NFL Power Rankings and Analysis of weeks 1-4 - Part five

So most power rankings are delivered following week 1 and are delivered on a week-by-week basis. However, I have decided to make my assessment following the first 4 weeks of the season so that I can get a better grasp of the teams and this is my assessment of how things have played out thus far.

Teams that need help imminently:

22) Detroit Lions 1-3

When Calvin Johnson got selected to be on the cover of Madden, I imagine the whole of Motown had extremely mixed feelings. While it is appropriate recognition of his career to date, being on the cover has become infamous for the ‘curse’ it has on the player in question. In this instance it seems it isn’t just Johnson but rather the whole of the Detroit Lions that seem to be struck by the Madden curse. They have been extremely sloppy and recently set a record on special teams that they would not want to write home about: they conceded a punt return and kick return touch down in two consecutive games. The outlook for their season looks bleak at the moment.

23) New York Jets 2-2

Welcome to the biggest circus in the NFL. Last year came to a catastrophic close for them and to rectify it they brought in the media circus that is ‘Tebowmania’ to New York. While this was meant to spur on Mark Sanchez’s play (which has only appeared to decline during his time in the NFL) it has instead only started a stopwatch on how long it takes for Tebow to take Sanchez’s job. While this team has looked bad thus far, the season ending injuries to two of their best players, Darrelle Revis and Santonio Holmes, means that it will require Rex Ryan to use all of his genius on defence to make the Jets relevant this season. I anticipate that they will probably have a very high draft pick next season.

24) Carolina Panthers 1-3

Cam ‘Superman’ Newton, where are you? The man who dominated his first year in the league has not enjoyed the same level of joy this season. However, they have been stringing together a few good performances, most recently in that loss to the Falcons where they should have won but instead they must be pulling their hair out for biting on a play action pass for 59 yards from the Falcons end zone. This team should be ok in the long run with Cam Newton under centre, but for now they are likely to remain in the middle of the pack.

25) Tennessee Titans 1-3

CJ2K? What happened to that guy? As the Titans main, nee only, weapon on offense his poor play has basically weighed them down like an anchor. Their only win so far came in their shootout against the Lions and with Jake Locker going down with injury their poor season only looks set to continue unless Chris Johnson can get his act together. Honestly, I don’t think they will worry the Texans in the slightest for the division title.

image: © johntrainor