By Christopher Reina
There are now just five undefeated teams in the NFL, the Patriots, Steelers, Cowboys, Colts and Packers. Heading into Week 4, it feels like there is a huge drop-off between the first four teams and the remainder of the NFL.
* The number in parenthesis is the average point differential per game.
1. New England Patriots (26.3)
For the third consecutive week, the Patriots scored 38 points. Tom Brady is on pace to throw for 53 touchdowns.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (23.7)
Dick LeBeau and the Steelers have given up an NFL-low 26 points all season long through Week 3. The stingy defense, combined with Willie Parker?s 123 yards per game has the Steelers looking like a Super Bowl team once again.
3. Dallas Cowboys (17)
No team has scored more points (116) than the Dallas Cowboys. Between Tony Romo, Marion Barber, Terrell Owens, Julius Jones and Jason Witten, Jason Garrett has plenty of weapons to work with. Romo is unquestionably one of the best three or four quarterbacks in the NFL right now.
4. Indianapolis Colts (13)
There has been no sophomore slump for Joseph Addai. His 90 yards per game average and four touchdown scores gives Peyton Manning a dimension he hasn?t enjoyed since the height of the Edgerinn James-era.
5. Green Bay Packers (10.7)
What is so striking about the success of the Packers is that all three of their wins have come against playoff teams from a year ago. Between Atari Bigby, A.J. Hawk, Nick Barnett and two excellent corners in Al Harris and Charles Woodson, the Green Bay defense is fast and explosive and plenty good enough to keep Brett Favre around to win games late.
6. Houston Texans (8)
Despite no Andre Johnson and the loss of Ahman Green, the Texans gave the Colts an excellent game.
7. Philadelphia Eagles (8)
A 35-point victory will really do wonders for a team?s point differential average, but as bad as the Eagles were in their losses to the Packers and Redskins, they had opportunities to win in the waning seconds of both games.
As we realize Kevin Curtis will not catch 11 balls for 221 yards and three touchdowns every week, we must also ask why has Reggie Brown been such a huge disappointment? He has caught just 5 balls for 65 yards in the Eagles? three games.
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8)
With Carnell Williams and Earnest Graham, Jon Gruden has established a solid run game. They have combined for 5 touchdowns, but have also combined for three fumbles.
9. Tennessee Titans (6)
Vince Young threw for 164 yards and ran for just 21 against New Orleans on Monday. But as is customary with the second-year QB, the Titans won handily on the road.
10. Minnesota Vikings (5)
The Vikings have followed their 21-point win against Atlanta with two 3-point losses on the road. Chad Greenway and Ben Leber each had 8 tackles, as they kept Larry Johnson to just 42 yards on 24 carries, but the Vikings scored their final points with 9:18 left in the second quarter. As phenomenal as Adrian Peterson has been and will be, Kelly Holcomb isn?t much better than Tavaris Jackson.
11. Seattle Seahawks (4.7)
The Seahawks made a nice NFC vs. AFC statement with their narrow win at Qwest Field, but the injury to Shaun Alexander will be problematic as they run through a difficult two-game road stretch at San Francisco and Pittsburgh.
12. Jacksonville Jaguars (4)
The Jaguars easily could be 3-0, but will take the 2-1 record as they enter their bye week. Jack Del Rio?s club was able to sit on a 17-7 1st quarter lead at Denver.
13. Carolina Panthers (2.7)
The fact that the Panthers can win a game with Steve Smith catching just one ball for 10 yards is impressive in its own right. They can thank DeAngelo Hall for both the slow day for Smith and the win.
14. Washington Redskins (1.3)
The Redskins gave back their Monday night win at Philadelphia by losing to the lowly Giants at home on Sunday. The health and productivity of Clinton Portis does give Joe Gibbs a reason to believe he can sneak the Redskins into the playoffs, though winning the NFC East appears to already be an afterthought due to the impressive performances put up by the Cowboys.
15. Baltimore Ravens (1)
Willis McGahee has been a mild success so far, but the quarterback controversy between Steve McNair and Kyle Boller appears to be heating up.
16. Cincinnati Bengals (-.7)
With the Steelers looking invincible and the Ravens set at 2-1, the Bengals find themselves facing a crucial Monday night game at home versus New England. Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh are combining to average 234 yards per game.
17. Arizona Cardinals (-1)
Ken Whisenhunt has a bit of a QB controversy on his hands right now between Matt Leinart and Kurt Warner. On Monday, he said both QBs are likely to play next week against Pittsburgh, with Warner being their no-huddle specialist. Wouldn?t the Bears like to have Warner guiding their offense right now?
18. Denver Broncos (-1.7)
The Broncos are the only 2-1 team in the suddenly weak AFC West, but they escaped in Weeks 1 and 2 and looked ordinary against the Jaguars.
19. Oakland Raiders (-5.3)
Raiders? fans were ecstatic to see Daunte Culpepper enter the game for Josh McCown on Sunday, but the real key to their offense has been LaMont Jordan and his 116.7 yards per game.
20. Detroit Lions (-5.7)
The Detroit defense came back to earth on Sunday when they were torched by Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook.
21. San Francisco 49ers (-5.7)
Alex Smith is just 43-83 with 461 yards, while Frank Gore has rushed for 58.3 yards per game. Vernon Davis caught 4 balls for 56 yards, which should silence his displeasure.
22. San Diego Chargers (-6.7)
The Chargers can?t push the panic button just yet, but Norv Turner and Clarence Shelmon need to figure out a way to make LaDainian Tomlinson the 125-yards per game rusher they need him to be.
23. Miami Dolphins (-7.7)
The Dolphins are 0-3 but Ronnie Brown?s 112 yards rushing, 99 yards receiving and three total touchdowns are a huge silver lining.
24. Cleveland Browns (-7.7)
The Browns are a blocked field goal away from being an improbable 2-1 right now. Kamerion Wibley had 2 sacks, 5 tackles and a forced fumble, as he continues to emerge as one of the best OLB?s in the game.
25. Kansas City Chiefs (-8)
Dwayne Bowe has scored in each of the past two games, becoming Kansas City?s wide receiver of the present and future.
26. New York Giants (-8.3)
Derrick Ward had 96 yards on 26 carries while having two touchdowns vultured by Reuben Droughns.
27. Chicago Bears (-8.3)
The Bears defense was worn down by the Cowboys, as the season-ending injuries to Mike Brown and Dusty Dvoracek are making their once elite unit look increasingly vulnerable. With Rex Grossman at quarterback, the Bears defense must be near-perfect and Devin Hester must make big plays, which leaves Lovie Smith with little margin for error.
28. New York Jets (-9.3)
Thomas Jones looked like the running back Eric Mangini was expecting to have in his backfield when he rushed for 110 yards against the Dolphins.
29. Atlanta Falcons (-11.3)
The Falcons aren?t nearly as bad as they appear to be, but Bobby Petrino?s offense has been anemic.
30. St. Louis Rams (-12)
The Rams are nearly officially on the Jake Long/Sam Baker watch as they clearly need to begin rebuilding their offensive line.
31. Buffalo Bills (-18.3)
The NFL?s worst offense will now be even worse with the injury to J.P. Losman. Lee Evans has caught just 5 balls for 29 yards all season long.
32. New Orleans Saints (-21.6)
Reggie Bush scored two touchdowns, but totaled just 35 total yards. His running mate, Deuce McAllister, is now done for the season, which will make the playoffs even more improbable.






