NFL Power Rankings: Biggest Flops Heading into Week 11

We've seen some teams that were supposed to contend for the playoffs this season fall on hard times, whether it be because of an ordinary offense or a deflated defense.

Two flops are as inconsistent as ever: one is just plain bad, and another has seen its "budding" defense wither this season.

There's also that team in New York that will refuse to sit a bad quarterback for another bad quarterback. 

Here's a look at my NFL power rankings leading up to Week 11, complete with the flops of the year (in italics).

1. Houston Texans (8-1)

They're ranked fifth in points per game and third in points allowed per game. The 13-6 dismantling of the Bears' offense showed just how good this defense can be. The Texans can win a shootout or a defensive battle.

2. Atlanta Falcons (8-1)

The loss to the Saints stung, but this team is still ranked seventh in points per game and sixth in points allowed. Despite the loss to New Orleans, this defense has proven it can generally silence explosive offenses.

3. Chicago Bears (7-2)

Ranked second in points allowed per game, the Bears' defense has the ability to win games against tough opponents, even with backup Jason Campbell under center.

4. Baltimore Ravens (7-2)

Baltimore doesn't have the defense we're used to seeing this season, but the offense has more than made up for it—ranked fourth in the league in scoring per game after dropping 55 points on the Oakland Raiders.

5. San Francisco 49ers (6-2-1)

This team hasn't looked as good as last year's unit on either side of the ball. Allowing a running back to rush for at least 100 yards in three of the past four games is not the 49er way...or is it this season?

6. Green Bay Packers (6-3)

The defense is much better for the Packers this season than last and scoring 31 points against the Arizona Cardinals is a good sign in Green Bay after some early struggles on offense.

7. Denver Broncos (6-3)

It's not just Peyton Manning; this defense has looked much better after early struggles. The Broncos appear to be getting better as the season progresses.

8. New England Patriots (6-3)

The defense has been sporadic, but the Patriots still have the offense to win shootouts, as they showed against the Bills last week.

9. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3)

The running game is virtually non-existent and the offense relies on quarterback Ben Roethlisberger—we will have to see what happens in his absence. The defense is still a top-10 unit, however, and this team is so well-coached that it never seems to go away.

10. New York Giants (6-4)

After consecutive losses to the Steelers and the Bengals this appears to be the annual second-half mediocrity for Tom Coughlin's New York Giants. Of course, the Giants went 9-7 in the regular season last year and then won the Super Bowl.

11. Seattle Seahawks (6-4)

This defense always keeps the team in games and the production of Marshawn Lynch, complete with the progress of rookie quarterback Russell Wilson, makes Seattle a dangerous team down the stretch.

12. Minnesota Vikings (6-4)

Second-year quarterback Christian Ponder has been all over the place this season but the Vikings still have Adrian Peterson and a strong run defense.

13. Indianapolis Colts (6-3)

Not only has Andrew Luck been making progress, so has the Colts' defense—which hasn't allowed an opponent to score more than 20 points in four straight weeks.

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-4)

This offense has been on fire ever since dropping 38 points on the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 6. The defense has done just enough for the Buccaneers to win four of their last five games, including three straight.

15. Dallas Cowboys (4-5)

The Cowboys won the battle of the inconsistents last week against the Eagles, but they haven't beaten a legit playoff contender since Week 1 against the Giants. 

I never know what the offense or the defense is going to bring to the field each week with this team and I'm pretty sure the Cowboys don't know, either.

16. New Orleans Saints (4-5)

After a predictably tumultuous start to the season after the Bountygate scandal, Drew Brees and the Saints have won four of their last five contests, including a 31-27 victory over the previously unbeaten Falcons last week. When you have an offense as explosive as this, you always have a chance of bouncing back.

17. Cincinnati Bengals (4-5)

The Bengals got a big win against the Giants last week, but the defense has generally been disappointing across the board. The offseason signing of BenJarvus Green-Ellis doesn't seem to have paid off given they are averaging 3.7 yards per carry—28th in the NFL.

A lot more was expected from this team through nine games and that includes from the defense. Perhaps the win over the Giants was just what this team needed.

18. Detroit Lions (4-5)

So much for the "burgeoning" defense. 

The Lions have allowed 24.7 points per game this season and just allowed 34 points to the Vikings last week.

It doesn't help Matthew Stafford when he realizes he still doesn't have much of a running game, headlined by Mikel Leshoure and Joique Bell.

19. San Diego Chargers (4-5)

The Chargers aren't inconsistent this season; they are just bad.

San Diego has only beaten the Raiders, Titans and Chiefs (twice) this season, while crumbling against playoff contenders and even the Browns.

This team continues to beat itself, too. Against the Buccaneers last week, one of Philip Rivers' passes was intercepted and returned 83 yards for a touchdown. Also, a punt was blocked and returned for a touchdown.

The Chargers lost, 34-24.

20. St. Louis Rams (3-5-1)

This offense hardly ever scores a lot of points and the defense hasn't been as good as it was early on in the season. Still, a tie against the 49ers is worth something and this team is clearly better than last season's 2-14 embarrassment.

21. Washington Redskins (3-6)

It's great having a franchise quarterback in rookie Robert Griffin III, but allowing 27.6 points per game isn't good enough, especially from a defensive unit that was supposed to be up-and-coming.

22. Miami Dolphins (4-6)

Miami's defense has been generally solid this season (despite the 37 points allowed against the Titans in Week 10), but the offense doesn't have many game-changers, if any. Rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill isn't exactly going in the right direction, either, with five interceptions in his past two games.

23. Arizona Cardinals (4-5)

Kevin Kolb, John Skelton, whoever the Cardinals put under center is a disaster and the offensive line isn't helping matters. Beyond that, the running game is averaging 3.4 yards per carry, the worst mark in the NFL.

At least the Cardinals have a decent defense.

24. Philadelphia Eagles (3-6)

It's not exactly a good look when your offense is already struggling and you insert rookie quarterback Nick Foles. It's also not a good look when your defense plays well below its pay grade and gives up 38 points to the Cowboys.

25. Buffalo Bills (4-6)

The Bills had perhaps the worst defense in the league before meeting the Dolphins on Thursday night. But you pit the BIlls against any team that can score and you have, well, six losses on your record.

26. Tennessee Titans (4-6)

Hey, the Titans are running the ball well again with Chris Johnson, so they have that going for them. Still, this team is still waiting for Jake Locker and he's not there yet. Plus the defense hasn't exactly helped matters (giving up three points to the Dolphins doesn't count).

27. New York Jets (3-6)

When you ask a Jets' fan whom he/she wants under center and he/she says, "Neither one of them,"  you know there is a problem in New York. The offense stinks and so does the run defense.

28. Oakland Raiders (3-6)

This team's defense is atrocious—plain and simple. The Raiders have allowed 31.6 points per game this season, worst in the NFL, and the 55 points allowed against the Ravens last week was the combination of poor pass defense and special teams, and the offense not taking care of the ball.

29. Carolina Panthers (2-7)

Cam Newton has had a rough sophomore campaign and it doesn't help that he hasn't gotten much help in the backfield from DeAngelo Williams or Jonathan Stewart. Further, when you turn the ball over 17 times, it's hard to win football games.

30. Cleveland Browns (2-7)

Scoring 18.8 points per game is simply not getting it done. When your veteran quarterback (oh wait, he's a 29-year-old rookie?) averages 6.2 yards per pass attempt, 30th among qualifying quarterbacks, while tossing nine touchdowns versus 12 interceptions, that tends lead to losses. Also, when your best receiver is a supplemental draft pick, that's usually a bad sign.

31. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-8)

The worst offense in the league coupled with one of the worst defenses in the league gives you the Jacksonville Jaguars. That is all.

32. Kansas City Chiefs (1-8)

One of the worst offenses in the league coupled with one of the worst defenses in the league gives you the Kansas City Chiefs. The Cassel has fallen and Jamaal Charles hates his life.