Mitchy moo
09-23-2008, 03:04 PM
NFL Power Rankings: 2008 Week 4 edition
<!-- begin left column --><!-- begin page nav -->Week: Pre (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/powerranking?week=0&season=2008) | 1 (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/powerranking?week=1&season=2008) | 2 (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/powerranking?week=2&season=2008) | 3 (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/powerranking?week=3&season=2008) | 4
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The top of the Week 4 ESPN.com NFL power rankings is an exclusive neighborhood. It helps to have an NFC East address.
The Dallas Cowboys (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=dal) lead the pack for the third consecutive week, but suddenly they're crowded by familiar foes. The New York Giants (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=nyg) -- who, despite their reigning Super Bowl champion status, usually have occupied a mid-top-10 slot in our rankings -- are No. 2. And despite suffering a Sept. 15 loss to the Cowboys, the Philadelphia Eagles (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=phi) are elbowing their NFC East brethren for the spotlight at No. 3.
The only NFC East team not among the top 5 is the Washington Redskins (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=was), who register at No. 15 this week.
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Rookie coach Jim Zorn's team can make its case Sunday when it visits top-ranked Dallas. Later that night, the Eagles will be busy scuffling with the puzzling Chicago Bears (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=chi), ranked 20th. The Giants will be among six teams enjoying a bye in Week 4.
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The Tennessee Titans (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=ten) are the new top-5 residents, bounding to No. 4 from No. 9 in the weekly poll of our experts. Behind backup quarterback Kerry Collins (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=734), a solid running game and an opportunistic defense paced by ballhawk Cortland Finnegan (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=9801), the Titans dispatched the Houston Texans (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=hou) 31-12 this past Sunday. The Titans get a stern test of their status this upcoming Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=min).
The Pittsburgh Steelers (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=pit), who still are aching from a punishing defeat Sunday at the hands of the in-state rival Eagles, drop three places to No. 5 in this week's rankings.
The Titans and the upstart Miami Dolphins (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=mia) (up to No. 25 from No. 30; they combined a single-wing attack and Ronnie Brown (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=8417)'s versatility to stun the New England Patriots (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=nwe) on Sunday) each jump five places in the poll. The Patriots (down from No. 6 to No. 11), the Bears (down from No. 15 to No. 20) and the New York Jets (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=nyj) (down from No. 16 to No. 21) take the biggest falls. We've called upon some of our voting members to provide team-by-team commentary. Thus, for your reading pleasure, you'll have:
• Tim Graham on the AFC East
• James Walker on the AFC North
• Paul Kuharsky on the AFC South
• Bill Williamson on the AFC West
• Matt Mosley on the NFC East
• Kevin Seifert on the NFC North
• Pat Yasinskas on the NFC South
• Mike Sando on the NFC West
Near the end of the power rankings, the states of Ohio and Missouri have the dubious distinction of claiming a pair of bottom-dwelling teams each. The Cleveland Browns (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=cle) (No. 26) and the Cincinnati Bengals (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=cin) (No. 28) will try to keep each other winless in Week 4 at Paul Brown Stadium.
But Missouri's basement tenants aren't so lucky. The Kansas City Chiefs (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=kan) (No. 31) have to play AFC West rivals the Denver Broncos (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=den) (up from No. 11 to No. 7). The St. Louis Rams (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=stl) (No. 32) figure to keep a lock on the bottom, barring a huge upset of the Buffalo Bills (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=buf) (No. 6).
Perhaps the Rams can take inspiration from the Dolphins, who have a bye week to savor their unexpected pummeling of the Patriots.
(Editor's note: LW indicates each team's ranking last week.)
<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR class=stathead><TD colSpan=5>2008 Power Rankings: Week 4</TD></TR><TR class=colhead><TD></TD><TD width="10%">RK (LW)</TD><TD>TEAM</TD><TD>REC</TD><TD>COMMENT</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=left><TD>http://sportsmed.starwave.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/sml/trans/dal.gif</TD><TD>1 (1)</TD><TD>Cowboys (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=dal)</TD><TD width=50>3-0-0</TD><TD>Two big NFC wins in a row put the Cowboys in the driver's seat. Rivalry game against the Redskins looms. (MM)</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow align=left><TD>http://sportsmed.starwave.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/sml/trans/nyg.gif</TD><TD>2 (3)</TD><TD>Giants (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=nyg)</TD><TD width=50>3-0-0</TD><TD>I have them pretty much even with the Eagles, but ties aren't allowed. Close call against Bengals will help in long run. (MM)</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=left><TD>http://sportsmed.starwave.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/sml/trans/phi.gif</TD><TD>3 (5)</TD><TD>Eagles (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=phi)</TD><TD width=50>2-1-0</TD><TD>They put up points against a solid Cowboys defense and then used a fierce pass rush to slow down the Steelers. We need to see how Brian Westbrook responds to the ankle injury. (MM)</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow align=left><TD>http://sportsmed.starwave.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/sml/trans/ten.gif</TD><TD>4 (9)</TD><TD>Titans (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=ten)</TD><TD width=50>3-0-0</TD><TD>Hardly playing perfect ball, but still 3-0. Some of it's the competition; some of it's a very good football team doing enough to win. Next mission: Slow Adrian Peterson. (PK)</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=left><TD>http://sportsmed.starwave.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/sml/trans/pit.gif</TD><TD>5 (2)</TD><TD>Steelers (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=pit)</TD><TD width=50>2-1-0</TD><TD>The Eagles exploited the Steelers' poor pass protection. Things won't get any easier against the Ravens on Monday.</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow align=left><TD>http://sportsmed.starwave.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/sml/trans/buf.gif</TD><TD>6 (10)</TD><TD>Bills (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=buf)</TD><TD width=50>3-0-0</TD><TD>The Bills escaped with a victory despite a shaky performance against the Raiders. They have posted two fourth-quarter comebacks in a row and should cruise to 4-0 Sunday against the Rams. (TG)</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=left><TD>http://sportsmed.starwave.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/sml/trans/den.gif</TD><TD>7 (11)</TD><TD>Broncos (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=den)</TD><TD width=50>3-0-0</TD><TD>The Broncos survived another tight game. Doubt their next game, at Kansas City, will be as nerve-wracking for the residents of Bronco Country. (BW)</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow align=left><TD>http://sportsmed.starwave.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/sml/trans/gnb.gif</TD><TD>8 (4)</TD><TD>Packers (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=gnb)</TD><TD width=50>2-1-0</TD><TD>The worst news out of their Sunday night loss to Dallas was CB Al Harris' ruptured spleen. That changes everything. (KS)</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=left><TD>http://sportsmed.starwave.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/sml/trans/sdg.gif</TD><TD>9 (13)</TD><TD>Chargers (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=sdg)</TD><TD width=50>1-2-0</TD><TD>The Chargers put 48 on the Jets on Monday night. That's a good way of avoiding another last-second defeat. (BW)</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow align=left><TD>http://sportsmed.starwave.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/sml/trans/car.gif</TD><TD>10 (8)</TD><TD>Panthers (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=car)</TD><TD width=50>2-1-0</TD><TD>Couldn't protect Jake Delhomme enough for him to get the ball to Steve Smith against the Vikings. (PY)</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/powerranking?season=2008&week=4
<!-- begin left column --><!-- begin page nav -->Week: Pre (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/powerranking?week=0&season=2008) | 1 (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/powerranking?week=1&season=2008) | 2 (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/powerranking?week=2&season=2008) | 3 (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/powerranking?week=3&season=2008) | 4
<!-- end page nav -->ESPN.com
The top of the Week 4 ESPN.com NFL power rankings is an exclusive neighborhood. It helps to have an NFC East address.
The Dallas Cowboys (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=dal) lead the pack for the third consecutive week, but suddenly they're crowded by familiar foes. The New York Giants (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=nyg) -- who, despite their reigning Super Bowl champion status, usually have occupied a mid-top-10 slot in our rankings -- are No. 2. And despite suffering a Sept. 15 loss to the Cowboys, the Philadelphia Eagles (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=phi) are elbowing their NFC East brethren for the spotlight at No. 3.
The only NFC East team not among the top 5 is the Washington Redskins (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=was), who register at No. 15 this week.
<!--<object width="440" height="361">
<embed src="http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/player.swf?mediaId=3591822" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="440" height="361" allowScriptAccess="always"></embed></object>
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Rookie coach Jim Zorn's team can make its case Sunday when it visits top-ranked Dallas. Later that night, the Eagles will be busy scuffling with the puzzling Chicago Bears (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=chi), ranked 20th. The Giants will be among six teams enjoying a bye in Week 4.
<!---------------------INLINE TABLE (BEGIN)---------------------><TABLE cellSpacing=5 cellPadding=5 width=200 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!---------------------INLINE TABLE (END)--------------------->
The Tennessee Titans (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=ten) are the new top-5 residents, bounding to No. 4 from No. 9 in the weekly poll of our experts. Behind backup quarterback Kerry Collins (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=734), a solid running game and an opportunistic defense paced by ballhawk Cortland Finnegan (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=9801), the Titans dispatched the Houston Texans (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=hou) 31-12 this past Sunday. The Titans get a stern test of their status this upcoming Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=min).
The Pittsburgh Steelers (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=pit), who still are aching from a punishing defeat Sunday at the hands of the in-state rival Eagles, drop three places to No. 5 in this week's rankings.
The Titans and the upstart Miami Dolphins (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=mia) (up to No. 25 from No. 30; they combined a single-wing attack and Ronnie Brown (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=8417)'s versatility to stun the New England Patriots (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=nwe) on Sunday) each jump five places in the poll. The Patriots (down from No. 6 to No. 11), the Bears (down from No. 15 to No. 20) and the New York Jets (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=nyj) (down from No. 16 to No. 21) take the biggest falls. We've called upon some of our voting members to provide team-by-team commentary. Thus, for your reading pleasure, you'll have:
• Tim Graham on the AFC East
• James Walker on the AFC North
• Paul Kuharsky on the AFC South
• Bill Williamson on the AFC West
• Matt Mosley on the NFC East
• Kevin Seifert on the NFC North
• Pat Yasinskas on the NFC South
• Mike Sando on the NFC West
Near the end of the power rankings, the states of Ohio and Missouri have the dubious distinction of claiming a pair of bottom-dwelling teams each. The Cleveland Browns (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=cle) (No. 26) and the Cincinnati Bengals (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=cin) (No. 28) will try to keep each other winless in Week 4 at Paul Brown Stadium.
But Missouri's basement tenants aren't so lucky. The Kansas City Chiefs (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=kan) (No. 31) have to play AFC West rivals the Denver Broncos (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=den) (up from No. 11 to No. 7). The St. Louis Rams (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=stl) (No. 32) figure to keep a lock on the bottom, barring a huge upset of the Buffalo Bills (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=buf) (No. 6).
Perhaps the Rams can take inspiration from the Dolphins, who have a bye week to savor their unexpected pummeling of the Patriots.
(Editor's note: LW indicates each team's ranking last week.)
<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR class=stathead><TD colSpan=5>2008 Power Rankings: Week 4</TD></TR><TR class=colhead><TD></TD><TD width="10%">RK (LW)</TD><TD>TEAM</TD><TD>REC</TD><TD>COMMENT</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=left><TD>http://sportsmed.starwave.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/sml/trans/dal.gif</TD><TD>1 (1)</TD><TD>Cowboys (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=dal)</TD><TD width=50>3-0-0</TD><TD>Two big NFC wins in a row put the Cowboys in the driver's seat. Rivalry game against the Redskins looms. (MM)</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow align=left><TD>http://sportsmed.starwave.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/sml/trans/nyg.gif</TD><TD>2 (3)</TD><TD>Giants (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=nyg)</TD><TD width=50>3-0-0</TD><TD>I have them pretty much even with the Eagles, but ties aren't allowed. Close call against Bengals will help in long run. (MM)</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=left><TD>http://sportsmed.starwave.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/sml/trans/phi.gif</TD><TD>3 (5)</TD><TD>Eagles (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=phi)</TD><TD width=50>2-1-0</TD><TD>They put up points against a solid Cowboys defense and then used a fierce pass rush to slow down the Steelers. We need to see how Brian Westbrook responds to the ankle injury. (MM)</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow align=left><TD>http://sportsmed.starwave.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/sml/trans/ten.gif</TD><TD>4 (9)</TD><TD>Titans (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=ten)</TD><TD width=50>3-0-0</TD><TD>Hardly playing perfect ball, but still 3-0. Some of it's the competition; some of it's a very good football team doing enough to win. Next mission: Slow Adrian Peterson. (PK)</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=left><TD>http://sportsmed.starwave.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/sml/trans/pit.gif</TD><TD>5 (2)</TD><TD>Steelers (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=pit)</TD><TD width=50>2-1-0</TD><TD>The Eagles exploited the Steelers' poor pass protection. Things won't get any easier against the Ravens on Monday.</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow align=left><TD>http://sportsmed.starwave.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/sml/trans/buf.gif</TD><TD>6 (10)</TD><TD>Bills (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=buf)</TD><TD width=50>3-0-0</TD><TD>The Bills escaped with a victory despite a shaky performance against the Raiders. They have posted two fourth-quarter comebacks in a row and should cruise to 4-0 Sunday against the Rams. (TG)</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=left><TD>http://sportsmed.starwave.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/sml/trans/den.gif</TD><TD>7 (11)</TD><TD>Broncos (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=den)</TD><TD width=50>3-0-0</TD><TD>The Broncos survived another tight game. Doubt their next game, at Kansas City, will be as nerve-wracking for the residents of Bronco Country. (BW)</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow align=left><TD>http://sportsmed.starwave.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/sml/trans/gnb.gif</TD><TD>8 (4)</TD><TD>Packers (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=gnb)</TD><TD width=50>2-1-0</TD><TD>The worst news out of their Sunday night loss to Dallas was CB Al Harris' ruptured spleen. That changes everything. (KS)</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=left><TD>http://sportsmed.starwave.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/sml/trans/sdg.gif</TD><TD>9 (13)</TD><TD>Chargers (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=sdg)</TD><TD width=50>1-2-0</TD><TD>The Chargers put 48 on the Jets on Monday night. That's a good way of avoiding another last-second defeat. (BW)</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow align=left><TD>http://sportsmed.starwave.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/sml/trans/car.gif</TD><TD>10 (8)</TD><TD>Panthers (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=car)</TD><TD width=50>2-1-0</TD><TD>Couldn't protect Jake Delhomme enough for him to get the ball to Steve Smith against the Vikings. (PY)</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/powerranking?season=2008&week=4