NFL

NFL power rankings after Week 4: Confidence in Cardinals?

Bob McManaman
azcentral sports
azcentral sports’ Bob McManaman ranks all 32 teams in the NFL after Week 4 of the season. Who is No. 1? Where are the Arizona Cardinals?

azcentral sports’ Bob McManaman ranks all 32 teams in the NFL after Week 4 of the season.

Who is No. 1? Where are the Arizona Cardinals?

Last week's rankings in parenthesis. Follow Bob McManaman on Twitter @azbobbymac.

Cardinals XTRA app: Get the latest news, analysis, scores, more

32. (29) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: It’s too early to call Jameis Winston a bust, but hey, if the interception fits. Well, you know.

31. (31) Detroit Lions: I refuse to put the Lions last after they got screwed by an incompetent officiating crew that simply didn’t know the rules about batted balls in the end zone. Even Seattle coach Pete Carroll acknowledged the Seahawks caught a huge break since the refs made the wrong determination. At the very least, this game should have gone to overtime. Yes, the Lions are the only winless team in the league, but they got hosed.

NFL: Official didn't view Seahawk's bat as an 'overt' foul in controversial finish

30. (28) Jacksonville Jaguars: So Jaguars kicker Jason Myers missed a 53-yarder with six seconds left against the Colts. Then he got a do-over because Chuck Pagano called timeout and the next one missed wide right, too. Oh, then he missed again it overtime, pushing one wide left. Hey Jacksonville, I don’t know if you’re aware of this, but Josh Scobee, you’re former longtime kicker, is available. Yeah, the Steelers just released him.

How did the rankings change? Last week's NFL power rankings:

29. (27) San Francisco 49ers: To paraphrase Clay Matthews of the Packers, “You guys are no good, bro!” Need I say more? I thought not. When do the Cardinals play these guys again, by the way? They could use a laugher after that rough loss to the Rams on Sunday. Oh, c’mon, I’m just playing.

28. (21) Miami Dolphins: Sorry, Joe. You had to go. The Dolphins made Joe Philbin the first head coaching casualty of the season and promoted their tight ends coach to replace him. Dan Campbell said he expects a tougher, more physical effort out of the players. We’ll see if they respond.

27. (32) Chicago Bears: Yeah, they won a game – barely – but for Bears tight end Martellus Bennett to compare quarterback Jay Cutler to Jesus, well, I’m at a loss for words. Google it if you want. All I know is the Bears are out of hell, err, Bobby Mac’s Power Rankings’ basement.

Kicking mistakes pile up for NFL teams in Week 4

26. (26) Cleveland Browns: You’re 1-3. Don’t you think it’s time to see what Johnny Manziel can do for you as your fulltime starting quarterback? I do. So does all of Cleveland. Hello? Is this thing on? Hello?

25. (25) Tennessee Titans: Since they didn’t play in Week 4, they don’t gain or lose a spot. Good thing, too, because nobody cares outside of Nashville.

24. (19) Kansas City Chiefs: Alex Smith has been sacked 19 times already. Let me sack the Chiefs five spots the week and we’ll call it even. Maybe you heartbreakers can beat the Bears this week.

23. (17) Houston Texans: Wait a second. Bill O’Brien benched Ryan Mallett for ineffectiveness during Houston’s lopsided loss to the Falcons and turned to Brian Hoyer, who directed the Texans to three fourth-quarter touchdowns. Now O’Brien is going back to Mallett for Thursday’s game against the Colts? Oh, I give up.

22. (30) Washington Redskins: All I’ve got to say is, go Kirk Cousins. I’m not sure you guys can beat the Falcons on the road this week, but I wouldn’t put it past you. Man, did I really just say that? No wonder I had to make an appointment with the doctor this week.

Photos: Best of NFL Week 4

21. (16) Philadelphia Eagles: I don’t know about you, but I’m already tired of watching this team, reading about this team, and listening to all of their excuses. What say you?

20. (24) New Orleans Saints: Had to go to overtime to trip up the Cowboys, but they did it and Drew Brees showed his Hall of Fame credentials once again by connecting with C.J. Spiller on a dramatic, 80-yard touchdown play to win it. Will they beat the Eagles on the road this week? Check back with me this weekend when I make my weekly predictions at azcentral.com/sports. I haven’t decided yet.

19. (22) Baltimore Ravens: I told you they weren’t dead and they weren’t done. Well, not yet at least. Thank Steelers coach Mike Tomlin for that. This week the Ravens get the Browns. Smells like a Baltimore win to me, don’t you think?

18. (15) Dallas Cowboys: That’s two straight losses and counting after losing Tony Romo to that broken collarbone. I’ll say this, though: I’m not so sure I’d be in such a rush to replace Brandon Weeden with Matt Cassel. Weeden looked fairly decent despite losing to the Saints in overtime on Sunday night. Too bad he’s got to face the Patriots this week, isn’t it?

FIND A GAME:NFL schedule

17. (13) Minnesota Vikings: They’re 2-0 at home, 0-2 on the road. This week, they’re 0-0 because they don’t play. Good for them. Let’s move on before we start getting bored.

16. (14) Oakland Raiders: Wait, they lost to the Bears? Seriously? Makes me really regret wanting to pick them this week at home against the Broncos. But I’m doing it, because Denver has had to go to the wire every week to start out 4-0. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but “Go Raiders!”

15. (9) Buffalo Bills: If I’m Rex Ryan, I’m not making the Bills watch tape from their 24-10 loss to the Giants. I’m making them watch tape of how officials call games. The Bills were flagged 17 times for 135 yards against New York. This, just one week after they were penalized 14 times for 140 yards against the Patriots. Uh, that’s not just dumb, that’s stupid. Wait. Well, you get the idea.

Arizona Cardinals vs. St. Louis Rams game photos:

14. (23) St. Louis Rams: These guys make the biggest jump in my Power Rankings this week – nine spots – and it’s more than deserving. Look, they’ve beaten the Seahawks and the Cardinals and that’s saying something. With that attacking defense and the emergence of Todd Gurley, it might not just be a two-team race in the NFC West between Seattle and Arizona.

13. (20) New York Giants: Admit it, you wrote off the Giants after their 0-2 start, didn’t you? Well, they’ve won two in a row and they’ll make it three in a row this Sunday night because they play the soulless 49ers on NBC’s Sunday night game of the week. Just sayin.

12. (7). Pittsburgh Steelers: I blame coach Mike Tomlin for Monday night’s loss to the Ravens more than I blame kicker Josh Scobee, whom the Steelers cut after he missed two late field-goal attempts in the game. Mike Vick didn’t look too bad, but things will be dicey until Ben Roethlisberger gets back, which is going to be a while. Ask my fantasy team.

STANDINGS:See each team's record after Week 4

11. (18) San Diego Chargers: Hey, if you can throw for 358 yards and three touchdowns without three of your starters on the offensive line like Philip Rivers did in Week 4 against the Browns, you deserve a seven-spot promotion. Go ahead, tell me I’m wrong. Yeah, I know, the Chargers got lucky at the end, but I’ll take luck all the time. Hey, I’m Irish.

10. (11) Indianapolis Colts: OK, so it took a pair of oldies in Matt Hasselbeck, 40, and Adam Vinatieri, 42, to beat the Jaguars in overtime, but the oldies pulled it off. Andrew Luck should return from a sore right shoulder in time for Thursday night’s game against the Texans, who looked downright awful against the Falcons.

9. (12): New York Jets: Todd Bowles is off to a 3-1 start in his first real head-coaching gig and I’ve got to admit, he’s got this team on a collision course that should put a scare into the Patriots in the AFC East. They meet in another three weeks, so get ready. This week, the Jets are off. You get that when they make you fly all the way to London to beat up on the Dolphins.

8. (10) Carolina Panthers: I’m telling you, this won’t last. It can’t. The Panthers have played a very weak schedule so far, having beaten the Jaguars, Saints, Texans and Buccaneers. Not impressed. They get the week off so I can’t move them down until they lose at Seattle in another week, which they will. I’ll bet you a double latte on it.

Pick the Pros: NFL pick'em contest

7. (8) Seattle Seahawks: They look like they're getting closer to being back on track, but let’s not forget how incredibly lucky they got Monday night because of some horrific officiating, especially at the end when the refs plainly got it wrong on that Calvin Johnson play. The NFL needs to let plays like this get reviewed from now on if they are missed on the field, which that one was. What is it with the Seahawks catching all these breaks at home games anyway? #Batgate.

6. (6) Atlanta Falcons: When you can drop 48 points on the Texans’ defense, you’d think you’re making a statement. But here’s some news for you, sunshine. The Texans have allowed 108 points already, tied for the third-most in the AFC. That being said, the Falcons move to 5-0 this coming Sunday because they get to play at home against Washington. Oh, and welcome to the NFL, Devonta Freeman. You’re killing it, dude.

Cardinals rewind: What we learned in loss to Rams

5. (3) Arizona Cardinals: No, they didn’t look all that great during a 24-22 loss at home to the Rams, but good teams bounce back and I’m confident the Cardinals will do just that this week at Detroit and next week at Pittsburgh. That’s why I only have them dropping two spots this week. They better prove me right, though, or they could get bounced all the way out of the Top 10. I have spoken.

4. (5) Denver Broncos: The Broncos sacked Teddy Bridgewater seven times and just a coincidence, but that’s also how many time Peyton Manning has helped his teams get off to 4-0 starts. Can Denver make it 5-0 this week on the road at Oakland? I’m honestly not sure … yet.

3. (4) Cincinnati Bengals: They’re 4-0, two wins from matching their best start in franchise history, and I will still contend the best is yet to come – in January when it actually means something. They get the Seahawks at home this week, so they’ll have to prove me right. I think they will.

Future clouded for daily fantasy sports betting

2. (2) New England Patriots: You should know the rules by now in Bobby Mac’s Power Rankings – if you don’t play, you typically don’t get moved from where I had you the week before. The Patriots get the Cowboys this week, so there could be some movement. But only if the team I still have ranked No.1 happens to lose at home, which I doubt will happen. You never know, though.

1. (1) Green Bay Packers: It wasn’t always pretty, but neither are the winters in Green Bay. The Packers took care of business on the road against the 49ers and now they’ll have to do the same at home when they face a very good defense that rocked the Cardinals. Let’s see how Aaron Rodgers handles it, shall we?

Reach McManaman at bob.mcmanaman@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @azbobbymac and listen to him live every Monday at 5:30 p.m. on NBC Sports Radio 1060-AM with Roc and Manuch and every Wednesday night between 7-9 p.m. on Fox Sports 910-AM on The Freaks with Kenny and Crash.

NFL cheerleaders in 2015 season: