2011 NFL Power Rankings: Ranking The League's Best Offenses, Defenses

In order to make it to the postseason and go deep in the playoffs, you have to be lucky, good or both.

Having a good defense to stop the opposition helps. If you are lucky, a strong running game to balance a passing attack is a nice thing to have.

Too bad the NFL is more evenly matched now than it has ever been. The likelihood of possessing all those ingredients is darn near next to impossible.

But try as they might, teams look for the right combination each week to make sure they are moving toward the common goal of the playoffs and the elusive Super Bowl ring.

The NFL is full of great players and tandems, maybe even groups that help define that greatness. There are the elite that stand above everyone else in their chase for immortality.

Ironically, most good offenses in this league (Patriots, Saints, Packers) are having trouble stopping their opponents this season and their best hope is to outscore them in bunches.

Welcome back to the 1984 Miami Dolphins. Here is a look at the best offenses and defenses in the NFL.

Offense: New England Patriots

There will come a time when Tom Brady looks to Wes Welker and thinks, "Man, I think my arm is about to fall off."

Welker and Brady are the standard in the AFC, so much so that Welker has already caught 40 passes in four games.

Brady had a subpar, below Brady standard game and New England still beat Oakland. The running game is unappreciated with BenJarvus Green-Ellis running the ball.

All Bill Bill Belichick does is look stern and firm about how he will get another win out of his team. Scary.

Offense: Green Bay Packers

What Aaron Rodgers did on Sunday against Denver is just obscene. And it looks like he can get better.

Rodgers has just as many weapons to work with as New Orleans and the Patriots. He is one of the three best quarterbacks in the league and has proven he can lead Green Bay back to another Super Bowl win.

Rodgers' best days are ahead of him.

Offense: New Orleans Saints

Drew Brees and company were held to under 30 points for the first time this season and he still threw for 351 yards against an improved Jaguars' defense.

Brees has been doing this sort of thing since he got to the Big Easy. And it seems to get easier for him each year.

This year, the team added Darren Sproles and rookie Mark Ingram while getting rid of Reggie Bush. Addition by subtraction.

Offense: Buffalo Bills

Even with the low output Sunday in the loss to Cincinnati, this is a high-powered offense.

Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has always been labeled a journeyman, but what a journey he is taking the Bills on right now.

They have weapons in Fred Jackson, David Nelson, C.J. Spiller and Stevie Johnson. Remember last year at this time when we were calling for Chan Gailey's head?

Offense: Philadelphia Eagles

How can you rank a team that is 1-3 on the season high on the offensive side? Well, let's start with Michael Vick. Then, let's look at DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin. Oh, and there is LeSean McCoy.

Pretty good start to an answer if you ask me. The team averages over 400 yards per contest. Hopefully, they will right the ship soon.

Offense: Detroit Lions

Matthew Stafford to Calvin Johnson could be the new Steve Young to Jerry Rice...seriously.

The Lions offense can only get better. And with Jahvid Best running the ball better and the Lions using their tight end more, this offense can grow together and be the best for years to come. No more cellar dwelling in Motown.

Offense: Houston Texans

This is where things get a little tricky.

There are three teams I am looking at: Houston, San Diego and Carolina. The Raiders are also on the outside looking in because their receivers are not as mature as the other three.

Houston gets the nod because Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson and the tandem of Ben Tate and Arian Foster is a better set of weapons than the other teams.

Carolina has Cam Newton but their running game has yet to get on track. Steve Smith, however has been a catching machine in this offense.

San Diego is good but the running game still needs to develop. Right now, take the Texans.

Defense: Cincinnati Bengals

While the Cincinnati front office deals with the problems of Carson Palmer, starting a rookie quarterback and Cedric Benson's off the field issues, the Bengals defense is ranked first in the league.

I'll give you a minute to let that sink in. You probably can't name five players that start on that defense.

Maybe that is good thing because once they are noticed, teams will make changes to their offense to challenge them more.

Defense: Baltimore Ravens

Even though Ray Lewis and Ed Reed are getting older, this team still brings the heat every weekend. They're a tough group of players that punish their opponents.

Sunday night, the defense and special teams rocked the New York Jets. This could be the team to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.

Defense: Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers are 2-2 on the season but second in the NFL in total defense. Isn't it weird that the three best defenses in the NFL come from the AFC North?

The Steelers play the same brand of smash mouth defense that they have for years.

While some of their key components are getting up there in years, players like Lawrence Timmons and LaMarr Woodley still bring it every week.

Defense: Tennessee Titans

When you are leading the league in points allowed with 14 per contest, it says something about your defense.

When the Tennessee Titans do it, it means they are moving toward being one of the better teams in the NFL.

If the defense continues to shut teams down while the Matt Hasselbeck-led offense continues to move forward, the Titans can make the playoffs.

Defense: Washington Redskins

They just keep chugging along. The Redskins did not allow a touchdown to the Cowboys (but lost) and then turned up the heat against the St. Louis Rams.

Mike Shanahan is doing something right in the nation's capital. The defense is giving up less than 16 points per contest so far this year.

Defense: Houston Texans

Part of the excitement in Texas is the Texans high-scoring offense. But Wade Phillips has this team playing some defense. Who knew?

The Texans are a better team defensively this year and Phillips may be the reason this team finally gets to the playoffs.

Defense: Detroit Lions

The Lions are doing it on the defensive side of the ball. They are giving up only 19 points per contest while the offense continues to get stronger.

The defensive rise and the offensive assertion led the comeback against the Cowboys. The question is, can they keep this going for 16 games?