NFL power rankings: 49ers and Bills stay hot entering Week 4

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SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 22: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates with fans after beating the Pittsburgh Steelers at Levi’s Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images) /

NFL Power Rankings: Nos. 15-11

Los Angeles Chargers. 15. team. 13. . 1-2. Previous:

L, 27-20 vs. Texans

The Chargers are better than they’ve played so far this season, and it seems Los Angeles is prone each year to coughing up ugly games early before being forced to go on a tear to make the playoffs late.

Perhaps this will be the case again, as the AFC isn’t particularly strong. And if wide receiver Keenan Allen has more games like he did against the Texans on Sunday, it’ll only help matters more.

team. 16. . 3-0. Previous: . Buffalo Bills. 14

W, 21-17 vs. Bengals

Yes, the Bills aren’t going to be as high as some other non-undefeated teams in NFL power rankings, largely due to the fact they haven’t exactly played top-tier competition yet. Neither the Giants, nor Jets are good. And the Bengals are terrible, too.

But Buffalo didn’t draw up the schedule, and pulling off three wins in a row to start 2019 is about the best scenario possible in a conference wide open for Wild Card teams.

. 3-0. Previous: . San Francisco 49ers. 13. team. 42

W, 24-20 vs. Steelers

Usually, teams don’t win if they turn the ball over five times in a game, which is exactly what the 49ers did when they hosted the Steelers.

Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo wasn’t totally sharp, and there are still questions whether or not he’ll ever become franchise elite. That said, the Niners win games when he starts. And that’s all that matters here.

San Francisco wasn’t capable of winning the ugly games over the past few seasons. Head coach Kyle Shanahan’s squad is doing so now, which is a great sign of things to come. If the Niners, who go on their bye in Week 4, wind up winning games against tougher opponents in coming weeks, it wouldn’t be a shock to see them climb even higher in NFL power rankings.

Imagine saying the top 10 was possible over the past two years.

46. . 2-1. Previous: . Indianapolis Colts. 12. team

W, 27-24 vs. Falcons

The Colts do have the luxury of saying they’ve beaten good competition, and their only loss on the season came in overtime against the Chargers.

So much for being out of luck following the retirement of quarterback Andrew Luck, right?

Luck’s replacement, Jacoby Brissett, was phenomenal against the Falcons, throwing for over 300 yards with two touchdowns. And while a late push by Atlanta made things interesting, Indianapolis’ defense did enough to hold onto a much-needed win.

Previous: . Chicago Bears. 11. team. 57. . 2-1

W, 31-15 @ Redskins

Yes, the Bears fall a few spots in our NFL power rankings, although it has nothing to do with the defense. How about safety HaHa Clinton-Dix getting some revenge on his former team, right?

Quarterback Mitchell Trubisky was much better in Week 3, finally finding the end zone this season. But he wasn’t great. And the Bears are going to need him to do a lot more in coming weeks, if Chicago is going to stay at the very top of what’s turning into a hotly contested NFC North. There are too many good offenses out there for the Bears to rely solely on their defense alone.

At least the defense has been fine under coordinator Chuck Pagano.