With all of the talented teams in the AFC, who would have thought it would be the Cincinnati Bengals as the only undefeated team left in the conference heading into Week 4?
There's plenty to discuss after another exciting weekend of football--so let's take a look at the 2014 NFL Power Rankings Week 4 edition.
32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 0-3 (30)
32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 0-3 (30)
You can toss all of the "sleeper playoff team" talk for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers out the window as this team hit a new low after their embarrassing 56-14 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. It's only been three games, but signing Josh McCown during the offseason looks like a huge mistake and this team should strongly consider switching back to Mike Glennon moving forward to see if he can spark the offense.
31. Oakland Raiders 0-3 (32)
(Darren McCollester/Getty Images)
31. Oakland Raiders 0-3 (32)
(Darren McCollester/Getty Images)
Nobody gave the Oakland Raiders much of a chance in Foxboro against the New England Patriots and they managed to keep it close after losing by just seven points. The offense looked sluggish, but that was expected against a tough Patriots' defense and this was good experience for rookie quarterback Derek Carr.
30. Jacksonville Jaguars 0-3 (31)
(Rob Foldy/Getty Images)
30. Jacksonville Jaguars 0-3 (31)
(Rob Foldy/Getty Images)
So much for the Jacksonville Jaguars "resting" Blake Bortles this season as the rookie saw his first action of the regular season against the Indianapolis Colts--completing 14 of 24 passes for 223 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. This was a move that should have happened back in Week 1 considering Bortles is the future and the experience as a rookie should be beneficial for the Jaguars down the road.
29. Tennessee Titans 1-2 (26)
(Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
29. Tennessee Titans 1-2 (26)
(Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Jake Locker started off the 2014 season on a hot note, but the quarterback has looked horrendous over the last two weeks as he completed just 17 of 34 passes for 185 yards with two interceptions against the Cincinnati Bengals. With just 17 points over their last two games, things don't get easier for the Titans in Week 4 as they travel to Indy to take on Andrew Luck and company.
28. Minnesota Vikings 1-2 (28)
(Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
28. Minnesota Vikings 1-2 (28)
(Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
With Matt Cassel out, the Minnesota Vikings will finally get a chance to see what Teddy Bridgewater is capable of at quarterback. The rookie looked decent (12 of 20 for 150 yards with 27 rushing yards) against the New Orleans Saints, but hopefully Bridgewater's numbers will get better with more experience--especially since the Vikings appear to have nothing to lose this season considering all of the trouble surrounding Adrian Peterson.
27. St Louis Rams 1-2 (25)
(Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
27. St Louis Rams 1-2 (25)
(Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
Austin Davis missed the perfect opportunity to make a strong case for why he deserves the starting job at quarterback as the St. Louis Rams blew a 21-0 lead against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. Now, it will be interesting to see what happens at the quarterback position with this team once Shaun Hill returns to full strength.
26. Miami Dolphins 1-2 (20)
(Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
26. Miami Dolphins 1-2 (20)
(Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Not only did the Miami Dolphins look horrendous for the second-straight week, but now there are questions surrounding whether or not Ryan Tannehill (21 of 43 for 205 yards with one touchdown) should continue to be the starting quarterback. The pressure will be on for the former first-round pick in Week 4 as the Dolphins travel west to take on the Oakland Raiders--who managed to contain a sluggish Tom Brady on Sunday.
25. New York Giants 1-2 (29)
(Al Bello/Getty Images)
25. New York Giants 1-2 (29)
(Al Bello/Getty Images)
How awesome was it to see the Victor Cruz salsa dance again? The New York Giants finally got things rolling on offense against the Houston Texans and the best part of all--Eli Manning went the entire game without throwing a single interception.
On another note, keep an eye on Rashad Jennings (176 rushing yards with one touchdown) over the next couple of weeks.
24. Cleveland Browns 1-2 (23)
(Jason Miller/Getty Images)
24. Cleveland Browns 1-2 (23)
(Jason Miller/Getty Images)
Don't let their 1-2 record fool you--this Cleveland Browns team has proven over the first three weeks of the season they're capable of competing with playoff caliber teams.
For the third-straight week, the Browns saw their game decided on the final play and give Brian Hoyer (19 of 25 for 290 yards with one touchdown) credit for continuing to show why he deserves the starting job at quarterback.
23. Houston Texans 2-1 (22)
(Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
23. Houston Texans 2-1 (22)
(Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
We've been saying all along the Houston Texans still had plenty to prove considering they had two favorable matchups to begin the season. Even though this game would have been different with Arian Foster in the lineup, Sunday's loss to the New York Giants was the perfect example of how much work this team still needs on both sides of the ball.
22. Washington Redskins 1-2 (27)
(Rob Carr/Getty Images)
22. Washington Redskins 1-2 (27)
(Rob Carr/Getty Images)
Even if Robert Griffin III is ready to go before the end of the season--the Washington Redskins need to do themselves a favor and keep Kirk Cousins as their starting quarterback. Despite the loss, Cousins was fantastic (30 of 48 for 427 yards with three touchdowns and one interception) against the Philadelphia Eagles and looks like a much better fit for the offense.
21. Buffalo Bills 2-1 (17)
(Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
21. Buffalo Bills 2-1 (17)
(Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
This was what we expected from the Buffalo Bills over the first two weeks of the regular season as the offense couldn't get anything consistent going against the San Diego Chargers. While Fred Jackson led the way for the offense (112 yards from the line of scrimmage with one touchdown), this team needs bigger numbers from EJ Manuel at quarterback--which should be easier with a rookie like Sammy Watkins at wideout.
20. New York Jets 1-2 (24)
(Al Bello/Getty Images)
20. New York Jets 1-2 (24)
(Al Bello/Getty Images)
The New York Jets surprised us once again on defense, but the offense missed out on too many red-zone opportunities that ended up being costly in this loss. Geno Smith needs to be a better leader on offense and once again, the turnovers were an issue against a banged-up defense of the Chicago Bears.
19. Kansas City Chiefs 1-2 (21)
(Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
19. Kansas City Chiefs 1-2 (21)
(Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
This was the type of performance we've been waiting to see from the Kansas City Chiefs after coming up with a big road win in Miami. Alex Smith deserves most of the credit (19 of 25 for 186 yards with three touchdowns) for leading the way on offense, how about Knile Davis (132 rushing yards with one touchdown) coming up big for fantasy owners with Jamaal Charles out?
18. San Francisco 49ers 1-2 (8)
(Norm Hall/Getty Images)
18. San Francisco 49ers 1-2 (8)
(Norm Hall/Getty Images)
What has happened to the San Francisco 49ers over the last two weeks? For some reason, this team has struggled to put points on the board in the second half of each game this season as they took a big hit in the NFC West standings following their loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
This team will struggle to win games when Franke Gore and Carlos Hyde combine for just 23 rushing yards.
17. Dallas Cowboys 2-1 (19)
(Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
17. Dallas Cowboys 2-1 (19)
(Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
Is it time to start taking the Dallas Cowboys seriously? With all of the criticism surrounding Tony Romo, the quarterback deserves plenty of credit for helping this team overcome a 21-0 deficit and come through with the big win on the road against the St. Louis Rams.
As for the offense, let's hope they continue to be smart by pounding the ball to DeMarco Murray.
16. Green Bay Packers 1-2 (7)
(Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
16. Green Bay Packers 1-2 (7)
(Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Is it time to hit the panic button for this team? The fact that Aaron Rodgers has thrown for less than 200 yards twice in three games is a major reason to be concerned for the Green Bay Packers--especially with all of the injuries the defense of the Detroit Lions is dealing with.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers 2-1 (18)
(Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
15. Pittsburgh Steelers 2-1 (18)
(Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
If the Pittsburgh Steelers can play at the high level they played at against the Carolina Panthers on a consistent basis, there's no reason why this team can't be a top contender in the AFC. Ben Roethlisberger continues to make throws only Ben Roethlisberger is capable of throwing and the offensive line is finally playing solid.
14. Atlanta Falcons 2-1 (16)
(Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
14. Atlanta Falcons 2-1 (16)
(Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
First off, congratulations is in store for Devin Hester for breaking the record books, but let's talk about how scary this offense of the Atlanta Falcons looked on Thursday night. Even if it was a complete mismatch against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Matt Ryan showed us just how dangerous he can be with a healthy Julio Jones (nine catches for 161 yards with two touchdowns) can be.
13. New England Patriots 2-1 (10)
(Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
13. New England Patriots 2-1 (10)
(Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
This team may be 2-1, but the New England Patriots have plenty of areas in need of improvement as they've looked nothing but sluggish so far in 2014. You know it's bad when Tom Brady has yet to have a multi-touchdown game with only three touchdown passes over the team's first three games.
On a positive note, at least the defense has stepped it up over the last two games by holding their opponents to a combined 16 points.
12. New Orleans Saints 2-1 (15)
(Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
12. New Orleans Saints 2-1 (15)
(Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
Speaking of struggling offenses, many expected a bigger performance out of Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints against the Minnesota Vikings, but that was obviously not the case. Still, give Brees credit for leading this offense after throwing for 293 yards to go along with two touchdowns and continuing to push for Brandin Cooks (eight catches for 74 yards) to become one of his new favorite targets.
11. Baltimore Ravens 2-1 (10)
(Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
11. Baltimore Ravens 2-1 (10)
(Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
The Baltimore Ravens needed help in the ground game and Lorenzo Taliaferro stepped it up big time after rushing for 91 yards with one touchdown to help this team pick up a big road win against the Cleveland Browns. Not to mention Steve Smith (five catches for 101 yards) continues to show he still has plenty of gas left in the tank and we can't wait to see him square off against his former team in Week 4.
10. Indianapolis Colts 1-2 (13)
(Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
10. Indianapolis Colts 1-2 (13)
(Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
After back-to-back frustrating losses, Andrew Luck finally led the Indianapolis Colts to their first big win of the season--even though it wasn't too difficult considering they were playing against the Jacksonville Jaguars. If the Colts were smart, they would start giving more carries to Ahmad Bradshaw instead of Trent Richardson.
9. Detroit Lions 2-1 (12)
(Leon Halip/Getty Images)
9. Detroit Lions 2-1 (12)
(Leon Halip/Getty Images)
Here's a sentence we never expected to say--the Detroit Lions beat the Green Bay Packers when Matthew Stafford failed to throw a single touchdown pass and was picked off twice.
Even with a banged-up defense, the Lions came through with a big win against their division rivals--making a strong statement when it comes to being the team to beat in the NFC North.
8. Chicago Bears 2-1 (11)
(Elsa/Getty Images)
8. Chicago Bears 2-1 (11)
(Elsa/Getty Images)
Brandon Marshall only had one catch for six yards on Monday night against the New York Jets--yet the Chicago Bears still managed to come up on the winning end. The Bears deserve plenty of praise for all of the adjustments made to their injured defense and Kyle Fuller is quickly becoming a fan favorite in Chicago as he recorded his third interception of the young season.
7. Carolina Panthers 2-1 (4)
(Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
7. Carolina Panthers 2-1 (4)
(Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
It was a close defensive match early on, but the Carolina Panthers quickly fell apart against the Pittsburgh Steelers as they lost by 18 in front of their own fans. If the Panthers can't figure out a way to fix their ground game (Jonathan Stewart led the way with just 31 rushing yards), there's a good chance this team may not make the playoffs once January rolls around.
6. San Diego Chargers 2-1 (9)
(Tom Szczerbowsk/Getty Images)
6. San Diego Chargers 2-1 (9)
(Tom Szczerbowsk/Getty Images)
From this moment on, nobody should ever doubt Philip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers--nobody.
The Chargers are coming off another big win after dominating the Buffalo Bills on the road, but losing another running back in Danny Woodhead could cause problems for this team over the next couple of weeks.
5. Philadelphia Eagles 3-0 (5)
(Rob Carr/Getty Images)
5. Philadelphia Eagles 3-0 (5)
(Rob Carr/Getty Images)
In three games, the Philadelphia Eagles have managed to find themselves trailing by at least 10 points--yet they're somehow 3-0 on the season. The offense continues to put up points, but the defense of the Eagles continues to be a huge reason for concern after surrendering 34 points to the Washington Redskins.
4. Denver Broncos 2-1 (1)
(Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
4. Denver Broncos 2-1 (1)
(Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
Look at the bright side--at least the Denver Broncos only lost by single digits this time around to the Seattle Seahawks. It's never easy to play in Seattle as they have one of the most hostile environments in the NFL and unfortunately by the time Peyton Manning woke up the offense--it was already too late as Denver went on to lose the game in overtime.
3. Arizona Cardinals 3-0 (6)
(Norm Hall/Getty Images)
3. Arizona Cardinals 3-0 (6)
(Norm Hall/Getty Images)
If you haven't started believing in the Arizona Cardinals, you may want to start doing so as this team has made a case for having one of the league's top defenses. Not to mention the Cardinals have started the year 3-0 with Drew Stanton as their quarterback for two of those games.
2. Seattle Seahawks 2-1 (3)
(Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
2. Seattle Seahawks 2-1 (3)
(Norm Hall/Getty Images)
After a tough loss in Week 2, the Seattle Seahawks bounced back strong with a big overtime win against the defending AFC Champions, the Denver Broncos. It's never easy to stop Peyton Manning and the Seahawks have now managed to do so twice since last February--which is beyond impressive.
1. Cincinnati Bengals 3-0 (2)
(Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
1. Cincinnati Bengals 3-0 (2)
(Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
Who would have thought the Cincinnati Bengals would be the only undefeated team in the AFC after three games? This defense is scary good and Andy Dalton is earning every cent of that hefty contract extension he signed this offseason.
Luckily, we'll find out just how good this team really is in two weeks when they travel to Foxboro for a key game against the New England Patriots.
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