There's only one perfect -record team left in the NFL , and it's no surprise, therefore, that that team has spread its wings to soar to the top of our weekly pecking order after four days of action.
It 's not the only notable change to our roster , however, with a new team digging deeper into the pit for the last spot, too.
You can enjoy the NFL on Star+; subscribe here.
Concluding the fourth date of action in the 2021 regular season, this is the list of the NFL's hierarchical order at the moment, according to ESPN.com:
Note: The numbers in parentheses correspond to the position of each team in the previous week.
Wow, the Arizona team is intimidating. They easily steamrolled the Rams in a matchup of unbeatens and their offense makes long-yard conversions look easy. Few or almost no one would bet that they were the last group with an immaculate brand. -- SML
The Bills haven't exactly reached their high point from last year, but they're not far off, with the addition of Emmanuel Sanders providing the potential for a quantum leap from 2020. -- RZ
After a terrible start to the season, the Packers have three consecutive victories and once again look like contenders in the National Conference, Aaron Rodgers has returned to his level and the running game has been a welcome revelation. -- CE
It's true that they didn't have to deal with Teddy Bridgewater in the second half of the game, but this team looks more and more like the version we've come to expect from them and not the one they gave away opening the season in Las Vegas . -- SML
The Rams lost badly at home to a division rival, but just getting to the point of the first quarter of the season, it's time to learn from those kinds of setbacks and recalibrate the potent offense. --RZ
Baker Mayfield seemed to take the day off against the Vikings and yet the Browns found a way to win with a defense that gave up very little and the two-headed monster that they have in their running game with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, that's not good news for the rest of his rivals. -- CE
Our expert and his analysis after Tampa Bay's win over New England.
Leaving aside everything that happened with Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, the reality is that the current monarchs suffered more against a team that they should have overcome more easily, but the important thing was to return to the path of victory. -- SML
There aren't many believers in Dallas yet, but the conviction with which Ezekiel Elliott ran, and the eventual return of Michael Gallup, coupled with visible defensive improvement, paves the way for the NFC East title. --RZ
Sebastián Martínez-Christensen analyzes the virtues of Dallas in this beginning of the season.
A lot of attention with the Chargers , their wins over the Chiefs and Raiders have not been a fluke and I wouldn't be surprised if at the end of the year we're talking about Justin Herbert as a solid MVP candidate. Finally, this team promises to be electric. -- CE
Chargers safety spoke exclusively with John Sutcliffe after beating the Raiders at MNF.
Sam Darnold was constantly harassed (that's where the mistakes came from) and the defense in the second half couldn't take it anymore to suffer its first loss of the year. Now we have to turn the page against the Eagles at home. -- SML
It took just three consecutive wins to start the season for Vic Fangio to show what a sore loser he is, dramatically complaining that the Ravens got an extra play without concern for player safety, when he stopped the clock three times in the final minutes to continue pitching in a game clearly out of reach for his team. --RZ
If the Raiders don't fix their discipline problems soon, losses will become common in Las Vegas. In the past, they've found a way to turn the score around against the Ravens and Dolphins , but they won't always face teams that don't defend their leads well. . -- CE
Kansas City returned to winning ways in a comfortable way in Philadelphia , but the real challenge will come next Sunday at home when they host the fiery Bills for both teams to measure what their reality is in the still young 2021 campaign. -- LMV
An upgrade on the offensive line is the main task ahead for Cincy , who could have found in CJ Uzomah the tight end Tyler Kroft and Tyler Eifert never were. --RZ
The Seahawks have never lost three straight games since Russell Wilson is their quarterback, this says a lot for a team that always finds ways to win, however, on Thursday against the Rams we will see if their win over the 49ers was a sign of that resilience. or are they really back in the fight for their division.. -- EC
After a promising start to the season, now it's two straight losses for them at home and the worst part for them is that they have to visit the only undefeated player in the NFL: the Cardinals . -- SML
Taylor Heinicke's fearless play has diverted attention in Washington from what should be this club's overriding concern: where is the vintage defensive line they bragged about? --RZ
The loss to the Giants must have been particularly painful for the Saints , it was a reunion with their fans at the Superdome after the ravages of Hurricane Ida in the New Orleans area , instead it ended up being a disappointing performance and a concert of what he shouldn't make a defense when facing Saquon Barkley. -- CE
As much as they tell me they didn't have Julio Jones or AJ Brown for this game, it's hard for me to justify the loss to the Jets . -- SML
David Montgomery's injury is a serious blow to the immediate future of the Bears and rookie Justin Fields, although on the other hand, Matt Nagy insists on threatening to realign Andy Dalton soon. --RZ
We can say that the Patriots have officially found their quarterback of the future, although he will hardly be able to fill the shoes left empty by Tom Brady. Mac Jones showed poise against the Buccaneers , completing 19 straight passes and putting New England in position to win the game with less than 2 minutes left in constant rain, does that sound familiar? --EC
Their three losses have been by a combined 11 points, which shows that they are always in the fight and their record may well be completely different, but that is what separates the contenders from the pretenders. -- SML
Finally, there was a light at the end of the tunnel for those who bet Carson Wentz could consolidate under Frank Reich, in a week in which Indy received a hand from all three of its division rivals. --RZ
Are we witnessing the first losing season of coach Mike Tomlin's career? It is very probable. The Steelers don't seem to have enough offensive arguments to compete this year and the defense, which has historically been the franchise's trademark, has flexed so much in just four weeks that it might not take long to break down. --EC
It is true that a couple of penalties prevented them from making the contest against the Chiefs more even, but it is inadmissible to think that they "forgot" Tyreek Hill all day, who tore them to pieces when he wanted. -- SML
Kenny Golladay hasn't been the addition New York fans were hoping for, yet, but as Saquon Barkley gains confidence, the wide receiver will start to see more opportunities against running back-focused defenses. --RZ
At the beginning of the season the Dolphins seemed like a promising team, with a good defense and a solid attack, but that mirage is now behind us, Miami has had a clash with reality in which we now know that they cannot compete against good teams and that they won't always be able to beat bad teams. -- CE
Atlanta had everything to improve to 2-2, but they let Washington get away with the victory before heading to London, where they will face a motivated Jets . -- SML
Deserved first win for Robert Saleh, but they're not going to face an opponent all week that's willing to let their quarterback get beat up as much as the Titans with Ryan Tannehill this year; there is still much to improve. --RZ
The Texans have lost their last two games by a combined score of 64-9. There just isn't much of a future for a team unable to score points and slow down opposing defenses. --EC
Week after week Jacksonville has made progress, but that's not enough for Urban Meyer and Trevor Lawrence to get their first NFL win. One redeeming feature of the rookie quarterback was the fact that he no longer threw interceptions. -- SML
Facts speak louder than words, and while few beat the raucous Dan Campbell in second place this offseason, what he has accomplished leading the Lions in his brief time as head coach is nothing short of knee-deep. --RZ
Participating in the elaboration of the Power Rankings of the NFL for ESPN : Erick Cervantes (EC), Luis Miguel Vasavilbaso (LMV) and Rafael Zamorano (RZ).
