While we factor in a team’s performance against the spread in these power rankings, it’s time to look beyond that and start shuffling the deck. As we head into Week 4, teams have definitely separated from the pack. Others had shocking stumbles against supposedly inferior teams.
Here’s how the NFL Against the Spread Power Rankings stack up for Week 4.
1. Los Angeles Rams (3-0, ATS: 3-0): The Rams have an early test against the Vikings this week without their two top corners. This would be a great time for Aaron Donald and Ndamukong Suh to show up significantly on the stat sheet. Last week: 1
2. Kansas City Chiefs (3-0, ATS 3-0): Patrick Mahomes has yet to be slowed down in his sophomore NFL campaign. If he tears through the Broncos this week, the league (especially the AFC) may be in real trouble. Last week: 3
3. Miami Dolphins (3-0, ATS: 3-0): If the Dolphins are for real, then they put the Patriots out of their (and our) misery Sunday in Foxborough. Last week: 5
4. Philadelphia Eagles (2-1 ATS: 1-2): Carson Wentz may not have shot the lights out in his first game back from a torn ACL, but he definitely dimmed them considerably. Last week: 10
5. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1,ATS: 2-1): Nothing blows up the momentum from a terrific victory over the Patriots like laying a dinosaur egg against the Titans. Last week: 2
6. Cincinnati Bengals (2-1, ATS: 2-1): Beating the Panthers in Charlotte would have been a tall order, but the Bengals acquitted themselves on the road in a tough environment well. Last week: 4
7. Washington Redskins (2-1, ATS: 2-1): I not only suggested the Redskins as a potential upset pick in last week’s underdogs article, but backed it up by picking them in The FAQ. This team is better than it looks on paper. Last week: 17
8. Carolina Panthers (2-1, ATS: 2-1): The Panthers bounced back from a road loss in Atlanta to hold off one of the (early) best teams in the league in the Bengals. Ignore them at your peril. Last week: 14
9. Minnesota Vikings (1-1-1,ATS: 1-2): It couldn’t get uglier than to lose at home against the Bills, but knocking off the Rams in Los Angeles can remove that bad taste quick. Last week: 8
10. Denver Broncos (2-1, ATS: 0-3): The Broncos can make the AFC West a lot more interesting if they can knock off the Chiefs at Mile High. Last week: 7
11. New England Patriots (1-2, ATS: 1-2): This team looks done. Tom Brady is coming off one of his worst performances in years. If this was any other squad, I’d buy what I was seeing. But it’s the Patriots, so I’m not convinced we’ve seen the end of their run just yet. Last week: 9
12. New Orleans Saints (2-1, ATS: 1-2): Drew Brees is doing all he can to keep this team above water. Eventually it just won’t be enough. Last week: 20
13. Green Bay Packers (1-1-1 ATS: 1-2): A one-legged Aaron Rodgers still looked pretty good in a loss to the Redskins last week. It’d be in the Packers’ best interest to try to put the Bills away early Sunday and let Deshone Kizer get some reps. Last week: 11
14. Atlanta Falcons (1-2, ATS: 1-2): With the talent and draft capital spent on this defense, there’s no excuse for it to be playing this poorly. With Steve Sarkisian finally putting up points on offense, it’d be a shame for the opposite side of the ball to be the problem now. Last week: 12
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1, ATS: 2-1): That was close. For a while there it looked like Ryan Fitzpatrick would have to show up at his postgame press conference dressed like Ryan Fitzpatrick. Last week: 6
16. Indianapolis Colts (1-2, ATS: 2-1): For the first time since Andrew Luck returned, he seemed to struggle. Granted, it was against the Eagles defense, but considering that Frank Reich brought in Jacoby Brissett to toss a Hail Mary attempt at the end of the game, there’s reason to be concerned. Last week: 15
17. Baltimore Ravens (2-1, ATS: 2-1): I’ve yet to figure out these Ravens. They look awful against the Bengals, then dominate the Broncos. I’m not sure if Sunday night’s game against the Steelers will clear anything up other than the AFC North is Cincinnati’s to lose. Last week: 16
18. Chicago Bears (2-1, ATS: 2-1): Matt Nagy will have to learn to trust Mitchell Trubisky or this Khalil Mack trade will do more than blow up in Jon Gruden’s face. Last week: 13
19. Tennessee Titans (2-1, ATS: 2-1): Regardless of the final box score, the fact that a less-than 100 percent Marcus Mariota could drag this team to a victory over the Jaguars could pay dividends in January. Last week: 24
20. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1-1, ATS: 1-2): For a half, the Steelers looked like the team we thought they were in the preseason. In the second half, they looked like the team they’ve proven themselves to be in the regular season. Last week: 21
21. Los Angeles Chargers (1-2, ATS: 1-2): The fact that Anthony Lynn will likely continue to drag this team down for another season after this one is a disservice to what Philip Rivers brings to the table every Sunday. If the man doesn’t get into the Hall of Fame (and I’m not sure he should), Lynn’s tenure at the end of Rivers’ career will likely be the reason why. Last week: 23
22. Dallas Cowboys (1-2, ATS: 1-2): Jason Garrett is coaching for his job this season. He doesn’t seem much like he wants to keep it. Last week: 19
23. New York Giants (1-2, ATS: 1-2): New York is a couple of plays away from being 3-0. Don’t sleep on them just yet. Eli Manning can sneak this team into the playoff hunt. Last week: 28
24. Seattle Seahawks (1-2, ATS: 1-2): Regardless of their home victory against the Cowboys, this team is still a mess and will have to play from behind plenty this season. Russell Wilson deserves better than Brian Schottenheimer. Last week: 29
25. Cleveland Browns (1-1-1, ATS: 3-0): For the third consecutive week in the Power Rankings, the Browns aren’t on the bottom. Not only that, but this has to be the first time in over a decade that the Browns go into Week 4 without a losing record. Last week: 25
26. New York Jets (1-2, ATS: 1-2): I notice all the “Giants should have drafted Sam Darnold” talk has died down a little. The kid could very well turn into a solid franchise quarterback, but you can’t anoint him after two games. Last week: 18
27. Detroit Lions (1-2, ATS: 2-1): There’s no doubt that the Lions should be 1-2 right now, but the one victory over the Patriots is worth a lot more than the victory they should have had against the Jets. Last week: 27
28. Oakland Raiders (0-3, ATS: 1-2): If Gruden and the Raiders can’t knock off the Browns this week (and it’ll be tough), this whole franchise might circle the drain before the leaves change. Last week: 26
29. Buffalo Bills (1-2, ATS: 1-2): The fact that the Bills, with the worst roster in the league, can win a game shows you exactly how historically awful the 2017 Browns and 2008 Lions were. It should be impossible in the modern NFL to go 0-16. Last week: 32
30. San Francisco 49ers (1-2, ATS: 0-3): Jimmy Garoppolo tore his ACL and now the 49ers are right back in the cellar of the NFC West where he found them. Last week: 22
31. Houston Texans (0-3, ATS: 0-3): All the Texans and Bill O’Brien have managed to do this season is get a local school board member fired. O’Brien may join him in the unemployment line before long. Last week: 30
32. Arizona Cardinals (0-3, ATS: 1-2): I’m not sure what happened to Sam Bradford this season, but it’s Josh Rosen’s job in Arizona now until Mike McCoy’s offense runs him into the dirt too. Last week: 31
