Our NFL Team Rankings are based entirely on the The Trench Counter, which is an objective formula measuring average yards per pass and run on both offense and defense, along with first downs registered and given up, turnovers for and against, and total penalty yards. 

Over time, The Trench Counter rankings begin to closely resemble the standings but goes even further to determine which teams are truly the best when on the line of scrimmage. 

The chief aim of the Trench Counter is to take the subjective out of the equation and even the somewhat fluky nature of teams actually scoring points, which is of course the whole point on a game-by-game basis.

With a +17.3 against the Carolina Panthers in the Steve Smith Game, the Baltimore Ravens slid up between the inactive Cincinnati Bengals and Arizona Cardinals.

The Miami Dolphins, New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers all made significant gains in the rankings by posting a +20 differential in Week 4.

Week 4 Rankings

1. Cincinnati Bengals: 10.5
2. Baltimore Ravens: 8.1
3. Arizona Cardinals: 8.1
4. Seattle Seahawks: 7.4
5. Miami Dolphins: 7.0
6. Chicago Bears: 5.7
7. Indianapolis Colts: 3.6
8. Dallas Cowboys: 3.4
9. New Orleans Saints: 3.0
10. Minnesota Vikings: 2.9
11. Detroit Lions: 2.9
12. San Diego Chargers: 2.5
13. New York Giants: 2.3
14. San Francisco 49ers: 2.1
15. Kansas City Chiefs: 1.8
16. Cleveland Browns: 0.6
17. Green Bay Packers: -0.2
18. Atlanta Falcons: -0.8
19. Washington Redskins: -1.2
20. Buffalo Bills: -1.5
21. Denver Broncos: -2.1
22. Pittsburgh Steelers: -2.2
23. Houston Texans: -2.3
24. Philadelphia Eagles: -2.5
25. New York Jets: -4.2
26. Tennessee Titans: -4.3
27. New England Patriots: -4.5
28. Carolina Panthers: -5.4
29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: -6.5
30. Oakland Raiders: -8.2
31. Jacksonville Jaguars: -10.5
32. St. Louis Rams: -12.4