NFL Power Rankings Week 11: How Current Position Compares to Week 1

The NFL is a week-to-week league.

That is probably the 1,253rd time you have read or heard the phrase but it can't be overstated. Fanbases can be hysteric one week, and serene the next.

Given this, judging a team's progress or decline based on a 10-game sample size can bear substantive discussion.

I ranked all 32 teams and compared their position to where they were ranked before the season began.

As one would expect in a parity-filled league such as the NFL, there has been a lot of movement.

32. Jacksonville Jaguars 1-8

Preseason ranking: 28

Not much has gone right so far for Jacksonville. Expectations were low to begin with, so the dismal beginning to the Jaguars season is not an earth-shattering revelation, but no team ever expects to struggle in the atrocious fashion that Jacksonville has this season.  

31. Kansas City Chiefs 1-7

Preseason Ranking: 17

Fourteen spots is a significant fall, but at least the Chiefs aren't in last.

Yet.

30. Cleveland Browns 2-6

Preseason Ranking: 31

They're very young and Trent Richardson is a bona fide stud. Jury's still out on Weeden. 

29. Carolina Panthers 2-7

Preseason Ranking: 22

Cam Newton is having a genuine sophomore slump this season. Their offense struggles to run the football despite their bloated depth chart of well-compensated running backs. 

Would I be surprised in the Panthers became the bad team that no good team wants to play in the second half of the season? Not at all.

28. Oakland Raiders 3-6

Preseason Ranking: 26

Carson Palmer has had a couple of good statistical games in a row for the Raiders, but they will need more balance if they expect to move up in the rankings.

27. Buffalo Bills 3-6

Preseason Ranking: 19

This week, they played New England down to the wire, but inconsistency haunts this team. They have the 31st ranked defense and are 28th in turnover differential.  

26. New York Jets 3-6

Preseason Ranking: 21

Lost amongst the preseason Tebow hype was the rather substantial fact that the New York Jets are lacking in the talent department. 

If this list was ranking general managers, the Jets would come in dead last.

25. San Diego Chargers 4-6

Preseason Ranking: 15

Technically disappointing, but then again, Norv Turner is the head coach.

24. Washington Redskins 3-6

Preseason Ranking: 24

It's a quarterback league and the Redskins have one. 

23. Philadelphia Eagles 3-6

Preseason Ranking: 8

The Eagles have dropped further than any other team. Back in August, the Eagles were thought of as contenders in the NFC.

After a solid first quarter of the season, the Eagles just lost their fifth game in a row and are officially in panic mode.

The only certainty this team has is that their future is uncertain. 

22. Tennessee Titans 4-6

Preseason Ranking: 18

Chris Johnson might actually be good again.

21. Cincinnati Bengals 4-6

Preseason Ranking: 16

Slightly disappointing season thus far. A.J. Green, on the other hand, has been sensational.

20. Miami Dolphins 4-5

Preseason Ranking: 27

Considering the talent on the roster, or lack thereof, the Dolphins may be the greatest overachievers of the season.

19. St. Louis Rams 3-5-1

Preseason Ranking: 29

Without question, Jeff Fisher was a good hire. Not sold on Bradford, but this team just tied San Francisco on the road. They've come a long way in a half of a season.

18. Detroit Lions 4-5

Preseason Ranking: 12

This week's missed opportunity against the Minnesota Vikings is a microcosm of the Detroit Lions' season. Very disappointing.

17. Arizona Cardinals 4-5

Preseason Ranking: 23

This team was legitimately good when Kevin Kolb was healthy.

16. Minnesota Vikings 6-4

Preseason Ranking: 30

They're better than we thought they were. However, if they don't win another game this season, I won't be surprised.

15. Dallas Cowboys 4-5

Preseason Ranking: 14

Only one spot from their preseason projection and coming off a big win. America's most talked about team could rise on this list; however, they could also sink.

14. New Orleans Saints 4-5

Preseason Ranking: 11

Awful start to the season. Great middle. Scary team despite its complete lack of a defense.

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 5-4

Preseason Ranking: 25

Tampa has a bona fide offense. The pass defense is extremely suspect, but Doug Martin and Vincent Jackson compensate nicely.

12. Indianapolis Colts 6-3

Preseason Ranking: 32

Andrew Luck is already a top 10 quarterback in the NFL. For the Colts to be ranked dead last in the preseason and to now be playoff contenders is proof.

11. Seattle Seahawks 6-4

Preseason Ranking: 20

One of the more physical teams in the NFL and very tough at home. It doesn't hurt that they seem to be the luckiest team in the league.

10. Pittsburgh Steelers 5-3

Preseason Ranking: 8

The Steelers have been overcoming injuries all season. They're hot, and will only get hotter after playing the Chiefs.

9. New York Giants 6-4

Preseason Rank: 3

The Giants have hit a rough patch in their season. Last year they didn't win a single game in November yet hoisted the Lombardi Trophy at season's end. The way Eli Manning has struggled the past two weeks is concerning. 

8. Denver Broncos 6-3

Preseason Ranking: 13

Peyton has been sensational, but I can't be the only one who questions his ability to remain healthy, can I?

7. Baltimore Ravens 7-2

Preseason Ranking: 6

For now, the Ravens are fighting through injuries. If Flacco plays well, they can beat anyone. If Flacco plays poorly, they can lose to anyone.

6. San Francisco 49ers 6-2-1

Preseason Ranking: 4

I'm not paying much mind to last game's tie with St. Louis because of the Alex Smith injury. Whether people want to accept it or not, when he's playing, this is a really tough team.

5. Chicago Bears 7-2

Preseason Ranking: 9

The best defense in the NFL hands down. However, this team needs Jay Cutler to be healthy if they want to contend.

4. Atlanta Falcons 8-1

Preseason Ranking: 10

The offense is elite but the defense is just slightly above average. It will be interesting to see how the Falcons bounce back from their first loss.

3. New England Patriots 6-3

Preseason Ranking: 2

Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. Need I say more? Ok, once Aqib Talib gets comfortable, this defense with start to carry its weight.

2. Houston Texans 8-1

Preseason Ranking: 5

The Texans are the most balanced team in the NFL. That being said, if they don't knock Jay Cutler out of last week's game, their record is a bit less flattering today.

1. Green Bay Packers 6-3

Preseason Ranking: 1

Don't start with me about their record. We all know they really only have two losses, not to mention they have beaten two of the top 5 teams (Chicago and at Houston). Aaron Rodgers is playing with an angry chip on his shoulder and Greg Jennings is still not healthy.

Do not let the Packers' record fool you; they're the best team in the NFL.