NFL Power Rankings: Teams That Have Fallen Hardest Heading into Opening Week

With the preseason coming to a close Thursday, the country's long national nightmare is on the precipice of ending as the 2012 NFL regular season is less than two weeks from opening for most teams on Sept. 9.

And though the preseason is mostly a tool for coaches to cut down training camp rosters to 53 men and choose starters at fringe positions, there were still some major takeaways to be had this year.

Some teams had a fantastic exhibition campaign and will head into opening week firing on all cylinders. Others, well, are the teams we're about to talk about. 

With that in mind, here's a look at the teams that have fared worst in our power rankings heading into Week 1. 

New York Jets

Though it's usually advisable to avoid the preseason scoreboard at all costs, the Jets' offensive woes are impossible to ignore.

Struggling to find rhythm is one thing, but zero touchdowns in the team's first 13 quarters of football speaks to the dearth of skilled talent on the offensive side of the ball. Outside of D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold, offensive coordinator Tony Sparano's squad is a motley crew to say the least.

Though most seemed focused on the media-led quarterback battle between Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow, the Jets' biggest offensive problem comes from the skill positions. 

Santonio Holmes has struggled all preseason as defenses solely focus on him after the departure of Plaxico Burress. And while running back Shonn Greene is no slouch, he's not the type of talent that can create instant offense. 

With expectations high for this season, it could get ugly real quick for head coach Rex Ryan if the preseason is any indication. 

Arizona Cardinals

When a coach has trouble choosing a starting quarterback because neither one can sustain a preseason quarterback rating over 55, there are problems surely ahead. 

It's wholly unlikely that whomever Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt chooses is that bad in the regular season. Regardless, playing this entire preseason has been full of ominous signs after going a surprise 8-8 last season. 

Despite the quarterback woes, there is at least some reason for hope in Arizona. Running backs Ryan Williams and Beanie Wells present one of the best two-headed young backfields in all of football when healthy. 

In addition, the Cardinals are bringing back most of a solid defense that ranked 14th in weighted defensive efficiency last season, according to Football Outsiders. 

Had either quarterback distinguished himself from the other, Arizona could have been a sleeper playoff team. However, neither quarterback has shown anything that should give Cardinals fans faith going into the season. 

Miami Dolphins

A sleeper playoff team for many heading into the 2012 preseason, the Dolphins may wind up as one of the worst teams in football this year.

Head coach Joe Philbin's decision to name first-round pick Ryan Tannehill his Week 1 starter may pay off down the road, but it will torpedo any chance Miami had of making an impact this season.

In all reality, Philbin had little choice. Incumbent starter Matt Moore completed just 39.2 percent of his passes in the exhibition season and was the only quarterback on roster to not throw a touchdown. Unless the coaching staff wanted to usurp the confidence of Tannehill by starting fellow youngster Pat Devlin, it had to take a deep breath and go with the rookie.

Nevertheless, Tannehill will head into 2012 as the rawest starting quarterback in the NFL and with almost no surrounding weapons to catch the ball. After releasing Chad Johnson amid domestic abuse allegations, the team will start Davone Bess and Legedu Naanee at receiver. While both players are certainly NFL-worthy and should have improved numbers as their roles increase, Bess and Naanee would have to compete for third receiver slots on most teams. 

With the ghost of Dan Marino still haunting the organization's quarterback situation, the front office desperately wants Tannehill to reach his potential. It won't happen this season with that cast of characters. 

NFL Power Rankings

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

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