NFL Power Rankings Week 10: Identifying the Most Disappointing Teams

Just because a team has a disappointing season doesn't mean that all hope is lost. You never know what the momentum built toward the final stretch can do leading into the offseason and following season.

The following three teams have been disappointments in 2011, but the playoffs are still alive for two of the three.

San Diego Chargers (4-4)

We could say that San Diego got off to a fast start by going 4-1 through five games. But, none of the wins were impressive, nor were they indicative of the Chargers being the vastly superior team.

Since then, the Bolts have dropped three straight and have been the very definition of underachieving. They barely overcame their supposedly weaker opponents, and they haven't flipped the switch and matched superior teams for 60 minutes.

All that said, San Diego still has a shot at the playoffs because the AFC West is completely abysmal. So, no need to pout just yet, Charger fans, but hitting the panic button is a feasible decision.

Philadelphia Eagles (3-5)

After Monday's loss at home to Chicago, we learned that Philadelphia is nothing but an average team at best. Their three wins have come against teams with a combined record of 8-16, with Dallas (4-4) being their best victory.

The paper champions aren't living up to the hype, and perhaps we're also not giving enough credit to the Chicago Bears. In any event, the postseason is by no means gone just yet.

Philly has the current tiebreaker over Dallas, and we know how inconsistent the Cowboys can be. And the Giants have arguably the most difficult schedule remaining, so their road doesn't get any easier. Thus, the City of Brotherly Love can breathe a sigh of relief, but tension still fills the air.

Arizona Cardinals (2-6)

The Cardinals have been a disappointment because they do have a few players worth noting other than wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald.

Unfortunately, tight end Todd Heap has been dealing with injuries. Rookie cornerback Patrick Peterson has improved, and the defense also features defensive end Darnell Dockett and strong safety Adrian Wilson. Also, Arizona has lost four of their six games by four points or less.

In the weak NFC West, they are currently 1-1, but they still have two games remaining against the San Francisco 49ers, so 3-3 in the division seems inevitable at best.

That said, maybe the Cardinals will get another high draft pick and have even more hope for 2012, because 2011 is gonna be 5-11 at best.

Week 10 NFL Power Rankings (LW = Last Week's Rank)

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

Be sure to check out John on Bleacher Report. 

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