NFL Power Rankings: Which Team Is Absolute Worst in the League?

After four weeks, power rankings become easier to craft but only marginally so. While a small number of teams have distinguished themselves as the league's best and a majority sit with similar records and more questions than answers in the middle of the pack, the bottom of the NFL is rather hard to put into order.

Three teams sit at 0-4 (and one, the Indianapolis Colts are at 0-3 and play tonight against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers), but there are a number of others at 1-3 who look worse, overall, than some of the winless squads. Surprising as it may sound, but the NFL's worst team has changed hands more than once so far this season.

And a new team has just won the dubious honor of 32nd in the league (or 30th, as of now, for I've not yet ranked the Bucs and Colts)—the 0-4 St. Louis Rams.

The Rams went into Week 4 as the worst defense in the NFL, and their offense, while better statistically, benefited only from teams being worse than them and not because of some team achievement. After this week's 17-10 mess of a loss to the Washington Redskins, the stats will probably match up with my (less-scientific) ratings, tossing the Rams in dead last in practically every category.

St. Louis cannot properly utilize running back Steven Jackson, because they're never in a comfortable enough position (i.e. leading a game) to rely on the run. The passing game isn't any better, with quarterback Sam Bradford with little time to make plays and no receivers getting separation from defenders to make his job a bit easier.

Their defense cannot stop the run, allowing Redskins No. 3 back Ryan Torain a shocking 135 yards on 19 carries. The team's only saving grace, the secondary, stepped up against Washington on Sunday but has been a liability in weeks past.

All in all, the Rams have done just enough to take the title of worst in the NFL, at least for this week. But, considering their upcoming schedule, only next week—the team's bye—might be one of the few times they exit a week without a loss.

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

*Unranked: Indianapolis Colts, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (playing Monday night)