2009 NFL Power Rankings: Week 4

Another week has concluded in the 2009 NFL regular season which means it's time for my NFL power rankings. These rankings and my NFL picks are for week 4 of the 2009 football season.

A new segment this week! I'm going to answer comments/emails/messages I've received regarding my NFL power rankings. Here is just a sample of those comments from the week 3 edition of my NFL power rankings.

"You really think there are 9 teams better than Pittsburgh?"

"Pittsburgh is much better than Denver."

After three weeks of football, the Steelers are in no way better than Denver and you were right, reader, saying that nine teams are better than Pittsburgh was indeed wrong. There are quite a bit more.

Now that I've stirred the pot, here are my week 4 NFL power rankings. Let's get on with trashing the Cleveland Browns.

33. Cleveland (0-3): No, that number to the left of Cleveland isn't a typo. The Browns are so bad I no longer consider the team to be good enough to be mentioned among the other NFL squads. At least three NCAA teams could beat the Browns, right now.

31. Tampa Bay (0-3): The Bucs move to second worst in my NFL power rankings after not being able to score at home against a New York Giants team that clearly phoned it in during the final 15 minutes of the game.

30. St. Louis (0-3): The Rams get to stay put in these NFL power rankings. Does this team have a defense? No, the game against the pitiful Redskins doesn't count.

29. Kansas City (0-3): The Chiefs get the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles in the next two weeks of the season. Look on the bright side, Kansas City fans. The Chiefs play the Redskins in three weeks.

28. Miami (0-3): Losing Pennington for the season placed the Dolphins just below Carolina. We'll see if Chad Henne can give Miami the team's first win of the 2009 NFL regular season this Sunday against the Bills.

27. Carolina (0-3): The fact that Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme makes so much more money than I actually makes me angry. Seven interceptions and seven sacks in three games? Yuck.

26. Tennessee (0-3): Still the best winless team in the NFL, thus far. Lots of head-shaking going on in Tennessee as the Titans should really be 2-1 (at least).

25. Washington (1-2): The Redskins have all kinds of problems to deal with before this coming Sunday. If it wasn't for this team's defense, Washington would be as bad as Tampa Bay.

24. Detroit (1-2): Welcome out of the cellar of my NFL power rankings, Detroit! Don't expect Detroit to break the top 20 of these NFL power rankings anytime soon but hey, a win is a win.

23. Oakland (1-2): With Houston, the Giants and the Eagles coming up, the Raiders may be in the bottom five of these NFL power rankings sooner than later.

22. Arizona (1-2): Getting blown out at home in prime time on national television earns the Cardinals the 22 spot in my week 4 NFL power rankings.

21. Seattle (1-2): The injuries are what worry me about Seattle. Right now, this is a football team in bad shape.

20. Houston (1-2): With Oakland, Arizona and Cincinnati on the horizon, you can't count the Texans out yet.

19. Buffalo (1-2): Buffalo is another team that should move up in my NFL power rankings in the next couple of weeks due to an easy schedule. Games against Miami and Cleveland should equal a 3-2 record for the Bills two weeks from today.

18. Jacksonville (1-2): The "what if" game against the Colts in week one of the 2009 NFL regular season could really cost the Jags as the year goes on.

17. Pittsburgh (1-2): Enough of the "just wait till Troy comes back" talk, Steeler nation. Right now, Pittsburgh is nothing more than the best below .500 team in the NFL.

16. San Diego (2-1): The Chargers just aren't doing it for me right now. They will definitely move up in next week's NFL power rankings if they can beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh on Sunday night.

15. Atlanta (2-1): Losing by 16 at New England causes the Falcons to fall this low. The bye week should help Atlanta prepare for the 49ers on October 11.

14. Green Bay (2-1): The Packers have a statement game at Minnesota this Monday night. They then get the Lions and Browns the next two weeks. How high can Green Bay rise in my NFL power rankings?

13. San Francisco (2-1): Hollywood Brett Favre broke the hearts of the 49ers this past Sunday. Fortunately, San Fran gets St. Louis in week 4.

12. Chicago (2-1): Did the Bears beat a good Seahawks squad at Seattle or a banged up football team? I like the Bears over the Lions so Chicago should move up in my NFL power rankings next week.

11. Dallas (2-1): I've had far more faith in the Cowboys than many during the 2009 NFL regular season. That faith gets tested this Sunday as Dallas heads to Denver.

10. New England (2-1): I have the Patriots this low simply because I think New England should be 1-2, right now. The New England-Baltimore contest this Sunday will have a large impact on next week's NFL power rankings.

9. Cincinnati (2-1): Speaking of "should bes," the Bengals should absolutely be 3-0. A nice in-conference victory against Pittsburgh puts Cincy in the top ten of my NFL power rankings.

8. Philadelphia (2-1): In the next three weeks, Philly get the Bucs, the Raiders and the Redskins. The Eagles should coast to 5-1.

7. Denver (3-0): Again, the worst undefeated team is still better than any team with a loss. This isn't NCAA football, after all.

6. Minnesota (3-0): The last second beauty of a throw by Hollywood Brett Favre isn't enough for me to put the Vikings in the top five of my NFL power rankings.

5. Indianapolis (3-0): Peyton Manning is a man on a mission. What a performance in Arizona after a short week for the Colts. The most underrated team in the NFL.

4. Baltimore (3-0): Ca-rushing the Cleveland Browns doesn't earn Baltimore a spot in the top three of my NFL power rankings.

3. New York Jets (3-0): A better performance against the Titans would have placed the Jets ahead of the Giants in these NFL power rankings. The Jets will be number one if they beat the Saints this Sunday.

2. New York Giants (3-0): The best team in the NFC East. Arguably the best team in the NFL. Even a ton of injuries have yet to derail this football team.

1. New Orleans (3-0): Number one in my NFL power rankings once again. The Saints did nothing to lose the top spot last Sunday. Will New Orleans still be the best team in football after hosting the Jets this Sunday?

Check out previous editions of these NFL power rankings to see how things have changed and to learn why I rank teams the way that I do. Be sure to come back next week as the top 5 of my NFL power rankings could be very different.