NFL News and Updates 2016: Denver Broncos, New England Patriots Stand Atop ESPN Week 4 Power Rankings

By Maverick Russel Flores, CP Contributor Wednesday, September 28, 2016

A new era is upon the NFL. Gone are the days Peyton Manning and Tom Brady were the biggest stories in the business. Manning had hung his hat in the offseason, and Brady does not come back from suspension until Week 5.

The league is now dominated by the young guns, with the likes of Carson Wentz and Trevor Siemian exceeding expectations in their first and second years in the NFL. Now that the 2016 season enters its fourth week, here is a look at where teams stand on NFL's top tier, courtesy of ESPN's Power Rankings.

Denver Broncos (3-0)

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Last year, legendary quarterback Peyton Manning and the Broncos bested Cam Newton's Carolina Panthers at Super Bowl 50. Manning finished his illustrious career with a second Lombardi trophy, but Denver still has tricks up their sleeve despite their franchise quarterback retiring.

Von Miller is one of the league's top defensive backs, and he had not disappointed this season. Prior to Monday Night Football, Miller led the league in sacks with five for a loss of 31 yards, and has six quarterback hits to tie second in the NFL. Sophomore quarterback Siemian also looks ready to fill the void Manning left, his game thriving in Gary Kubiak's offense.

New England Patriots (3-0)

No Brady, no problem for the Patriots this season, proving their depth can lead them to consistent dominance without their star player. The Pats remain either on the second or top spot in the rankings for four weeks now.

Jimmy Garoppolo had solidified himself as one of the best starting quarterbacks in the league, sharing minutes with rookie Jacoby Brissett. Both, however, could be sidelined with injuries, but the Pats are still at the helm of an AFC East division whose other teams lag behind at 1-2.

Seattle Seahawks (2-1)

The Seahawks are still one of the toughest contenders in the NFL, albeit with a 2-1 record. The Minnesota Vikings and the Philadelphia Eagles both have 3-0 records, but the Seahawks are still a team to beat as the best defense in the league according to ESPN.

However, they are pushing QB Russell Wilson to his limits. The quarterback had taken dangerous hits over the past weeks, and he needs a breather vs. the Jets. Despite being hurt a lot, however, Wilson had pulled of clutch plays with tremendous consistency.

The Vikings and the Arizona Cardinals are on the fourth and fifth spots, respectively. It is worth noting that the Philadelphia Eagles, led by Carson Wentz, had risen from the 15^{th to the 7th spot, allowing a league-best 27 points over the past three weeks. Only three of those points came from the Pittsburgh Steelers, an early Super Bowl favorite.}