NFL Power Rankings: 10 Fanbases That Deserve Better Than Their Current Teams
If you're a fan of a team like the Colts, Patriots or Steelers, you probably feel spoiled right about now.
Your team is constantly winning division titles, making it to the playoffs and contending for Super Bowl rings.
But on the other end of the spectrum, you have the fans who, instead of feeling spoiled, feel downtrodden and heartbroken.
It doesn't seem as if your favorite squad will ever compete in the playoffs, much less win a Super Bowl.
And you know what?
As a Saints fan who's seen some horrible teams lace up their cleats in the Superdome, I feel bad for other fans who are stuck cheering for a franchise that's dead in the water.
Like these 10 teams, whose fans clearly deserve better than what they've been getting.
10. San Francisco 49ers
1 of 10
You know how they say something insignificant, like stepping on a cockroach or butterfly, can alter the course of human history?
Well, that's kinda what happened when the San Francisco 49ers drafted Alex Smith in 2005, as just about every problem the team has had has originated from that one decision to draft Smith instead of Aaron Rodgers.
Since that 2005 draft, the 49ers have gone 37-59, never winning more than eight games in a season.
And most recently, San Francisco limped to a 6-10 record in 2010, despite being the clear-cut favorite to win what was a horrific NFC West division.
The 49ers just haven't been able to turn it around lately, although Jim Harbaugh could be the guy to do that.
I'm sure 49ers fans are hoping that is indeed the case.
9. Buffalo Bills
2 of 10
You really have to wonder how long this downward spiral for the Buffalo Bills will last.
I mean, they haven't won more than seven games in a season since 2004 and are coming off a 4-12 campaign in 2010.
That wouldn't be that bad if there was at least some light at the end of the tunnel, but Buffalo is in one of the toughest divisions in all of football.
The New England Patriots and New York Jets should be right at the top of the AFC for the next several seasons, while Miami could get back on track and Buffalo could continue to lose four-or-more games in divisional play.
I'm starting to feel for Bills fans (especially that kid in the picture) who've had to put up with a last-ditch effort to bring some excitement there (I'm talking about Terrell Owens), as well as one of the biggest busts in NFL Draft history, Aaron Maybin.
While Buffalo does have some decent pieces in place, is anyone really expecting them to win more than six or seven games in 2011?
Probably not.
8. Detroit Lions
3 of 10
There's no doubt about this: The Detroit Lions showed a ton of improvement in 2010.
A 6-10 record, though?
That looks good on paper after the Lions won just two total games the previous two seasons—including that miserable winless campaign in 2008—but Lions fans don't deserve to watch their team pick in the top 10 or 15 selections of the NFL Draft every year.
They deserve to watch the Lions win eight, 10 or 12 games, because they've stuck by their team through the Matt Millen era, which can best be described as nothing short of a miracle.
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7. Miami Dolphins
4 of 10
That 2008 season when the Miami Dolphins went 11-5 is looking more and more like the exception rather than the rule as time goes on.
Since that stellar campaign, the Dolphins have gone 7-9 in each of the past two seasons, which certainly isn't horrible but definitely isn't great either.
The problem with Miami is not so much where the team has been but where it's going.
Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown are free agents and might not re-sign with the team, while Chad Henne appears to be a decent backup at best.
So where does that leave the Dolphins in 2011?
Even though they have a good defense, my guess is at the bottom of the AFC East, because you can't enter the season with huge holes at running back and quarterback and still expect to win.
Good luck with what almost certainly will be a rough season, Dolphins fans. I think you might need it.
6. Tennessee Titans
5 of 10
Remember early last season when the Titans looked poised to make a playoff run?
Yeah...so much for that.
Tennessee went 1-8 in its final nine games, a major problem in and of itself but one that was compounded by off-field troubles between Vince Young and head coach Jeff Fisher.
Well, now Fisher's gone, Young is about to be and Kerry Collins may not be back in a Titans uniform either.
Essentially, Tennessee is in major rebuilding mode, which probably won't translate to very many wins in 2011.
Tough time to be a Titans fan.
5. Denver Broncos
6 of 10
They might as well change the name of Denver's stadium from Invesco Field at Mile High to Invesco Field at Mile Low, because that's how far down in the dumps that Broncos were in 2010.
The lone bright spot on the team was the development of Kyle Orton, Brandon Lloyd and the team's passing attack.
But other than that, Denver was horrible across the board last season, ranking 26th in rushing yards, 25th in passing yards allowed, 31st in rushing yards allowed and dead last in both total yards (390.8) and points allowed (29.4).
In other words, the Broncos couldn't run the ball, stop the run or stop the pass, and Broncos fans couldn't bear to watch their team stink up the field week in and week out.
Still, they went out there and supported their Broncos even when they were giving up 59 points to the Oakland Raiders.
Anyone in Denver need a beer?
4. Carolina Panthers
7 of 10
Let's review exactly what the Carolina Panthers achieved in 2010.
On defense, they ranked 23rd against the run, giving up 123.8 yards per game, and they were 26th in scoring, allowing 25.5 points per game.
On offense, the Panthers officially decided to be as terrible as possible at all times.
They ranked dead last in passing yards (143.1 per game), total yards (258.4 per game) and scoring (12.2 points per game), and they won just two games.
It doesn't matter if Carolina has the worst fans ever (which they don't). No fanbase should ever have to sit through a season like that.
3. Houston Texans
8 of 10
I wouldn't describe the Houston Texans as a bad team—they're talented and entertaining to watch.
But a disappointing team? You betcha.
Especially in recent seasons, the Texans seem to have high preseason expectations every year.
Then they fall flat.
Houston, a popular pick to win the AFC South in 2010, went just 6-10, which was just the latest blow to the organization's morale.
The Texans still have just one winning season, they have never been to the playoffs and they are stuck in a crowded division that still features Peyton Manning.
If there's one thing the Texans fans deserve, it's for Matt Schaub, Arian Foster and Andre Johnson to bring the franchise its first ever division title in 2011.
2. Cincinnati Bengals
9 of 10
The Cincinnati Bengals organization has been a mess over the last year or so.
They united Batman (Terrell Owens) and Robin (Chad Ochocinco) in black and orange as a tandem that had its moments but was really, all in all, a failed experiment.
Now, Owens is gone, Ochocinco could very well be on his way out as well and Carson Palmer is actually threatening to retire rather than play for the team.
I mean, given the amount of money Palmer is making, you know things have to be bad in Cincinnati for him to actually want to call it quits.
That organization wreaks of chaos and confusion like Charlie Sheen wreaks of booze and cigarettes.
And, at the very least, Bengals fans deserve some stability, support and structure.
That's not too much to ask, is it?
1. Cleveland Browns
10 of 10
Ever since then-team owner Art Modell moved the original Cleveland Browns to Baltimore, where they became the Ravens, the city of Cleveland has been through quite a lot.
The gist: Consistent failures by the Indians, LeBron James' "Decision" and now years of poor performance from the reincarnation of the Browns.
Cleveland has won a total of 14 games since the 2008 offseason, with one season at 4-12 (2008) and the last two at 5-11.
In fact, excluding the miraculous 2007 season, the Browns haven't won more than six games since 2002, which was before I had my first beer or even had a driver's license.
You have to shed a tear or two for Browns fans, who are among the most loyal fans not just in football, but in all of sports, yet they have cheered on a losing team for most of the millenium.
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