Week 4 of the 2024 NFL season has concluded with just two teams remaining undefeated and one team that has yet to collect a win, but how do each of these teams stack up against their peers?
The Dallas Express‘s Power Rankings, moving into Week 5, has officially arrived:
1. Kansas City Chiefs (Previous Ranking: 1)
Only two teams in the NFL remain undefeated during the season, and the Chiefs are in that group despite a plethora of injuries on the offensive side of the ball. Wide receiver Rashee Rice is now expected to miss an extended amount of time due to a knee injury and could potentially miss the entirety of the season, pending further tests. Regardless, the Chiefs are 4-0 on the season and still have the best quarterback and coach in the NFL. These factors alone justify them holding onto the reins at the top overall spot.
2. Baltimore Ravens (Previous Ranking: 6)
The addition of Derrick Henry in free agency supercharged this Baltimore running offense after it was already one of the best in the league last season. Henry has 480 rushing yards and five touchdowns through four games and has been one of the most efficient rushers in the league. Baltimore is best when playing with a lead and sometimes struggles when trailing in the game, but this team is good enough that they are rarely trailing. While there are still questions about the efficiency of the passing game, the Ravens are still one of the best teams in the league and should be viewed as the Chiefs’ biggest threat.
3. Minnesota Vikings (Previous Ranking: 8)
The Vikings have been one of the most surprising teams in the league to start the 2024 season, with the performance of quarterback Sam Darnold being the largest part of the VIkings’ success. Darnold has thrown for 932 yards and 11 touchdowns to begin the year, leading Minnesota to a 4-0 record in a difficult schedule. Head coach Kevin O’Connell and defensive coordinator Brian Flores should each be in consideration for awards at their respective positions, as both the offense and defense have been humming to begin the year. Although many looked at the Vikings’ hot start as a fluke, they are clearly here to stay after easily handling the Green Bay Packers in Week 4.
4. Detroit Lions (Previous Ranking: 4)
Jared Goff and the Lions’ offense had their best showing of the 2024 season after putting up 42 points in a win against the Seattle Seahawks. Unsurprisingly, offensive coordinator Ben Johnson was impressive in Week 4 as he got Goff a receiving touchdown and continues to cement himself in the conversation for the best coordinator in the league. Detroit has been dealing with significant injury concerns, but the team is deep enough to stay alive until the playoffs. Although the Lions stayed even in the power rankings this week, that has more to do with the impressive performances by the Ravens and Vikings.
5. San Francisco 49ers (Previous Ranking: 5)
Despite the various injuries to some of the most important players on the team, San Francisco did exactly what they were expected to do in their Week 4 matchup against the New England Patriots. The biggest question for the 49ers all season will be injuries. Christian McCaffrey is reportedly dealing with Achilles tendinitis in both legs, and there is still no definite timeline for his return. The current goal for the 49ers should be to make and enter the playoffs at full strength, which would catapult them back into the top two or three teams in the league.
6. Houston Texans (Previous Ranking: 9)
The Texans narrowly walked away with a win against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 4, but defeating a division rival is rarely easy when both teams are fully healthy. The offense and defense have been inconsistent to begin the year, but there is no doubt that the two sides of the ball will catch up and find a groove as the year progresses. Houston has been without Joe Mixon for the past two games and should see a boost in the running game once he returns from his ankle injury. While the offense has not been as explosive this season as it was last year, the depth on this team, especially at wide receiver, will help the team find its footing.
7. Buffalo Bills (Previous Ranking: 2)
The Bills will be a formidable team as long as Josh Allen is in a Buffalo uniform since he can singlehandedly carry the team on his back for long stretches. Although Allen has been great at the start of the season, the dependence on a single player will catch up with the Bills at times during the year.
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Previous Ranking: 11)
Baker Mayfield has the Buccaneers’ offense looking fantastic through the first four weeks of the year after dismantling the Philadelphia Eagles again. This offense has now put up at least 20 points in every game to start the season, and the formula does not seem to be going away anytime soon. The rise of Bucky Irving has provided another depth piece and a change of pace player for the offense, which should continue to score at a high rate all season. Tampa Bay should be the favorite to win the NFC South if the defense can continue the year’s impressive start.
9. Green Bay Packers (Previous Ranking: 7)
Green Bay nearly pulled off the biggest comeback in franchise history after trailing 28-0 early in the first half of the game before losing 31-29. However, the Packers should not get credit for nearly coming back since they also allowed themselves to fall behind in the game. New defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley has turned the Packers’ defense into a turnover machine, but they also allow a lot of big plays when they cannot force turnovers. The return of Jordan Love should give Green Bay a boost in the passing game as the health of his knee continues to improve, but the loss of Christian Watson will also lower the ceiling of this offense until he is able to return. Green Bay is still one of the youngest and better teams in the NFL, but the inexperience could cause them to lose games throughout the season as they make mistakes that veterans would not.
10. Washington Commanders (Previous Ranking: 28)
It is officially time to give the Commanders the respect they deserve after demolishing the Arizona Cardinals 42-14 in Week 4. This team has put up 80 points over the last two weeks and is in control of the NFC East division. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels has looked like a stud to begin the season and has shown no signs that he will be slowing down. Questions remain about the Commanders’ defense, but having a high-scoring offense will win a lot of games in this league.
11. Philadelphia Eagles (Previous Ranking: 4)
Jalen Hurts has not done well this year. He has already thrown for 930 yards while completing 68.2% of his attempts, but he also has more turnovers than touchdowns and the Eagles have put up just 31 combined points in their last two games. Philadelphia has dealt with its fair share of injuries to begin the season, but Saquon Barkley and the running game seem to be the only aspect of this team that can be truly relied upon. The defense has also become a concern as the secondary is seemingly getting burned at least once in every game and the defensive line has struggled to generate pressure and sacks on the quarterback. The overall amount of talent on the roster will keep this team alive for the entirety of the season, but there are concerns at nearly every turn with this team.
12. Dallas Cowboys (Previous Ranking: 13)
The Cowboys are now the third straight NFC East team in these rankings, as the division has quickly become one of the best in the league. Dallas still has multiple concerns that are not going away at running back and defensive tackle, but the team also has other aspects that are incredibly impressive. Losing Micah Parsons and Demarcus Lawrence for the foreseeable future could be tough to overcome. Still, the upcoming two-week stretch against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Detroit Lions will say a lot about whether Dallas can compete with the top teams.
13. Atlanta Falcons (Previous Ranking: 16)
The Falcons have been working their way up the power rankings for the past few weeks despite being only .500 through the first four weeks. Atlanta needed a long field goal as time expired to beat the Saints in a divisional matchup, but this win could be pivotal for a team competing for first place in the NFC South all season. The offense and defense have looked solid to begin the season, but neither has stood out as game-changing for the team. The development of the offense behind Kirk Cousins should help the offense grow as the season progresses, and the defense should remain stout when healthy.
14. New Orleans Saints (Previous Ranking: 12)
After opening the year with back-to-back beatdowns of the Carolina Panthers and Cowboys, the Saints have finally returned to earth with two straight losses. New Orleans is still one of the league’s better teams and could finish first in the NFC South if they win the right games, but losing their first divisional game of the year is not a great start. In a similar manner to the Falcons, neither the offense nor the defense for the Saints has been incredible in the last two games, and the team will likely need at least one of the two to step up in every game this season to win games consistently.
15. New York Jets (Previous Ranking: 10)
Aaron Rodgers said after Week 3 that the Jets’ biggest challenge during the 2024 season would be “handling success.” Well, losing 10-9 to the Denver Broncos and a rookie quarterback who threw for 60 yards does not seem like success. The Jets spent all of the offseason talking about their expectations and the path to success, yet there are still glaring holes on this team that will hold them back all year. New York has few weapons on offense besides Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson. Concerns also revolve around poor offensive line play and no clear ruling on whether Robert Saleh and Nathaniel Hackett are good coaches. Rodgers and the Jets defense should carry them to wins this season, but there are still major issues this team must fix before discussions about “handling success.”
16. Seattle Seahawks (Previous Ranking: 15)
Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb has already shown that he should be in the discussion for the top coordinator in the league, with the Seahawks averaging 25.5 points through their first four games. Week 4 was the first time Seattle faced an opponent that is almost guaranteed to make the playoffs this season, and they looked good but not great. Geno Smith led the offense to 29 points, but defensive injuries hurt the Seahawks’ ability to stop a high-scoring Detroit offense. Seattle will continue to be dangerous all season, but it is likely not a team that will compete to win the Super Bowl.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers (Previous Ranking: 14)
The Steelers dropped their first game of the 2024 season in a 27-24 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Trailing 17-0 early in the second quarter is rarely going to produce wins for a team that relies heavily on the running game, but Justin Fields nearly completed the comeback in the second half. The Steelers’ defense should not be a concern with T.J. Watt continuing to wreck games this year, and the offense must continue to run the ball effectively if it wants to score enough points to win.
18. Cincinnati Bengals (Previous Ranking: 19)
The Bengals needed to beat the Carolina Panthers in Week 4 to keep their season alive and they managed to come out with a 34-24 win. This team sits at just 1-3 and still has a long way to go before feeling confident about their playoff odds, as they currently sit tied with the Cleveland Browns for last place in the AFC North division. The biggest concern for this Bengals team is their tendency to play to the exact level of their opponents, regardless of whether that opponent is one of the best or worst teams in the league. Cincinnati will now have to take on the Ravens in Week 5 in a game that could have major implications on the division standings, with both teams desperate to claim the win.
19. Los Angeles Rams (Previous Ranking: 18)
The Rams must stay afloat for the next few weeks while the team gets healthy. This would be a difficult task for the majority of NFL teams, but Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay are good enough to keep them in the hunt for a playoff spot for most of the season. Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua have already been ruled out in Week 5, but there is still hope that they can return later in the season for a potential playoff push.
20. Indianapolis Colts (Previous Ranking: 23)
Joe Flacco has officially returned to the football field and was once again magical in the Colts’ win over the Steelers in Week 4. Anthony Richardson was forced out of the game early in the first half due to a hip injury, and Flacco immediately stepped in and made his presence felt, throwing for 168 yards and two touchdowns. While Flacco does not have nearly the arm strength or running ability that Richardson possesses, he is much more accurate in the short and medium parts of the field and could help open up the passing game. There is still no indication of whether Richardson will be cleared to play in Week 5, but Flacco could help this team be competitive if he is named the starter against a struggling Jaguars team.
21. Los Angeles Chargers (Previous Ranking: 17)
Losing to the Kansas City Chiefs should not be an indictment on any team, but it will still move the Chargers down in the power rankings. Justin Herbert is not entirely healthy and showed some of this with his play on the field, but the path to winning for the Chargers should remain the same. Head Coach Jim Harbaugh will continue to run the ball and win at the line of scrimmage, which will keep the Chargers alive in games all season.
22. Chicago Bears (Previous Ranking: 25)
The Chicago defense has been incredible to begin the year, helping the Bears win multiple games they probably should have lost. Although they played a Los Angeles Rams team that is dealing with injuries to many of its best players, the Bears held a Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay-led team to just 18 points. The offense looks better as Caleb Williams gets more comfortable in the pocket and against NFL defenders, but there is still a lot to be desired after putting up a season-high of three offensive touchdowns.
23. Denver Broncos (Previous Ranking: 30)
Denver is coming off back-to-back wins against good NFL teams in the Buccanneers and Jets, and the formula has shown to work for multiple other teams around the league. Rookie quarterback Bo Nix threw for only 60 yards against the Jets but did not turn the ball over, which allowed the defense to take advantage of good field position throughout the game. Patrick Surtain is arguably the best cornerback in the league and shuts down half of the football field on his own. Riding the defense will keep the Broncos in games all season, but this team will be on the outside looking in by the time the playoffs come around.
24. Arizona Cardinals (Previous Ranking: 20)
The Cardinals will likely be involved in a good amount of blowouts this season unless the offense begins to consistently find its footing. Kyler Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr. have already developed a rapport that will last for years, but the defense could not stop the Commanders during the Week 4 loss. While there are pieces on the Cardinals to be excited about, this team is still at least one year away from being a true threat to any of the top teams in the league.
25. Cleveland Browns (Previous Ranking: 22)
The Cleveland defense continues to be one of the best in the league, but having one of the worst offenses in the NFL really diminishes the work done by the defense. Despite being one of the highest-paid players in NFL history, quarterback Deshaun Watson has yet to lead the Browns to 20 points in a game this season. Conversely, the defense is allowing only 23 points per game, and the organization should feel good about the direction on that side of the ball. The change may not come for a few weeks, but there is a chance Cleveland benches Watson in favor of Jameis Winston.
26. Tennessee Titans (Previous Ranking: 32)
Tennessee is clearly betting that starting quarterback Will Levis will begin to blossom into a good quarterback, but the Titans’ offense looked much more efficient after Mason Rudolph took over in Week 4. The biggest difference between Levis and Randolph is turnovers, as Levis is tied with a league-high of six interceptions this season. The Titans’ defense has improved to start the season and could become a major part of this team’s success. Although the Titans are hoping that Levis works out for them in the long term, Randolph is the best quarterback currently on the roster and would give them the best chance of winning this season.
27. Miami Dolphins (Previous Ranking: 21)
Miami looks completely lost without Tua Tagovailoa playing quarterback, as the team has now struggled with Skylar Thompson, Tim Boyle, and Tyler Huntley all taking turns at the position. The good news for Miami is that Tagovailoa could return sometime between Weeks 8 and 10, but the season may already be over for them if they continue to lose at the current rate. Miami has managed to score just 15 total points in the last two weeks against the Seahawks and Titans, but their schedule gets slightly more manageable in the coming weeks. The Dolphins will take on the Patriots, Colts, and Cardinals over the next three weeks in games that they should win, but there is no guarantee with how poorly the offense has looked without their starting quarterback.
28. Las Vegas Raiders (Previous Ranking: 30)
The Raiders have been one of the most inconsistent teams all season with wins over the Ravens and Cleveland Browns, but they have also dropped two games to the Chargers and Panthers to begin the year. The formula for every game should be to run the ball and rely on the defense, but this may not always be possible if the opposing team jumps out to an early lead. Las Vegas may not be a great team that will consistently win this year, but they will keep everyone guessing as to how they will perform on any given week.
29. Carolina Panthers (Previous Ranking: 29)
The Panthers’ offense has looked much more competent since Andy Dalton took over for Bryce Young at quarterback in Week 3, as they have now scored over 24 points in back-to-back weeks. There are still clear holes on this roster that will make wins scarce all season, but Dalton’s veteran presence at quarterback has at least helped them compete with teams every week.
30. New York Giants (Previous Ranking: 28)
The Daniel Jones experiment in New York should come to an end sooner rather than later after the Giants failed to score a touchdown against the Cowboys. Rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers has been impressive enough to potentially help Jones keep his role as the team’s starting quarterback, but the Giants need to begin looking for real answers as to why they cannot consistently score the ball. The Giants’ defense is good but not great, and a manageable offense would drastically help this team pick up more wins. With Nabers now expected to miss Week 5 with a concussion, it is unlikely that they will win against the Seahawks.
31. Jacksonville Jaguars (Previous Ranking: 27)
The Jaguars are now the only team in the league without a win after the Titans beat the Dolphins on Monday night. Leading into this season, the talent on this roster made many think that the Jaguards could compete for first place in the AFC South division. However, the offense has looked disjointed, and the defense has not been much better. Jacksonville is now incredibly unlikely to make the playoffs after their 0-4 start, with just one team in NFL history making the playoffs after starting winless in the first four weeks. Something must change in Jacksonville, but the question now is whether the change will come in the midseason or in the offseason.
32. New England Patriots (Previous Ranking: 31)
New England will likely be near the bottom of both the standings and power rankings for the remainder of the season. This team has one of the worst offensive lines and pass-catching rooms in the league, and neither of these weaknesses is expected to improve at any point this season. Sitting rookie quarterback Drake Maye is the best idea for this team since it will allow him to learn from Jacoby Brissett and get accustomed to the speed of the game. Now, the front office must begin evaluating offensive line and wide receiver options in free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft.
