Week 4 NFL Power Rankings (2020)
Week 3 is in the books, and teams are starting to reveal who they’re going to be for the rest of the 2020 season. The Falcons proved that their Week 2 implosion was not an outlier, while the Bears proved that their Week 1 comeback against the Lions was just set up for more to come this season. The Eagles and Vikings are not nearly as good as anyone expected them to be this season, and the Titans are 3-0 despite having a point differential of +6. The Lions and Panthers both ended the league’s longest losing streaks with their wins. Unfortunately, for those of us who like to look at organized standings, we got our first tie of the NFL season. Here’s where everyone stands heading into Week 4.
View consensus odds from all major sportsbooks for Week 3 >>
32) New York Jets (Prev: 31)
Unless you root for the Bills, it’s a bad time to be a New York football fan. The Jets and Giants are both 0-3, and with the Panthers picking up their first win of the season, there is no doubt New York is home to the two worst teams in football. The Jets move into the bottom spot because they have yet to be competitive in a game this season. They’ve lost all three of their games by double-digits, and with injuries piling up, it’s hard to find where the Jets’ first win of the season is going to come.
31) New York Giants (Prev: 29)
The Giants got absolutely decimated at home against Nick Mullens and the San Francisco 49ers. In their first full game without Saquon Barkley, the Giants managed just 231 total yards. Daniel Jones was the leading rusher for the team with 49 yards. Jones also turned the ball over twice in the loss. The defense kept the game close early but was torched in the second half when they gave up the final 20 points of the game.
30) Atlanta Falcons (Prev: 25)
There is no way that Dan Quinn should have a head coaching job in Week 4. The Falcons had a 16-point lead with 6:30 left in the game and they lost. This was on the heels of blowing a 19-point lead last week against the Cowboys. They played without Julio Jones this week, so some will make excuses for Atlanta, but when you get outscored 30-10 in the second half in one week, then get outscored 20-0 in the fourth quarter the following week, you’re a bad football team with a coaching problem.
29) Denver Broncos (Prev: 19)
The Broncos looked absolutely lost against the Bucs and seem destined to struggle until they get Drew Lock back. In the loss, Jeff Driskel was benched for Brett Rypien, though neither found much success. The offensive line gave up five sacks and the offense managed just 226 yards compared to 353 for Tampa. They now have a short week and will play the Jets in New York on Thursday.
28) Carolina Panthers (Prev: 32)
The Panthers ended their 10-game losing streak with a 21-16 win over the Chargers. The game was played without Christian McCaffrey who will be out until at least Week 6, but the rushing attack still held its own with Mike Davis as the primary ball carrier. Davis rushed for 46 yards to lead the way for the Panthers who gained 81 yards on the ground. The defense turned the Chargers over three times.
27) Cincinnati Bengals (Prev: 30)
The Bengals went into Philadelphia and arguably outplayed the Eagles in every facet. The result was only a tie, but it was the first time this season that they played a complete team game. The defense forced two turnovers, while the offense recorded 24 first downs. Joe Burrow ended with 312 yards and two touchdowns as he continued the hot start to his rookie season. Next up, the Bengals will take on Gardner Minshew and the Jaguars in Cincinnati.
26) Jacksonville Jaguars (Prev: 26)
On Thursday night, the Jaguars finally looked like the team we all expected them to this season. Gardner Minshew turned the ball over twice, while the defense struggled to control Ryan Fitzpatrick all game long. James Robinson did continue to look like the real deal. In the loss, Robinson scored two touchdowns and accumulated 129 yards.
25) Philadelphia Eagles (Prev: 22)
What in the world was Doug Pederson thinking settling for a 59-yard field goal in overtime? He had over 1:30 and the ball on the 43-yard line, and he decided to do essentially nothing offensively from there. A false start on fourth down knocked the Eagles out of field goal range, which led to a punt. You want to talk about playing not to lose. The Eagles are 0-2-1 and have shown no signs of turning things around. In the loss, Carson Wentz threw two interceptions bringing his season total to six. He has thrown half as many touchdowns.
24) Minnesota Vikings (Prev: 23)
The Vikings were finally competitive in a game but found a way to lose anyway. They’re now 0-3 and falling quickly out of touch with the rest of the crowded NFC. Kirk Cousins continued to struggle, and though he threw three touchdowns, he also threw two interceptions. In some good news, Dalvin Cook finally got going, carrying the ball 22 times for 181 yards and one touchdown. Rookie Justin Jefferson added seven catches for 175 yards and one touchdown.
23) Washington Football Team (Prev: 24)
Washington actually led in the second half of their game against the Browns but was outscored 17-0 in the fourth quarter on their way to a 34-20 loss. Dwayne Haskins threw three interceptions in the loss, and most concerning was that all of them came at key moments. In total, the Football Team had five turnovers and forced zero. There was excitement surrounding this team after Week 1 but since then, Washington has lost by multiple possessions in each game.
22) Miami Dolphins (Prev: 27)
The Dolphins finally played a team of a similar caliber and they absolutely destroyed them. Many had written Miami off after starting 0-2 against the Bills and Patriots, but after their 31-13 win in Jacksonville on Thursday, it’s clear that they will have a chance in quite a few games this season. For at least one week, Ryan Fitzpatrick quieted those asking how much longer until he’d be replaced by Tua. He was responsible for three touchdowns against the Jaguars and only threw two incompletions in the game. Also, it is now abundantly clear that Myles Gaskin is the lead back for the Dolphins. He out-touched Matt Breida and Jordan Howard 27-6 in the win.
21) Houston Texans (Prev: 20)
The Texans jumped out to a 14-3 lead and battled all game long, but came up short against the Steelers. Houston is now 0-3 which means they’re three games behind the Titans in the AFC South heading into Week 4. They’re still trying to figure out where to get their offense from. Perhaps it could be Randall Cobb who hauled in four catches for 95 yards and one touchdown.
20) Detroit Lions (Prev: 28)
The Lions won their first game since October 27, 2019, as they ended their league-leading 11-game losing streak with their win over Arizona. The key to the Lions’ victory was without a doubt the turnover battle. They turned the Cardinals over three times without turning the ball over once themselves. Kenny Golladay saw his first action of the season and made an immediate impact by scoring a touchdown in the game. The Lions are now 1-2 with their losses coming against teams with a combined 6-0 record.
19) Los Angeles Chargers (Prev: 18)
After playing the Chiefs to overtime last week, the Charger fell at home against the Panthers who were without Christian McCaffrey. Justin Herbert threw for over 300 yards, joining Cam Newton and Kyler Murray the only three QBs in NFL history to throw for over 300 yards in their first two career starts. The defense only gave up 302 total yards to the Panthers but lost the turnover battle 3-0, which is ultimately what gave Carolina the advantage.
18) Cleveland Browns (Prev: 21)
The Browns have scored 30+ points in two straight games for the first time since 2010. The Browns continue to be led by the dynamic rushing attack of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. Chubb rushed for 108 yards and two touchdowns, while Hunt added 46 and a receiving touchdown. Cleveland actually trailed heading into the fourth quarter but outscored Washington 17-0 to close out the game. The defense forced five turnovers in the win.
17) Las Vegas Raiders (Prev: 12)
The Raiders’ momentum from their Monday night win was short-lived as they were blown out by Cam Newton and the New England Patriots. The defense was unable to stop the run, giving up 250 yards on the ground. Derek Carr threw for 261 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions but did fumble the ball twice. Next week, the Raiders will take on the Bills in what could be a very important game if the Raiders manage to hang around in the playoff hunt as the season progresses.
16) Arizona Cardinals (Prev: 11)
The Cardinals suffered their first loss of the season against Detroit on Sunday, and perhaps the excitement surrounding Arizona will be a bit hushed this week. Kyler Murray had one of his worst starts as a pro, throwing three interceptions in the loss. The good news is that the Cardinals’ next two games are against the Panthers and the Jets, two games they should have no problem winning.
15) Dallas Cowboys (Prev: 13)
The Cowboys amassed 522 yards of total offense, as they nearly upset Russell Wilson and the Seahawks. Ezekiel Elliott had only 34 yards rushing in the loss, and the Cowboys as a team only managed 61. Dak Prescott turned the ball over three times but also threw the ball 57 times in the loss. The Cowboys fall to 1-2 but are still tied for first in the lackluster NFC East.
14) New Orleans Saints (Prev: 10)
Life without Michael Thomas has not been kind to the Saints. They have dropped their last two games, have struggled to find a receiver who can even come close to replacing Thomas and are now looking up at the Bucs in the NFC South standings. In the loss, Alvin Kamara racked up 197 total yards and two touchdowns. He was both the leading receiver and rusher on the team.
13) Indianapolis Colts (Prev: 17)
The Colts dominated the Jets from start to finish, never letting the Jets even think they were going to have a chance in the game. Jonathan Taylor found the end zone in the second consecutive game, as the Colts rushed for 119 yards. The defense scored a safety and turned the Jets over three times, while the offense didn’t turn it over once. Next week the Colts will face a much bigger challenge when they travel to Chicago to take on the 3-0 Bears.
12) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Prev: 16)
The Bucs led from wire to wire in what was one of the most boring games of Week 3. Tom Brady threw for 297 yards and three touchdowns in the win. The defense gave up just 226 yards and forced two turnovers. In the backfield, Ronald Jones led the way with 13 carries for 53 yards. After a huge week in Week 2, Leonard Fournette only carried the ball seven times for 15 yards.
11) Chicago Bears (Prev: 15)
The Bears forged another epic comeback and moved to 3-0 on the season. It also seems they have moved to Nick Foles as their starting quarterback. Mitchell Trubisky struggled through the first half of the game, which led Matt Nagy to put Foles in off the bench. In relief, Foles erased a 16-point deficit and threw for 188 yards and three touchdowns. The Bears will look to stay undefeated when they welcome the Colts to Soldier Field next week.
10) Los Angeles Rams (Prev: 9)
What do we make of the Rams after Sunday’s game? They fell behind 28-3 and looked incompetent on both sides of the ball, then managed to erase the 25-point deficit and take a 32-28 lead. However, the defense was not able to prevent Josh Allen from driving down the field and scoring the game-winning touchdown. Even though they fell short, the Rams showed a lot of fight. Bad teams don’t come back from 25-point deficits against good ones.
9) New England Patriots (Prev: 14)
Welcome to the top 10, New England! Cam Newton had his worst game as a New England Patriot, yet the Patriots were still able to beat the Raiders 36-20 in a game that was never very close. Rex Burkhead found the end zone three times and accumulated 98 yards through the air and on the ground. Things will get very interesting for the Patriots when they travel to Kansas City next week to take on Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.
8) Tennessee Titans (Prev: 8)
The Titans have won their first three games by a combined six points, but won’t be apologizing for being 3-0 and atop the AFC South. Derrick Henry finally found the end zone, scoring twice in the win and rushing for 119 yards. Stephen Gostkowski also continued his redemption tour going 6/6 on field goals, including the game-winner with 1:44 remaining.
7) Pittsburgh Steelers (Prev: 7)
The Steelers struggled early in the game but were able to withstand Deshaun Watson and the Texans to hold on for the 28-21 victory. The Steelers are now 3-0 and will head into a huge matchup in Tennessee next week against the 3-0 Titans. Big Ben continued to be impressive in his return from injury with 237 yards and two touchdowns. The defense held the Texans to just 263 total yards in the win.
6) San Francisco 49ers (Prev: 6)
The 49ers came into Sunday’s game against the Giants with a massive injury report, and yet they had no problem taking care of New York and moving to 2-1. Nick Mullens got the start and threw for 343 yards and one touchdown. The 49ers didn’t turn the ball over once on their way to winning the turnover battle 3-0. With the status of Jimmy G still up in the air, it’s a welcome sign for San Francisco that Mullens was able to play as well as he did.
5) Baltimore Ravens (Prev: 2)
The Ravens drop, not because they lost, but because of how bad they looked in the loss. They were out-gained by nearly 300 yards and only scored 13 points offensively in the game. Lamar Jackson had no rhythm with his receivers all game long, which led to Baltimore not being in the game at all. The defense struggled mightily against Patrick Mahomes and while that’s nothing to be ashamed of, the Ravens are supposed to be equal to the Chiefs. Nothing could have been further from the truth on Monday.
4) Green Bay Packers (Prev: 5)
The Packers went into the Superdome on Sunday Night Football and took care of business against the Saints to move to 3-0. Even without Davante Adams, the offense was clicking on all cylinders and very nearly put up 40 for the third straight week. Aaron Rodgers finished with 283 yards and three touchdowns and connected with Allen Lazard six times for 146 yards and one touchdown. Green Bay will look to stay undefeated against the 0-3 Falcons next week.
3) Buffalo Bills (Prev: 4)
It was a tale of two halves for the Buffalo Bills, but a win is a win. The Bills led 28-3 halfway threw the third quarter but saw their lead evaporate in the fourth. Down 32-28, Josh Allen led an excellent drive down the field and managed to put the ball into the end zone to secure the victory and move the Bills to 3-0. Allen threw for four touchdowns in the win, bringing his total to 10 on the season.
2) Seattle Seahawks (Prev: 3)
Russell Wilson is going to win the MVP award. His defense is average at best, yet he finds a way to bail them out week after week. In the win over the Cowboys, Wilson threw for 315 yards and five touchdowns. He now has 14 touchdown passes in his first three games and just one interception. The Seahawks will need to be better defensively if they want to be a serious contender for the Super Bowl, but as long as Russell Wilson is under center they will have a chance to win every game they’re in.
1) Kansas City Chiefs (Prev: 1)
After Monday night, there is no doubt that the Chiefs are the best team in the league. The best game of the year failed to live up to the hype primarily because the Chiefs destroyed the Ravens in every facet of Monday night’s game. Kansas City outgained Baltimore 517-228. Patrick Mahomes accounted for 385 of those through the air and tossed four touchdowns. The defense absolutely dominated Lamar Jackson holding him to just 97 yards through the air and 180 total.
Get a risk-free bet up to $500 at FanDuel Sportsbook >>
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RadioPublic | Breaker | Castbox | Pocket Casts
Whether you’re new to sports betting or a betting pro, our How To Bet and Sports Betting Strategy and Advice pages are for you. You can get started with our Sports Betting 101 Section — including 10 Sports Betting Tips for Beginners — or head to more advanced sports betting strategy — like Key Numbers When Betting Against the Spread — to learn more.
Phil Wood is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Phil, check out his archive and follow him @Phil_Wood_Jr.