The initial Wilson-Hart Power Index has the Patriots probably right where they should be at this point in the lackluster start to the 2014 – very much a middle-of-the-pack team. New England is tied for 14th overall following Monday night's embarrassing loss in Kansas City. Interestingly three of the four teams from last January's title games – the Patriots, Broncos and Seahawks – are tied for the No. 14 spot in the Index.
The top of the rankings belong to a couple AFC playoff contenders, both future Patriots opponents. Cincinnati and San Diego tie for the No. 1 spot, with the Bengals coming off a bye prior to this Sunday night's trip to Foxborough.
There's actually a pretty sizeable difference through four weeks of action between the top-ranked teams and the Lions and Colts, who are tied for No. 3 in the Index.
Down the bottom of the Index there aren't many surprises as the winless Jaguars are in the basement, just behind a pretty bad Bucs team and a Raiders squad that just fired its coach.
It will be interesting to see how things shake out in the coming weeks as the supposed elite teams work to distance themselves from the pretenders, while teams mired in early mediocrity attempt to work their way up the charts.
| RANK | TEAM | RECORD | WILSON-HART POWER INDEX |
| 1 | Cincinnati Bengals | 3-0-0 | 5.833 |
| 1 | San Diego Chargers | 3-1-0 | 5.833 |
| 3 | Detroit Lions | 3-1-0 | 9.833 |
| 3 | Indianapolis Colts | 2-2-0 | 9.833 |
| 5 | Baltimore Ravens | 3-1-0 | 10.167 |
| 6 | Arizona Cardinals | 3-0-0 | 11.167 |
| 7 | Green Bay Packers | 2-2-0 | 11.500 |
| 8 | Houston Texans | 3-1-0 | 12.167 |
| 9 | Dallas Cowboys | 3-1-0 | 12.667 |
| 9 | San Francisco 49ers | 2-2-0 | 12.667 |
| 11 | New York Giants | 2-2-0 | 14.000 |
| 12 | Kansas City Chiefs | 2-2-0 | 14.333 |
| 12 | Philadelphia Eagles | 3-1-0 | 14.333 |
| 14 | Denver Broncos | 2-1-0 | 14.500 |
| 14 | New England Patriots | 2-2-0 | 14.500 |
| 14 | Seattle Seahawks | 2-1-0 | 14.500 |
| 17 | Carolina Panthers | 2-2-0 | 14.667 |
| 18 | Miami Dolphins | 2-2-0 | 15.167 |
| 18 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 2-2-0 | 15.167 |
| 20 | Chicago Bears | 2-2-0 | 15.500 |
| 21 | Minnesota Vikings | 2-2-0 | 16.167 |
| 22 | Atlanta Falcons | 2-2-0 | 16.333 |
| 23 | Buffalo Bills | 2-2-0 | 16.833 |
| 24 | Cleveland Browns | 1-2-0 | 17.833 |
| 25 | Washington Redskins | 1-3-0 | 18.833 |
| 26 | St. Louis Rams | 1-2-0 | 19.500 |
| 27 | New Orleans Saints | 1-3-0 | 21.667 |
| 27 | New York Jets | 1-3-0 | 21.667 |
| 29 | Tennessee Titans | 1-3-0 | 23.500 |
| 30 | Oakland Raiders | 0-4-0 | 24.000 |
| 31 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 1-3-0 | 28.667 |
| 32 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 0-4-0 | 29.833 |
