Seahawks are No. 4 on ESPN’s Power Rankings for fourth-straight week

Nov 3, 2013; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) rushes against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first quarter at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

The Seahawks are No. 4 on ESPN.com’s NFL Power Rankings for the fourth consecutive week, this after having to come back from a 21-0 deficit against the worst team in the NFC, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Seattle is still the top-ranked team in the NFC, right behind the Denver Broncos (7-1) at No. 3, the Indianapolis Colts (6-2) in the No. 2 spot and the No. 1 Kansas City Chiefs (9-0).

ESPN.com had this to say about the Seahawks ranking and their tough win at home against the Bucs:

"They can’t play like that again. Seattle was the second team to win this season with a minus-3 turnover margin. Teams with a minus-3 turnover margin are 2-19 this season."

The Seahawks were down 21-0 in the second quarter to the Buccaneers before staging the biggest comeback in franchise history, eventually beating Tampa Bay 27-24 in overtime.

The win preserved Russell Wilson’s perfect record at home and extended the team’s home-winning streak to 12 consecutive games, which is tied for the franchise record. The team will have a chance to break that record on Nov. 17 against the Minnesota Vikings, who are 1-7 this season.

Before that game, however, the Seahawks have to visit the Atlanta Falcons (2-6). The last time Seattle played in the Georgia Dome, the Falcons kicked a game-winning field goal with eight seconds left to end the Seahawks season and send Atlanta to the NFC Championship game.

But this season’s Falcons team is not the same as last year’s high-flying squad.

The team has suffered numerous injuries, most notably receivers Julio Jones (foot) and Roddy White (hamstring).While White is doing his best to recover and return to the team, Jones is done for the season.

ESPN.com has Atlanta ranked No. 26 in the NFL, saying:

"The Falcons gave the Panthers five first downs via penalties Sunday. Atlanta is the only team to concede five first downs via penalty in multiple games (Week 7 vs. Buccaneers)."

Regardless, every game will present a new challenge and the Seahawks, who are 4-1 on the road, will need their A-game to beat the Falcons.

Even without their top two receivers, Atlanta’s passing game ranks fifth in the NFL. Led by Matt Ryan, the Falcons average 289.3 passing yards per game.

After the Falcons come the Vikings, then a bye week in Week 12 – just in time for the Seahawks to prepare for a matchup with the New Orleans Saints (6-2) and then Round Two against the San Francisco 49ers (6-2).

The Saints are ranked No. 6 by ESPN.com for Week 10 while the 49ers are at No. 5, respectively. Both games could help decide the NFC West, where Seattle currently has a 1.5 game lead over San Francisco.