Updated Sept. 30
Take a look at the top three teams in the CBSSports.com Power Rankings. The New York Giants, Tennessee Titans and Buffalo Bills are all undefeated, the only three teams without a loss.
They also have something else in common, which is why they are where they are -- it's called defense.
As much as I hate to admit it, since I am a connoisseur of offense, defense is ruling the NFL early on.
As we raced to anoint the Dallas Cowboys as the team to beat, we lost vision of their so-so defense. Buried under their high-scoring, fun-to-watch offense is the Cowboys' 20th-ranked scoring defense, which is giving up 22.2 points per game.
The top three teams in the rankings are all in the top 10 in scoring defense. The Titans are tops in the league with an average of 11.3 points allowed, followed by the Giants, who are tied for second with Baltimore at 14.3. The Bills are sixth at 15.8.
Those three are also in the top 10 in sacks, with the Titans tied for second with the Steelers at 15, the Giants have 13 in three games to tie for fourth with the Jets and the Bills have 10 to tie for 10th with three other teams.
Getting after the quarterback is a must in this NFL. The three top teams in our rankings show just how important.
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The Cowboys fell from the top spot to No. 5 by losing to the Washington Redskins. Washington, which has won three consecutive games, is a big mover in these rankings, jumping from 12th to fourth.
They're not like the top three teams. They are 15th in scoring defense and have just six sacks to rank tied for 23rd with three other teams.
The Redskins are making their move behind young quarterback Jason Campbell. He has developed into a capable passing threat that gives them a chance every week.
I love watching the Cowboys' offense, but even I know a 20th-ranked defense isn't good enough. If that defense doesn't improve, their perch in the top five won't last long.
The Power Rankings though Week 4:
| Power Rankings | ||||||||||
| Current | Team | Previous | ||||||||
 | 1 | Colts · Trends | 1 | |||||||
| They make it interesting, but they still find a way. The amazing thing is that they are winning yet not healthy. That's what a good quarterback does for a team. | ||||||||||
 | 2 | Saints · Trends | 2 | |||||||
| Can anybody stop that offense? If they get to play their playoff games inside the Superdome, it's hard not imagining them in the Super Bowl. | ||||||||||
 | 3 | Vikings · Trends | 3 | |||||||
| If the playoffs go through their dome, they will be tough to beat. They seem to be getting better -- if that's possible. | ||||||||||
 | 4 | Cowboys · Trends | 5 | |||||||
| The offense woke up against the Raiders, which is a good sign moving forward. But it will be December the next time they play and we know how they fade in that month. | ||||||||||
 | 5 | Bengals · Trends | 6 | |||||||
| It wasn't pretty against the Browns, but they went to 8-3. The one concern I have is they aren't passing it that well right now. That has to get better down the stretch. | ||||||||||
 | 6 | Chargers · Trends | 7 | |||||||
| Momentum seems to be building for this team. As the defense improves, so will their Super chances. We know they can score. | ||||||||||
 | 7 | Patriots · Trends | 4 | |||||||
| They got ambushed in New Orleans. That defense has not played well when facing good passing teams. Where's the pass rush? | ||||||||||
 | 8 | Eagles · Trends | 9 | |||||||
| They struggled some against the Redskins and now must go on the road at Atlanta. That won't be easy. | ||||||||||
 | 9 | Broncos · Trends | 12 | |||||||
| That was a season-saving victory against the Giants. But be careful this week against the Chiefs. They've owned the Broncos in December at Arrowhead. | ||||||||||
 | 10 | Packers · Trends | 14 | |||||||
| They are starting to have a playoff look about them. The key will be how that offensive line holds up. | ||||||||||
 | 11 | Cardinals · Trends | 8 | |||||||
| The division race tightened up with that loss to the Titans, and now they have a huge game with the Vikings. They have to be careful of San Francisco creeping back into it. | ||||||||||
 | 12 | Steelers · Trends | 10 | |||||||
| The questioning of Ben Roethlisberger sitting out by teammates is not a good sign. They shouldn't do that. It could cause problems. | ||||||||||
 | 13 | Giants · Trends | 11 | |||||||
| This is a team in big trouble. If Eli Manning can't play at close to 100 percent the rest of the way, they can forget the playoffs. Even with them, they could miss out. | ||||||||||
 | 14 | Falcons · Trends | 15 | |||||||
| Matt Ryan won't play this week, which means Chris Redman will have their playoff hopes on his right arm against the Eagles. Can he play as well as he did last week, now that they know he's coming? | ||||||||||
 | 15 | Ravens · Trends | 17 | |||||||
| They had a huge victory last week over the Steelers, but now have to go to Green Bay to face the Packers. That will be tough. | ||||||||||
 | 16 | Jaguars · Trends | 13 | |||||||
| As long as they don't go to the West Coast again, they will be fine. They scored three points in two games there. Ouch. | ||||||||||
 | 17 | Titans · Trends | 19 | |||||||
| Watch out. They're coming fast. If they can beat the Colts this week, the schedule the rest of the way is favorable. | ||||||||||
 | 18 | Dolphins · Trends | 16 | |||||||
| Did they blow their playoff chances at Buffalo? If they did, that halfback pass on their opening drive of the game could be the reason why. | ||||||||||
 | 19 | Texans · Trends | 18 | |||||||
| When they learn to beat the Colts, then we'll take their playoff chances seriously. If they lose at Jacksonville this week, it could be the end of the Gary Kubiak era. | ||||||||||
 | 20 | Jets · Trends | 20 | |||||||
| They're still alive, but barely. They still don't look close to being the team that jumped to a 3-0 start. | ||||||||||
 | 21 | 49ers · Trends | 23 | |||||||
| Alex Smith has five games to show he is their guy for the future. He looked comfortable against the Jaguars. | ||||||||||
 | 22 | Bills · Trends | 24 | |||||||
| The team is playing better under Perry Fewell. But he probably has no chance to keep the job. | ||||||||||
 | 23 | Seahawks · Trends | 25 | |||||||
| It's too bad they don't play the Rams every week. If they did, they might make the playoffs. Justin Forsett looks like the real deal. | ||||||||||
 | 24 | Panthers · Trends | 21 | |||||||
| It's time to make a change at quarterback. Find out what Matt Moore can do. What do they have to lose? | ||||||||||
 | 25 | Bears · Trends | 22 | |||||||
| Paging Bill Cowher. Paging Bill Cowher. Is there any doubt they will make a coaching change now? | ||||||||||
 | 26 | Chiefs · Trends | 26 | |||||||
| That San Diego game was a reminder of how far this team needs to go. They are a long way away from competing. | ||||||||||
 | 27 | Redskins · Trends | 27 | |||||||
| They're still playing hard, but it doesn't matter. Jim Zorn is still gone after the season. | ||||||||||
 | 28 | Raiders · Trends | 28 | |||||||
| At some point they have to get a quarterback. There is talent going to waste on this roster. | ||||||||||
 | 29 | Lions · Trends | 29 | |||||||
| They have some offensive talent. Now they have to fix that defense. Teams do what they want. Green Bay wasn't even challenged. | ||||||||||
 | 30 | Rams · Trends | 30 | |||||||
| Will they win again? It doesn't look good. Now comes the big decision: Which quarterback do they take in next spring's draft? | ||||||||||
 | 31 | Buccaneers · Trends | 31 | |||||||
| Who will Raheem Morris fire this week? Is it another loss, another firing? It's time the blame goes to the man at the top. | ||||||||||
 | 32 | Browns · Trends | 32 | |||||||
| It has to be hard to watch this team, especially for Browns fans. The question now is whether Eric Mangini makes it for a second season. | ||||||||||
