NFL Power Rankings: Bottom Feeders That Will Struggle Again in 2012

When it comes to the NFL, neither success nor failure is permanent. Sooner or later, some teams fall and others rise.

A couple days ago, I penned a Power Rankings piece about bottom-feeding teams that I think are going to be able to contend in 2012. They're going to have to make some moves along the way, but they already have most of the necessary pieces in place. They will rise.

Sadly, I cannot say the same about all the bottom-feeding teams in the NFL. Their failure is not going to be permanent, but for the time being it's going to a little more permanent than that of their contemporaries.

Specifically, there are four teams I want to discuss. I shall do my best to be gentle.

Arizona Cardinals (No. 23)

Let's start this humble little list off with the Arizona Cardinals, who moved up to No. 23 in my rankings after their victory over the St. Louis Rams.

I have a number of issues with the Cardinals, and they correspond to the laundry list of issues the Cardinals have. First and foremost, I just can't bring myself to believe that Kevin Kolb is the answer for this team. He's hurt now, but he hasn't been effective at all when he has been able to play. The Cardinals gambled on him, and so far Kolb has been a flop.

Of course, you can't really blame Kolb all that much seeing as how Arizona's offensive line is sub-par. That's something the Cardinals should address in the draft, as they will have a shot to use a high draft pick on a good lineman.

Then all they have to do is fix their defense, which is also sub-par. They scored big-time with Patrick Peterson, but just about every other position on their defense could use an upgrade. There's only so much the Cardinals are going to be able to do in that regard.

Next year, I think you will see some improvement from the Cardinals. Just not enough for them to challenge the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC West.

Cleveland Browns (No. 27)

The Browns don't have the worst record in the league, but I'll wager they are certainly one of the worst teams in the league. That's why I have them at No. 27, which is lower than most other people have them.

The Browns have two major weaknesses. One is their inability to stuff the run, which I think can be fixed with the proper draft strategy. The other is their utter inability to generate any offense.

That won't be so easily fixed. I think the Browns would be wise to draft Trent Richardson on draft day, but he'll only be able to help so much. Colt McCoy is at best a mediocre quarterback, and he doesn't have enough options at wide receiver.

Like the Cardinals, I do think the Browns will get better. The problem is that they have the rotten luck of sharing a division with two powerhouses in the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers and a team on the rise in the Cincinnati Bengals.

Such is life for the Browns at this juncture. They're going to need a couple more years.

Jacksonville Jaguars (No. 29)

I have a feeling we're all going to be able to agree on this one.

There are things to like about the Jaguars. They have a very underrated defense, and Maurice Jones-Drew has proved this season that he is one of the very best running backs in the NFL. What he's been able to do despite having little help is amazing.

And then there are things you can't like about the Jaguars. They're without a head coach now, and one has a hard time seeing them bringing in somebody who can fix this mess. Also, Blaine Gabbert needs to get better. That doesn't mean he can't get better, mind you, but he has a long, long way to go.

Right now, the Jaguars are a bad team. Even if they do find the right coach and do make the right improvements, they're facing a long rebuilding process. It won't help that they have to share a division with the Houston Texans and an Indianapolis Colts squad that should be better when Peyton Manning returns.

Yup, I'm not banking on him retiring.

St. Louis Rams (No. 31)

I have to admit, I thought the Rams were going to be good this year. As you may have noticed, they're not.

We shouldn't be surprised. The Rams have a garbage offensive line and no wide receivers to speak of. They desperately need to get Sam Bradford some help, and there will only be so much help for them to get via the draft. 

The Rams are also a mess defensively. They've been killed against the run this season, so they clearly need to upgrade their front seven. They'll be able to do that in the draft as well, but the first priority should be helping Bradford.

Of the four teams on this list, I guess I wouldn't be surprised if the Rams ended up with the best record of the bunch. It won't be enough, though, and I have a feeling we're going to be discussing how they can get better this time next year.

Zachary D. Rymer's Week 13 Power Rankings

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