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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Cory Kinnan

NFL Power Rankings Week 4: Browns rise with contenders, Ravens take a hit

The NFL regular season is almost a quarter of the way over already. And as we enter Week 4, the Cleveland Browns sit with a 2-1 record after a strong showing against the Tennessee Titans, looking to take sole possession at the top of the AFC North this week against the Baltimore Ravens before they hit their bye week next week.

While it is far too early to stick a fork in some teams (except the Chicago Bears, they are done), it seems like the talent disparity this year in the NFL is steeper than most seasons. Only about 10 teams are putting up a fight right now with the rest simply hanging on by a thread. Again, that will change at some point, but the contenders are already separating themselves.

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Where do the Browns sit amongst the rest of the league after another blowout win and dominant defensive performance? Welcome to this Week 4 edition of NFL Power Rankings as we try to sort out the mayhem.

32
Chicago Bears (0-3)

Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Everyone is going to lose their jobs.

31
Arizona Cardinals (1-2)

Despite a win against the top-ranked Cowboys from a week ago, we know who the Arizona Cardinals are.

30
Denver Broncos (0-3)

Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

I mean, they got 70 hung on them.

29
Carolina Panthers (0-3)

Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Bryce Young is hurt, they have the worst collection of skill players in the league, and their offensive line is severely underperforming.

28
Las Vegas Raiders (1-2)

Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

They stink and they are too cash-poor to fire Josh McDaniels.

27
New York Jets (1-2)

Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

I don’t care how good their defense is. They aren’t scoring points with Zach Wilson at quarterback.

26
Tennessee Titans (1-2)

Their roster, outside of their defensive line, is hilariously bad.

25
Minnesota Vikings (0-3)

Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Their luck from a year ago has run out.

24
Atlanta Falcons (2-1)

Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

I don’t care what their record is. The Falcons are not a good football team and their quarterback play is putrid.

23
New England Patriots (1-2)

Mac Jones is mid and those offensive skill players stink.

22
New York Giants (1-2)

Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

This team won a playoff game last year?

21
Washington Commanders (2-1)

Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Sam Howell is beginning to unravel. Is this just a one-game hiccup or the beginning of a longer stretch of struggle?

20
Houston Texans (1-2)

[Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
C.J. Stroud is dealing, and doing so behind a beat-up offensive line. But how long can he stay on his feet?

19
Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1)

Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

I’m still not buying the hype after they squeezed out a win over the flailing Raiders.

18
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1)

Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

Their schedule is getting tougher and it’s going to reflect on their record soon enough.

17
Los Angeles Chargers (1-2)

Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports

Justin Herbert is playing at an MVP level, and it doesn’t seem to matter because they are so poorly coached defensively.

16
Los Angeles Rams (1-2)

Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

As long as Matthew Stafford is healthy, the Rams have a shot against anybody.

15
Indianapolis Colts (2-1)

Mandatory Credit: Jenna Watson-USA TODAY Sports

Getting Anthony Richardson back in the lineup will be huge. The Colts look like legit contenders to win the AFC South.

14
New Orleans Saints (2-1)

An injured Derek Carr could throw a wrench in their season, but they have perhaps the best backup in the league in Jameis Winston ready to step in.

13
Green Bay Packers (2-1)

Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin.

The highs are high and the lows are low for Jordan Love. It will be hard to move the Packers out of the middle of the pack without consistent play from their quarterback.

12
Jacksonville Jaguars (1-2)

[Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
Perhaps the biggest fallers this week, the Jaguars just got steamrolled by the Texans at home. Their talent will take over, but they are off to a slower-than-anticipated start.

11
Cincinnati Bengals (1-2)

They finally snuck out a win, and there is no doubting their talent. It is just a matter of time before they put it together.

10
Detroit Lions (2-1)

Rebounding after a loss a week ago, the Lions look like the NFC North frontrunners.

9
Seattle Seahawks (2-1)

Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Geno Smith continues to be as steady as ever as the Seahawks have found sustainability without Russell Wilson.

8
Cleveland Browns (2-1)

Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

This Cleveland Browns defense is the best in the league through three weeks. If their offense clicks like it did against the Titans, this team is a Super Bowl contender. That has proven to be a big if thus far, however.

7
Baltimore Ravens (2-1)

Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

The Ravens are coming off of a bad loss to the Colts and their backup quarterback. Lamar Jackson, while he was stellar against the Bengals the week before, looked lost in this one. The Ravens are a hard team to pin down right now.

6
Dallas Cowboys (2-1)

Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

The top-ranked team a week ago in these power rankings, a loss to the Cardinals is inexcusable. That roster is still loaded though and primed for a deep run.

5
Buffalo Bills (2-1)

Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Near 40-burgers in back-to-back weeks for Josh Allen and the Bills. They are about to hit a buzzsaw of a schedule over the next six weeks, however. Let’s see what this team is made of.

4
San Francisco 49ers (3-0)

Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Brock Purdy is showing some cracks in terms of his decision-making and accuracy, but it might not matter with that stable of offensive weapons.

3
Philadelphia Eagles (3-0)

Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

The Eagles are who we thought they were.

2
Kansas City Chiefs (2-1)

Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Until the Chiefs prove they aren’t in the upper echelon, they’ll be in the upper echelon.

1
Miami Dolphins (3-0)

Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

There is not a defense in the NFL that can keep up with their speed. There is no fluke to hanging 70 on an NFL defense. Maybe the NFL gods will bless us with a Mike McDaniel offense vs. Jim Schwartz defense down the line.

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