NFL writer John Dudley ranks the five most impressive teams from Week 4.

1. Browns (27-13 over Ravens): This could have been the win that finally signals the Browns are turning the corner to become a competitive team and that Romeo Crennel is more in control than his doubters might have believed. Or it might be an aberration.

2. Cowboys (35-7 over Rams): Tony Romo is easily the quarter-season MVP, and the Cowboys appear to be the class of a not-too-deep NFC field of Super Bowl contenders.

3. Packers (23-16 over Vikings): The Packers' first four opponents have combined for only four wins, so it's tough to say how good they really are. But Brett Favre appears to have a lot of confidence, and a confident Favre is a dangerous Favre.

4. Giants (16-3 over Eagles): Virtually out of nowhere the Giants' defense, among the softest in the league through three weeks, dropped a man-sized beating on the Eagles and Donovan McNabb. Eli Manning still looks very shaky, but he didn't make any terrible mistakes, and that's a start.

5. Cardinals (21-14 over Steelers): Steelers fans can gripe that it might have been a different game had Hines Ward played and Troy Polamalu and Casey Hampton not gotten hurt early in the second half. The fact is, the Cardinals out-hit and out-hustled a team that usually does those things to opponents.

Week 4 rankings (record, previous ranking)

1. New England (3-0, 1)
2. Indianapolis (4-0, 2)
3. Dallas (4-0, 4)
4. Green Bay (4-0, 5)
5. Pittsburgh (3-1, 3)
6. Seattle (3-1, 6)
7. Tampa Bay (3-1, 7)
8. Detroit (3-1, NR)
9. Jacksonville (2-1, 9)
10. Denver (2-2, 10)
11. Kansas City (2-2, NR)
12. N.Y. Giants (2-2, NR)

-- John Dudley (john.dudley@timesnews.com)