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NFL Power Rankings: Division rankings after Week 4

By Brad Rowland

Washington Redskins center Kory Lichtensteiger (78) talks to quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) on the sidelines against the New York Giants in the fourth quarter at FedEx Field. The Giants won 45-14. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Washington Redskins center Kory Lichtensteiger (78) talks to quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) on the sidelines against the New York Giants in the fourth quarter at FedEx Field. The Giants won 45-14. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) and wide receiver Matthew Slater (18) watch the game on the sidelines during the second half against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs won 41-14. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) and wide receiver Matthew Slater (18) watch the game on the sidelines during the second half against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs won 41-14. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /

7) AFC East

The AFC East was in an identical situation last week, but the position came with the optimism that the New England Patriots would emerge as the standard bearer of the group. Now? I’m not so sure. The Pats looked overmatched in a blowout loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, and to be frank, New England’s offense has been a mess throughout the season. Tom Brady and company simply haven’t been able to generate anything in the way of dynamic production down the field, and without a dominant effort from their defense (i.e. Week 4), that simply won’t get it done.

New England is likely the “favorite” in the division, regardless of Monday night’s effort, and behind them, the group isn’t excellent. The Miami Dolphins looked to be easily the best of the bunch in a dominant win over Oakland in London, but again, they played against the lowly Raiders, and the Dolphins have looked pedestrian at times in route to their 2-2 mark on the season.

Both the Bills and Jets have shown flashes defensively with high-variance quarterbacks, but with news that Buffalo is going in the direction of Kyle Orton while New York struggles at 1-3, it is tough to claim either team as a potential playoff sleeper. On a more positive note, there is no member of this quartet who can be considered a flat-out “bad” team, but that is the only semblance of optimism here after Week 4.

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