Updated NFL standings, Week 4: Titans, Bengals atop divisions

Going into Week 4 of the NFL season, there are many surprises including the Miami Dolphins, Cincinnati Bengals and Tennessee Titans atop AFC divisions.

We are approaching the quarter pole of the NFL season. Once Week 4 is completed, only the Washington Redskins and Carolina Panthers will have played less than 25 percent of their schedules, with the rest of the league catching up on rest later.

In some corners, there are serious surprises. Everybody thought the Tennessee Titans were done after losing Week 1 to the Miami Dolphins, mostly because of injuries to Delanie Walker and Marcus Mariota. While it hasn’t been pretty since, the Titans have beaten the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars to move atop the AFC South with a 2-1 mark.

In the AFC North, the Cincinnati Bengals stand at the pinnacle, winning a tiebreaker at 2-1 with the Baltimore Ravens. Cincinnati is coming off a loss to the Panthers and now has to regroup against the Atlanta Falcons down south, especially with the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers only a half-game off the pace.

In the NFC, things are a bit more chalk. The Chicago Bears are certainly a surprise, leading the North by a half-game over both the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are also in charge in the South, although the Panthers and New Orleans Saints are right there with them. Otherwise, it’s the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles holding down the proverbial forts.

If the playoffs started today (so silly, because they don’t start until January), here’s what the slate would look like.

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AFC

1. Kansas City Chiefs (3-0)
2. Miami Dolphins (3-0)
3. Cincinnati Bengals (2-1)
4. Tennessee Titans (2-1)
5. Baltimore Ravens (2-1)
6. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1)

NFC

1. Los Angeles Rams (3-0)
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1)
3. Chicago Bears (2-1)
4. Philadelphia Eagles (2-1)
5. Washington Redskins (2-1)
6. New Orleans Saints (2-1)

Here’s to a fun Week 4, which undoubtedly has some upsets in store.