PFT’s Week Four 2021 power rankings

NFL: SEP 26 Buccaneers at Rams
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1. Rams (3-0, Last week No. 2): Based on Sean McVay’s reaction to taking the lead at halftime on Sunday, a Super Bowl win might cause him to spontaneously combust.

2. Buccaneers (2-1, No. 1): As they proved last year, there’s nothing like a regular-season loss (or two) to set the stage for a postseason reversal.

3. Bills (2-1, No. 5): How did this team lose to the Steelers?

4. Ravens (2-1, No. 3): The team that used to be the Browns is becoming the Kardiac Kids all over again.

5. Raiders (3-0, No. 8): September wins are money in the bank. And the Raiders are already operating on house money.

6. Cardinals (3-0, No. 7): It may not last, but it will be fun while it does.

7. Packers (2-1, No. 11): Sunday night’s win doesn’t erase Week One, but it makes it more of an aberration.

8. Panthers (3-0, No. 10): They can win without Christian McCaffrey, even though it obviously would be better to not have to try.

9. 49ers (2-1, No. 6): The 49ers concluded in March that Jimmy G isn’t the answer. Maybe they want to completely convince the rest of us before moving on to Trey Lance.

10. Browns (2-1, No. 12): They could be one of the most balanced teams in the league. If so, the wins will keep coming and the climb will continue.

11. Chargers (2-1, No. 16): It’s only pass interference if they call it. And, yes, they should have called it.

12. Chiefs (1-2, No. 4): They’ve lost their mystique, and it could take some time to find it.

13. Saints (2-1, No. 14): Given everything they’ve been through, two wins in three games counts as a great start to the season.

14. Cowboys (2-1, No. 15): They’re clearly the best team in the division. The question is how they stack up against the other good teams in the NFC.

15. Titans (2-1, No. 17): They may clinch the division by Halloween.

16. Broncos (3-0, No. 18): Want more respect? Beat a team that otherwise has won a game.

17. Bengals (2-1, No. 23): With the Steelers left in the dust, the playoffs are a real possibility.

18. Vikings (1-2, No. 24): The win over Seattle means nothing if they don’t give the Browns everything they can handle.

19. Patriots (1-2, No. 13): All that money spent on free agents and not much to show for it, so far.

20. Seahawks (1-2, No. 19): I had thought Russell Wilson would renew his desire to be traded in March. Maybe it’ll happen by late October.

21. Dolphins (1-2, No. 20): Jacoby Brissett could end up taking the starting job from Tua Tagovailoa.

22. Steelers (1-2, No. 9): I predicted that both the Steelers and Ben Roethlisberger would regret the decision to give it another go by November. Chances are that they’re already there.

23. Washington (1-2, No. 21): They aren’t who we thought they were.

24. Falcons (1-2, No. 30): The Giants let them hang around long enough to do that which no one expected them to do.

25. Eagles (1-2, No. 25): They’re clearly not on the same level as the Cowboys.

26. Bears (1-2, No. 22): I’d say they’re tanking, if they hadn’t already given up their first-round pick.

27. Lions (0-3, No. 29): If only someone had bitten Justin Tucker‘s kneecap when they had the chance.

28. Giants (0-3, No. 26): They’re now 0-3 in games during which they retire the number of one of their Super Bowl heroes. Next up, November 28 vs. the Eagles, on Michael Strahan day.

29. Texans (1-2, No. 28): They’ll win just enough games to blow the top pick in the draft.

30. Colts (0-3, No. 27): If you blinked, you missed the Carson Wentz honeymoon.

31. Jaguars (0-3, No. 32): The coach who feels like he’s playing Alabama every week nearly pulled off a win with an Iron Bowl play.

32. Jets (0-3, No. 31): The Zach Wilson mafia is already getting stronger than the North Jersey mob ever was.

65 responses to “PFT’s Week Four 2021 power rankings

  1. 14. Cowboys (2-1, No. 15): They’re clearly the best team in the division. The question is how they stack up against the other good teams in the NFC.

    What about the #5 team in the AFC

  2. The Ravens win on a miracle field goal against the team you have at 27 and the Ravens are at number 4? I don’t see it

  3. How could the ravens possibly be ranked above the raiders in this list who are undefeated and actually beat the ravens? I assume that must be a misprint as it makes zero sense.

  4. “11. Chargers (2-1, No. 16): It’s only pass interference if they call it. And, yes, they should have called it.”

    Should have said the same about the Ravens,

    “4. Ravens (2-1, No. 3):” It’s only delay of game if they call it. And, yes, they should have called it.

    and then ranked the Ravens below the Chargers where they belong, after all, they lost to the Lions and only recorded the W by a gross officiating mistake.

  5. Why are the Giants so high? The Texans have a decent starting QB, and the Colts have a respectable head coach. What do the Giants have?

  6. The Patriots only win is over the 32nd ranked Jets. They also employ an unimpressive rookie QB with no other option on the roster.

  7. Ravens are a top 5 team sorry folks but you can’t hate on Lamar throwing dart after dart and having his WRs let him down. Game should of never been close and Tucker is the GOAT – carry on – cheers!

  8. So, we don’t care at all that the officials gave the Lions a free TD when the runner was clearly down short of the goal line? Or that they took a clearly backwards pass recovered by Baltimore away and made it an incomplete pass?

    No? It’s just the one delay of game call that impacted the game? Got it.

  9. From what we saw of Lance playing against backups in the preseason (after all the “Mahomes 2.0” talk coming out of camp), he looks better suited to solving the Niners’ issues at CB than QB right now.

  10. inozwetrust says:
    September 28, 2021 at 12:04 pm

    The Ravens win on a miracle field goal against the team you have at 27 and the Ravens are at number 4? I don’t see
    ________________________________________

    Just like you didn’t see the dropped touchdown passes and 2 horrendous calls against the Ravens. They are No. 4 because teams fear the Ravens and not the Lions. Steelers beat Buffalo. Should Buffalo be at 3? Pick them too!

  11. 14. Cowboys (2-1, No. 15): They’re clearly the best team in the division. The question is how they stack up against the other good teams in the NFC.

    Well they went neck and neck with the Super Bowl Champs (who happens to be an NFC team) at their place and lost by 2 on a last second FG

  12. chickensalad43 says:
    September 28, 2021 at 12:28 pm
    The Patriots only win is over the 32nd ranked Jets. They also employ an unimpressive rookie QB with no other option on the roster.

    Translation— 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

  13. For the people who didn’t watch the Lions game live. Maybe just maybe the TV play clock didn’t match the official play clock. It’s just really odd that you didn’t hear one boo from the Lions fans after that play. It sucks I know, but there were calls against the Ravens too, just like every game, there are terrible calls made or not. At the end of the day they gave up a 4th -14 and put themselves in that situation. Also it’s the NFL, a strong team can struggle or lose to an inferior team any week which is why the NFL is so great, there’s always a shot. Again these rankings mean nothing and if it upsets you this much, go check your priorities.

  14. Perhaps y’all should spend a little more time watching these games and not just look at the outcomes. Detroit beat the Ravens in that game. The FG should never have happened and doesn’t erase the fact that the Lions outplayed them. Had it doinked out instead of in, would you still have these teams 23 spaces apart?

  15. Delighted to see Mathew Stafford on the number one ranked team! He had so many doubters and has proved them all wrong. Also give credit to Aaron Donald who is a beast. The entire team is pumped up every week. It’s unlikely that we’ll go undefeated, but we can win every game.

  16. 27 comments and so many are hate against the Ravens. You know your team doesn’t want to play them. No other org in the league could have their injuries and still succeed. Never seen so many mooks making comments.

  17. Denver beat 3 bad teams, but Denver beat them badly. Which is what good teams do. No way they should be 16. How many teams lost to 1 win teams, with the 1 win being against them? Unfortunately for Denver, the injuries are piling up just when the competition stiffens. If Denver beats Baltimore they deserve top 5 rank.

  18. Jazzeppi says:
    September 28, 2021 at 12:40 pm
    The Steelers beat Buffalo because their entire defense was healthy!

    Yes, Watt was healthy & that guy is a beast – but the Steelers beat the Bills because of a special teams play & sugar-high Josh Allen showed up instead of calm and cool Josh that just destroyed the WFT.

  19. I’m a Steelers fan. I hate Baker Mayfield and it pains me to say this, but you ought to have the Browns as the top ranked team in the AFC right now.

  20. nknielsen says:
    September 28, 2021 at 1:06 pm
    14. Cowboys (2-1, No. 15): They’re clearly the best team in the division. The question is how they stack up against the other good teams in the NFC.

    Well they went neck and neck with the Super Bowl Champs (who happens to be an NFC team) at their place and lost by 2 on a last second FG

    ________________________________

    Don’t forget also that Godwin got away with offensive PI on the play that set up that field goal. Dallas should have gotten the win, but the officials let a pretty obvious push-off slide. There’s that controversial call/no transparency issue again.

  21. I don’t know why everyone gets so worked up by these rankings. It’s just people’s opinions; even though studied opinions. Doesn’t change anything.

  22. jed699 says:
    September 28, 2021 at 2:01 pm
    I’m a Steelers fan. I hate Baker Mayfield and it pains me to say this, but you ought to have the Browns as the top ranked team in the AFC right now.
    ————-
    No doubt they’re a talented roster and played KC tough in the opener. But they beat arguably 2 of the worst teams in the league in Houston and Chicago with really bad rookie QBs thrown into the fire. And as we see now KC is not the powerhouse many thought they are. They have flaws like all the others.

  23. nite2al says:
    September 28, 2021 at 12:58 pm

    inozwetrust says:
    September 28, 2021 at 12:04 pm

    The Ravens win on a miracle field goal against the team you have at 27 and the Ravens are at number 4? I don’t see
    ________________________________________

    Just like you didn’t see the dropped touchdown passes and 2 horrendous calls against the Ravens. They are No. 4 because teams fear the Ravens and not the Lions. Steelers beat Buffalo. Should Buffalo be at 3? Pick them too!
    _____________

    I don’t think he’s suggesting the Lions should be ranked ahead of the Ravens. It was just an very unimpressive victory over a very bad team so maybe there’s a team ranked below them that more deserves that #4 spot. Like the Raiders, who beat the Ravens and are undefeated, for example?

  24. All this focus on one bad call in these games when there are so many per game. Boo-who, life isn’t fair, get over it. Lions could have jumped offsides on the very next play, if given the penalty. That’s what losers do.

  25. The Browns are the 7th best team in the AFC. In Order:

    1. Raiders
    2. Chargers
    3. Chiefs
    4. Bills
    5. Titans
    6. Ravens
    7. Browns
    8. Broncos

  26. NFC Rankings:

    1. Rams
    2. Bucs
    3. Cowboys
    4. Packers
    5. 49ers
    6. Cardinals
    7. Vikings
    8. Seahawks

  27. After watching Bal play and the Lions game in particular – there isn’t a team in the top 1/2 of the league that’s scared of them.

    They all would have a game plan and reasonable expectations to win and NOT on record breaking, last second FGs…

  28. The 2-1 Cowboys are ranked #14 because “The question is how they stack up against the other good teams in the NFC.” The only game they’ve lost is to the team ranked #2 on this same list.

    The 2-1 Chargers are ranked #11. Their only loss is to the #14 ranked Cowboys. Does beating an AFC team that you have ranked higher not count as a quality win? Losing to the #14 ranked team sure hasn’t seem to hurt the LAC ranking as much as losing to the #2 team has hurt DAL lol.

    Can’t wait to hear the rationalization for keeping them out of the top-10 next week when DAL beats the #8 ranked Panthers…

  29. The Browns are fools gold. They have a head coach that doesnt know how to call plays and a bad QB that misses Receivers wide open constantly. The Vikings will give them a beat down and same with the Chargers next Sunday. The Browns will be 2-3 with 2 dangerous teams in the Cardinals and Broncos going into Cleveland. The Browns season could go off the rails really quickly

  30. Just like you didn’t see the dropped touchdown passes and 2 horrendous calls against the Ravens. They are No. 4 because teams fear the Ravens and not the Lions. Steelers beat Buffalo. Should Buffalo be at 3? Pick them too!
    _____________

    I don’t think he’s suggesting the Lions should be ranked ahead of the Ravens. It was just an very unimpressive victory over a very bad team so maybe there’s a team ranked below them that more deserves that #4 spot. Like the Raiders, who beat the Ravens and are undefeated, for example?
    __________________________________________________________________

    No, it’s all Ravens hate. So, the Raiders had an impressive win over Miami because of a stupid safety? The Raiders beat the Ravens in a game that could have went either way and if they play again, 80% of people who know football are picking the Ravens. Let’s be real about things, but I love the hate.

  31. Dallas beats the Chargers just last week, in the Chargers house, yet they are ranked lower than the Chargers…

    Makes sense

  32. Happy to see the Colts are going to give Marlon Mack a chance to join another team. This guy can still play. Plus, he knows a train wreck when he sees one, aka Colts.

  33. I would rank the Browns a little higher and rank the Bears at the bottom. After watching that game on Sunday I’m sure the Nagy and Pace led Bears would get their butts whipped by a high school team. Its sad thats what has happened to the founding franchise of whole league. Sad, Mckaskey’s, I hope your happy with the way your “Football Guys” communicate.

  34. crookedcreek says:
    September 28, 2021 at 3:40 pm

    Dallas beats the Chargers just last week, in the Chargers house, yet they are ranked lower than the Chargers…

    Makes sense

    ========

    And yet, the Chargers beat a better team (Chiefs) than anyone the Cowboys have beaten.

    So the Chargers essentially penalize the Cowboys by not being as good as the team the Chargers beat.

    Power ranking math can be funny, but there it is!

  35. toasteddonkey says:
    September 28, 2021 at 3:15 pm

    After watching Bal play and the Lions game in particular – there isn’t a team in the top 1/2 of the league that’s scared of them.

    They allwould have a game plan and reasonable expectations to win and NOT on record breaking, last second FGs…
    ________________________________________

    Haha, and 30 D coordinators in the league would totally disagree with you. They hate preparing for dual threat QBs, especially Sir Lamar Jackson.

  36. nite2al says:
    September 28, 2021 at 3:37 pm
    Just like you didn’t see the dropped touchdown passes and 2 horrendous calls against the Ravens. They are No. 4 because teams fear the Ravens and not the Lions. Steelers beat Buffalo. Should Buffalo be at 3? Pick them too!
    _____________

    I don’t think he’s suggesting the Lions should be ranked ahead of the Ravens. It was just an very unimpressive victory over a very bad team so maybe there’s a team ranked below them that more deserves that #4 spot. Like the Raiders, who beat the Ravens and are undefeated, for example?
    __________________________________________________________________

    No, it’s all Ravens hate. So, the Raiders had an impressive win over Miami because of a stupid safety? The Raiders beat the Ravens in a game that could have went either way and if they play again, 80% of people who know football are picking the Ravens. Let’s be real about things, but I love the hate.

    ——-

    Perhaps they are factoring in the cerebral firepower of the QB and they realize that once the postseason comes that 13 he scored on the Wonderlic will be on full display

  37. complicatedfella says:
    September 28, 2021 at 1:30 pm
    Packers lose to 9-28 on this list…

    Such an original post! But the Packer’s already beat the Lions and the 49er’s.

  38. You mean the chiefs aren’t in the top 3??? Finally someone got it right. So tired of still hearing about them

  39. Perhaps they are factoring in the cerebral firepower of the QB and they realize that once the postseason comes that 13 he scored on the Wonderlic will be on full display
    _____________________________________

    Yeah and Ryan Fitzpatrick and his 48 wonderlic has yet to make playoffs. No correlation dude, let it go.

  40. Ravens are where they are on the list in case everyone forgot that last week they where down 15 players on IR when they beat CHIEFS. This week 15 players were still on IR and 4 we’re out on covid reserve… So 19 starting players down this week and they were still able to win that’s incredible and amazing. They are the team everyone wants to watch because they pull off amazing plays and wins.

  41. Vegas has Bills as 2nd best odds to win SB. At the moment,I have more faith in their power rankings then anyone..Vegas always has the insight into who’s for real and who’s a fake..follow the money..follow the odds..

  42. sns86 says:
    September 28, 2021 at 10:21 pm

    Ravens are where they are on the list in case everyone forgot that last week they where down 15 players on IR when they beat CHIEFS. This week 15 players were still on IR and 4 we’re out on covid reserve… So 19 starting players down this week and they were still able to win that’s incredible and amazing. They are the team everyone wants to watch because they pull off amazing plays and wins.
    ________________________

    And where are the excuses for losing to the Raiders? Because the Raiders had a ton of injured guys too, and they just plain old won.

  43. “Jacoby Brissett could end up taking the starting job from Tua Tagovailoa.”

    This is just a ridiculous statement. Have you watched any of Miami’s games? Tua is 1-0 as a starter this year and played pretty well with a terrible O-Line against the Belichick defense.

    Brissett has been horrible and is 0-2. If anything these last two games prove how much Miami needs Tua in the lineup.

  44. Saints smoked the Packers. Same record, Packers at #7, Saints at #13
    ==========

    Aaron Rodgers.. Jameis Winston

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