And now, i present, the power rankings overreaction?

[TheLegendOfBoom]

Jeesh, Prisco has us at #4 as well.

When Prisco has Seattle top 4 and the rest has Seattle as low as 16, Prisco, is either brilliant or losing his mind even more so.

 

[Appyhawk]

I think the fear with this is how much it could slow the game down, especially at the end of a tight one. Maybe expand the challenge system a bit.

God forbid they eliminate a few of those commercial timeouts.

 

[hawks85]

4? Not currently in my book. Top 10? Sure. We have the #1 ranked defense if I'm not mistaken but with injuries and the OL situation, that keeps me from saying anything higher than 6 or 7 at the moment.

I told you guys that this defense will number 1 overall. Yeah, it's still early but the potential is there. We are the only team in NFL history since the 79 Steelers to hold opponents to under 150 total passing yards during the first 3 games. That's nothing to sneeze at. LOB didn't do that, 85 Bears didn't do that, 2023 Ravens didn't do that, but WE did do that.

 

[SeaWolv]

Let me be even more clear. You can challenge ANY and EVERY play. That alone scares people. But why? If refs are calling a clean game it's a non issue. If they aren't? Their ass gets called out on it in real time. Accountability should not be just a concept.

Bad call or bad non-call? CHALLENGE IT!

Remember, I am not advocating for endless challenges here. Each team still gets 2 challenges. Yes, with the new rule that can extend indefinitely with each winning challenge. However, what's the most important factor here, is this is a great paradigm to keep refs in check. If they know ANY call can be challenged, it's less likely they will make poor calls, knowing damn well they will be accountable.

This is one of those things in life where it's such an obvious thing to do it bewilders the mind why it already isn't instated.

I think I'd like to see the number of challenges increased a bit. There are so many games where calls/no calls completely change the game. 2 may not be enough to overcome that.

 

[GemCity]

I’m still thinking we’ll end up around the 12-5 range.

O-line has some issues…but I can’t see MM letting that continue to slide.

Our rookie coach exudes confidence, will, and determination. I’m slowly but surely beginning to think that he’s going to go down as one of the all-time greats. Bold statement considering we’re only three games in….

The way our defense has responded…getting our studs the ball on O…the schemes on both O and D….the adjustments at the half…MM is a bad ass.

Our team hasn’t changed all that much personnel wise. Murphy is impressive and certainly making an impact.

The biggest change from last year to now is the staff. I’m not knocking Pete…I love that dude. But we’re now seeing things called based on the strength(s) of the guys on the field.

Look at what Mafe is doing. Hell…last year folks were calling for Hall to be cut. He’s balling out now. DK is likely on his way to a 1500+ yard season. And Geno? Geno has been solid but he looks ‘different’. More determined. Decision making, making reads w/receivers…reading the D.

Imo, what were seeing is the result of a bad ass coach that’s going to keep this team competitive for a long time.

Our schedule hasn’t been the hardest thus far but, I’m more excited than I’ve been in a long, long time.

4-0 after this next one. Then, national media will really wake up.

 

[BigMeach]

Whether we do deserve top 5 or not, I will say this: We have caused what could easily be 5+ turnovers a game and haven't actually gotten them. Be that fumbles not recovered or interceptions not caught. That's not going to continue forever, we are going to start having multiple turn over games and I could see it starting against the Lions.

Once the flood gates open, we might just be that good.

 

[Rat]

NFL Week 4 Power Rankings: Bills look like best team in football, take top spot

The Bills have been on an incredible hot streak to start this season.

sports.yahoo.com

10th in this one. Highlights include the 1-2 Niners at #5 and the 1-2 Ravens at #8.

 

[Ruminator]

Funny how the Broncos, Pats, and Fins are in the bottom 8 in most power rankings. Does that mean the Lions will also find themselves there after we beat them? Answer on back page.

(Upside-down greyed-out text on the back page: "Ummm, no.")

 

[Mad Dog]

You can only beat the teams you play. All the 3-0 teams should be at the top in an order determined by something akin to the "eye test".

Power rankings would be far better if people just assumed that parity exists and the most important thing is winning. It ain't college. No style points here. Instead people try to finesse the damn things based on pretty subjective preconceived notions.

For instance the Chiefs are barely winning their games and not looking all that good doing so. But they are staying at the top because "They were good last year". This is 2024. So much changes in the offseason that you can't use last year's data points.

 

[chris98251]

Rankings should be done by the way they win, the level of competition and the stats that come from the game meshed against the rankings of the team they play. However we all know that popularity and the legacy of teams many times sway that.

 

[Ad Hawk]

If there is not a lot of turnover on a team through the off-season, the team is relatively healthy, and the coaching staff is the same, then power rankings can certainly build on the previous year. Individual players who often win their matchups on the field contribute to the team's strength.

I have no problem with the Seahawks being around 12-10 in the rankings even with a 3-0 record. A win over Detroit or San Fran will boost our rankings and drop theirs, showing that this year, those teams may not be as good. It's a long season, both for them and for us; a lot can change with injuries to star players (QBs especially, as with Tua), and a new Head Coach is a variable the mediots don't know how to account for. Give MM time to establish his reputation with this team.

Again, a couple wins over the "good" teams will boost us to the top. If we make it to 5-1, you'll see us in the top several spots.

 

[DarkVictory23]

So, we went from rated in the low teens to a jump to the top 5. Is this an overreaction? Well, for this, I go back to my 'formula' Power Ranking and the answer is: Nope. Seahawks should be considered a top 5 team.

My whole power rankings (with some commentary) are below, but the point of power rankings is not just a list of 'who's good, who's bad', but also: Where does this team stand right now? A crappy team that's still got a lot of cushion in the W-L department can rightfully be considered in a more 'powerful' spot than a good team that keeps barely losing. Being 3-0, and 2 up on your entire division only 3 weeks into the season, puts the Seahawks in a pretty powerful position, regardless of how 'real' you think we are.

As mentioned in the other thread, my Power Rankings only consider your standing, offensive efficiency, and defensive efficiency (full methodology below), and that thoroughly 'objective' method rates the Seahawks a top 5 team. DVOA also considers us a top 5 team. So, no, I think putting us as top 5 is correction, not an overreaction.

Full rankings below.

Power Rankings
Week 3

1. Buffalo Bills: Buffalo overtook New Orleans this week. They have the number 1 ranked offense, a top 10 defense, and they are in pole position in the AFC. Could this finally be Buffalo's year?
2. New Orleans Saints: The Saints came out flat against an Eagles team that doesn't have a particularly strong defense. They are still rated top 5 in both offensive and defensive efficiency, but they no longer are undefeated, and that loss was enough to drop them out of the top spot.
3. Minnesota Vikings: Vikings are no slouch on the offensive side of the ball, but the key remains their number 2 ranked defense.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers: Pittsburgh is very similar to us in terms of where they stand: A very average offense, but a top tier defense. In Pittsburgh's case, though, having an average offense is an improvement, whereas for us, well...
5. Seattle Seahawks: So, putting the Seahawks #4 in your power rankings is definitely not an overreaction. Our defense has completely turned around and are currently the #4 rated unit in defensive efficiency. Our offense has slipped a little (currently thoroughly average, when it was 'good' last year) and we'll need to fix that if we want to take the next step this season. Are we a top 5 team right now? Yes. But to crack the top 3, we'll need to figure out what to do with our offensive line.
6. Los Angeles Chargers: Chargers took a hit in their loss. Their offense is actually below average, but their defense has been top notch to this point.
7. Kansas City Chiefs: People keep wanting to suggest that the Seahawks aren't real because of who we beat. But can you find me one team KC beat who is in the top half of this list? Remember last year, when Philadelphia had a great record but kept looking suspect in every victory, but everyone assumed because of how they did the previous year, they were still a really good team? And then they fell off a freakin' cliff? That is KC right now. Their offense rates slightly better than last year (but still not a top unit), but their defense is well in the bottom half of teams right now. Despite being 3-0, this team actually needs to turn things around in order to have a shot at the three-peat.
8. Green Bay Packers: GB hasn't taken much of a hit since losing Jordan Love to injury. Can they keep that up? That remains to be seen.
9. Detroit Lions: Our next opponent, the Detroit Lions, are ok on both sides of the ball but haven't separated themselves from the pack on either side of the ball to this point. They will be the best competition we have faced to this point and a great test, but nothing suggests they are out of our league.
10. New York Jets: Perhaps the biggest jump from Week 2 to Week 3. I completely hate to see it, but Rodgers looked like he might actually be good this year (after looking very mid in Weeks 1 and 2). Can he keep it up? I hope not.
11. Arizona Cardinals: Yes, Cardinals are sitting above the Niners right now! A below average defense but a just outside top 5 offense.
12. Washington Commanders
13. Denver Broncos: The Broncos are retroactively looking like our best win to this point, right after I said they wouldn't be. Whoops.
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
15. Philadelphia Eagles
16. San Francisco 49ers: The Niners season is in a bit of a spot. Like the Chiefs, there defense has fallen off hard this year but unlike the Chiefs, they weren't a top 5 defense to begin with so it's hit them even worse. They should still absolutely be considered favorites going into that game against New England, but there is going to be an air of desperation for the Niners in a game before October even gets here.
17. Houston Texans
18. Dallas Cowboys
19. Baltimore Ravens: Ravens victory against Dallas did more to drop Dallas than it did to raise the Ravens.
20. Chicago Bears
21. Miami Dolphins: The team we just dominated has one of the bottom 5 offenses in the league. What's remarkable is that was how their season was going even BEFORE Tua went out, so it can't be blamed solely on the backup QBs.
22. Cincinnati Bengals
23. Cleveland Browns
24. Indianapolis Colts
25. New England Patriots: New England spent two blissful weeks as not-the-worst-offense in football before crashing back to the bottom this week. Their inept performance against the Jets also marked a huge drop from them defensively.
26. Atlanta Falcons
27. Las Vegas Raiders
28. New York Giants
29. Los Angeles Rams: Rams miracle victory against San Francisco notwithstanding, they are currently still one of the worst performing teams in the NFL right now and with the host of injuries they have, I just can't see that turning around any time soon. But hey: at least they embarrassed the Niners.
30. Tennessee Titans
31. Carolina Panthers
32. Jacksonville Jaguars: Andy Dalton's performance was enough to lift Carolina out of the dreaded #32 spot and Trevor Lawrence's was enough to send Jacksonville into it.



Methodology: Each ranking is based on standing (in particular, the teams position in a 'if the playoffs started today' situation), offensive efficiency (average points scored per drive as well as rate of drives which end in a score), and defensive efficiency (average points surrendered per drive as well as rate of opposing teams scoring). Each metric counts for one third of the score.
Offensive and Defensive efficiency are pro-rated against 2023 Offensive and Defensive efficiency metrics. In week 3, 2023 performance counts for about a quarter for these metrics. When I say the Seahawks have the #4 ranked defense, for example, that is not a 2024 only number. 25% of that performance is based on 2023 numbers. This means these numbers aren't being as influenced by the small number of games we have to this point.

 

[Mistashoesta]

 

[GemCity]

The goat spoke.

 

[Rat]

You can only beat the teams you play. All the 3-0 teams should be at the top in an order determined by something akin to the "eye test".

Power rankings would be far better if people just assumed that parity exists and the most important thing is winning. It ain't college. No style points here. Instead people try to finesse the damn things based on pretty subjective preconceived notions.

They would also be boring as **** if teams were just listed by record. You can look at the standings for that. There needs to be at least some nuance.

 

[Ruminator]

I look forward to the day my brain and my heart catches up to these optimistic Top-5 rankings of the Seahawks, because they're still thinking and feeling more in the 7 to 12 range. Maybe they'll get there after MNF.

 

[ZagHawk]

Bringing this post back...gonna be a big drop...