NFL Power Rankings Week 4: Aaron Rodgers looks like a star again, but it probably won’t last

Nothing about this New York Jets season has been surprising so far. The defense remains predictably great. Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall look like youthful, bona fide gamers. Most importantly, after a short, slow start in his first action since tearing an Achilles tendon, Aaron Rodgers has finally started to resemble the four-time MVP on which his entire football reputation is staked.

Against all odds (and all rightful skeptics), you can start to see the Jets' vision coming together when Rodgers turns back the block like he did last Thursday night against the New England Patriots in a blowout win. At their peak, when Rodgers is firing lasers off his wrist with confidence and the tenacious New York defense is pinning its ears back against overwhelmed offenses, the Jets are an absolute wagon. They do indeed resemble a Super Bowl-caliber team. The immeasurable hype almost seems justified.

The only real remaining question is: how long does Rodgers seemingly tapping back into the fountain of youth last?

No matter what the Jets accomplish over the rest of the year, this is the haunting specter that will hang over Gang Green. The logic there doesn't have to do with any reckless speculation. The reasoning is simple. Rodgers is 40. He will be 41 in December. He is still coming off a serious injury that sidelines most people his age for much longer. Even if Rodgers' Achilles tendons hold up, there's a reason that even the greatest quarterbacks usually are done playing long before they start their fifth decade of life. The punishment and toll on your body is too much, and it grows worse as a long, arduous regular season drags on. Not to mention that when you're older, frigid, cold weather tends to have a larger impact on your stiffer bones, tendons, and ligaments as 300-pound monsters descend on you in the pocket. One wrong, awkward hit is all it takes.

Tom Brady set an unrealistic expectation, dearest readers, and almost no one will be able to follow his mold ever again.

I genuinely think these Jets are capable of February greatness. I'm not going to rule out Rodgers finally looking like a tortured franchise's long-awaited pro football hero over the course of an entire year. I just don't know that it's going to last because, in the end -- football is a young, healthy man's game. And it always will be.

The Jets, led by a resurgent Rodgers, are steadily climbing up For The Win's NFL Power Rankings in Week 4. Let's see where they stand along with some other familiar faces as the 2024 season nears the quarter pole.

32. Tennessee Titans

Last week's rank: 29

We're at the point in the season where Will Levis is good for at least one humiliating blooper every single week. He is the NFL's premier one-man circus act. I'm kinda surprised Brian Callahan is still relatively holding it together. -- Robert Zeglinski

31. New England Patriots

Last week's rank: 25

The plucky Patriots finally fell back to Earth on Thursday night. A vintage Aaron Rodgers cut up Jerod Mayo's defense with minimal resistance, while Robert Saleh's unit treated stopgap Jacoby Brissett like a pinata. With even one or two more games like this from the Patriots offense, and we might be talking about non-garbage time minutes for Drake Maye. I'm unsure if that's a good thing behind an offensive line comprised of turnstiles. -- RZ

30. Jacksonville Jaguars

Last week's rank: 27

Every time the Jaguars escape their own gravity, they're quickly pulled back to the ground by vengeful football gods. And also terrible roster management. Trevor Lawrence was responsible for -9.1 expected points added (EPA) before halftime vs. the Buffalo Bills in Week 3 before recovering slightly in garbage time. It was a touching tribute to Blake Bortles. - Christian D'Andrea

29. Las Vegas Raiders

Last week's rank: 24

We're three weeks into the season, and Antonio Pierce is vaguely threatening his team about "business decisions" after getting torn apart by late-stage Andy Dalton. Raiders Football, baby. A tradition like no other. -- RZ

28. Carolina Panthers

Last week's rank: 32

OK, uh ... where the hell did that come from? A PERFECT game from Andy Dalton with the Panthers' offense looking like a buzzsaw??? I have a good hunch this barnstorming Carolina offensive performance was mostly "exciting 'new' QB energy," but hey, it's good for the Panthers to put a bow on the disappointing Bryce Young era in style, I suppose. -- RZ

27. Cleveland Browns

Last week's rank: 26

Do you understand how bad you have to be to be the worst Browns quarterback since 2000? -- CD

26. New York Giants

Last week's rank: 31

Malik Nabers looks entirely worthy of being the No. 6 overall pick. Daniel Jones has been... well, not good, but something approaching competent. The NFC is a bit of a mess, and the Giants could slap together some wins to stick around in the playoff race. But it's possible Week 3's win was more a statement on the Browns' misery than New York's potential. -- CD

25. Chicago Bears

Last week's rank: 21

Considering the circumstances (gestures at everything), Caleb Williams has been pretty OK. The Bears are asking him to make pre-snap judgments, he's changing plays at the line of scrimmage, and for a guy who has to run for his life on every play, Williams shows enough flashes to show why he was labeled a generational prospect. The middling Bears now find themselves in a weird spot where asking Williams to do and throw more puts his safety at risk behind their awful offensive line, but ... it would probably benefit him more in the long run.

It's a dicey proposition that Chicago's brain trust must really consider before proceeding through the rest of 2024. -- RZ

24. Miami Dolphins

Last week's rank: 23

At no point should the Dolphins feel compelled to rush Tua Tagovailoa back into the lineup. But at no point should they be OK with a world in which Tim Boyle is their starting quarterback. Miami still has the talent to make a playoff run. They just need to find someone capable of providing replacement-level quarterbacking to get there. -- CD

23. Denver Broncos

Last week's rank: 30

Sean Payton dialed back the Broncos' offense, and it worked to perfection against the overmatched Buccaneers. Instead of leaning on Bo Nix's conservative arm, Payton doled out 28 carries for 136 yards for an average of almost five yards a carry across four different Denver runners. It didn't matter if Nix seldom threatened the defense downfield. It also didn't matter if the Denver offense lacked distinct, explosive playmakers. -- RZ

22. Indianapolis Colts

Last week's rank: 22

There's still a long way to go before anyone gives up on Anthony Richardson, but he's proving to be exactly the kind of project his college film suggested. The talent is there, but bad habits persist and can no longer be glossed over with elite athleticism. The Colts need to find a way to recalibrate his risk/reward sensors -- and find a way to maximize his running ability without opening him up to too much damage. -- CD

21. Cincinnati Bengals

Last week's rank: 12

A September slump is nothing new for the Bengals. But Lou Anarumo's defense looking completely helpless against a rookie quarterback? That feels like a bigger concern. Though Cincinnati has been winless after three weeks with Joe Burrow on the roster, this is the first time Joe Shiesty has ever stared down an 0-3 start. -- CD

20. Los Angeles Chargers

Last week's rank: 19

With an injured quarterback limping around the pocket, the only team I'd want to face less than the Pittsburgh Steelers is the Minnesota Vikings. Toss in injuries across the offensive line and Week 3 was always going to be a brutal matchup for Los Angeles. That's fine. 2024 is all about creating proof of concept for Jim Harbaugh's latest reclamation project. Justin Herbert can afford to miss a few games. -- CD

19. Dallas Cowboys

Last week's rank: 9

Dak Prescott is already telling Cowboys fans to "jump off" if they want off to, and we're not anywhere close to the postseason. Buddy, I'm skeptical there's anyone who isn't delusional left on this bandwagon dangerously rolling down a bumpy hill. -- RZ

18. Los Angeles Rams

Last week's rank: 20

The Rams were down roughly half their starting depth chart against their biggest rival. It didn't matter in the least because Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford are gamers, a bona fide future Hall of Fame duo that should never be underestimated. The 49ers did, and they paid for it by blowing a two-touchdown, second-half lead. Of course the NFL's Boy Genius would avoid his first-ever 0-3 start in dramatic fashion. Did you expect anything different? -- RZ

17. Arizona Cardinals

Last week's rank: 15

The Cardinals' good vibes wouldn't last forever. Detroit bracketed Marvin Harrison Jr., which forced Kyler Murray to improvise more than usual. This led to an uninspired offensive strategy that involved Murray putting on a red cape to beat a defense that had at least 3-4 pairs of eyes following him everywhere. Arizona remains feisty and intriguing, but this loss was a litmus test that should probably bring the hype back down to Earth. -- RZ

16. Washington Commanders

Last week's rank: 28

Oh, wow, Jayden Daniels looks like THE TRUTH. Washington's defense is still a mess, but the Commanders appear to have finally figured out the toughest part of their years-long rebuild. -- CD

15. Philadelphia Eagles

Last week's rank: 7

Saquon Barkley has proven worthy of his paycheck. Jalen Hurts has not. The former All-Pro leads the league with 27 turnovers in the season-plus following his 2022 breakthrough. Still, this is an Eagles team just one fourth-down conversion away from being 3-0 ... and a couple of bounces away from being 0-3. Fortunately, Philadelphia's even-keeled fanbase can live with a schedule chock full of games that come down to the wire. -- CD

14. Baltimore Ravens

Last week's rank: 13

Sunday was a realization of the Ravens' new vision. A Lamar Jackson QB power off tackle often meant a gazillion yards at the hands of a woeful Cowboys defense. So did literally any play where Derrick Henry touched the ball, who treated Dallas defenders like helpless insects getting smushed against the front grating of a truck any time he reached the open field. The Ravens' defense might be a huge issue, as this game should have never been close. Still, baby steps first. -- RZ

13. Atlanta Falcons

Last week's rank: 16

Kirk Cousins still isn't 100 percent healthy -- a little mobility would have gone a long way in Week 3's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Still, on a day where his run game wasn't working, the veteran quarterback showcased his connection with Drake London and Darnell Mooney (and not quite Kyle Pitts yet, but close!) to build optimism in Atlanta. The Falcons are 1-2 and have yet to win at home, but it still feels like this team can be a postseason headache. -- CD

12. New Orleans Saints

Last week's rank: 8

New Orleans couldn't run the NFL's most efficient offense forever, but getting held to 219 yards and without a touchdown for the first 58 minutes of Week 3 was a surprise. Philadelphia compressed Derek Carr's passing game by forcing him to throw to his left, and while Chris Olave still managed to thrive, he was the only member of the offense to do so. Is this the start of the other shoe dropping for an aging roster, or merely an outlier in a run to the postseason? -- CD

11. San Francisco 49ers

Last week's rank: 5

It was easy to write off the 49ers' loss to the Minnesota Vikings as a one-off, an inevitable singular loss for any one team. A full-on collapse to the division rival Rams is more alarming. That's now two consecutive weeks where a usually stout defense was gashed on the ground. That's now two consecutive weeks where Kyle Shanahan's scheme was outmatched by the person on the other sideline. Oh, and Brandon Aiyuk has yet to eclipse 50 yards in a game.

If I didn't know any better, I'd say the 49ers were showing signs of fatigue after making deep playoff runs in four of the last five seasons, including three straight. That's disconcerting because overcoming lingering exhaustion isn't something Shanahan can game-plan for. -- RZ

10. Green Bay Packers

Last week's rank: 18

Green Bay didn't just survive Jordan Love's knee injury. It thrived. Matt LaFleur backed up his coaching bonafides by turning Malik Willis into one of the NFL's most efficient quarterbacks (for two games, at least). Now Love is set to return for a pivotal game against an undefeated Sam Darnold. 2024 is weird, you guys. -- CD

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Last week's rank: 4

Note to self: Never read into an early Baker Mayfield craze more than is necessary. If he's played well for one week, chances are, he'll potentially crater the next. If he has two consecutive good weeks, then holy cow, you should really bet the farm on him losing his nerve the next. Judge the Buccaneers' ceiling accordingly. -- RZ

8. New York Jets

Last week's rank: 14

For the first time in years, Aaron Rodgers looked like Aaron Rodgers. The ball was spinning off his hand. He looked decisive. The Jets' offense worked in perfect concert. And the Jets' complementary defense demolished an overmatched opponent at the line of scrimmage. If Rodgers continues playing like this, the Jets are a Super Bowl contender. We now understand their terrifying potential. Well, again, if it lasts. -- RZ

7. Pittsburgh Steelers

Last week's rank: 17

Justin Fields isn't throwing deep, but he is throwing accurately. His 73.3 percent completion rate is at least 12 points higher than it was in any of his three seasons as a Bear. That's thanks in large part to a low-impact 5.7 yards target depth, but it shouldn't be surprising to see Mike Tomlin work around his quarterback's downfield limitations given (points to previous five seasons of Pittsburgh's offense, shrugs). -- CD

6. Seattle Seahawks

Last week's rank: 11

Geno Smith didn't play his best, Zach Charbonnet started slowly in relief of Kenneth Walker, and Seattle still managed to improve to 3-0. Not an inspiring 3-0 since the quarterbacks that Mike Macdonald has beaten in an undefeated start to his debut season are Bo Nix, Jacoby Brissett, and the unholy combination of Skylar Thompson annd Tim Boyle, but 3-0 nonetheless. Somehow, that's good for a two-game lead in the NFC West because 2024 makes very little sense thus far. -- CD

5. Houston Texans

Last week's rank: 2

We have officially entered a state of alarm when it comes to C.J. Stroud's Houston offense with offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik. Stroud was all over the place against Brian Flores' confusing defense, recklessly turning the ball over twice while playing out of rhythm. This after a Sunday night affair where ... Stroud was all over the place against a confusing Bears' defense. We probably anointed these Texans too soon. There are still kinks to work out. -- RZ

4. Detroit Lions

Last week's rank: 6

When it comes down to it, the Lions have multiple ways to beat you but prefer to grind you into mush in the gears of their running game. David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs combined for 188 rushing yards in Week 3. More importantly, Jared Goff came back online after brain-farting his way through Week 2's upset loss to the Buccaneers. -- CD

3. Minnesota Vikings

Last week's rank: 10

Every week, the Vikings enter a matchup with a clear coaching advantage thanks to Kevin O'Connell and Brian Flores. That is no small thing in a 2024 season seemingly defined by parity more than ever. What's even more apparent is it's time to take Minnesota seriously as a contender. If there are no real heavyweights, there's no real reason to doubt the Vikings' chances to pull off ultimate glory this coming winter. It's all thanks to the early Coach of the Year and Assistant Coach of the Year frontrunners, respectively. -- RZ

2. Buffalo Bills

Last week's rank: 3

With apologies to Sam Darnold, Josh Allen is your 2024 MVP after three weeks. That's a very weird sentence to type, but good god. The Buffalo QB had four passing touchdowns against the Jaguars … in the first 26 minutes of Monday night's game. -- CD

1. Kansas Ciy Chiefs

Last week's rank: 1

Another week, another questionable call involving pass interference of some kind, helping the Chiefs eke out a win. This time, the refs declined to give the Falcons some good home cooking on a Kyle Pitts target -- with a defender draped all over him -- in the end zone. But that's beside the main point. The Chiefs are playing nowhere near peak capacity, and are still winning. It's also interesting to note that Rashee Rice has clearly become Patrick Mahomes' favorite target, while an older Travis Kelce has just 69 total receiving yards on 12 targets through three games.

I haven't yet decided if this is a good or bad omen for a two-time reigning Super Bowl champion who many expect to cruise to a three-peat, but recent precedent says it's probably good. -- RZ

This article originally appeared on For The Win: NFL Power Rankings Week 4: Aaron Rodgers looks like a star again, but it probably won’t last