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15 Biggest Takeaways From Week 4 Of NFL Action
October 2, 2013 8:22 pm EDT by 
15 Biggest Takeaways From Week 4 NFL Action
Well, it was another interesting week in the wild and wacky world of the NFL. Some teams are looking like legitimate contenders, some teams are terrible and everyone else is in between. Besides the Green bay Packers and Carolina Panthers (both on bye), every team has played one quarter of their games. Although you can't really put much in stone yet at this point, you definitely have a better feel for most teams.
Basically the format I'll use will be kind of an unofficial power rankings, except very non-linear and I won't rank any of the teams. In fact, I find the whole idea of power rankings a little silly. Every week I hear all this hooting and hollering about a teams rank on some silly list. Just take a look at the last two Super Bowl Champions, the New York Giants (9-7) and Baltimore Ravens (10-6). I bet neither of those teams were ever No. 1 on the power rankings in they're respective years. It's fine to scroll down them real quick, but I never understand why people make such a big deal about them, especially in the early weeks like now. Now getting all fired up about College Football makes a little more sense seeing as those rankings actually mean something and aren't just people's opinions.
Anyway, I'll be talking about where we stand after Week 4 in the NFL. Just remember, don't get too excited now if your team is looking good thus far, Super Bowls aren't won in Week 4. On the flip side, if your team isn't doing that well, then it isn't the end of the world. There is still an eternity to make up ground. That's it, enjoy the show
Dan Abeshouse is a NFL Writer for www.Rantsports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Danabeshouse82, Like him on Facebook and add him to your network on Google
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2013 Broncos = 2007 Patriots?
The Denver Broncos are averaging just a shade under 45 points per game. They're currently on pace to score 716 points, which would beat the 589 of the New England Patriots. We all know the Broncos aren't going to score 45 every game, but I do believe they have a chance. Peyton Manning is just so much beyond anyone right now, the guy is a surgeon. To all my gambling friends, keep taking the over's on Denver.
The Seattle Seahawks can win road games too
We all know the Seattle Seahawks are virtually unbeatable at home, but now they can come back against good teams on the road? Yeah, I know that they came back against the Atlanta Falcons in the playoff game last year, but the Houston Texans were the more desperate team and they're normally pretty safe with a lead. Looking at the Seahawks schedule, they could potentially be 9-0 going into a road game with the Falcons later this year. You might as well pencil the Seahawks in the Super Bowl if they get home-field advantage, because nobody is going to win a playoff game there.
New England Patriots Are Still A Contender
I thought for sure the more desperate Falcons were going to the beat the Patriots at home in a Sunday night game, I was wrong. Very impressive win for the Pats, they'll be a factor in January like always.
San Francisco 49ers Will Be Just Fine
The San Francisco 49ers got back on track after a small rough patch by crushing the St. Louis Rams. I don't know if anyone wrote them off, but they shouldn't have. I bet anything they'll be over a seven-point road favorite in the playoffs against whatever 8-8 team wins the NFC East.
NFC East Is The New NFC West
Speaking of the NFC East, well it sucks. No team in this division will be a factor and the one team that wins the division will no doubt be first-round fodder.
Indianapolis Colts Are A Legit Contender For AFC South Crown
I really thought the Indianapolis Colts were going a be a classic regression team in 2013; I might have been mistaken. The Texans aren't much looking like an elite team and the surprising Tennessee Titans might not hold up without Jake Locker. If the Colts can beat the Seahawks at home this week, I'll be a believer.
Houston Texans Might Not Be That Good
The Texans are a few plays away from possibly being 0-4. Matt Schaub hardly inspires confidence, I know I wouldn't trust him in a playoff game unless he was playing a QB I trust even less, like Andy Dalton, for example. If the Texans get crushed badly in San Francisco this week, then they might have to do something drastic.
Kansas City Chiefs Are A Legit Playoff Team
It's nice to see that the Kansas City Chiefs are actually good again. I feel like the league is more fun when the Chiefs are good. Don't get me wrong, I don't think they have a hope in hell of beating out the Broncos for the division, but they can definitely go 6-6 in the rest of their games for 10-6 and a wildcard spot. I'd still like to see how they'd fare being down by 10-14 points in a game. They seem like the type of team that can only play with a lead.
The Cleveland Browns actually a contender in the AFC North?
The Cleveland Browns are looking like geniuses right now. They trade away Trent Richardson and actually seem to get better. They just beat the Cincinnati Bengals, and the Baltimore Ravens aren't exactly running away with the division either, so why couldn't the Browns win this mediocre division?
New Orleans Saints Are Once Again A Super Bowl Contender
The New Orleans Saints are back. We all know they can put up 30 points every game, but it looks like they have a defense now, too, a defense that has yet to yield more then 17 points in any game this season. The Saints are kind of like the Seahawks in the fact if they get home-field advantage, then you could probably pencil them into the Super Bowl. A road win this week against the Chicago Bears would be HUGE for the Saints.
Miami Dolphins Could Be A Fraud
Every year there's at least one team that starts off hot and fizzles soon there after. Remember the 4-0 Arizona Cardinals from last year? The Miami Dolphins could be a good candidate for that honor this year, as they still have a lot of tough games left. They have the Ravens coming into town right before a bye. If you're a good team, then you should be able to beat a bad road team with an identity crisis. Of course, the Dolphins haven't always been the best home team, either.
Nobody Believes In The New York Giants
Even though the New York Giants have looked like absolute garbage the past few weeks, you still can't write them off. I'm not sure if they still have it in them, but we've seen the Giants rise up before when all were doubting them. It's not inconceivable that the Giants get hot, go 8-4 in the last 12 games and win the division at 8-8. Got to love the NFC Least.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers Are A Nightmare
I actually picked the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to get their first win last Sunday, but they let me down just like last year when I picked them for a Wild Card spot. What are the odds that either Josh Freeman or Greg Schiano are still there at the end of the year?
The Pittsburgh Steelers Stink
I really don't know what I could say about the Pittsburgh Steelers that everyone else hasn't. My buddy Skip Bayless at ESPN seems to think the Steelers could still go 9-7 and win the division. Clearly Mr. Bayless didn't bother to look at the remaining schedule for the Steelers. Two games each against the Ravens and Browns, another game against the Bengals, and road games against the Patriots and Green Bay Packers. Don't think that's happening Skippy boy. At least LeVeon Bell looked good in his debut
The Jacksonville Jaguars Have a Legit Shot At 0-16
The Giants, Steelers and Bucs are all pretty bad, but the Jacksonville Jaguars could be one of the worst teams of all time. Oh, and they just traded their stud LT Eugene Monroe to the Ravens, so things might start getting worse. That could possibly be just the beginning of the fire sale. Besides home games against the Cardinals and Buffalo Bills, I don't really see the Jags having a chance to win any other game on their schedule. Tim Tebow could at least make this team some what exciting.
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