NFL Power Rankings: Which Teams Are Just Feasting Off Soft Schedules?

Several teams in the NFL have benefited from playing soft schedules so far in 2011, which isn't exactly a knock on those teams but a matter of fact.

In our Week 6 NFL Power Rankings, these teams are feasting off soft schedules:

2. Detroit Lions (5-0)

Again, this isn't a knock on the Lions, who have been the NFL's top story of 2011. They've been fantastic on both sides of the ball, and I'm not taking away anything from their 5-0 start. However, they've beaten two of the worst teams in the NFL in the Vikings (1-4) and Chiefs (2-3), and both the Bears (2-3) and Buccaneers (3-2) have looked like shells of their 11 and 10-win seasons, respectively, from 2010.  

6. San Diego Chargers (4-1)

No team in the NFL has benefited more from a weak schedule than the Chargers, who have beaten four teams that combined for a 4-15 record. The Vikings, Chiefs, Dolphins and Broncos make up a good chunk of the bottom portion of the NFL right now. The Chargers' one big game on the schedule resulted in a loss in New England. They'll get tested in the coming weeks, as the Chargers take on the Jets in New York before hosting the Packers in Week 9. 

8. San Francisco 49ers (4-1)

Like I said with the Lions, this isn't to take away from the 49ers start. Jim Harbaugh has turned that team and its mindset around faster than anyone could have imagined, especially with a lockout thrown in there this past offseason. Still, the 49ers have beaten four teams that combined for a record below .500, and they couldn't close out the biggest game on their schedule against the Dallas Cowboys. The 49ers will get a huge test this weekend when they travel to Detroit to take on the undefeated Lions. 

12. Washington Redskins (3-1)

The Redskins benefited from an injury-plagued Giants team in Week 1, then beat doormats in the Cardinals and Rams to get to 3-1 after a loss sandwiched in between to the Cowboys. Washington's next two opponents—the Eagles and Panthers—combine for a record of 2-8. The Redskins are atop the NFC East, but they've really been helped by a soft early schedule.

Full Week 6 Power Rankings

1. Green Bay Packers (5-0)	17. New York Jets (2-3)
2. Detroit Lions (5-0)	18. Atlanta Falcons (2-3)
3. New Orleans Saints (4-1)	19. Chicago Bears (2-3)
4. New England Patriots (4-1)	20. Cincinnati Bengals (3-2)
5. Baltimore Ravens (3-1)	21. Philadelphia Eagles (1-4)
6. San Diego Chargers (4-1)	22. Cleveland Browns (2-2)
7. Buffalo Bills (4-1)	23. Seattle Seahawks (2-3)
8. San Francisco 49ers (4-1)	24. Carolina Panthers (1-4)
9. Houston Texans (3-2)	25. Kansas City Chiefs (2-3)
10. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2)	26. Minnesota Vikings (1-4)
11. Oakland Raiders (3-2)	27. Denver Broncos (1-4)
12. Washington Redskins (3-1)	28. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-4)
13. Dallas Cowboys (2-2)	29. Arizona Cardinals (1-4)
14. New York Giants (3-2)	30. Miami Dolphins (0-4)
15. Tennessee Titans (3-2)	31. Indianapolis Colts (0-5)
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2)	32. St. Louis Rams (0-4)