Another Sunday of NFL football is in the books and that always leads to a fresh batch of power rankings. There were several surprising results in Week 4, but which teams made the biggest statements? Here are the three teams on the rise as we pass the season's quarter pole.
Houston Texans
Arian Foster finally looked healthy on Sunday as he rushed for 155 yards to lead Houston to a victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Matt Schaub was the model of efficiency, completing 66 percent of his passes and finding Owen Daniels to start the scoring in the first quarter.
The bigger story that emerged from the game might have been the Texan defense. It's a unit that had struggled to gel together in Wade Phillips' new scheme. On Sunday though, they shut down both Ben Roethlisberger (five sacks, one INT) and Rashard Mendenhall (25 yards on nine carries).
Houston is a very scary team if that unit can live up to its potential. We know the offense can score points with Schaub, Foster and Andre Johnson, but the defense has its fair share of talent too. They will be the team “nobody wants to face” should the claim the AFC South crown.
San Francisco 49ers
Alex Smith is finally developing into the quarterback the 49ers front office was expecting when they drafted him first overall. Add in Frank Gore's first big game of the season and it equals a stunning comeback against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Down by 20 with less than 10 minutes left in the third quarter, San Francisco rattled off 21 straight points to stun the “Dream Team.”
And with that win it's time to start believing in the 49ers, especially considering the weak division in which they reside.
Baltimore Ravens
It looks like their Week 2 loss to the Tennessee Titans (who are one of the league's biggest surprises) was nothing more than a fluke because the Ravens are right back to steamrolling good opponents. This time they beat the Jets despite Joe Flacco's terrible performance.
Baltimore has a very favorable schedule after its Week 5 bye, so down expect the train to slow down anytime soon.
The defense has become an opportunistic bunch that makes you think of the 2009 Saints defense that was the unsung hero of New Orleans' Super Bowl run.
Houston Texans
Arian Foster finally looked healthy on Sunday as he rushed for 155 yards to lead Houston to a victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Matt Schaub was the model of efficiency, completing 66 percent of his passes and finding Owen Daniels to start the scoring in the first quarter.
The bigger story that emerged from the game might have been the Texan defense. It's a unit that had struggled to gel together in Wade Phillips' new scheme. On Sunday though, they shut down both Ben Roethlisberger (five sacks, one INT) and Rashard Mendenhall (25 yards on nine carries).
Houston is a very scary team if that unit can live up to its potential. We know the offense can score points with Schaub, Foster and Andre Johnson, but the defense has its fair share of talent too. They will be the team “nobody wants to face” should the claim the AFC South crown.
San Francisco 49ers
Alex Smith is finally developing into the quarterback the 49ers front office was expecting when they drafted him first overall. Add in Frank Gore's first big game of the season and it equals a stunning comeback against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Down by 20 with less than 10 minutes left in the third quarter, San Francisco rattled off 21 straight points to stun the “Dream Team.”
And with that win it's time to start believing in the 49ers, especially considering the weak division in which they reside.
Baltimore Ravens
It looks like their Week 2 loss to the Tennessee Titans (who are one of the league's biggest surprises) was nothing more than a fluke because the Ravens are right back to steamrolling good opponents. This time they beat the Jets despite Joe Flacco's terrible performance.
Baltimore has a very favorable schedule after its Week 5 bye, so down expect the train to slow down anytime soon.
The defense has become an opportunistic bunch that makes you think of the 2009 Saints defense that was the unsung hero of New Orleans' Super Bowl run.
