Biggest Strength and Weakness of All 32 NFL Teams

What makes the NFL so great is the balance of power is relatively even.

There is little margin between the best and the worst in the league.

Records aside, this parity can be shown in many ways, including the fact that none of the 32 clubs are flawless or completely flawed. Each team has its pluses as well as its areas that need improvement.

Arizona Cardinals

Strength: Playmakers

With two returns for touchdowns in consecutive weeks, Patrick Peterson has emerged as a dynamic and exciting young player. That was exhibited most in his 99-yard take-back of a punt to the end zone in the Cards' overtime win over St. Louis on Sunday. Wideout Larry Fitzgerald is among the league leaders in receiving yards.

Weakness: Quarterback

Arizona was much worse last year in this department. This year has not been that great of an improvement. Kevin Kolb, acquired in the offseason from Philadelphia, has thrown eight TDs and eight picks.

Atlanta Falcons

Strength: Rushing defense

Atlanta has yet to let an opposing ball-carrier gain 100 yards. The Eagles' LeSean McCoy totaled 95 in Week 2. Most others have been limited to an even greater extent.

Weakness: Passing offense

The fact that they were so good throwing the ball in 2010 makes this season look like a severe disappointment. Matt Ryan has shown signs of last year in recent weeks, but we've yet to see it in full.

Baltimore Ravens

Strength: Defense

It's no surprise that the opposition has trouble gaining yards and scoring points against the Ravens. With Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Terrell Suggs and Haloti Ngata, Baltimore ranks fifth against the pass and third against the rush.

Weakness: Offensive inconsistency

Yes, Joe Flacco's 92-yard drive to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday was impressive, yet it's been a mixture of highs and lows for the fourth-year QB and his offense. The Ravens were downright lousy against Jacksonville, and it took a whole half before waking up versus Arizona.

Buffalo Bills

Strength: Running back

Fred Jackson's talents can be seen in both his running game as well as his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield and create major gains. He is one touchdown short of his single-season career high.

Weakness: Passing defense

When the Bills aren't creating turnovers, they're usually giving up significant chunks of yardage. Buffalo's D has yielded 260.4 yards per game through the air.

Carolina Panthers

Strength: Quarterback development

In just eight games as a professional, Cam Newton has made the Panthers into a formidable and exciting defense. Carolina is ranked fifth in passing yards and eighth in rushing.

Weakness: Rushing defense

The Panthers allow opponents to gain 133.3 yards per contest on the ground. By far, the worst performance came when Matt Forte ran wild to the tune of 205 yards on Oct. 2 at Soldier Field.

Chicago Bears

Strength: Rushing offense

Matt Forte has really emerged over the course of the past two months as the Bears' top offensive threat. Sparing Jay Cutler from the pass rush, Forte has averaged 5.4 yards per carry.

Weakness: Passing defense

Chicago has been exposed in this part of the defense in four of the season's first seven games. It has also lacked a decent pass rush with just 16 sacks to its credit.

Cincinnati Bengals

Strength: Overcoming adversity

In the preseason, the Bengals were dealing with quarterback questions, running back issues and a head coach in turmoil. Cincinnati has moved past that to start 6-2. Its latest win, against the Titans, was the result of a 10-point comeback in the second half.

Weakness: Inexperience at QB

Andy Dalton will get plenty of votes for Offensive Rookie of the Year. What's more, Dalton has managed the Cincy offense like an experienced veteran. That said, we've yet to see what he'll do when he faces the likes of Pittsburgh.

Cleveland Browns

Strength: Passing defense

The Browns have allowed just 165.3 yards per game through the air. That's tops in the NFL. However, it has come against pedestrian competition.

Weakness: Quarterback development

It was expected that Colt McCoy would improve in his second year at the helm of the Cleveland offense. But the former Texas Longhorn hasn't made a step up. His 5.7 yards per attempt is second-worst among quarterbacks that have played in at least seven contests.

Dallas Cowboys

Strength: Defense

The Detroit and Philadelphia games aside, Dallas' defense has played to the potential that coordinator Rob Ryan said it would. The Cowboys' most recent shutdown job came when they stifled the Seattle Seahawks.

Weakness: Red-zone offense

In that same Seahawks contest, Tony Romo and the Cowboys offense were far too often settling for three deep in their opponent's territory when they should have gotten six. Statistically, Dallas scores a touchdown just 39 percent of the time it enters the red zone (second to last in the NFL).

Denver Broncos

Strength: Rushing offense

With 147.5 yards per game on the ground, the Broncos rank third in the NFL in this category. Willis McGahee has done his part, but so has Tim Tebow. Denver's newest starting quarterback went for 118 in the 38-24 victory over Oakland.

Weakness: Passing offense

Tebow is not the typical breed of quarterback. He's great at using his feet but still lacks proper skills as a drop-back signal-caller.

Detroit Lions

Strength: Passing offense

Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson are the hot young QB-WR tandem. Detroit's main man behind center has tossed 19 scores...and "Megatron" has been on the receiving end on 11 of those touchdown strikes.

Weakness: Rushing defense

The Lions possess an intimidating set of pass-rushers but struggle to halt the ground game. Opponents have averaged nearly 138 rushing yards.

Green Bay Packers

Strength: Quarterback

We're running out of superlatives in describing Aaron Rodgers' performance this season. The Packers signal-caller leads the league with 24 touchdown passes and boasts a completion percentage of 72.5.

Weakness: Passing defense

Green Bay yields 299.6 yards per game through the air, which ranks 31st in the NFL. Although the Packers have come up with some key interceptions, this is the one area they'll need to shore up if they want to assure themselves of another Super Bowl.

Houston Texans

Strength: Defense

Wade Phillips may have been the best addition to this Houston Texans club. The new defensive coordinator has guided a group that is ranked second against the pass and fourth-best versus the run.

Weakness: Passing offense

Without Andre Johnson, the air attack has gone rather stagnant. The good news for Houston is that it hasn't had much effect thanks to a powerful rushing duo.

Indianapolis Colts

Strength: Pat Angerer

The second-year linebacker out of the University of Iowa leads the NFL in tackles with 98. He recorded 15 against Kansas City in early October.

Weakness: Everything else

You name it, the Colts stink at it. Jim Caldwell's club is struggling to simply win a game.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Strength: Passing defense

Led by Dwight Lowry's two interceptions, the Jags are eighth in passing yardage allowed. Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Houston all had their troubles throwing the ball against Jacksonville.

Weakness: Quarterback development

Blaine Gabbert is too raw talent-wise to be a consistent NFL QB. He is incredibly inaccurate, including a 10-of-30 showing against the Texans.

Kansas City Chiefs

Strength: Rushing offense

Even without Jamaal Charles, Kansas City has maintained a solid ground game. Jackie Battle and Dexter McCluster have averaged 4.4 yards per attempt.

Weakness: Inconsistency

The Chiefs looked like one of the league's worst teams by starting 0-3. They then rebounded with four straight victories. Then came a inexplicable 31-3 home loss to the previously winless Dolphins. It's perplexing for sure.

Miami Dolphins

Strength: Effort

At 0-7 and their head coach all but in lame-duck status, the Dolphins could have packed it in when they took on the Kansas City Chiefs. Tony Sparano's team had come close to notching that first "W." On Sunday at Arrowhead, they put it all together with a 31-3 blowout win.

Weakness: Pass protection

Even with a star like Jake Long on the Dolphins' offensive line, they've still been susceptible to letting opposing defenses get to their quarterback. In all, Miami signal-callers have been sacked 27 times (tied for third-most).

Minnesota Vikings

Strength: Rushing offense

Adrian Peterson had been his usual self with 798 yards and nine trips to pay dirt. That will do plenty to ease the burden on young quarterback Christian Ponder.

Weakness: Passing defense

The 30th-ranked club against the pass is a major reason why the Vikings are 2-6. Next up: Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. Best of luck, Minnesota.

New England Patriots

Strength: Experience

Regardless of the struggles they've endured lately, the Patriots possess the all-important combination of an elite coach and quarterback. With Bill Belichick and Tom Brady (and three rings each), New England always has a chance.

Weakness: Passing defense

On a weekly basis, the Pats secondary has been shredded with relative ease. New England is the NFL's worst when it comes to passing yardage allowed.

New Orleans Saints

Strength: Passing offense

Drew Brees continues to light up defenses with his arm. The Saints average 319.1 yards each time they take the field as Brees spreads the wealth to a bevy of receivers.

Weakness: Turnovers

While Brees can make plays, he can also make mistakes. That has been exaggerated this season with 11 interceptions.

New York Giants

Strength: Quarterback

"Elite" Eli proved his mettle on Sunday in in Foxborough. In the final seven minutes of the Giants' critical victory over the Patriots, Manning led the Giants on drives of 85 and 80 yards and threw touchdown passes to cap both scoring marches.

Weakness: Rushing offense

The duo of Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs has failed to produce staggering numbers so far this season. With Bradshaw now nursing a foot injury, that could hamper them even more.

New York Jets

Strength: Passing defense

As long as Darrelle Revis is standing on one side of the field for the green and white, the Jets are in good shape. New York played its best defensive game on Sunday against the Buffalo Bills, picking off two Ryan Fitzpatrick throws.

Weakness: Inconsistency

Mark Sanchez has had times where he's looked comfortable in the pocket and other times when he's flustered. The running game, notably Shonn Greene, hasn't given him a whole lot of help.

Oakland Raiders

Strength: Rushing offense

The combination of Darren McFadden and Michael Bush has totaled 947 run yards and seven touchdowns. Without the former in the Raiders' matchup with the Denver Broncos, Oakland could only muster 100 yards on the ground.

Weakness: Quarterback

When Jason Campbell got hurt, that threw off the Raiders offense. Kyle Boller was awful in a backup role. New acquisition Carson Palmer still appears rusty with six interceptions in six quarters as a member of the silver and black.

Philadelphia Eagles

Strength: Rushing offense

Who knew an Andy Reid-coached team would be potent in the ground game? LeSean McCoy gives good reason to run the football. McCoy ranks first in the league in terms of rushing yards per game, while Michael Vick's scrambling continues to keep opposing defenses off-balance.

Weakness: Rushing defense

The Eagles defense improved in this area against the Cowboys, but overall it has been a detrimental part of their club. Philly is ranked 17th overall in rushing defense.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Strength: Defense

Dick LeBeau has once again built another stout defense. Many called them slow when they lost a couple early-season contests. Those critics were all but silent when they shut down the New England Patriots.

Weakness: Rushing offense

For a team that has prided itself on its black-and-blue attitude, the Steelers have been more pitch-and-catch. Pittsburgh's three running backs have combined to average 110 yards per game, which is 19th in the NFL.

San Diego Chargers

Strength: Receivers

Vincent Jackson may be worth keeping. He has six touchdowns on the season. Three of those came on Sunday in a dazzling performance against the Packers in which he had seven catches for 141 yards. The Chargers also welcomed back a healthy Antonio Gates in Week 7.

Weakness: Inconsistency

After a 4-1 start, the Chargers are 4-4. Philip Rivers was the league's best passer in 2010. In 2011, he leads the league in interceptions (14).

San Francisco 49ers

Strength: Rushing offense

Frank Gore has returned to the form he displayed a few years back. With superior blocking by his offensive line, Gore has rushed for at least 100 yards in each of the past five games. It's no coincidence that all of those resulted in Niner victories.

Weakness: Inexperience

This San Francisco club has never been in this position before, and that is especially true of the head coach. The 49ers are a lock to win the NFC West. How they play down the stretch will play a factor in how they fare in the postseason.

Seattle Seahawks

Strength: Chris Clemons

The Seattle defensive end has followed up a strong 2010 with an equally effective 2011. In eight games, Clemons has five sacks, 21 tackles and one forced fumble.

Weakness: Offense

Neither Tarvaris Jackson nor Charlie Whitehurst can quarterback Pete Carroll's team to success. The Seahawks rank 30th in rushing and 23rd in passing.

St. Louis Rams

Strength: Pass rush

In what has been an otherwise forgettable season, the Rams have a pair of defensive ends that can get to the quarterback with regularity. Chris Long has seven sacks so far this season, while Robert Quinn has recorded three.

Weakness: Rushing defense

With a 153.6-yard average, St. Louis is the NFL's worst team in terms of halting the opponent's run game. That is a major reason why it has allowed 211 points.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Strength: Pass protection

Josh Freeman has had plenty of time to find receivers. The Bucs offensive line has yielded just 11 sacks so far in 2011.

Weakness: Inconsistent offense

Freeman has done more negatives than what he produced in 2010. The same goes for wideout Mike Williams and running back LeGarrette Blount.

Tennessee Titans

Strength: Quarterback

The Titans can honestly say they are pleasantly surprised with how experienced QB Matt Hasselbeck has patrolled the offense. Tennessee would not have four wins so far if he were not under center.

Weakness: Chris Johnson

Mo' money does not equal many mo' yards for C.J. The former 2,000-yard back has averaged just 3.0 per carry and has found the end zone only once.

Washington Redskins

Strength: Defense

Jim Haslett's group has kept the Redskins in nearly every game. In most cases, they have been the primary factor in their three victories.

Weakness: Offense

There are no specifics here. Washington lacks talent on this side of the ball. Without Santana Moss and Tim Hightower, the Redskins appear anemic in the yard-producing category.