Skip to main content
Advertising

Bair's NFL Week 4 Power Rankings: Rams take top spot, Steelers fall and Falcons get a bump

The top half's tightly packed with quality, as Packers, Raiders surge up NFL hierarchy

Sep 28, 2021 at 12:39 AM
Author Image
Scott Bair

Falcons Digital Managing Editor

af-21_Power Rankings_wk4

The Super Bowl champs finally lost. It had been a long while, but Tom Brady and the Buccaneers fell to the Rams in Los Angeles in what could be an NFC title preview.

The Falcons won for the first time in a while, thanks to a comeback win over the New York Giants. That moved them up a few ticks, not much more considering the competition. There were a few big moves, which is expected early in the season without much of a body of work to rely on.

Things will settle in coming weeks but, right now, we've got some shuffling.

RELATED CONTENT:

Let's take a look at the NFL power rankings heading into Week 4:

(3-0)
1
1
Rams_table
Los Angeles Rams
I was never a believer in Matt Stafford. Changing my mind a bit watching him work with Sean McVay.
(2-1)
2
1
Bucs_table
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bucs defense isn’t cranking. The Bucs still have Brady. Super Bowl champs are darn good. A loss to the Rams doesn’t change that.
(2-1)
3
3
Bills_table
Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen has the Bills stampeding after an early loss. The Bills are intimidators.
(2-1)
4
6
Packers_table
Green Bay Packers
37 seconds left with no timeouts. Just enough time for Aaron Rodgers to go win it.
(3-0)
5
4
Raiders_table
Las Vegas Raiders
Maxx Crosby’s a name you don’t know. Learn it. That dude can get after the quarterback. Oh, and Derek Carr’s on fire.
(2-1)
6
1
49ers_table
San Francisco 49ers
Gave Rodgers too much time. There’s plenty of time to make up for a Sunday night hiccup.
(3-0)
7
5
Cardinals_Table
Arizona Cardinals
Cardinals score 30-plus points with ease. So many weapons working with Kyler Murray.
(1-2)
8
5
Chiefs_table
Kansas City Chiefs
Not all 1-2 records are made the same. Chiefs will be just fine.
(2-1)
9
1
Ravens_table
Baltimore Ravens
Please drop the goat emoji too often these days. Drop it with regularity regarding Justin Tucker.
(2-1)
10
5
Chargers_table
Los Angeles Chargers
Just Herbert is incredible. Just incredible. Bolts beat the Chiefs, and should keep rising up this list.
(2-1)
11
3
Browns_table
Cleveland Browns
Browns have won two straight against the teams on the schedule. Not their fault the opposition’s not great.
(2-1)
12
1
Titans_table
Tennessee Titans
Derrick Henry’s starting to pick up steam. Duck and cover, AFC South, duck and cover.
(1-2)
13
9
Seahawks_table
Seattle Seahawks
This is an early-season plummet that won’t last long. Seahawks hiccupped. Ho-hum. Still a darn good team.
(2-1)
14
Cowboys_table
Dallas Cowboys
Dak Prescott looked great in the Dallas home opener. And Dan Quinn has that Cowboys defense looking better.
(3-0)
15
2
Panthers_table
Carolina Panthers
Sam Darnold still has to prove this hot start isn’t a mirage. And he might not have Christian McCaffrey a little while, helping him do it.
(2-1)
16
2
Saints_table
New Orleans Saints
Such a tough time to rank the middle of the field. Lots of uncertainty after three games. We do know Jameis doesn’t inspire confidence.
(3-0)
17
3
Broncos_table
Denver Broncos
I’m trying to Denver’s unbeaten record seriously. With wins against the Jags, Jets and Giants, just can’t do it. Yet.
(2-1)
18
7
Bengals_table
Cincinnati Bengals
Don’t really think the Bengals belong this high, but 2-1 is 2-1.
(1-2)
19
7
Vikings_table
Minnesota Vikings
Vikings finally show signs of life. Kirk Cousins is having a sneaky good start to the season.
(1-2)
20
7
Steelers_table
Pittsburgh Steelers
Can’t figure this Steelers team out, so it’s worth wondering if the bell tolls for Big Ben.
(1-2)
21
5
Patriots_table
New England Patriots
It has been a while since he has done it, but Bill Belichick must recall that breaking in a rookie quarterback is hard to do.
(1-2)
22
3
Dolphins_table
Miami Dolphins
Dolphins are sinking fast without Tua. Sexy playoff pick struggling at the outset.
(1-2)
23
2
Eagles.png
Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles looked pretty good in Week 1, which so much new that wasn’t on tape. They’ve been pretty blah ever since.
(1-2)
24
2
Washington_table
Washington Football Team
Vaunted defense got hip checked by Buffalo to the tune of 43 points. Arthur Smith must be seeing opportunity.
(1-2)
25
2
Falcons_Table
Atlanta Falcons
Falcons get Arthur Smith’s first win with a dramatic, fourth=-quarter comeback. They’ll earn more street cred by starting a winning streak against a soft-er part of the schedule.
(1-2)
26
3
Bears_table
Chicago Bears
Justin Fields had a terrible day at the office. Matt Nagy’s not doing him any favors in the Windy City. Now they’re considering three quarterbacks. What. A. Mess.
(0-3)
27
3
Colts_table
Indianapolis Colts
Quenton Nelson is one of the toughest, baddest dudes in this league. Shame to see him get carted off.
(0-3)
28
Lions_table
Detroit Lions
After what the Ravens did to the Lions, Dan Campbell might want to consider a séance. Nothing else can get them off the schneid.
(1-2)
29
2
Texans_table
Houston Texans
Hope the Texans enjoyed that one win over Jaguars. Might be the only one they get.
(0-3)
30
1
Giants_table
New York Giants
One caveat from the Falcons’ first win. The Giants aren’t very good.
(0-3)
31
1
Jaguars_table
Jacksonville Jaguars
Jets dumpster fire gets Jags up off the NFL’s basement floor. Just barely.
(0-3)
32
2
Jets_table
New York Jets
The Jets have scored 20 points in three games. Yeah. You read that right. There’s nobody worse right now. B-A-D, bad, bad, bad!
af_23_web_final-whistle__1500

Falcons Final Whistle | A Postgame Podcast

Break down the hottest topics surrounding the Atlanta Falcons and how they can impact the team's success with Falcons Insiders Will McFadden, Tori McElhaney and Terrin Waack. Like and subscribe to join us for the lively debate on Falcons Final Whistle.

Welcome to Falcons Final Whistle – an Atlanta Falcons football postgame podcast during the season that shifts gears in the offseason to answer a pressing question about the team's future each week through free agency, the NFL Draft and the offseason program.

iTunes Spotify

Related Content

news

Final NFL Power Rankings: Lions finish on top; Bills and Chiefs lead AFC

The Lions have defined the 2024 NFL season — it's only fitting they end it in the top spot. 
news

NFL Power Rankings Week 18: Eagles, Bills dominate and contenders emerge

The cream has risen to the top with one week left in the 2024 regular season
news

NFL Power Rankings Week 17: Falcons keep climbing and changes in the top 5

Back-to-back wins have the Falcons moving up this week's rankings, and the NFL's elite teams are shuffling around.
news

NFL Power Rankings Week 16: A new team at No. 1 and Falcons make small jump

There is a new team on top of this week's power rankings after the Lions lost in the game of the year. 
news

NFL Power Rankings Week 15: Falcons fall behind Bucs, Seahawks in Top 10

Six teams were on bye in Week 14, but the power rankings keep going. 
news

NFL Power Rankings Week 14: Eagles join NFL's elite tier, Ravens and Falcons slip

With only five games remaining, it's time to pull out all of the stops for that final playoff push.
news

NFL Power Rankings Week 13: Eagles keep climbing, Broncos and Dolphins make jumps

Despite six teams being on bye, the NFL delivered another exciting slate of games in Week 12.
news

NFL Power Rankings Week 12: Chargers make big jump; Eagles and Steelers in Top 5

There was a small shakeup at the top of the rankings, and the Falcons continued to slide heading into the bye week.
news

NFL Power Rankings Week 11: Falcons tumble, Eagles and Steelers make statements

A glance around the Week 10 slate revealed some pretty interesting box scores.
news

NFL Power Rankings Week 10: Falcons stay hot in crowded NFC

Atlanta continues to collect wins while teams like the Los Angeles Rams and Arizona Cardinals are finding their stride. 
news

NFL Power Rankings Week 9: Falcons back in Top 10; Bills and Eagles make jumps

The Green Bay Packers and Washington Commanders pulled out close wins, while the Baltimore Ravens and Minnesota Vikings had surprise losses. See where the dust settled.
news

NFL Power Rankings Week 8: Lions, Ravens vie for top spot; Bills, Commanders rebound

The elite offenses are taking over, and the Falcons fall back to the pack with a big game ahead. 

Top News

Falcons News Now: Initial rosters set, practice squads announced, Week 1 imminent 

Falcons Mailbag: What to make of Atlanta's recent roster decisions? 

Falcons' 2025 uniform schedule unveiled

Raheem Morris details options for Falcons at right tackle

Advertising