NFL Power Rankings 2011: Which Teams Are Not As Good As Their Record?

Being a fan of this type of team is what can be the ultimate fall from grace.

We see it every year, and although the actual evidence is not supported until the postseason, a team not being as good as their indicated record is devastating.

It gives the feeling of hope, but after the disappointment that occurs once the season is over, those feelings are now referred to as a “false hope.”

Here are three teams who are not as good as their records indicate.

 

Tennessee Titans

Sure, they beat the Baltimore Ravens, but after that the Titans barely managed to fend off the Denver Broncos, one of the worst teams in the league.

Their other win came against the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have dropped two straight and have averaged less than ten points per game.

This week the Tennessee Titans travel to Cleveland (2-1) who is also not as good as their indicated record (more on them later), and a loss here would really mix up their identity.

Although winning in Cleveland is a must, it wouldn’t be much of a boost (just ask the Cincinnati Bengals).

In Week 4 the Titans have more to lose than to gain, but it’s much better to remain stagnant than to fall backward.

Also, RB Chris Johnson has been significantly underperforming, which doesn’t bode well as the season continues.

 

Cleveland Browns

After losing their home opener to the Cincinnati Bengals, the Cleveland Browns have two straight wins over the Indianapolis Colts and Miami Dolphins.

Both of which have a combined record of 0-6.

Cleveland needs to win against Tennessee to prevent from being set back a few steps.

That being said, Cleveland’s home win over Miami was slightly more impressive than Tennessee’s over Denver just because the Browns were without their best player, RB Peyton Hillis.

Until the Dawg Pound can literally pound on teams and really make a statement, they’re going to remain behind Pittsburgh and Baltimore in the AFC North, as well as the bottom of the AFC.

Cleveland has a lot of potential and it’s slowly coming together. However, they’re not going to be better than their record indicates unless they keep winning.

Because as we all know, winning solves everything.

San Francisco 49ers

The two wins came over the Seattle Seahawks and Cincinnati Bengals; the loss was to the Dallas Cowboys, who came back after the 49ers held leads of 14-0 and 24-14.

It is evident the new head coach Jim Harbaugh has The Bay Area headed back in the correct direction. However, more is needed to really say that San Fran is back atop the NFC West.

The road win in Cincy was clutch, but then again it’s the “Bungles,” one of the league’s worst teams.

This week the 49ers travel across the country once again, but go a little further east than Cincinnati and play the 1-2 Philadelphia Eagles.

Although the Eagles are banged up, if San Fran can win this game on the road then they are that much more legit.

Yes, Philly has been underperforming, but they’re still a much better team than Cincinnati or Seattle.

The 49ers are on the cusp of becoming a solid team in 2011, but they have to win against a team that’s supposed to be better than them.

They had that chance against Dallas and squandered it off, so for the sake of ‘Niners fans, let’s hope the current 2-1 record isn’t a false hope waiting to happen.

Week 4 Power Rankings (LW = last week's rank.) (Teams with * is Monday Night Game)

1. Green Bay Packers (3-0) (LW 1)	17. *Washington Redskins (2-0) (LW 17)
2. New Orleans Saints (2-1) (LW 4)	18. Oakland Raiders (2-1) (LW 22)
3. Baltimore Ravens (2-1) (LW 7)	19. Carolina Panthers (1-2) (LW 23)
4. Houston Texans (2-1) (LW 5)	20. Tennessee Titans (2-1) (LW 19)
5. Detroit Lions (3-0) (LW 10)	21. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-2) (LW 18)
6. Buffalo Bills (3-0) (LW 16)	22. San Francisco 49ers (2-1) (LW 26)
7. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1) (LW 8)	23. Cleveland Browns (2-1) (LW 29)
8. New England Patriots (2-1) (LW 2)	24. Seattle Seahawks (1-2) (LW 24)
9. New York Giants (2-1) (LW 13)	25. Arizona Cardinals (1-2) (LW 20)
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1) (LW 14)	26. Indianapolis Colts (0-3) (LW 31)
11. San Diego Chargers (2-1) (LW 11)	27. St. Louis Rams (0-3) (LW 21)
12. New York Jets (2-1) (LW 3)	28. Minnesota Vikings (0-3) (LW 25)
13. Chicago Bears (1-2) (LW 12)	29. Miami Dolphins (0-3) (LW 24)
14. Atlanta Falcons (1-2) (LW 9)	30. Denver Broncos (1-2) (LW 27)
15. *Dallas Cowboys (1-1) (LW 15)	31. Cincinnati Bengals (1-2) (LW 28
16. Philadelphia Eagles (1-2) (LW 6)	32. Kansas City Chiefs (0-3) (LW 30)

Be sure to check out John on Bleacher Report.

And you can follow him on Twitter @ Sportswriter27.