NFL Power Rankings: Biggest Issues Keeping 3 Teams from Top-5 Glory

Like the hot chick at the bar that is missing one little thing keeping her from full on 10 status, these teams have just one thing holding them back from perfection.

The season is a lot longer than you think. We call the NFL a sprinting sport, but there is time for teams to work out the kins and make them as hot as any Super Bowl champion from seasons past. Just look at last year's Green Bay Packers.

The next few teams have what it takes to move past a mediocre start, but they need to solve the one pressing need that is keeping them from the lofty top-five placement they deserve.

1. Philadelphia Eagles

 The Eagles were unfortunate to have Michael Vick take a lick that may keep him from Week 3 action. If he is gone for longer than a week, you can count two things on the list of worries the Eagles have. 

For the time being, the Eagles need to concentrate on stopping the run. The Eagles give up an average of 148 yards on the ground, a figure that would be worse if Steven Jackson weren't hurt on an opening touchdown run in Week 1.  

2. Chicago Bears

A new season yields the same sort of issues for the monsters of the midway. A young offensive line can't keep out the pass rush, leaving Jay Cutler battered, bruised and a little woozy in Week 3. 

The Bears need to find maturity in a bottle. Or they could always take a breather from the vertical-happy Mike Martz offense. 

3. Baltimore Ravens

 With two games showing two completely different Ravens teams, it is hard to see what major issue will face Baltimore in 2011. 

On one hand, the secondary was lit up by Matt Hasselbeck in Week 2. But Joe Flacco was also to blame, throwing for an awful 51.2 passer rating. The line simply didn't give Flacco any time to be effective. Both Flacco and the O-line need to be better the rest of the way. 

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