The Houston Texans are 0-4, but if you ask Ben Baldwin's "objective" NFL power rankings, they're still one of the league's elite. That's right—the winless Texans sit at No. 10 in the latest edition of the analytical rankings, a head-scratcher that has fans and pundits alike doing a double take.
Week 4 of the 2026 NFL season isn't even officially over yet, with Monday night's Saints-Falcons clash still looming. That game carries extra weight as New Orleans commemorates the 20th anniversary of the Hurricane Katrina return to the Superdome—a moment that will surely be emotional for the city and its fans.
But the real buzz on Sunday came from Houston's narrow loss to the Cowboys, a game that slipped through the Texans' fingers. After falling to the Patriots in last season's AFC playoffs, the Texans were expected to contend, yet they now find themselves among five winless teams after four weeks. The Cowboys, who beat Houston on the road, land at No. 11 in the same rankings—just one spot behind the team they just defeated.
It's a strange world where wins and losses seem to matter less than the underlying numbers. Baldwin's system, which relies on advanced metrics and Vegas odds, clearly values the Texans' performance beyond their record. But is it too objective? Critics argue that at some point, results have to count for something.
"I enjoy objective numbers/not listing teams by record," one fan tweeted. "The Browns at 29th behind a team like the Bucs (who they beat on the road and are 0-4) is a little goofy imo. Browns also play 3 teams on the 'Bad' list."
Another Browns supporter chimed in with a resigned tone: "I get it. We won't get any sorta credit for a while. Just keep winning." Meanwhile, a third fan pointed out that "Vegas (these are Vegas odds) isn't treating the Lamar Jackson injury as serious."
These rankings may be "objective," but they're anything but uncontroversial. As the season progresses, the debate will only intensify: can a team with zero wins truly be considered among the top 10? The Texans will have plenty of chances to prove the numbers right—or wrong. But for now, they're a statistical anomaly that has everyone talking.
For more on the Texans' struggles, check out the latest on Al-Shaair's eyebrow tribute and the season-ending injury to Jayden Higgins. And if you're wondering how other rankings are faring, the Week 4 Coaches Poll backlash shows that controversy isn't limited to the NFL.
