NFL Power Rankings: Teams That Will Continue To Trend in the Wrong Direction

Over the course of a 16-game season, nearly every NFL team has its peaks and valleys. While some teams are able to rebound from rough patches, others are never able to recover. That is one of the main things that separates a team that makes the playoffs from one that misses them.

Several teams are currently in a bit of a slide and could certainly use a big win to get back on track. Here are three teams that won't be so lucky, though, and will continue in their losing ways.

Seattle Seahawks

I never considered the Seattle Seahawks to be a particularly good team, but I was forced to take notice when they upended the New York Giants on the road a few weeks ago. Things haven't gone so well since then, however, as the Seahawks currently hold a record of 2-5.

Offensively Seattle isn't going to scare anyone with Tarvaris Jackson at quarterback, and while they are underrated defensively, you can't win games if you can't score. That could definitely be an issue this week as the Seahawks face the 3-4 Dallas Cowboys.

The Cowboys will be desperate for a win after being lambasted by the Philadelphia Eagles last week, and are likely to take out their frustrations on the Seahawks. Provided Dallas can put some points on the board, and I think it will, Seattle doesn't stand much of a chance on the road.

Washington Redskins

After a 3-1 start, the Washington Redskins were one of the league's bigger surprises and were in first place in the NFC East. The 'Skins have lost three games in succession, however, and are in serious danger of dropping out of the divisional race completely.

Injuries have mounted for the Redskins, particularly on offense where running back Tim Hightower and wide receiver Santana Moss are out long term. With those injuries and John Beck under center, Washington lacks explosiveness and it showed when they were shut out 23-0 by the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.

The Redskins will be at home this weekend, but they will be hosting the 6-1 San Francisco 49ers. Considering how well the Niners' defense has played and how awful Washington's offense has looked, this one could get ugly. If 49ers running back Frank Gore keeps up his torrid pace, then San Fran should have an easy victory.

San Diego Chargers

The San Diego Chargers seemed well on their way to avoiding the slow start that has plagued them over the past few seasons, but after a 4-1 start, they are now 4-3 and in a three-way tie for first place in the AFC West with the Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders.

San Diego has let consecutive games slip away in back-to-back weeks against the Chiefs and the  New York Jets and are starting to resemble the Dallas Cowboys in their affinity for giving games away. The Chargers need a win to right the ship, but it will have to come against the undefeated Green Bay Packers.

The Packers have looked unstoppable for much of the season, and while San Diego's defense has played pretty well, quarterback Aaron Rodgers can essentially throw on anybody. On offense, Philip Rivers has really struggled with turning the ball over, and that is a terrible issue to have against the ball-hawking Packer secondary. A win would be huge for the Bolts, but another loss seems much more likely.

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