NFL Power Rankings: 3 Teams Stuck in a State of Freefall

The Washington Redskins, Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles are each suffering under the weight of disappointing seasons and multi-game losing streaks with little end in sight, and their status in the power rankings going into Week 11 reflects this.

The Redskins, at No. 31, have dropped their last five games in a row, since shifting quarterbacks from Rex Grossman to John Beck and back again with little improvement.

While the quarterback position is the greatest of the team's problems, it's not their only one. From a running game that has fallen flat since losing starter Tim Hightower to injury, to a defense that appeared strong at the beginning of the year but has since flattened, the Redskins do not have much going for them.

And now they have divisional rivals, the Dallas Cowboys, coming to town in Week 11. With Dallas still fighting for a playoff berth while just one game behind the NFC East-leading New York Giants, the Redskins will have quite a challenge ahead of them if they want to reverse course and try to salvage what's left of their season.

The same goes for the Philadelphia Eagles, a team once favored to reach deep into the playoffs. The Eagles opened their season 1-4, then won two games in a row, indicating that perhaps the team had solved the myriad problems that plagued them in all phases of the game.

Not so, however, as the team has dropped their last two games in a row. Now quarterback Michael Vick is again injured, with broken ribs, meaning backup quarterback Vince Young will likely get the start against the surging New York Giants this Sunday night.

Even with Vick healthy, it would take a major turnaround for the Eagles to defeat the Giants, and without Vick to lead the team, Philadelphia has little chance for that to happen in Week 11.

The Cleveland Browns, while never quite as promising a team as the Eagles headed into the regular season, were pegged to show significant improvement, with a stronger defense, a solid running game and a franchise quarterback making up the team's major components.

Instead, that defense has only appeared sharp against some of the worst offenses in the NFL, the running attack is nearly non-existent with a number of injuries to backs Peyton Hillis and Montario Hardesty and the passing game is even more invisible with quarterback Colt McCoy unable to make big plays.

In a difficult AFC North division, a 3-6 record through 10 weeks won't get Cleveland to the playoffs, and it won't get them out of the bottom 10 of the power rankings, either.

An embarrassing 13-12 loss to the St. Louis Rams in Week 10 dropped the team four spots, from 24th to 28th; they sit above the Rams in the overall rankings simply on the merit of having one more win than the 2-7 squad, but a poor showing against the Jacksonville Jaguars this Sunday will see them plummet further.

"Next season," is the mantra of the Browns fan, and that rings true this year, as the only thing the Browns have to look forward to is good draft positioning and the hope for improvement in 2012.

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

*Subject to change pending outcome of Monday night's Packers-Vikings contest