NFL Power Rankings: Looking at the League's Most Pathetic Teams

When ranking teams I tend to focus on recent trends and how a team has performed on the field more than overall records. For that reason, the 3-6 Washington Redskins rank ahead of only the Indianapolis Colts in my power rankings for Week 11 of the 2011 NFL season.

While the 0-10 Colts have been terrible all season long, the Redskins opened the year 3-1 and were loudly trumpeting their chances to win the NFC East and head to the Super Bowl. Since then they've dropped five straight games, suffered a quarterback change and have looked progressively worse from week to week.

While the Redskins have some offensive talent in guys like tight end Fred Davis and rookie running back Roy Helu, they haven't been able to do much with it. Even after switching from Rex Grossman (65.3 passer rating) to John Beck (72.1 passer rating) at quarterback, things have remained as stagnant as ever for the 'Skins.

Washington ranks 27th in the NFL in total offense, averaging just 310.1 yards per game. The team is also a pathetic 28th in the league in points per game, averaging just 15.1.

This drop from the Redskins has been completely expected. In fact, I think they are the only ones surprised that it has happened. Washington has now taken its rightful place among the worst teams in the NFL.

Unlike the Redskins, the Colts have been horrible from the season's opening game. Indianapolis is equally bad on both sides of the ball, ranking 31st in total offense (275.7 yards per game) and 30th in total defense (390.6 yards per game).

With four-time MVP Peyton Manning possibly sitting out the season, I don't have any faith that Curtis Painter and his 67.4 quarterback rating can lead Indianapolis anywhere but to a winless season.

At this point, if the Colts do end up picking up a win before the end of the year it will be a huge shock, as they have looked progressively worse each week. They are easily the worst team in the NFL.

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