NFL Power Rankings Week 11: Calling out the Biggest Phonies in the League

We're now officially on the other side of the 50-yard line for the 2011 NFL Season, and it hasn't gotten any less interesting.

The story lines of the 2011 season are terrific, with some stories having ended a week or two ago (i.e. Philadelphia Eagles) and other stories just starting to pick up steam (Ahem, Tim Tebow).

Some surprise teams are fighting to stay in playoff contention, while teams everyone expected to be good are falling rapidly.

Those who are falling can now be classified as phonies for masquerading as good teams when we all now know they clearly aren't.

Lets see who they are.

32. Indianapolis Colts

Nowadays, the Indianapolis Colts are more of a running gag than a sad story. Week after week this hapless team finds a way to lose without the presence of a man who is clearly the MVP of football even when missing a season.

The question is no longer will they get the No. 1 overall pick, but rather a question of whether they would prefer to use the pick on Andrew Luck out of Stanford. It is clear now that they will need his services once Peyton Manning retires.

Dan Orlovsky took the field in Week 10, a bad sign for a team trying to avoid the dreaded 0-16. He couldn't help the Detroit Lions escape it, and that was a much better team than these Colts.

Record: 0-10

Previous Ranking: 32

31. Carolina Panthers

Despite Cam Newton's brilliant rookie heroics, the Carolina Panthers can't seem to scrape together a win. Try as they might—and boy, do they try—they just keep falling a bit short.

Newton has a fantastic future ahead of him. However, until the Panthers address the defense and put some better pieces around him, he will continue to amaze statistically while falling short in the win column.

Record: 2-7

Previous Ranking: 21

30. Washington Redskins

Rex Grossman, John Beck, Rex Grossman, John Grossman, Rex Beck.

Enough already, Mike Shanahan. Rarely has a coach been begging to get fired as much as he has. Flip flopping between quarterbacks to save a hopeless season is no way to preserve a job or a legacy.

With the injury bug running rampant and a tough schedule ahead down the stretch, the Redskins should not be figuring to see any of the success they enjoyed through the first three weeks of the 2011 season.

Just like that, they're back to their Week 1 power ranking slot.

Record: 3-6

Previous Ranking: 22

29. Cleveland Browns

There is a lot to do in Cleveland: namely, find a wide receiver.

South Carolina's Ashlon Jeffries would make a fantastic addition to Colt McCoy's very depleted arsenal. They should be aiming for a top-five pick at this point. It is likely to happen with a brutal schedule down the stretch including two games each against Baltimore and Pittsburgh.

When you lose one of the only winnable games on your schedule by one point because of a botched snap and hold onto the PAT, its probably time to look towards next season.

The Browns' rebuilding project continues.

Record: 3-6

Previous Ranking: 26

28. St. Louis Rams

The St. Louis Rams are disappointed with the way the season has gone, and rightfully so. They should use the 2012 draft to focus on protection for Sam Bradford and wide receivers for him to throw to.

Trading back into the first round could be a good plan.

Record: 2-7

Previous Ranking: 30

27. Minnesota Vikings

If you look back on it, the Minnesota Vikings couldn't have expected much out of 2011. This is another team in desperate need of wide receiver help.

Adrian Peterson must be wishing he took his talents elsewhere, because this team is a ways off from a playoff berth.

Record: 2-7

Previous Ranking: 29

26. Jacksonville Jaguars

As if this season didn't suck enough, the Jacksonville Jaguars have lost their top cornerback in Rashean Mathis. Time to call it a year?

Most likely.

Record: 3-6

Previous Ranking: 23

25. Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins are embracing the role of spoiler team quite nicely. Since their bye they are 2-1, and that one loss was nearly a win against the New York Giants.

At least they can play loose for the rest of the season, since they are pulling out of the Suck for Luck sweepstakes.

Record: 2-7

Previous Ranking: 31

24. Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks keep throwing spoiler games at good teams. Two of their three wins are against top-ten teams in the New York Giants and Baltimore Ravens.

Playoff teams will probably give them some more respect now to avoid trap losses. Yay. A moral victory is better than 0-16, I guess.

Record: 3-6

Previous Ranking: 28

23. Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles are the biggest phonies in the NFL. Coming into the 2011 season with all the swagger of the Miami Heat, this team had big dreams.

Now all they have are waking nightmares.Locker room implosions are imminent.

Nothing else needs to be said.

Record: 3-6

Previous Ranking: 20

22. Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs made things interesting with their four-game winning streak, but they have returned to their losing ways and fallen to 4-5.

With Matt Cassel out indefinitely, and with a race for the AFC West brewing between the Denver Broncos and Oakland Raiders, the Chiefs have quickly become irrelevant.

21. Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals are actually 2-0 since Kevin Kolb was sidelined with a foot injury. John Skelton is suddenly making a case to remain the starting quarterback.

The only question is, what do you then do with your $60-million-man? There won't be a QB controversy since they gave up so much for Kolb, which is too bad, because there is nothing else interesting in Arizona.

Record: 3-6

Previous Ranking: 27

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers might be the season's biggest disappointment. Sporting losses to the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears, it doesn't seem likely that they can scrape a Wild Card at this point in time.

Their defense and offensive line are going to need to see significant change for the 2012 season if they hope to contend.

Coming into the season being called sleeper Super Bowl contenders, the Bucs have proven to be nothing but phony.

Record: 4-5

Previous Ranking: 16

19. San Diego Chargers

We could say the San Diego Chargers are phonies, but that implies someone believed in them to begin with.

Philip Rivers is having a terrible season, and that 4-1 start they had has gone to complete waste.

Going from 4-1 to 4-5? The San Diego Chargers are officially PHONIES.

Record: 4-5

Previous Ranking: 18

18. Tennessee Titans

The Tennessee Titans are possibly the worst 5-4 team in the NFL, though the sports world is buzzing with Chris Johnson's breakout game of the year. In the ninth game. Good, now he only owes them $6,500,000 after making $812,500 per game for eight games of nothing.

The Titans winning record is deceptive. Do not be fooled into thinking these guys are a playoff contending team.

Record: 5-4

Previous Ranking: 25

17. Denver Broncos

Wow. That's all we can really say about Tim Tebow. 4-1 as a starter. Winning games going 2/8 for 65 yards and one touchdown. Running more often than he throws.

Putting up a QBR of 94 in the fourth quarter against the New York Jets.

Somehow, Tebow is setting football back 50 years while giving Broncos fans legitimate hope for an AFC West title.

IF he wins them the division, drafting college quarterbacks will become a brand-new science.

Record: 5-5

Previous Ranking: 23

16. Buffalo Bills

Well, sadly, we all saw this coming—another strong Buffalo Bills start with a midseason collapse.

The Bills are currently in free fall, having lost four of their last six. They are going to have to dig deep to claw to a Wild Card or the AFC East title.

Record: 5-4

Previous Ranking: 9

15. Oakland Raiders

The Oakland Raiders have been enjoying a mini-bye after playing the first Thursday Night Football game of the 2011 season.

Carson Palmer looked a lot better in his second start, and the Raiders will need his efficiency to continue if they intend to keep first place in the AFC West away from the surging Denver Broncos.

Record: 5-4

Previous Ranking: 17

14. New York Jets

The New York Jets are officially phonies.

Last night's loss to the Tim Tebow's Denver Broncos proved that Gang Green has significant improvements to make, and the playoffs are looking more and more like a distant dream. 

If Brian Schottenheimer isn't fired soon, it will be a crime against the city of New York.

Record: 5-5

Previous Ranking: 11

13. Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys are confusing. They'll trounce a team one week and then choke the next. It's scary because you never know which Cowboy team you're going to face.

DeMarco Murray has been a great story, but Tony Romo's inconsistency still overshadows the young running back.

If Romo can keep playing the way he did against the Buffalo Bills, they have a playoff shot. The smart money is not on them.

Record: 5-4

Previous Ranking: 15

12. Cincinnati Bengals

Few teams have surprised in 2011 the way the Cincinnati Bengals have. Andy Dalton has gone far above and beyond what was expected of him this season, and A.J Green is making a case for Offensive Rookie of the Year.

From starting in Week 1 dead last in the rankings, they have clawed their way to a 6-3 record and are eying a playoff berth.

Record: 6-3

Previous Ranking: 14

11. Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons beat themselves on Sunday. They had the New Orleans Saints on the ropes and then gave it up.

Having said that, this team can make a Wild Card run with the talent they have on board. Not making the playoffs would make the season a disappointment for Atlanta, so getting a streak going against the Tennessee Titans and Minnesota Vikings could be healthy.

Record: 5-4

Previous Ranking: 13

10. New England Patriots

The New England Patriots are borderline phonies. Sure they trounced the Jets on Sunday, but the Broncos also did it last night. Sorry, not buying it.

With the league's worst pass defense, there is just no reason to believe the Patriots can go deep into the playoffs. They'll crush their division and make the postseason as usual, but that's it. They might even get the first round bye, but don't let them fool you.

Two incredible tight ends and Tom Brady does not equal a Super Bowl.

Record: 6-3

Previous Ranking: 5

9. Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions have looked incredible at times and mediocre at others, which is still better than they've looked for the last decade.

Stafford's broken finger is a concern, but if he can play through the pain, this team can scratch out a Wild Card.

Record: 6-3

Previous Ranking: 6

8. Houston Texans

In any other season in Houston Texans history, losing the stud starting quarterback would mean the end of the season.

Now, though, it really isn't so bad. Boasting the league's best defense despite a number of injuries (thank you Wade Philips), and a terrific rushing attack, the Texans should be alright if Matt Leinart can just manage the game.

Leinart has now sat for several years, behind both Kurt Warner and Matt Schaub, he knows Houston's system, and he'll have two great backs and Andre Johnson to lean on.

Houston, we don't have a problem.

Record: 7-3

Previous Ranking: 10

7. Baltimore Ravens

Which Baltimore Ravens will we get each week? The gutsy team that makes a magnificent comeback against the division rival Pittsburgh Steelers? Or the junior varsity team that throws the ball 52 times in a loss to the lowly Seattle Seahawks?

The Ravens have one of football's best rosters, but they need to stop playing down to their competition.

Record: 6-3

Previous Ranking: 4

6. New York Giants

The New York Giants shocked everybody by narrowly defeating the Patriots in a brilliant comeback two weeks ago, and they came within inches (Mario Manningham's fingertips) of doing it in San Fransisco last week.

With a one-game lead on the Cowboys for the NFC East, look for the Giants to continue playing their best football as they face easily the league's hardest seven game stretch.

Record: 6-3

Previous Ranking: 8

5. Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears have gotten red hot at a very appropriate time. Racking up four straight impressive wins in the last month, the Bears have proven that they are for real and looking to make another deep playoff run.

Matt Forte is making a strong MVP case accounting for 46 percent of the Bears' offense. If not for Aaron Rodgers, he'd be the front-runner.

Record: 6-3

Previous Ranking: 12

4. New Orleans Saints

The Saints are feeling pretty good at 7-3 atop their division, but having the last win handed to them by a Mike Smith play call has to have them thinking that they can do better.

Drew Brees is on a record setting pace, but that just means their running game needs a little shot in the arm. They'll need it to overcome the Green Bay Packers or San Fransisco 49ers in the postseason.

Record: 7-3

Previous Ranking: 2

3. Pittsburgh Steelers

Despite losing twice to the Baltimore Ravens, the Pittsburgh Steelers are the best team in the AFC North. Unlike the Ravens, the Steelers do not completely play down to their opponents, which allows them to win where the Ravens get smacked by the likes of the Seattle Seahawks.

The Steelers are a force to be reckoned with this year. With Ben Roethlisberger playing some of the best football of his career, being caught in their path can be a very difficult obstacle to overcome.

Record: 7-3

Previous Ranking: 7

2. San Fransisco 49ers

This team is winning football games the old fashioned way. The San Fransisco 49ers pound the rock, play smash mouth defense, and ask questions later.

At 8-1 and virtually running away with their division, coach Jim Harbaugh has to be a lock-in for coach of the year. Their seven remaining games have them facing extremely weak divisional opponents.

For the first time, a coach has squeezed some talent from Alex Smith.

Record: 8-1

Previous Ranking: 3

1. Green Bay Packers

Have the Green Bay Packers lost a game yet? No? Wait, really? I said get back to me when they do.

There isn't much else to talk about is there? This is far and away the NFL's best team, and they look poised for another deep playoff run, maybe even a possible repeat.

Record: 9-0

Previous Ranking: 1