NFL Power Rankings: 3 Teams That Will Continue to Plummet in Rankings

The NFL season is a wonderful and exciting time of year for us fans.

Well, except for the hopeless souls that root for these teams. 

The fact that the season is still in its infancy only serves as an opportunity for the following clubs to sink even further down the ranks of the NFL power assessment. 

The only real prize at the end of the 2011 rainbow is Andrew Luck. He could be looming for a couple of these teams that will sink to all-time lows—Indianapolis Colts, I am looking at you. 

Here is the list of hopeless dregs that will continue to be awful. 

1. St. Louis Rams

Perhaps it is because I know better, but I can't feel anything but sorrow for the 2011 Rams. Growing up a Rams fan, I have seen desperate times before. 

This team was supposed to better than they were last year. Injuries and youth have caught up to them to deliver a team that is horrible to watch.

I don't even think a Steven Jackson resurgence can help them. 

2. Indianapolis Colts

A lot has been made of the Colts offense. Now, I am not one to disagree—it is an atrocious thing to watch with Kerry Collins at the helm. 

The thing that bothers me is their defense. Teams are running all over them, giving me pause that they will ever figure this thing out.

Andrew Luck, let's see what you look like in blue. 

3. Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings allow far too many yards through the air to survive an NFL that is going increasingly vertical. 

The real worry for me is the 17-point lead they gave up last weekend. That is the sign of a team that has lost hope themselves. I don't see them figuring it out against a red-hot Lions team in Week 3. 

Gabe Zaldivar's 2011 NFL Power Rankings
1.Green Bay Packers
2.New England Patriots
3.New York Jets
4.New Orleans Saints
5.Houston Texans
6.Philadelphia Eagles
7.Chicago Bears
8.Baltimore Ravens
9.Pittsburgh Steelers
10.Atlanta Falcons
11.San Diego Chargers
12.Detroit Lions
13.Arizona Cardinals
14.Tampa Bay Buccaneers
15.Dallas Cowboys
16.New York Giants
17.Buffalo Bills
18.Oakland Raiders
19.Seattle Seahawks
20.Washington Redskins
21.St. Louis Rams
22.Denver Broncos
23.Minnesota Vikings
24.Indianapolis Colts
25.Jacksonville Jaguars
26.San Francisco 49ers
27.Tennessee Titans
28.Kansas City Chiefs
29.Cincinnati Bengals
30.Carolina Panthers
31.Cleveland Browns
32.Miami Dolphins