NFL Power Rankings: Gauging League from Best to Worst Heading into Week 11

Break out the biscuits! There are no longer any winless teams in the NFL after the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tampa Bay Buccaneers both confounded their own ineptness and picked up wins this past week.  

With the Kansas City Chiefs (9-0) travelling to take on the Denver Broncos (8-1) in Week 11, there may not be any undefeated teams next week. 

All of this goes to highlight the parity of this grand league. 

"On any given Sunday" has never rang truer than it has this season, and it has left a bit of a jumbled mess in the ol' power rankings. That just makes rankings all the more fun, though.

Here is my latest effort as we head into what should be a revealing Week 11. 

1. Kansas City Chiefs

The fact that the Kansas City Chiefs are winning with a conservative offense in an age where flashy passing attacks seem to rule the NFL has left a lot of people wondering about the legitimacy of this undefeated team.

It doesn't help that the Chiefs have yet to play a team with a winning record, either. After a Week 11 matchup with the Broncos in Denver, there won't be any room left for speculation.

If the Chiefs' league-leading scoring defense can handle the league's most prolific scoring offense, which also happens to be paired with the second best defense in terms of yards allowed per rush, there won't be any question marks left about this team. 

2. Seattle Seahawks

This is an exciting time for Seahawks fans. The team is 9-1 and in the driver's seat for home-field advantage in the NFC. Playing in the noise factory that is CenturyLink Field, that is a huge deal. 

What has to have fans just as giddy, though, is this team is on the verge of getting more than a third of its offensive starters back. 

Percy Harvin appears close to making his Seahawk debut. His explosiveness would be an exciting addition to any offense. 

Just as importantly, the Seahawks could get three starting offensive linemen back this week—that includes both tackles. Offensive-line woes have been limiting this offense. That group won't be nearly as woeful if it can stay healthy. 

3. Denver Broncos 

The Broncos have to start doing a better job of protecting Peyton Manning. He is taking way too many viscous hits to reasonably expect him to make it through the season. 

With two out of the next three games coming against a Chiefs team that leads the league in sack percentage by dropping opposing quarterbacks on more than 10 percent of all dropbacks, the Broncos would be well advised to make those blocking improvements immediately. 

Otherwise, "Peytie Pie" will have to watch another season end in frustration.

4. New Orleans Saints

After watching the Saints humiliate the Dallas Cowboys last week, 49-17, I was tempted to put this team in the top spot. The offense looks unstoppable. 

Drew Brees continues to lead a magnificent passing attack that is aided by one of the league's most unstoppable weapons in Jimmy Graham, but what really impressed me was the running game. 

The Saints rushed for their highest rushing total in 23 years by going for 242 yards. With that kind of balance, defenses may as well just concede touchdowns. 

There's also the fact that the defense held the Cowboys to less than 200 yards of total offense. 

Although that was a supremely impressive performance, I have to see New Orleans display this kind of complete dominance on the road before handing them the Lombardi Trophy. 

5. Carolina Panthers

With a 10-9 victory over San Francisco, the Panthers proved that they are better at being the 49ers than the 49ers themselves.

The two similar teams like to win by bullying people in the trenches and utilizing a punishing run game that features a dual-threat quarterback. 

With Carolina sacking Colin Kaepernick a season-high six times, the Panthers proved superior in this style of play. 

No team is going to enjoy playing Carolina this year. 

6. New England Patriots

The New England Patriots will be the next team that gets to not enjoy playing the Panthers. Those two will meet on Monday, and it should be a great game.

It will definitely be a test for New England's maligned passing attack.

The Patriots are coming off of bye week, but in the game preceding, Tom Brady hit three different receivers for more than 120 yards each on his way to passing for more than 400 yards against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

If the Patriots can keep that passing momentum alive against the vicious defense of the Panthers, they will make quick gains in this power ranking. 

7. San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers rejuvenated their season by recommitting to the run game earlier in the year, but this team has to have some passing attack to balance it out. 

Against the Panthers last week, the Niners passed for a grand total of...wait for it...46 yards. 

If the 49ers want to take things one step further than their heartbreaking loss in last year's Super Bowl, they are going to need Michael Crabtree to come back and play better than ever to spark some life into the passing attack.

8. Indianapolis Colts

Had I not watched football long enough to know that sometimes good teams lay bad eggs, I would drop the Colts to a place call "Jaganeerville" at the bottom of the rankings.

Indianapolis was throttled this past weekend, 38-8, by the St. Louis Rams.

It was a shocking level of ineptness from a team I had fourth in last week's power rankings.

There are concerns about how this passing offense can continue to cope without star receiver Reggie Wayne; I expect the Colts to bounce back with a resounding victory over the Tennessee Titans this week.  

Still, the question raised in this video of whether or not the Colts are elite is fair after last week's clunker. 

9. New York Jets

The Jets only have one game remaining on the schedule with a team currently over .500, and that is the run-heavy Carolina Panthers. 

Rex Ryan's defense is allowing a league-leading 3.1 yards per carry, so New York stands a solid shot of winning that one and every other. 

It also won't hurt that the defense is adding a future Hall of Famer in Ed Reed to the roster.

Sitting at 5-4, I have to give this team the inside edge to claim one of the AFC's wild-card positions, and I still can't believe it.

At the start of the season, I had the Jets pegged as a four-win team.

10. Detroit Lions

As the below video muses, the NFC North is the Lions' to lose. 

The Lions have a one-game lead, and the two teams chasing them—the Packers and Bears—are dealing with serious injury issues that include both of their starting quarterbacks.

Of course, the Lions have struggled mightily with self-inflicted wounds and failures when given a little prosperity over recent seasons.

The jury is out on how they will handle their current situation.

11. Cincinnati Bengals

Andy Dalton has not arrived. That was a popular topic of debate less than three weeks ago after the Bengals throttled the Jets, 49-9; however, the up-and-down quarterback has taken some giant steps backward in the last couple of weeks.

The Bengals have lost two straight overtime games against poor teams. Dalton has thrown two touchdowns, six interceptions and a combined 104 passes in those games.

Perhaps the Bengals should take a little off of Dalton's plate.

12. Green Bay Packers

The Packers' season rests on a healing collarbone.

Of course, even if Aaron Rodgers does get back before Thanksgiving, there is no guarantee he will stay healthy. Green Bay's offensive line has not been good, and it's not getting any better. 

With a bit better blocking and improved health, this team can be dangerous, but those are big ifs. 

13. Chicago Bears

While allowing a combined 41 points over the last two weeks doesn't seem like anything to start doing the Truffle Shuffle over, it is a nice improvement for the Bears—who rank 27th in points allowed. 

With an improving defense, this 5-4 team still has hopes of the postseason—despite continuing to be wracked by injuries.

Luckily for Chicago, Josh McCown has been solid under center in reserve. He's completing 60 percent of his passes and has thrown for four touchdowns and no interceptions.

14. San Diego Chargers

A couple of weeks ago, I was touting the San Diego Chargers as a team with the potential to get hot and make a wild-card run to the Super Bowl.

I still love this team's offense under a resurgent Philip Rivers; however, I've thrown in the towel on those grand hopes.

Sitting at 4-5 with two games against the Chiefs, one at Denver and a home game against the Bengals remaining on the schedule, this team will not be around in the postseason to make a run. 

15. Arizona Cardinals

Carson Palmer is only a slight upgrade for the Cardinals at quarterback from the joke this position has been for this team in recent seasons. The veteran has chucked at least one pick in every game and he's completed 15 to the wrong team this season.

Still, the Cardinals have a shot at making the postseason.

With a defense that is eighth in yards allowed per pass and third in yards allowed per rush, Arizona can withstand a turnover...or 15. 

16. Philadelphia Eagles

Apparently, I wrote the Eagles off too early.

It helps that Philadelphia plays in the NFC East and is tied for the division lead while sitting at .500, but there is no doubt that having Nick Foles under center has sparked new life into this team. 

Foles will have to continue to be excellent for Philadelphia to keep winning.

The Eagles get the Redskins this week, and then will close out the season with four of their five games coming against teams at .500 or better. 

17. Dallas Cowboys

Talk about limping into the bye. I don't understand why Jerry Jones is not more upset. 

The Cowboys allowed more than 600 yards of offense to the Saints last week in a game where the only players it seemed like they could tackle were other Cowboys.

For the Cowboys sake, lets hope everyone rewards Jones for his patience. 

18. Cleveland Browns

With the experienced and safe Jason Campbell at the helm, I really like this Browns team. Seriously, why wasn't Campbell the starter from Week 1? 

The problem is, with a Brandon Weeden aided record of 4-5 and not the easiest of schedules ahead of them, I'm not sure this team can make the postseason. 

Still, with a defense that has an argument to being called the best in the league, the Browns are in the top four in both yards allowed per rush and pass; Cleveland is a scary team.

19. St. Louis Rams

Had the Rams promising defense not taken until Week 8 to realize the season started, St. Louis would be in far better shape than 4-6.

The Rams allowed at least 30 points in four of their first seven games and at least 20 in six of those. They have allowed a combined 50 in their past three.

Combine that with the quick emergence of first-round rookie Tavon Austin, and the future outlook for this franchise is quickly improving. 

20. Baltimore Ravens

Well, this is going to be another season where the NFL doesn't have a repeat Super Bowl champion.

The Ravens ended a three-game losing streak this past weekend with an overtime win over the Bengals; however, this offense is still poor, and it's still being crippled by bad play along the offensive line.

In victory, Baltimore averaged less than three yards per pass and rush this past weekend. 

21. Miami Dolphins

What do you even say about the Dolphins at this point?

After a 3-0 start sparked hope of a run to the postseason, this franchise has become a better reality show than a football team.

We may as well get Boomer Esiason's take on the reality show.

While the drama surrounding Jonathan Martin threatens the future of everyone in this organization, it has also eroded the present. The offensive line has been poor all year and it is getting worse. 

Playing a team that had yet to win a game all season, the Dolphins mustered just two rushing yards against the Buccaneers this past weekend. 

22. Tennessee Titans

Jake Locker flashed his potential this season, but unfortunately, he just can't seem to stay healthy. It's a problem that stems from his days as a college quarterback who loved to truck defenders.

Meanwhile, the Titans' season is unraveling, and last week's loss to the previously winless Jaguars should be viewed as the death nail in Tennessee's postseason hopes.

23. Washington Redskins

Last week, Robert Griffin III threw for more than 280 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. It was only his second interception-free game of the year.

This is a great sign as he returns from offseason knee surgery, which is good for the Redskins because they are going to need him to be superhuman.

The Redskins' defense is bad. It is 23rd in yards allowed per rush and 30th in yards allowed per pass.

Given the amount of draft picks the Redskins conceded to draft Griffin, it is tough to see this team making big gains on the defensive side of the ball in the next few seasons. 

24. Buffalo Bills

Rookie EJ Manuel returned to quarterback duty for the Bills this past weekend against the Steelers. It was far from a successful return. The Bills lost 23-10 while Manuel threw for just 155 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Still, despite their woes, the Steelers have been playing decent pass defense, and it was just nice to see Manuel back healthy.

Of bigger concern is a defense that appears to be regressing and allowed a pathetic Steelers rushing attack to gain 136 yards at an average of 4.1 per carry.

25. New York Giants

The Giants have been such a strange franchise under Tom Coughlin.

During his tenure, there have been at least three times where I was convinced this team had completely quit on its coach; however, each time the Giants have responded with a confounding winning streak.

I don't think this current three-game winning streak is going to propel the Giants into the playoffs, but playing in the NFC East it isn't out of the question. Either way, the resiliency of this team and its coach is remarkable.

26. Oakland Raiders

With Terrelle Pryor dealing with injury and having thrown a combined eight interceptions to just one touchdown in his last four games, the Raiders season has taken a nose dive. 

It's not that I was ever under the impression that this team, which is far too weak in the trenches, would ever make a run at the postseason, it's that Pryor was a source of hope this season.

He is the only player on this team who has shown the potential to be a cornerstone player. 

27. Pittsburgh Steelers

This is an important time for the Steelers. The season has gone terribly wrong, but Pittsburgh has won three of five games.

If this franchise wants to continue its tradition of embracing continuity, then improvements must continue to be made.

Even a strong finish to the season, though, may not quell questions like this:

28. Minnesota Vikings

After the Vikings fell to the Giants, 23-7, four weeks ago, I didn't think this team would win another game.

I figured coach Leslie Frazier would completely lose his team after deciding to start Josh Freeman at quarterback against the Giants less than two weeks after having acquired him.

The Vikings, however, have inexplicably gotten better and last week picked up their second win of the season. 

29. Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons are not getting any better.

Heading to Atlanta used to send shivers down the spines of opposing defenses. Last week, the Falcons tallied 10 points and 226 yards at home in a 33-10 drubbing to the Seahawks.

The two-win Falcons will now travel to Tampa Bay to take on the Buccaneers, who have won one straight, and will face the very real possibility of leaving that game tied with Tampa in the cellar of the NFC South. 

30. Houston Texans

The Texans were forced to put star running back Arian Foster on injured reserve, and after the miserable season this team has produced, it certainly feels like the end of an era in Houston. 

The defending AFC South champs are bound to look vastly different next season. 

The Texans have been competitive as of late, having lost the last three games by a combined seven points, but it is time to blow up this group—which never seemed to live up to its true potential. 

31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers have flashed two solid outings in a row with an overtime loss in Seattle to the Seahawks, then picking up their first win of the season last week against the Dolphins.

While Tampa's season went in completely the wrong direction, not everything has been a disaster. The Bucs' defense is 14th in passing and fifth in rushing.

I expect at least two more wins from this group before the season is over. 

32. Jacksonville Jaguars

I don't expect two more wins from the Jaguars, but at least Jacksonville can rest easy knowing it has one under its belt now.

This team more closely resembles an NFL team with Chad Henne under center instead of Blaine Gabbert, but Jacksonville still doesn't do anything well. 

All season stats and rankings via TeamRankings.com.