FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Week 4 was all about reshaping expectations as key injuries occurred, momentum swung towards new teams and this year's first tie game took center stage.
Things are starting to look bleak for the Baltimore Ravens after the Kansas City Chiefs' offense went on a roll with Patrick Mahomes hit new career milestones. Elsewhere, the Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers squared off in a battle for NFC supremacy, while the Atlanta Falcons battled an injury-ridden Washington Commanders team.
These outcomes shaped this week's rankings. Let's get into it.
The Bills did what everyone thought they would do. So, they remain without movement for the fifth week in a row.
The Eagles let the Bucs hang around for long enough to make this game interesting down the stretch.
When the Eagles jumped out to a 24-6 halftime lead, I thought that was all she wrote. But leave it to Baker to find a way to make even that interesting.
This matchup was one of the games I was looking forward to most in Week 4. It did not disappoint, and neither did Puka Nacua.
The Lions did what the Packers couldn't: Beat the Browns. Interesting, I know.
The Rams were a good measuring stick for the Colts. This was a game from start to finish, which is why I still think the Colts are a top-10 team.
The Dublin crowd got a show courtesy of the Steelers and Vikings. Leave it to Aaron Rodgers to take center stage.
I don't know what's more shocking: The Giants beating the Chargers, or Jaxson Dart's touchdown dance.
Welcome to the top 10, Seahawks.
Last week, Green Bay was upset by the Browns. This week, the Packers tied the Cowboys on "Sunday Night Football." Can they not do things the easy way?
OK Jacksonville. I see you. I maybe hadn't given you much credit before this point. But hey, better late than never, right?
For the first month of the season, the 49ers have seemed to constantly find a way to stay juuuuust ahead of their opponents. That is, until the Jaguars showed up.
The Vikings gave the Steelers a fight, and maybe a scare overseas.
The Battle of the Birds, the Battle of the 2-1 midway teams, whatever you want to call it, that's what this matchup was.
Fun fact about Power Rankings: I always have to wait until the Monday night games are over until I can really start moving teams up and down the list. So, I was counting the seconds until this one ended.
The Commanders were hamstrung by injuries to key playmakers (Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin to name a couple). For that reason, it is difficult to drop them too far outside the top 15.
... Is Kansas City BACK?
The Falcons' offense had the bounce-back performance they needed after being shutout by Carolina in Week 3. Is Week 4's production indicative of things to come for Atlanta? We'll see after their Week 5 bye.
The Cowboys really had to go and tie with the Packers and throw this ranking all into a tizzy didn't they?
I fear the Bengals without Joe Burrow are going to continue to drop.
OK. Yes. The Bears won. But they only beat the Raiders by one point. So, did they really win?
Oh, how the mighty have fallen... and, oh, how they continue to fall.
Good news for the Patriots is they finally got going. Bad news for the Patriots, they did so against the Panthers.
The Jaxson Dart era is alive and well. The question is whether or not this was first-start magic or something we can expect from this team moving forward. I am not sold yet.
The Raiders didn't make the Bears' win easy on 'em. And for that, I tip my cap. I guess.
Browns, listen, I was starting to believe in you and then you had to go and lose by 24 to the Lions. Yes, it's the Lions. But, you beat the Packers, who beat the Lions. It's just math.
The Texans finally scored more than 20 points in a game. They finally kept their opponent out of the end zone. But they did it against the Titans so does it really even count?
Ah yes. There's the Panthers we know and... love?
The Dolphins got their first win of 2025, but it cost them Tyreek Hill.
I will confess: I thought the Jets were going to be better than they are. And maybe that says something about me.
This ranking ends how it begins, with me pointing out that the Bills did what everyone expected them to do.
OOF—
