NFL Power Rankings: Pittsburgh Steelers and 2 Contenders Slipping from Top 10

Gabe Zaldivar

Jun 7, 2018

It wasn't supposed to be like this.

It is very easy to slip into a comfort zone in the sports world. We become at ease with the current state of affairs amidst our favorite sports.

The Yankees will always spend money, the Cubs will always lose. The Lakers and Celtics will garner all the NBA headlines while the Knicks shout like a petulant child dying to be heard.

The NFL is not without its perennial story lines either. Only, there is something amiss as we head into the fourth week of the season.

Some of these teams are not holding up their end of the bargain.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers

For the last few years, the Steelers have been one of the most solid clubs in football. The vision of them steamrolling to the playoffs was in my head at the first kickoff of the season.

Instead, the Steelers have been, dare I say, soft. The offensive line has Ben Roethlisberger on the run and Rashard Mendenhall on the ground. This is not what I had in mind for them this year.

2. Chicago Bears

I lauded the Bears as a contender for the Super Bowl. I even chided the media for not giving the Bears the run they deserved.

Then the problems that faced them last year came back to haunt them to a 1-2 record. Jay Cutler is woozy and their run game is going nowhere.

3. Philadelphia Eagles

Is it too soon to ask where that dream team talk went? It didn't look good when the prized free agent signing, Nnamdi Asomugha, was punked by Victor Cruz on Sunday.

The Giants receiver stole a touchdown from the Pro Bowl corner. And the rest of the season has gone the same way. The Eagles are not quite the elite team we thought they were, and Vick is hurt. It is not yet time to panic, but I would keep it in the back of your mind.

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