teams in football, the Lions 28-24 has me putting them in the middle of the 2-1 record teams.
8. Los Angeles Rams 2-1 loss to Bills opening week and even though they turned it around with a couple wins they just don’t seem to be the same Superbowl winning team from last season. Next up they play the Niners which will tell us more than you might think, especially with them being a division rival.
9. Baltimore Ravens 2-1 team seems like they should be better and that sounds funny considering how good they have been. Other than blowing a lead to the surprisingly good Miami Dolphins this team seems to have real potential. Watch for Jackson who is looking for a new contract to keep putting up strong numbers.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars 2-1 team is a somewhat fun surprise, but they have a real test coming up against the Eagles this Sunday. Still, it’s another young QB breaking out and it’s only his second year. Considering all the coach controversy last year and the typically bad franchise that is the Jaguars, the fact this QB is excelling says a lot.
11. Denver Broncos 2-1 team has been disappointing to most, but the record keeps them right where they need to be. Sure, the team isn’t what we thought they would be on the field, but time is probably all they need with all the newness going on between coach and QB. Watch for this team to be a top 10 or even a top 5 team in the next 7 games.
12. Dallas Cowboys 2-1 team is hanging in there which means we have to listen to fans talk Superbowl when they still might not even make to the playoffs. With Prescott hurt, Cooper the backup QB is definitely doing his job and the defense is keeping them in games.
13. New York Giants 2-1 with there only loss being to the Cowboys it’s hard to say where this team really stands. They are definitely better than we thought they would be, but this is another team we need to see a lot more of before we say they have a shot at the playoffs.
14. Indianapolis Colts 1-1-1 getting their first win against the Chiefs last Sunday was a good sign for this team. All their games were close and they seem to be moving in the right direction going from loss to tie to win. This could be a top ten team in another month, but it could also be a bottom ten team too.
15. Cleveland Browns 2-1 team is waiting for their star QB to be off suspension and back playing football after almost 2 years of sitting out. For years it seems like the Browns have had the pieces to make a run, but it just has never materialized. Expect to see this team hanging out in the middle for the foreseeable future.
16. Arizona Cardinals 1-2 team has had one of the toughest schedules in the league starting with an opener against the Chiefs, then playing the Raider in Vegas and then playing the Superbowl winning Rams. This team normally gets off to strong starts and fades at the end so maybe it’s a slow start and a stronger finish in the playoffs?
17. Cincinnati Bengals 1-2 is in a Superbowl slump. Could be a long year with everyone gunning for them. They won’t sneak up on anyone anytime soon.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers 1-2 is a team that will get better.
19. Chicago Bears 2-1 is a “maybe, just maybe” kind of team.
20. New England Patriots 1-2 just lost their QB to injury and that’s not their only problem.
21. Los Angeles Chargers 1-2 better start protecting Herbert their QB.
22. Carolina Panthers 1-2 has Baker Mayfield so the possibilities in every direction exist.
23. Atlanta Falcons 1-2 is in for a long year.
24. New Orleans Saints 1-2 was expected to be better.
25. San Francisco 49ers 1-2 is poised to have the biggest jump of the teams ranked in the twenties.
26. Tennessee Titans 1-2 This team should be better.
27. Detroit Lions 1-2 I thought were going to win last Sunday but couldn’t hang on.
28. NY Jets 1-2 is waiting on their young QB to be healthy but not sure it will make a difference.
29. Washington Commanders 1-2 may still surprise some people.
30. Seattle Seahawks 1-2 have shown moments of brilliance.
31. Las Vegas Raiders 0-3 have lost some close ones.
32. Houston Texans 0-2-1 have beat the odds and have two ties within the first 3 games?!