One Word to Describe Each NFL Team

Over the past 20 years, the ideal word to characterize the NFL as a whole would be "parity."

That's been no different in the first four weeks of the 2011 regular season, as we've witnessed resident cellar-dwellers such as the Detroit Lions, Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers have impressive starts.

On the flip side, supposed contenders like the Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons and Pittsburgh Steelers have played below the level of August's expectations.

While many can put together numerous words in explaining each team's opening quarter of the season, this list uses just one.

Break out the thesaurus.

Arizona Cardinals: Unfortunate

Arizona's three defeats have come by a combined seven points.

This is not a great team by no means, but a few breaks—namely the botched call in Sunday's loss to New York—could have bolstered its chances to have at least a .500 record.

Quarterback Kevin Kolb has decent passing numbers in his first year with the Cards. Running back Beanie Wells, averaging 107 yards rushing per game, is having his best season.

Atlanta Falcons: Stagnant

With the exception of a fourth-quarter rally to defeat Philadelphia in Week 2, the Falcons are not the team we saw last year.

Atlanta hasn't done much to impress since obtaining the NFC's best record in 2010. The Green Bay Packers whipped Matt Ryan and company in the Divisional playoff and left them in a state of mediocrity that they have yet to fully emerge from. 

The Falcons get their chance to re-establish themselves as a conference power, and to get some revenge, when they host Green Bay in the Georgia Dome this Sunday night.

Baltimore Ravens: Punishing

The Ravens defense unleashed some pain on the New York Jets' Mark Sanchez, forcing him to fumble three times last Sunday. Two of those cough-ups were returned for touchdowns. Sanchez also threw an interception that was taken back 73 yards for six points by Baltimore's Ladarius Webb.

As for the offense, running back Ray Rice has the ability to wear the opposition down and Joe Flacco has shown signs of being a quarterback that can air it out.

More consistency from the QB will make the Ravens a nightmare for anyone to face.

Buffalo Bills: Resurgent

The Bills' were on top of the world with their three straight wins to open the season, including a thrilling triumph over the New England Patriots in Orchard Park.

Then, they were brought back to Earth by the Cincinnati Bengals last week in a classic letdown game.

This could be a sign of things to come or it could be just a hiccup in what is a revival in upstate New York.

Carolina Panthers: Hopeful

Aside from the 1-3 start, what's not to like about the Panthers right now?

The story has been top draft pick Cam Newton, who set rookie passing records in his first start and has played much better in his first pro season that anyone could have imagined.

Carolina isn't winning many games, but they now have a quarterback that will climb the ladder of the NFL's elite in short order.

Chicago Bears: Grounded

Who kidnapped Mike Martz and put in this offensive game plan?

Running back Matt Forte ran wild for 205 yards against the Carolina Panthers in a 34-29 Bears victory in Week 4. Quarterback Jay Cutler, meanwhile, had just 17 pass attempts.

For an offensive coordinator like Martz that relishes the aerial attack, this mindset is a surprising—and welcome—alteration from what they had before.

Cutler was simply getting pounded by defenders in the many times he dropped back to throw. Leaning more on a running game vice pass protection may be the way to go if the Bears want to remain productive.

Cincinnati Bengals: Refreshing

Quite simply, the Bengals were a complete mess in the offseason.

Those initial fears of a disastrous 2011 have been put aside with the aid of rookie Andy Dalton. The TCU product still has room to grow (four TDs, four INTs), but he's been able to manage the Cincinnati offense to a win over previously unbeaten Buffalo.

The Bengals likely won't break the .500 barrier, but with Dalton and other young players, it doesn't appear as if they will be a push-over.

Cleveland Browns: Insufficient

Colt McCoy's 40 completions and 350 passing yards appear good on the surface. However, this came on a whopping 61 attempts and most of the yardage when his Browns was well behind in a 31-13 defeat at the hands of the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.

Cleveland has scratched out a pair of victories in the young season, but those came against two winless clubs (Indianapolis and Miami). It's easy to see that the Browns were able to take advantage of weak opponents. What lies ahead is a rough stretch that will be the ultimate barometer for Cleveland's hopes for improvement.

Dallas Cowboys: Topsy-Turvy

The Cowboys are an exciting ride in Jerry's World.

A roller-coaster of emotion has traveled from the lows of the collapses against the Jets and Lions to the highs of victories over the Redskins and Niners.

Tony Romo has been in the spotlight for each game: over-praised when he pulls his team's feet out of the fire and over-criticized when he stumbles down the stretch.

Where this ride ends is anybody's guess.

Detroit Lions: Ascending

With each passing victory—eight straight dating back to the 2010 campaign—you begin to believe that the Lions are here to stay.

Detroit possesses arguably the best young talent in the NFL, led by the passing combination of QB Matthew Stafford and WR Calvin Johnson. But it's hard to forget the imposing figure of DT Ndamukong Suh, who will have some help when rookie Nick Fairly joins him on the defensive line.

Nobody is taking the unbeaten Lions lightly anymore.

Denver Broncos: Porous

If you took away Von Miller's production, how bad would the Denver defense be?

The No. 2 overall pick in this year's draft has four sacks and two forced fumbles. Unfortunately, that hasn't completely helped a defense that has allowed 275 passing yards per game and yielded a bushel of points to the Packers in Week 4. 

On offense, they have struggled to run the ball (26th in the NFL). Kyle Orton hasn't been able to save a team that is sitting at 1-3 and may be thinking about fulfilling the fans wishes of a quarterback change.

Green Bay Packers: Omnipotent

Green Bay's offense hasn't missed a beat since last year's Super Bowl run. There aren't many quarterbacks better right now than Aaron Rodgers. He accounted for six touchdowns in the Packers' rout of the Denver Broncos last Sunday.

With wide out Greg Jennings and a now-healthy Jermichael Finley at Rodgers' disposal, Green Bay will be hard to stop.

The defense looked a bit shaky in the match-ups with New Orleans and Carolina, but was improved in a Week 3 win over the Bears.

Houston Texans: Imminent

The door is wide open for the Texans to walk into the franchise's first playoff berth. With Peyton Manning out and the Colts reeling, Houston appears poised to change the balance of power in the AFC South.

It was common knowledge that Matt Schaub and a healthy Andre Johnson form one of the best passing combos. But the emergence of Ben Tate has helped add another quality horse in the running back stable. 

The move of Mario Williams to linebacker (four sacks, one INT, one forced fumble) appears to be a wise one by defensive coordinator Wade Phillips.

Indianapolis Colts: Exposed

Is it possible that Peyton Manning can win the league's Most Valuable Player award without having taken a snap?

If so, this would be the year. Minus No. 18 running the offense, the Colts are being run over by opponents.

Neither Kerry Collins, nor Curtis Painter can even come close to replacing Manning's leadership and Hall of Fame ability.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Stalled

With Luke McCown's faltering in the season's second game, rookie Blaine Gabbert was thrown into the fire as the Jaguars' starting quarterback.

This change has yet to create a spark on offense, as Jacksonville ranks at the bottom of nearly every offensive category and have suffered through a three-game losing streak.

Even as the weather turns colder, head coach Jack Del Rio's seat is getting warmer.

Kansas City Chiefs: Turbulent

The argument on the sidelines Sunday between head coach Todd Haley and quarterback Matt Cassel symbolized the emotion from the organization as well as the fan base.

Despite making the postseason in 2010, Haley isn't on steady ground in K.C. Yes, he has lost two key components to his team, but the loyal and passionate Chiefs supporters apparently have short memories.

The Chiefs were fortunate in that they got to play the Minnesota Vikings last week—a team that's just as sorry as they are. There won't be many more chances like that this year.

Miami Dolphins: Gloomy

This word is the perfect description for Tony Sparano's future with the club. 

Miami's current head coach may not hold that title for much longer, as owner Stephen Ross gave him the dreaded "vote of confidence" earlier this week.

With Chad Henne on injured reserve, the Dolphins are in the running for Andrew Luck in next year's draft. That's the only glimmer of hope in an otherwise dreary season.

Minnesota Vikings: Sinking

Three second-half leads squandered and a loss to undermanned Kansas City have resulted in numerous questions surrounding Leslie Frazier and his Minnesota Vikings.

Chief among them is the potential replacement of starting quarterback Donovan McNabb.

If things get even more hopeless for the winless Vikes, it's a certainty that Christian Ponder will become first-string QB to provide the uneasy fan base with a look at the future. 

New England Patriots: Venerable

It's unwise to count out Bill Belichick and Tom Brady.

The Patriots loss to the Bills in Week 3 puts a chink in their armor, but in no way fully destroyed them.

New England, always stronger after a setback, went on the road to trounce the Oakland Raiders with their outstanding passing combination of Brady and Wes Welker—who has 40 catches and 616 receiving yards.

New Orleans Saints: Dynamic

In a league that puts more and more emphasis on offense, the Saints thrive.

Drew Brees has continues to operate with little error. New Orleans ranks second in the NFL in terms of passing (335 yards per game) and 10th in rushing (119 yard average).

When the defense makes plays, as they did in the title-winning season of 2009, the Saints become lethal. They were opportunistic last Sunday against the Jaguars, intercepting Blaine Gabbert in the fourth quarter to put a halt to Jacksonville's comeback hopes.

New York Giants: Resilient

Having overcome numerous injuries to key players on both offense and defense, the Giants still have managed to put up a 3-1 mark through the first quarter of the season.

Granted, they were the beneficiary of a blown call last Sunday against the Cardinals. Despite that, Eli Manning has not received enough praise for the job he's done in helping improve the New York offense to wins in Philadelphia and Arizona.

The Giants have put themselves in the thick of the NFC East race, but we'll see if they can keep it going with their depleted lineup.

New York Jets: Artificial

The Jets can talk a mean game, but can't always play one.

Rex Ryan has constantly guaranteed Super Bowl success, but they've fallen short of the sport's biggest game in each of the past two seasons.

This version seems to lack growth and improvement on offense combined with an inability to rush the passer. At 2-2, the New York players and coaches should close their mouths and concentrate on fixing their on-field play.

Oakland Raiders: Adequate

For the better part of the past decade, many Raider fans watched their team reach new lows.

The 2010 season saw a slight revival. Oakland won all six of its divisional contests and finished 8-8.

A backfield duo of Darren McFadden and Michael Bush have given the franchise some hope, but they lack the consistency to contend.

Philadelphia Eagles: Incoherent

The team at the bottom of the NFC East leads the list of the biggest disappointments up to this point.

It's quite apparent that the several offseason acquisitions the Eagles made have yet to mesh. On top of that, the weaknesses placed upon this club prior to September have been highlighted in just four games. 

Philly's defense has had severe difficulty limiting the run. The offensive line, meanwhile, has not protected Michael Vick to the point where he can avoid injury.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Decelerating

Pittsburgh seemingly got slower overnight.

The AFC representatives in Super Bowl XLV ranked first against the run last season. In 2011, the 2-2 Steelers are ranked 22nd in that category. Week 1 saw Ray Rice and the Ravens rush for 180 yards. Last game, Houston accumulated 170 yards on the ground.

It doesn't help that the offensive line is doing its best to get Ben Roethlisberger injured.

San Diego Chargers: Accelerating

The annual slow-starters of the league, San Diego is off and running at 3-1 even though we've yet to see Philip Rivers at the top of his game. 

The best news for Norv Turner's club is that the Chargers have flown under-the-radar. Normally, they are tabbed as preseason favorites and the pressure is on them from the get-go.

In 2011, the Bolts have lacked the annual hype and, in turn, may benefit from that over the long haul.

San Francisco 49ers: Eye-Opening

One of the more pleasant surprises in the NFL thus far, the 49ers have won consecutive road games (Cincinnati and Philadelphia) to move to 3-1 and atop the NFC West.

They are carried by a solid rushing defense, holding opponents to just 74 yards per game on the ground.

But the biggest impact may be their new head coach, Jim Harbaugh. It's apparent this team is feeding off of his energy.

Seattle Seahawks: Incapacitated

The defending NFC West champs are more of what they were when they won a mediocre division in 2010.

Tarvaris Jackson has been sub-par as the offense ranks last in the league. Marshawn Lynch's lack of production (141 total rushing yards) is another reason why.

Although they've shown some fight in previous matchups, it seems as if the Seahawks don't lack the punch to be a genuine playoff club.

St. Louis Rams: Regressing

Weren't the Rams supposed to be a team that would improve in their second year with Sam Bradford at quarterback?

Instead of progression, St. Louis appears to be anemic in every aspect imaginable.

Bradford hasn't been sharp. But when he is on-target, his receivers have severe difficulty holding on to the ball.

They also have major problems stopping the run, as they have allowed 179.8 yards per game on the ground in their four losses.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Unproven

The Buccaneers and quarterback Josh Freeman never seem to win with much flare. The team's young signal-caller, who had engineered many late-game triumphs, has come through when necessary.

Tampa took advantage of a struggling Atlanta Falcons club to notch a key divisional victory and followed that up with a mediocre effort to beat the 0-4 Colts.

The real test will be if they can challenge—and topple—the powerful New Orleans Saints later in the season.

Tennessee Titans: Regeneration

Matt Hasselbeck appeared he was past his prime after getting rocked in his final few years in Seattle.

But as of Week 4, he is now the fourth highest-rated quarterback with the help of a rock-solid offensive line that has given him plenty of time to throw.

Those two elements have been key in Tennessee's three victories in its first three games.

Washington Redskins: Deceiving

Rex Grossman and the Redskins offense struggled to put away the winless Rams in a game they should have won by at least four touchdowns.

In fact, Washington hasn't faced many tough tests yet on the schedule en rote to a 3-1 start. That will change over the course of the next month.

The side of the ball that hasn't struggled is the defense, which features a fantastic set of young pass rushers in Ryan Kerrigan and Brian Orakpo. Their ability to limit opposing offenses can carry the Redskins above respectability.

Outside the Pocket Podcast

Have a listen to the Outside the Pocket podcast with myself and Thomas Emerick. In this latest episode, we preview Week 5's important match-ups, including the Eagles and Bills as well as the Jets and Patriots.