Week 3 of the NFL season started setting the contenders and the pretenders apart from one another. The Def Pen Sports team has analyzed the week 3 games and made the needed adjustments for week 4 of the 2021 NFL Power Rankings. The contributors to this week’s rankings are Dylan Hargis and Xavier Santos. Team names will be followed by their record and the number of spots they moved up or down from last week’s rankings.
2021 NFL Power Rankings: Week 4
1. Los Angeles Rams 3-0 (+1)
Matthew Stafford has a case for MVP of the league through three games. His willingness and ability to execute on throws down the field has added a crucial element to the Rams’ offense. If the defense can stay healthy, this team should be playing in the NFC championship game for a chance to advance to the Super Bowl. The Rams take the top spot in the 2021 NFL Power Rankings.
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2-1 (-1)
Despite the loss, the Buccaneers stay near the top of the rankings. Few teams are equipped to slow down their offense when fully healthy. Their defense, however, may need to address holes in the secondary. They need a cornerback or two. On plays where the defensive front failed to pressure the quarterback, the cornerbacks and safeties have struggled to cover receivers. Could Richard Sherman make sense for them?
3. Las Vegas Raiders 3-0 (+2)
The Raiders got a sloppy overtime win against the underperforming and injured Mami Dolphins. That being said they are 3-0 with wins over the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers. Las Vegas may be the best team in the AFC, but they have to prove it first. The defense still has some serious question marks.
4. Arizona Cardinals 3-0 (+2)
We’ve seen teams with a high game-to-game variance. The Cardinals have a high play-to-play variance. They can look like one of the better teams in the league on one play then commit a mental mistake only the worse coached teams make on the next. They are an infuriating, but wonderful, watch. We will get a better sense of this team’s potential after their next games against the Rams and 49ers in the coming weeks.
5. Carolina Panthers 3-0 (+3)
The loss of Jaycee Horn hurts but they recently swung a trade for former top ten pick CJ Henderson in hopes of replacing him in the starting lineup. Their defense has been suffocating through the early part of the year and has helped carry an offense that has yet to start clicking on all cylinders. If they can weather the storm the next few weeks without Christian McCaffrey, they will be well-positioned for a run at the division crown.
6. Buffalo Bills 2-1 (+6)
Josh Allen and the offense have seemingly found their groove after dismantling the Washington Football Team. The defense continues to look like a much-improved unit and the Bills look poised to control the AFC East. This does not look like the same Bills team that got demolished by the Steelers in week 1.
7. Los Angeles Chargers 2-1 (+6)
The talk of the AFC in week 3 was the Chargers sending the Kansas City Chiefs to 1-2. Justin Herbert threw four touchdowns and led what ended up being a game-winning drive. The defense forced the Chiefs to make mistakes on the field. Los Angeles fired a warning shot across the NFL and now teams will be listening.
8. Cleveland Browns 2-1 (+3)
The Browns defense held the Chicago Bears under 50 yards of total offense in week 3. Odell Beckham Jr. returned and led the team in receiving yards with 77. This Browns team feels like a contender, but the pass coverage needs some work. They were just a few plays off from beating the Kansas City Chiefs and being 3-0. The AFC North might have a new division winner this year.
9. Tennessee Titans 2-1 (+5)
Derrick Henry has found his footing after a lackluster week 1 performance. Ryan Tannehill still looks a little shaky, but the offense is top tier in the AFC. The chemistry with Julio Jones needs some work, but if it clicks then this team is a Super Bowl contender. We haven’t seen enough from the defense yet, but it looks better than last year.
10. Dallas Cowboys 2-1 (-)
The Dallas Cowboys were firing on all cylinders against the Eagles on Monday Night Football. Dan Quinn is a considerably better defensive coordinator than he was a Head Coach. Dak Prescott will carry this team as far as they let him. A Cowboys defense that can keep up in games is a scary thought. The rushing and passing attack was nearly perfect for Dallas. This team could be moving up the 2021 NFL Power Rankings soon.
11. Green Bay Packers 2-1 (+6)
They are who we thought they were. Sure, they’re better than their week 1 performance would indicate but they are unlikely to contend for a title this season. They miss David Bakhtiari and don’t have much of a pass rush without Za’Darius Smith. Aaron Rodgers will probably will them to a postseason berth but they don’t have the talent or depth to make much noise once they get there.
12. San Francisco 49ers 2-1 (-9)
Jimmy G is holding this team back and it is only a matter of time until Kyle Shanahan makes the call to the bullpen. It’s clear the team is trying to win despite its’ quarterback rather than because of him. Defensively, the loss of Jason Verrett hurts and the secondary will continue to be a problem moving forward. They have the talent to overcome a shaky secondary but their front 7 can not afford a serious injury.
13. Denver Broncos 3-0 (+2)
The Broncos are officially 3-0, but their opponents are a combined 0-9 through three weeks. We don’t believe this team is for real right now. The defense looks good, but with Bradley Chubb hurt it could take a step back. Teddy Bridgewater’s wide receiver depth does not exist right now. We might become believers if they can beat Baltimore in week 4.
14. Baltimore Ravens 2-1 (-7)
It took a historic field goal by Justin Tucker to beat the Detriot Lions. The Ravens looked like a team that has way too many players unable to play. COVID-19 makes things uncertain for this team because Lamar Jackson is literally their only hope at winning games. Someone needs to offer to buy Justin Tucker a steak dinner after his late-game heroics.
15. New Orleans Saints 2-1 (+3)
Many people are praising Winston’s ridiculous TD pass as he was being sacked but that same throw was picked off in week 2. The Saints are talented but Winston will need to protect the ball if they have any hopes of making the playoffs.
16. Cincinnati Bengals 2-1 (+9)
Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase look like they never left the LSU Tigers 2019 offense. When the offensive line gives them the time the team has a good-looking offense. The defense is young but also shows some promise. This year probably isn’t a playoff year, but with a better offensive line, the future looks bright. The Bengals are quickly rising in the 2021 NFL Power Rankings.
17. Kansas City Cheifs 1-2 (-13)
The Kansas City Cheifs’ rushing defense is bad. Right now Patrick Mahomes hasn’t been enough to make up for the obvious flaws this team has. If their name isn’t Tyreek Hill or Travis Kelce they are a non-factor on the offense right now. Maybe signing Josh Gordon can help fix some things, but it won’t help the defense.
18. Seattle Seahawks 1-2 (-9)
This team is consistently inconsistent. They have holes all over the roster and rely on Russell Wilson’s brilliance to overcome an overall lack of talent. With games against the Niners and Rams the next two weeks, 1-4 is not completely out of the question.
19. New England Patriots 1-2 (-)
The Patriots are lacking that magic they used to have on the field. Mistreating a quarterback that won six Super Bowls might end up harming your franchise. Mac Jones shows promise, but he’s too young to win games on his own. That legendary Patriots defense has been somewhat quiet so far this year.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers 1-2 (-4)
Ben Roethlisberger probably needs to retire after this season if everyone involved was being honest. The injuries and poor offensive line play have caught up to the former Super Bowl winner. Combine that with a defense riddled with injuries and you get a loss to the Bengals at home.
21. Chicago Bears 1-2 (-1)
Head Coach Matt Nagy appears to be a lock for the first coach fired. General Manager Ryan Pace will likely follow soon after. This team needs to clean house and start over. The team has less than 50 yards of total offense in week 3. They continue to drop in the 2021 NFL Power Rankings.
22. Philadelphia Eagles 1-2 (-)
The Eagles just don’t look like a complete football team. They aren’t bad, but the growing pains are obvious. Running into a red-hot Dallas Cowboys did them no favors. Jalen Hurts was running for his life most of the game.
23. Washington Football Team 1-2 (-2)
Their defense entered the season as one of the more hyped units in all of football. So far this year, the defense has been nothing short of disappointing. Josh Allen faced little resistance in shredding the Washington defense to the tune of 358 yards passing and 4 touchdowns. He even threw in a rushing score for good measure.
24. Minnesota Vikings 1-2 (+2)
Kirk Cousins and the offense was thought to be the weaker side of the ball entering the season. Thus far, it’s been the defense that has been disappointing. If the defense can play up to the level many expected, this team could make a late-season run at a playoff berth.
25. Miami Dolphins 1-2 (-1)
Without Tua Tagovailoa this team has very little chance at winning games. He is slated to come back in week 6, but this team will be lucky to be 2-3 and not 1-4 at that point. It is hard to see how this lackluster offense makes a serious push for the playoffs.
26. Indianapolis Colts 0-3 (-3)
Carson Wentz was very obviously hurt in week 3 and probably didn’t need to be in the game. This team seems to lack difference makers that can win close games. A week 4 loss to the Miami Dolphins would bring this team to 0-4 and all but seal their fate of being out of the playoffs this year.
27. Houston Texans 1-2 (-)
This team continues to look better than advertised, but winning a lot of games seems out of the question this year. They may be good for some upset wins, but they are clearly bottom dwellers for the 2021 NFL Power Rankings.
28. Detriot Lions 0-3 (+2)
Dan Campbell preached that his team would show toughness and a competitive edge. They’ve yet to bite off an opponents’ knee cap but they have shown a tremendous amount of heart. Sunday’s loss to the Ravens was certainly a gut punch but probably what’s best for a team that’s rebuilding.
29. Atlanta Falcons 1-2 (-)
The decision to draft a tight end looks instead of a long-term replacement for Matt Ryan looks worse and worse by the week. This team is going nowhere fast and a win against a hapless Giants team did little to change this team’s outlook for the season.
30. New York Giants 0-3 (-2)
Owner John Mara was seen knocking over a trashcan after a humiliating loss to the Atlanta Falcons at home. Daniel Jones may have taken a half step forward as a quarterback but the team’s unimaginative playcalling and porous offensive line have done little to put him in a position to succeed. The season is lost and the remaining games should be spent evaluating whether Jones is the quarterback of the future.
31. New York Jets 0-3 (-)
Zach Wilson is on pace to shatter the rookie interception record right now. He has had very little time to make decisions behind that offensive line and when he does make them they aren’t good ones. The defense is bad and there isn’t much good to talk about right now. New York City is probably begging for basketball season to start.
32. Jacksonville Jaguars 0-3 (-)
What are the Jaguars doing on either side of the ball right now? It is almost time to declare Urban Meyer unfit to coach in the NFL. Trevor Lawrence is supposed to be a generational quarterback talent and right now he looks terrible. The Alabama Crimson Tide wouldn’t beat this team, but it’s sad you even have to think about it.
*The biggest movers of this week were the Cincinnati Bengals (+9) and the Kansas City Cheifs (-13)*
