NFL Power Rankings: The 10 Best Teams That Are Mired in Mediocrity

With four weeks completed in the 2011 NFL season, it is easy to see which teams are good, bad and average. But with so many 2-2 records at this point, it is especially hard to determine which mediocre teams are better than the others.

Here is a list that ranks 10 mediocre NFL teams from best to worst.

1. New York Jets (2-2)

It is “Super Bowl or bust” for the New York Jets in 2011, and right now it is starting to look like a bust. The 2-2 Jets could very easily be 1-3 if not for a fourth quarter collapse by the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1.

Rex Ryan’s team has been embarrassed during the last two games, first by the improved (but still mediocre) Oakland Raiders and then by the Baltimore Ravens. The boastful Jets may come apart at the seams if they cannot defeat the New England Patriots in Week 5.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-2)

The Pittsburgh Steelers are the oldest team in the NFL and they are starting to look like it. They were thrashed by the Baltimore Ravens on opening weekend before beating the hapless Seattle Seahawks and squeaking by Kerry Collins, Curtis Painter and the rest of the Indianapolis Colts

Their offense could do little against the Houston Texans and they fell to 2-2 on the year. A Week 5 matchup against the upstart Tennessee Titans will tell a great deal about how good the Steelers are.

3. Atlanta Falcons (2-2)

The Atlanta Falcons did not look like the 13-3 team from 2010 as they nearly blew a 20-point lead to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.

Quarterback Matt Ryan continues to play good enough to win each week, but Atlanta’s 24th-ranked pass defense has left the defense vulnerable.

4. Dallas Cowboys (2-2)

The Dallas Cowboys are perhaps the most enigmatic team in the NFL. They could just as easily be 4-0 as they could be 0-4, but instead they are 2-2.

Quarterback Tony Romo had an embarrassing meltdown against the Detroit Lions, throwing three interceptions as the Cowboys surrendered a 24-point lead in what became the biggest collapse in franchise history.

The Cowboys have always been a team that puts up big statistics with average results while Romo has been their quarterback. 2011 is looking like more of the same.

5. Philadelphia Eagles (1-3)

The Philadelphia Eagles have been the most disappointing team in the NFL by far. This season has been a disturbing reality for the self-anointed “Dream Team”, which blew a 20-point lead to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday for their third consecutive loss.

The season does not get much easier as they play the offensive-minded Buffalo Bills and the hard-hitting Washington Redskins in consecutive weeks. Quarterback Michael Vick seems to be getting hurt on a regular basis and the defense has had trouble stopping the run.

6. Chicago Bears (2-2)

The Chicago Bears are playing like the 2-2 team they are. They have beaten the teams they are supposed to (Atlanta and Carolina) while they have been thrashed by the New Orleans Saints and Green Bay Packers.

The Bears have not excelled in any particular offensive or defensive category this season, and their 29^th-ranked pass defense could be in trouble when they face the Detroit Lions in Week 5.

7. Oakland Raiders (2-2)

The Oakland Raiders are certainly a step up from the embarrassment they were two years ago, but they are still just an average team. Their rushing attack is the best in the NFL, but their defense leaves much to be desired.

8. Cincinnati Bengals (2-2)

It is a miracle that the Cincinnati Bengals are a .500 team at this point of the season.

Most expected them to be in the running for the top pick in the 2012 NFL Draft after losing quarterback Carson Palmer and top receivers Chad Johnson and Terrell Owens. They may still end up with that pick at the draft, but at the moment they are a pleasant surprise, even with a mediocre 2-2 record.

9. Cleveland Browns (2-2)

The rebuilding Cleveland Browns appear to be headed in the right direction, but they are still a mediocre team at best.

Quarterback Colt McCoy has no true receiving options beyond his tight ends, and the Browns have not been able to effectively run or stop the running game. Luckily for them, they have a manageable schedule.

10. Arizona Cardinals (1-3)

The Arizona Cardinals have had a chance to win in every game they have played in, but they have blown second-half leads to the Giants, Redskins and Seahawks to fall to 1-3.

Quarterback Kevin Kolb has played fine, while running back Beanie Wells appears to finally be turning the corner as the team’s premier back. But pass defense has been a problem for the Cardinals, who give up an average of 283 yards through the air each game.