NFL Power Rankings, Week 4: How far will Chiefs rise after crushing win over Bears?
By Grant Tuttle
The Kansas City Chiefs overwhelmed the Chicago Bears from the jump and won in a fashion that was undoubtedly pleasing to the fan base. With a huge win from the Miami Dolphins and a stunning loss by the Dallas Cowboys, the Week 4 NFL Power Rankings rankings are full of surprises.
How far will Kansas City climb? Let's take a close look at all 32 teams and the performances each team had from Week 3.
1. Philadelphia Eagles (3-0)
Last Week: 1 (-)
Despite Joe Buck's insistence that the Eagles are not playing their best football yet, they have obliterated teams with their rushing attack. Furthermore, Philadelphia's defense may be more talented than they were last season. While Tampa Bay is not a serious contender, they were never truly in the game on Monday night.
2. Miami Dolphins (3-0)
Last Week: 4 (+2)
Is it time to believe in the Dolphins? While they are not going to put up 70 points on a weekly basis, they have looked like the team to beat in the AFC East. Tyreek Hill is playing some of the best football of his career. Most importantly, however, the Dolphins rushing offense is very productive. With the ability to move the ball through the air and on the ground, the Dolphins are the NFL's best offense.
3. San Francisco 49ers (3-0)
Last week: 3 (-)
We really didn't learn anything new about the 49ers in Week 3. The New York Giants looked as they do every week: Lost and sad about everything. The 49ers are loaded on both sides of the ball. Brock Purdy's prestige is the biggest beneficiary of the talented roster but at this point, I don't hear a lot of NFL media members crying that he can't win big games. The 49ers are built for a Super Bowl run.
4. Kansas City Chiefs (2-1)
Last week: 6 (+2)
Complete and total domination... against the Bears. Chicago might not be a good football team, but the Chiefs have shown that they still are. After a 41-10 drubbing of the Bears, the Chiefs look as if they have a top-tier defense and a dominant offense. The Chiefs had their "get right game" and if that wasn't enough, they get to have a similar matchup next week against the Jets. Kansas City is back in business.
5. Buffalo Bills (2-1)
Last Week: 7 (+2)
The Bills did what they always do. They beat up on teams that are less talented so that they look really good ahead of primetime matchups in which they either win in a close matchup or get outplayed. I'm not going to be bullish on the Bills until they have defeated a team that has real playoff aspirations.
6. Seattle Seahawks (2-1)
Last Week: 8 (+2)
Seattle held on to beat the Andy Dalton-led Carolina Panthers. To be honest, the Seahawks are well-coached but they need to get healthy. Everyone is banged up and it is impeding the upside that they have. They might find their footing soon and look dominant soon but for now, they will settle for a close-ish win against the Panthers.
7. Detroit Lions (2-1)
Last Week: 9 (+2)
I'm still a believer in what the Lions are cooking up. In a gritty win against the previously undefeated Atlanta Falcons, the Lions showed that they are capable of winning games in a multitude of different ways. Beyond that, the Lions look like they found something in rookies Sam LaPorta and Jahmyr Gibbs who made some nice plays down the stretch. At this point, the Lions are the team to beat in the NFC North, and it isn't really that close.
8. Dallas Cowboys (2-1)
Last Week: 2 (-6)
What happened, Dallas? The Cowboys looked hopeless all game long, as though their hearts were never truly in it. Perhaps we can chalk it up to being a "trap game?" Or perhaps we are seeing a quick glimpse of the version of the Cowboys that rears its ugly head every season. Either way, it seems impossible to spin a loss to the hapless Arizona Cardinals into a positive thing.