NFL Week 4 Power Rankings: Mr. Irrelevant to MVP?

1: Kansas City Chiefs (Record: 4-0)

The Chiefs are by far the team to beat this year. They haven't had a 1,000-yard rusher since 2017, and they struck gold with Kenneth Walker. Through four games, he leads the NFL in rushing yards, scrimmage yards and yards per carry. He has taken this offense to a level we have never seen during the Chiefs' three Super Bowl runs with Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes is playing well, but not at his best, while the defense continues to show up in the clutch. The Chiefs picked up a great road win against the previously 3-0 Raiders and now look to earn their third divisional win against the winless Los Angeles Chargers.

2: San Francisco 49ers (Record: 4-0)

The last two times the 49ers started a season 4-0, they made it to the Super Bowl. Brock Purdy is the clear MVP favorite and is proving he is worth every penny of his $265 million extension. He leads the NFL in passing touchdowns, passer rating and QBR and is the first quarterback in 21 years to start a season with four consecutive games without being sacked. A lot of credit goes to the offensive line, but Purdy has also made a ton of throws outside the pocket, and his improvisational game has been elite this year. George Kittle has recovered from his Achilles injury and is tied for third in receiving touchdowns. New defensive coordinator Raheem Morris also has the defense playing at a high level, as the Niners rank third in opponent points allowed per game.

3: Seattle Seahawks (Record: 3-1)

The reigning Super Bowl champions suffered a rough loss to the Washington Commanders two weeks ago but bounced back with a win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Jaxon Smith-Njigba ranks third in receiving yards and looks to continue his great start to the year. The defense is never a concern, as Seattle allows the fewest passing yards per game in the NFL and is tied for second in forced turnovers. The Seahawks have a huge game coming up against the 49ers, as the winner will likely emerge as the favorite to win the NFC.

4: Jacksonville Jaguars (Record: 3-1)

The Jaguars are flying under the radar while making a lot of noise in the AFC. After their amazing season last year, many wondered whether they could be just as good this year. All three of their wins have come against strong opponents: the Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots and Cincinnati Bengals. Jacksonville also blew out the Browns and Patriots, making a real case for having two of the most impressive wins of the season. The offense has looked good led by Trevor Lawrence, but the defense is making the biggest impact for the Jags. Jacksonville ranks second in points allowed per game, second in forced turnovers and second in rushing yards allowed per game. If the defense continues to shine and the offense improves, the Jaguars could make a serious playoff run this year.

5: Minnesota Vikings (Record: 4-0)

The Vikings may be one of three undefeated teams, but they have not played like a top-three team. The offense hasn't looked good, with both Kyler Murray and Justin Jefferson dealing with injuries. Until the two get an opportunity to play together consistently, there is no way to know how good this offense can be. Although the offense has struggled, the Vikings have arguably the best defense in the NFL. They rank first in points allowed per game, total sacks, touchdowns allowed and opponent third-down conversion percentage. I have no idea how defensive coordinator Brian Flores still doesn't have a head coaching job, as he is one of the best in the business. If the offense can pick things up with more reps between Murray and Jefferson, the Vikings could quickly climb toward the top of these rankings.