2012 NFL Power Rankings - Week 4
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Week: Post-Draft - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - 17
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Through three weeks of the NFL season, there are three remaining teams without a loss: Houston, Atlanta and Arizona.
Yes, Arizona!
As surprising, the Cardinals have won more games than the Packers and Patriots, both 1-2, combined.
Here are some stats on this week's consensus rankings:
- Biggest jump from last update: Arizona Cardinals (8.50)
- Biggest drop from last update: Detroit Lions and New Orleans Saints (-6.25)
- Team with widest difference between high and low rank: St. Louis Rams (11)
With each update, we always all respond to one roundtable question. This update's roundtable topic: Of the 3-0 teams, which one will stay unbeaten the longest?
Kevin (follow Kevin on Twitter): Atlanta Falcons
Going into the season, who would have expected a pair of 1-2 starts by the Packers and Patriots? Granted, poor officiating has something to do with that, but the parity in the league makes it hard for a team to run off a long streak of wins. With three remaining unbeaten teams, I am going to rule out the Cardinals based on talent although they have an underrated defense and one of the league's best receivers.
That leaves the Texans, my preseason Super Bowl pick, and the Falcons. Looking forward just four weeks (since things change fast in this league), the Falcons face a trio of 1-2 teams (Carolina, Washington and Oakland, in that order) and then have their bye. On the other hand, the Texans play all four weeks and face the Packers and Ravens in back-to-back games. Even though those games are at home, it wouldn't be surprising at all if Houston splits them.
I still think the Texans will win the Super Bowl (although I'm less confident about my pick of Philadelphia getting there as well), but the Texans won't be the last unbeaten team left.
John (follow John on Twitter): Houston Texans
On strength of schedule alone, I would take Arizona to be the last unbeaten. However, as good as that defense is, the offense has not yet convinced me. They've been hyped up against some quality teams and thus far have risen to the challenge. Still, if the 49ers defense can have a bad game, certainly the Cardinals defense can, and the offense is just not reliable. Atlanta has a tough divisional game against Carolina next week, and although it's a home game, I think the Panthers have a chance to pull the upset. The following week, Atlanta is at Washington, a team that has been putting up a lot of points behind RGIII. Ultimately, I think Houston has more favorable matchups, with games against the Titans and Jets, teams that I would call the bottom-feeders of the NFL. The Titans finally found some offense against the Lions this week, but gave up 44 on the defensive end, and if not for a botched overtime play, were on track to give up 50. And the Jets, the league's worst 2-1 team (especially without Revis for the rest of the year), were very fortunate to outlast Miami in a game that was borderline unwatchable. I think Houston gets to at least five wins, and that may be enough. I'll take the Texans as the last undefeated team standing.
Dan (follow Dan on Twitter): Atlanta Falcons
Of the remaining three unbeaten teams left, the one who will be left standing the longest will be Atlanta. The Texans will have a brutal schedule coming up as they play in order Tennessee, NY Jets, and then Green Bay and Baltimore so there is one loss in that grouping. The Cardinals have a fairly soft schedule with Miami, St. Louis, Buffalo, Minnesota, and then the 49ers, but can Kevin Kolb string that many games in a row? The Falcons have the best road, and have been playing lights out so far this year as they have Carolina, Washington, Oakland, bye week and Philly then Dallas, which will put them halfway to 16-0.
Sean (follow Sean on Twitter): Houston Texans
I can't remember when the last time there were only four teams either unbeaten or winless going into Week 4. It definitely says something about the competitive balance in the NFL. Of the unbeaten teams, I have to look at the schedule. Atlanta and Houston both play division rivals at home on Sunday, but should win. On the other hand, the Cardinals have a relatively easy schedule coming up that includes MIA, @STL, BUF, @ MIN. The way the Cardinals are playing, they could be 7-0 before they have a big Monday Nighter against San Francisco in Week 8. That being said, I still can't rely on Kolb/Skelton at QB so I am going to go with Houston. Atlanta loses Week 5 at Washington, Arizona loses Week 5 at St. Louis, and Houston loses on a short week vs. Green Bay in Week 6.
Updated: Wednesday, September 26th
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EDSFOOTBALL.COM WEEK 4 CONSENSUS NFL POWER RANKINGS
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FANTASY FOOTBALL RANKINGS:
- Standard Scoring: QBs
| RBs
| WRs
| TEs
- PPR Scoring:
RBs
| WRs | TEs
2012-13 Fantasy Basketball Rankings:
- PG | SG | SF | PF | C | Top 100
All of our rankings are from owner Kevin Hanson, who finished third overall in accuracy by FantasyPros in 2011.
Here's what FantasyPros wrote (about Hanson) in their year-end announcement of accuracy results:
"... Hanson was a fixture in the top 5 throughout the season and even led the contest heading into the final week. He also owns the distinction as being the only expert to eclipse the 70% PAY™ mark for a single position. ... Simply put, if you needed QB advice in 2011, the ultimate source to go to was over at EDSFootball. That’s not to say that Hanson was a one-trick pony, however. He also earned a top 10 rating at both WR (# 3) & RB (# 8), demonstrating that he’s among the best of the best when it comes to fantasy prognostication."
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SEE ALSO:
- Our NBA Consensus Power Rankings
- Mock Draft Databases: NFL | NBA | MLB
- 2013 NFL Mock Draft: Hanson
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