NFL Power Rankings: Who Are the League's Worst Teams?

Through Week 6 of the NFL Season, the cream has already risen to the top while the terrible teams have found their way to the bottom.

It's not hard to find the bad teams but it's more difficult to determine who's worse. Some teams in the countdown have underachieved from not only high hopes but also from low expectations that haven't been met.

Just because a certain team is higher in the rankings doesn't mean that the franchise has less hope than another. Records aren't the end all factor in the rankings either.

These 11 teams in particular have stood out more than others in bad ways.

11. Seattle Seahawks

Pete Carrol has actually gathered together some castoffs like defensive end Chris Clemons to form a formidable unit on that side of the ball. Offensively, Seattle is focused on building up the line and starting from there.

The issue is that Tarvaris Jackson is taking snaps from center. In a quarterback league, Carrol will have more trouble trying to overcome the poor play at the most important position. If John Carlson didn't go down with a season-ending injury early, it would have been interesting to see how he and Zach Miller would have worked together.

If the Seahawks can find a future quarterback in the 2012 NFL Draft like Matt Barkley or Robert Griffin, the NFC West is there for the taking for years to come with apologies to Alex Smith.

10. Cleveland Browns

Like the Seahawks, the Browns make the list with two wins in 2011. Cleveland isn't terrible in any certain area, but that could very well be the team's main issue.

Mike Holmgren's organization isn't good enough to compete for the playoffs like many thought going into the season, but it isn't bad enough to get a top-flight quarterback like Andrew Luck. Colt McCoy hasn't shown enough to consider him as the team's long-term option at quarterback either.

Outside of Josh Cribbs, Cleveland doesn't have play makers in a league that thrives on them. With respect to Cribbs, he's not an elite player compared to the Devin Hesters of the game anyway.

The Cleveland Browns find themselves in the middle ground and that's a terrible place to be.

9. Carolina Panthers

The Panthers have played in close games against the Saints and Falcons, but it's time that Cam Newton add more impressive wins to his young resume rather than just good stats.

Statistically, the quarterback isn't even the best rookie at his position. Andy Dalton has more touchdowns than interceptions, something Newton cannot say, and his Bengals have three more wins.

Newton may be helping Carolina fans sit through another bad season but he's hurting the team. The factor hiding this is Jimmy Clausen's terrible 2010 performance so Newton doesn't have much to live up to.

Key Carolina defenders keep getting season-ending injuries and that's a huge thorn. With the offensive coordinator running the option, the ground game should be much better with Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams to help out their quarterback.

8. Arizona Cardinals

Arizona may have beaten Carolina in Week 1 in Scottsdale but I doubt that would happen if the two teams met now, based on how Kevin Kolb and the Cardinals have been playing.

Andy Reid's thought protege to Donovan McNabb isn't performing on a starter's level, retreating deep in the pocket even when pressure isn't present.

Many of the basics are needed for Arizona, like a consistent pass rush on the linebacker level of the defense. In addition, the entire offensive line needs to be built up. Unfortunately, things like the latter take a good amount of time.

7. Denver Broncos

The only thing definitive about the Broncos is that the team would make this list, but it's hard to determine where to place Denver because of not knowing how well Tim Tebow will perform.

Regardless of what Tebow shows against the Dolphins in Week 7 and beyond, John Elway needs to provide his future quarterback with threats that Elway did not have early in his career. It doesn't matter if the quarterback is Tebow or someone else.

Brandon Lloyd is gone, but he wasn't a speed guy to begin with. Assuming Tebow is the quarterback, fast players like what Tebow had in Florida with Percy Harvin are needed. The quarterback is well-equipped to run.

Elvis Dumervill and Von Miller give Denver a pass rush duo similar to what Indianapolis has had for years with Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis. That's a nice building block, but big bodies in the middle of the defensive line are needed to make up for what the two defensive ends lack in size.

6. Kansas City Chiefs

Losing Jamaal Charles probably takes three wins away from the 2011 Kansas City Chiefs.

With that said, Scott Pioli needs to give his franchise better options to work with on both sides of the ball. Much of the elite talent the Chiefs has was already on the roster before the Patriots' "mastermind," moved to Kansas City.

Dwayne Bowe is a good receiver, but Todd Haley needs a fast guy to play opposite of him.

Matt Cassel has already peaked while Haley's act is wearing thin despite making the playoffs just a year ago.

5. Minnesota Vikings

It's finally Christian Ponder's time to start, as the lifeless Donovan McNabb can lay down on the sidelines rather than in the end zone.

The offense isn't the only problem. Defensively, Leslie Frazier's unit is slower and older than the league calls for. Trading Jared Allen at his highest value could net the first-year coach some well-needed extra draft picks for the future.

Adrian Peterson hasn't stepped up when the Vikings have needed him. The running back isn't close to being the main issue but he needs to look more like the elite back he's supposed to be.

Hopefully for Frazier and Minneapolis' sake, they'll both be a part of the rebuilding.

4. Indianapolis Colts

Indianapolis gets the four spot because the team hasn't won games, let alone a game. The Colts are actually competitive, as it showed Sunday night against the Steelers in Week 3, but Curtis Painter isn't going to win close contests like a certain other quarterback would.

Jim Caldwell will have trouble keeping his job because Indianapolis will have issues beating bad teams. Colts players don't do the fundamentals well like running the ball and stopping the run.

The Colts can keep up with the "sexy" squads because the team gets after quarterbacks with Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, but Painter isn't good enough. 

3. St. Louis Rams

Don't expect Brandon Lloyd to mimic his 2010 season, but the veteran receiver who's in his contract year will put up better numbers than he would with Tim Tebow.

Despite now being coached by Josh McDaniels, Sam Bradford still needs to improve significantly in the red zone. It would help if the second-year pro had a stud tight end but the roster doesn't boast one. The front office needs to equip Bradford with a top target instead of believing in quantity over quality.

Hopefully Lloyd is that guy to help Bradford's game grow, but the offense needs more than one great target in McDaniels' scheme.

Steve Spaguoulo's defense needs to improve as well. Nndamukong Suh would have fit well with the Rams instead of Bradford, especially if St. Louis lands the number one pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. 

2. Miami Dolphins

The team that would thrive the most with Andrew Luck for the 2012 NFL season is the Miami Dolphins. It sounds hard to believe, but let's elaborate.

Miami has Jake Long to protect the team's next quarterback while Mike Pouncey was taken with the Dolphins' first-round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. The center and left tackle are any quarterback's best friend. 

If new management keeps Brandon Marshall, Luck would have an elite wide receiver to look for in addition to a pass catching running back in Reggie Bush. Miami should also look to add a receiving tight end because, while Anthony Fasano is a good blocker, he's too slow at this point in his career.

For the remainder of the season, don't expect Miami to find any "luck." The offense can't stay on the field long enough for the currently mediocre secondary to look decent.

1. Jacksonville Jaguars

Jacksonville beats out its AFC South rival and another Florida franchise for the worst team ranking. Why is it the Jaguars have the least amount of hope out of any NFL team when the franchise supposedly already selected its franchise quarterback?

Gabbert doesn't have good targets to look for in the passing game and Jack Del Rio's defense doesn't have anyone to get after opposing throwers. Aren't those the two main things in today's NFL?

It's a good thing that the Jaguars beat the Titans in Week 1 because there aren't going to be many more wins coming. When Indianapolis faces Jacksonville in Week 10, it may be for the No. 1 selection in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Would and should the Jaguars take Andrew Luck? Mortgaging the pick would provide Jacksonville with building blocks for the future, but the trade would only happen if Gabbert shows significant production for the remaining 10 games.