Power Rankings - Week 4: Every team's biggest cause for concern
The NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's football editors.
This week, we identify the biggest cause for concern on each NFL team three games into the season.
1. Los Angeles Rams (3-0)
Previous Rank: 2
It's not exactly a big cause for concern, but the Rams' special teams don't look as flawless as the rest of the team right now. Granted, the unit was solid against the Bucs, but it allowed long kick returns and suffered a brutal turnover in the previous two games.
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1)
Previous Rank: 1
Tampa Bay's pass rush, one of football's most effective in 2020, has been inconsistent, with the team registering a league-low three sacks despite blitzing opposing quarterbacks an NFL-high 61 times.
3. Buffalo Bills (2-1)
Previous Rank: 6
The Bills' offensive line has struggled in pass protection, ranking 30th in that category after three weeks, according to PFF. Josh Allen, who somehow has managed to be sacked only four times, is being pressured in 31.6% of his dropbacks - the highest rate of his career.
4. Cleveland Browns (2-1)
Previous Rank: 4
It wouldn't be fair to list defense - Cleveland's main cause for concern over the first two weeks - as the main issue after a nine-sack outing versus Chicago. Browns fans should instead hope the offensive line can improve its protection for Baker Mayfield, who's having less pocket time than last season (2.7 to 2.4 seconds) and has already suffered nine sacks.
5. Green Bay Packers (2-1)
Previous Rank: 10
The Packers' defensive unit has struggled to get opponents off the field. Green Bay has allowed a touchdown in all 10 red-zone trips against them thus far, and its opponents have the third-highest average time of offensive drives.
6. Arizona Cardinals (3-0)
Previous Rank: 5
Arizona's defense has struggled stopping the run, allowing 422 yards through three games (5.4 per carry). A large part of it has to do with bad tackling, as the Cardinals currently rank 30th in that category, per PFF.
7. Los Angeles Chargers (2-1)
Previous Rank: 15
The Chargers lead the AFC with 26 penalties, which corresponds to a league-worst 243 yards given up. Los Angeles had two touchdowns called back because of flags in Week 2 and another one in Week 3.
8. Las Vegas Raiders (3-0)
Previous Rank: 9
Raiders fans don't have major concerns amid their first 3-0 start since 2002 but they have played almost 20 extra minutes of football this season (two overtimes in three weeks). While the extra playing time may not have a short-term effect, it'll likely test the team's depth in the long term with an extra regular-season game on the schedule this year.
9. Baltimore Ravens (2-1)
Previous Rank: 8
Baltimore has missed 19 tackles this season and ranks 29th in tackling after three games, according to PFF. Coach John Harbaugh needs to fix the issue because the Ravens have meetings against some of the NFL's toughest running backs coming up.
10. Kansas City Chiefs (1-2)
Previous Rank: 3
The Chiefs have turned the ball over too many times, but we still believe Patrick Mahomes will fix that. What fans in Kansas City really should be worried about is the team's defense, which has allowed the most points while recording only four sacks.
11. San Francisco 49ers (2-1)
Previous Rank: 7
San Francisco entered the year with questions at cornerback, and those issues have since expanded. The 49ers, who'd already lost starting corner Jason Verrett for the season, saw K'Waun Williams and Josh Norman exit Week 3 with injuries.
12. Dallas Cowboys (2-1)
Previous Rank: 14
The Cowboys' clock management was often criticized during the first month of the season, and coach Mike McCarthy's decision not to call a timeout before halftime versus the Eagles showed that Dallas has a long way to go before fixing that issue.
13. Denver Broncos (3-0)
Previous Rank: 13
Denver's schedule has been a cakewalk - its rivals are 0-9 after three weeks - but the team's remaining opponents won't be as easy.
14. Tennessee Titans (2-1)
Previous Rank: 11
The Titans have more questions than answers at wide receiver, as their top wideouts - Julio Jones and A.J. Brown - are off to rough starts. Jones apparently is already facing workload management while Brown is considered week-to-week after sustaining a hamstring injury in Week 3.
15. Carolina Panthers (3-0)
Previous Rank: 17
How will Carolina fare after suffering significant injuries on both sides of the ball? Star running back Christian McCaffrey will miss multiple games, while rookie corner Jaycee Horn is out for months with a broken foot. Trading for second-year cornerback CJ Henderson was a good move by the Panthers.
16. New Orleans Saints (2-1)
Previous Rank: 18
New Orleans' ceiling on offense is very low with Jameis Winston under center. The Saints have the second-fewest passing yards through the first three weeks.
17. Seattle Seahawks (1-2)
Previous Rank: 12
As mentioned by Seattle cornerback Tre Flowers, the Seahawks' defensive scheme has a lot of issues, especially in the secondary. Seattle has yet to record an interception this year, and it's allowed a 108.4 rating to opposing passers.
18. Cincinnati Bengals (2-1)
Previous Rank: 26
Cincinnati still has to fix its pass protection. Joe Burrow is being pressured at the same rate as he was last season (24.1% of his dropbacks), and he's already been sacked 10 times.
19. Miami Dolphins (1-2)
Previous Rank: 21
Is Tua Tagovailoa the franchise quarterback the Dolphins were hoping for after drafting him fifth overall last year? Tagovailoa has only had a few standout moments in Miami and was recently placed on injured reserve due to a rib injury, an ailment that also sidelined him in 2020.
20. New England Patriots (1-2)
Previous Rank: 19
The lack of offensive explosiveness is the main reason the Patriots rank 26th in scoring thus far. Mac Jones attempted some deep throws in Week 3, but he's only 8-of-23 in passes of at least 15 yards this season.
21. Minnesota Vikings (1-2)
Previous Rank: 25
Expectations were high on Minnesota's defense bouncing back this year after an abysmal 2020 campaign. However, the Vikings rank 20th in points and 28th in yards allowed, and opposing quarterbacks have posted a 119.6 passer rating against them.
22. Washington Football Team (1-2)
Previous Rank: 20
We were expecting Washington's defense to be one of the NFL's top units, but after three weeks, it ranks in the bottom five for total yards and points allowed.
23. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-2)
Previous Rank: 16
Pittsburgh might have more issues along its offensive line than anticipated. The unit has been the biggest issue for the struggling offense, forcing quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to get rid of the ball in 2.35 seconds (lowest in the league) and allowing running back Najee Harris to get tackled at the line of scrimmage or behind it on 70% of his carries (highest rate in the NFL).
24. Indianapolis Colts (0-3)
Previous Rank: 22
Indy's pass protection not only is the club's biggest cause for concern but perhaps its main surprise this season. The Colts, who were a top-10 pass-blocking unit in 2020, are currently the second-worst team in that category, according to PFF.
25. Philadelphia Eagles (1-2)
Previous Rank: 23
What's Nick Sirianni's plan this season? The Eagles appeared to have a quarterback-friendly offense in Week 1 but they've fallen apart since. The team handed the ball off only three times in Week 3 and didn't call a single offensive play with motion at the snap. Oh, and Philly has now committed 35 penalties, a record through the first three games of a season.
26. Chicago Bears (1-2)
Previous Rank: 24
Regardless of who's under center, the Bears' offense looks worse week after week under coach Matt Nagy. Chicago has averaged an NFL-low 4.8 yards per pass attempt this year.
27. Atlanta Falcons (1-2)
Previous Rank: 30
The Falcons have always featured one of football's most explosive offenses with Matt Ryan under center, but the former MVP has struggled this season. Ryan has yet to complete a pass of 20-plus yards in 2021 and his percentage of bad throws made is going up, according to Pro Football Reference.
28. Houston Texans (1-2)
Previous Rank: 27
The Texans' scene at quarterback is more uncertain now than it was at the beginning of the season. Injured Tyrod Taylor is out for at least a month, and it's hard to ask much from rookie Davis Mills. Meanwhile, Deshaun Watson's future remains cloudy.
29. Detroit Lions (0-3)
Previous Rank: 29
Detroit just can't stop its opponents when it matters most. The Lions' defense, which currently ranks 31st in scoring, has allowed a touchdown on 87.5% of red-zone trips, the fifth-worst mark in the league.
30. New York Giants (0-3)
Previous Rank: 28
Coaching has been a question mark for the Giants, to say the least. New York is one of the NFL's most penalized teams, and Joe Judge has made several bad calls. He also lost a timeout after throwing the challenge flag following a touchdown in Week 1 (TDs are automatically reviewed).
31. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-3)
Previous Rank: 32
The high amount of turnovers is the biggest of several issues for Jacksonville. The Jaguars have suffered a league-high nine turnovers, including seven interceptions by rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
32. New York Jets (0-3)
Previous Rank: 31
Where do we even start here? The Jets' offense is a complete disaster right now and averages 6.7 points per game. Rookie Zach Wilson has posted a 51.6 passer rating (worst among starters) and tossed seven interceptions while being sacked 15 times.