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2011 NFL Power Rankings



My pre-free agency 2011 NFL Power Rankings.

I'm going to use these rankings as the order for my 2012 NFL Mock Draft updates.

I've gone from WORST to FIRST, so if you don't see reverse numbering (via Javascript), don't worry; the Panthers, Redskins and Broncos aren't my top teams.

Updated: 9/5




  1. Seattle Seahawks (7-9) - Previously: 31.
    Warren Sapp said it best when discussing why Tarvaris Jackson is Seattle's starting quarterback:

    "Darrell Bevell must have pictures of Pete Carroll doin' something nasty because this doesn't make any sense."

    And that is why Seattle is No. 32 in my 2011 NFL Power Rankings.

    2011 NFL Projected Record: 2-14

  2. Cincinnati Bengals (4-12) - Previously: 28.
    Why do I get the feeling that Carson Palmer was a fat douche when he was a kid? In fact, I believe he grew up in a small Colorado town.

    "I have $80 million in the bank. Screw you guys, I'm going home."

    2011 NFL Projected Record: 3-13

  3. San Francisco 49ers (6-10) - Previously: 18.
    When a giant nuclear bomb destroys the entire planet, two things will survive: cockroaches and Alex Smith. How is this guy still the starting quarterback of an NFL team?

    2011 NFL Projected Record: 4-12

  4. Jacksonville Jaguars (7-9) - Previously: 27.
    I really get the feeling that this team is going to quit on lame-duck coach Jack Del Rio and the lazy David Garrard, much like the Panthers gave up on John Fox.

    By the way, I have the Jaguars ahead of the 49ers, but with a worse record because the former has a tougher schedule. I still get the feeling that I'm going to receive e-mails and comments like, "THIZ DUMA$$ CANT EVAN GET THE ORDER RITE LOLZ!!!!!!1"

    2011 NFL Projected Record: 3-13

  5. Carolina Panthers (2-14) - Previously: 25.
    Cam Newton's mechanics are awful, and he's nowhere near ready to be a starting quarterback in this league. But like Vince Young in 2006, he'll run around, make things happen and win some games. I'll be mildly surprised if Carolina has the No. 1 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.

    2011 NFL Projected Record: 4-12

  6. Miami Dolphins (7-9) - Previously: 20.
    If you think the Dolphins are going to be good this year, check out this picture. Yeah, they're screwed.

    2011 NFL Projected Record: 4-12

  7. Oakland Raiders (8-8) - Previously: 23.
    I can't believe some artsy-fartsy, new-age hippie on Yahoo picked the Raiders to go to the Super Bowl. It's almost as crazy as some idiot projecting the Buccaneers to go to the Super Bowl. I can't remember his name, but he's a DUMA$$.

    In all seriousness, having Oakland in the Super Bowl makes no sense. Yeah, they swept the awesome AFC West last year, but they lost their top defensive player and second-best offensive play-maker. No chance.

    2011 NFL Projected Record: 5-11

  8. Buffalo Bills (4-12) - Previously: 26.
    I have the Bills at 8-8 because of their insanely easy schedule. They are better - Marcell Dareus and Shawne Merriman have looked great in the preseason - but they still have major holes on their roster.

    2011 NFL Projected Record: 8-8

  9. Washington Redskins (6-10) - Previously: 32.
    I can't believe how good Rex Grossman looked this preseason. Well, maybe I can. I found this excerpt from my 2003 NFL Season Previews and posted it in my Redskins 2011 NFL Season Preview. Feel free to call me a "DUMA$$" in the comment section:

    I lost a lot of respect for head coach Mike Shanahan, when he signed QB Jake Plummer to take over his team. Since 1998, Jake has thrown 43 interceptions, while only throwing 21 touchdowns. Having an excellent running game will help Jake the Snake, but his inaccuracy and inability to scan the whole field will continue to cause him to throw many interceptions.

    Oops!

    2011 NFL Projected Record: 6-10

  10. Arizona Cardinals (5-11) - Previously: 21.
    Kevin Kolb has been pretty inconsistent this preseason, but inconsistent is a major upgrade over last year's inept (Max Hall), raw (John Skelton) and drunk (Derek Anderson).

    2011 NFL Projected Record: 7-9

  11. Denver Broncos (4-12) - Previously: 24.
    The Broncos are going to be pretty decent this year. The offense will be more balanced, and the pass rush will be fierce with "Doom and Gloom" wreaking havoc upon opposing quarterbacks. The secondary is still an issue, however, and Kyle Orton really needs to improve in the red zone.

    2011 NFL Projected Record: 6-10

  12. Tennessee Titans (6-10) - Previously: 30.
    Everyone, let's all hold hands and say a prayer for Chris Johnson. May CJ2K receive an even greater contract in a few years. CJ2K doesn't have an ordinary job like us peons, so he needs as much money as possible. Please let him have all that he wishes for. Amen.

    2011 NFL Projected Record: 5-11

  13. Minnesota Vikings (6-10) - Previously: 29.
    The Vikings are relying on Donovan McNabb, Bernard Berrian and the worst left tackle in the NFL, Charlie Johnson. Yeah, this is not going to end well. On the bright side, Christian Ponder looked solid in the preseason finale...

    2011 NFL Projected Record: 5-11

  14. Cleveland Browns (5-11) - Previously: 22.
    I'm a big fan of Colt McCoy, but he has nothing to work with outside of Peyton Hillis. The Browns have two first-round picks in the 2012 NFL Draft, however, so they could be a playoff contender next year.

    2011 NFL Projected Record: 8-8

  15. Kansas City Chiefs (10-6) - Previously: 19.
    I hate the Chiefs. They're the worst franchise ever! At least that's what Kansas City fans believe I'm thinking. I honestly don't care either way; I just think the Chiefs are going to be very mediocre this year because Charlie Weis is gone, so Matt Cassel's flaws will be exposed. A ridiculously tough second-half schedule doesn't help either.

    2011 NFL Projected Record: 6-10



  16. St. Louis Rams (7-9) - Previously: 17.
    I want to love Sam Bradford as a fantasy football quarterback, but Mike Sims-Walker is always hurt, Donnie Avery was waived, Lance Kendricks is just a rookie, Brandon Gibson stinks, Mark Clayton has a knee problem, Steven Jackson is old, and Danny Amendola is white. Sorry, that's racist. At any rate, as forum member Franchize would say, "Bradford's receivers are f***ing trash!"

    2011 NFL Projected Record: 9-7

  17. New York Giants (10-6) - Previously: 12.
    As I'm writing this, the Giants just suffered another two injuries. Next time, perhaps Tom Coughlin should rethink urinating all over a witch doctor's front lawn.

    2011 NFL Projected Record: 8-8

  18. Houston Texans (6-10) - Previously: 9.
    I've liked how Houston's new defense has looked this preseason. I still maintain that the big issue is Matt Schaub's ability to come through in the clutch. As I pointed out in my season previews, in the past two years when playing in overtime or the fourth quarter within seven points, Schaub has thrown six interceptions to just three touchdowns. Otherwise, his touchdown-interception ratio is 50-21. Also, Houston is 8-5 before Nov. 1, and an abysmal 7-12 after Halloween the past two seasons.

    2011 NFL Projected Record: 9-7

  19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-6) - Previously: 14.
    In case you couldn't figure it out, I'm the DUMA$$ who picked the Buccaneers to go to the Super Bowl. I've been pretty accurate with my past few Super Bowl predictions, and I was confident with my Tampa projection - until I saw Josh Freeman this preseason. Freeman's decision-making has just been really bad. If this continues, he's going to throw way more than six interceptions this year.

    I'd like to change my Super Bowl pick, if I may. Since this is my Web site, I sure as hell may. Stay tuned...

    2011 NFL Projected Record: 10-6

  20. Baltimore Ravens (12-4) - Previously: 5.
    I'm not a fan of the Ravens this year. Joe Flacco's two most reliable weapons are gone, while the offensive line is a major concern. The defense was also shaky in the preseason, as it had struggled to contain the great Rex Grossman and Tim Hightower.

    2011 NFL Projected Record: 9-7

  21. Chicago Bears (11-5) - Previously: 16.
    I think the Bears are really underrated. Everyone seems to think that last year was a fluke for them, but I recall a Chicago team nearly knocking off the Packers at Lambeau in Week 17. No one should be surprised if the Bears can go 11-5 again.

    2011 NFL Projected Record: 10-6

  22. Detroit Lions (6-10) - Previously: 15.
    I love Bill Simmons, but how dare he say that he created the Detroit Lions bandwagon? I projected the Lions to go 9-7 last year, and they would have if Matthew Stafford didn't miss most of the season. I am insecure, so I want credit, Sports Guy. I'll be expecting this credit in your next football podcast.

    2011 NFL Projected Record: 10-6

  23. Dallas Cowboys (6-10) - Previously: 10.
    My friend Chris looked at my 2011 NFL Season Previews and told me he was surprised that I had the Cowboys at 9-7. Meh... Tony Romo is back, but the offensive line and secondary are both really shaky. Plus, winning games in the always-tough NFC East will once again be tough.

    If you haven't been following my 2011 Fantasy Football Rankings, by the way, I love Felix Jones and Dez Bryant this year much more than most other publications.

    2011 NFL Projected Record: 10-6

  24. Indianapolis Colts (10-6) - Previously: 3.
    I really don't feel like talking about Peyton Manning right now. I just had a fantasy draft where one of my friends was screwed out of a quarterback; one guy took Philip Rivers and Manning, so because of that, my friend has Jay Cutler as his starter. Throughout the entire second half of the draft, he kept asking me, "Do you think I should trade Mike Wallace for Peyton? What about Anquan Boldin and Mark Ingram? What about Malcom Floyd and Mike Wallace? What about Neil Rackers?"

    Like I said, I don't want to discuss Manning.

    2011 NFL Projected Record: 10-6

  25. San Diego Chargers (9-7) - Previously: 7.
    I'm not going to give away any of my NFL Picks until Monday, but I'm definitely taking the Chargers in survivor. I know they start slowly, but I don't see the Vikings winning in San Diego without one of their top defensive players, Kevin Williams.

    2011 NFL Projected Record: 10-6

  26. New York Jets (11-5) - Previously: 8.
    I really don't feel like discussing Plaxico Burress either. He's done, and ESPN has killed that for me anyway. Actually, this has me thinking - why doesn't ESPN have spin-off channels dedicated to one athlete? Like, since they talk about Brett Favre so much, why not create an ESPN Brett Favre? Or an ESPN Plaxico Burress? Or an ESPN QB Dog Killer? Speaking of which...

    2011 NFL Projected Record: 10-6

  27. Philadelphia Eagles (10-6) - Previously: 11.
    MAY 11 UPDATE: ESPN essentially had its "ESPN QB Dog Killer" in its last issues of "The Mag." Included in this was a very controversial article. Here was the headline if you missed it:

    What if Michael Vick were spare ribs

    This is a preview of one of my Jerks of the Week entries this Monday.

    As for this actual Eagles team, well, that's sort of an oxymoron. Philadelphia has numerous great players, but they're not a team. They also have numerous glaring flaws, namely the right side of the offensive line.

    2011 NFL Projected Record: 11-5

  28. Atlanta Falcons (13-3) - Previously: 13.
    I still can't believe Matt Ryan threw the ball 42 times against the Steelers in the first half of the third preseason game.

    Let's have some fun with this. What if Ryan attempts 42 passes in every single half this year? Assuming his completion, touchdown and interception percentages of 2010, as well as a 7.0 YPA (upgraded from 6.5 because of Julio Jones), Ryan's 2011 season stats would be:

    840-of-1,344, 9,408 yards, 66 touchdowns, 21 interceptions

    Get this man on your fantasy team immediately!

    2011 NFL Projected Record: 11-5

  29. Green Bay Packers (10-6) - Previously: 1.
    It's only the preseason, but Green Bay's defense has been VERY shaky this August. They've had trouble containing Colt McCoy, Kevin Kolb, and even Curtis "Finger" Painter. You have to wonder if there's some post-Super Bowl complacency going on.

    2011 NFL Projected Record: 12-4

  30. New Orleans Saints (11-5) - Previously: 6.
    My new NFC representative in this year's projected Super Bowl is New Orleans. Unlike last year, Drew Brees is healthy. And speaking of health, the Saints usually suffer lots of injuries because Sean Payton runs the team into the ground in practice. He won't be able to do that per the new CBA rules.

    2011 NFL Projected Record: 12-4

  31. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) - Previously: 2.
    Unlike their Super Bowl opponent, the Steelers definitely look sharp this preseason. Super Bowl losers generally fare poorly the following year, but 2011 could be different because of the lockout. I'd have Pittsburgh in the Super Bowl if it weren't for...

    2011 NFL Projected Record: 12-4

  32. New England Patriots (14-2) - Previously: 4.
    The Patriots are still my pick to win it all. Their defensive front is amazing, and Tom Brady is still on top of his game. I'll go as far as saying that another undefeated season isn't out of the question, but I'll have them winning 14 games.

    2011 NFL Projected Record: 14-2


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WhistlingMtn 11-09-2011 01:46 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.196 (total posts: 1)
15     18

B, I just enjoy how for Baltimore, losing to the Jaguars and then needing to come back from a massive deficit to defeat the Cardinals is better than solidly outperforming the Browns and Redskins and never being close to losing.

Creative logic.
B 11-09-2011 01:20 pm xxx.xxx.xxx7.82 (total posts: 1)
16     15

The reason the Niners are not number 2 is because they were not good last year.. That is the reasoning for Walt ranking them number 4 and for anyone else who thinks they arent good. While the niners were 5-1 they had beaten the teams with the most wins in the league. They cant help it if they get scheduled to play against the browns and redskins.
Rook 11-09-2011 02:57 am xxx.xxx.xxx.230 (total posts: 9)
26     28

Born and bred Philadelphian you are indeed, Walt. How many losses will it take before you start ranking the perpetually underperforming Eagles lower? Every time that the Eagles manage a win, you join with every media prognosticator in rocketing the Eagles up the charts above their record, proclaiming that they've finally gotten it together. Then they lose again and they drop a spot or two- perhaps.

For God's sake, man- I'm a Bucs fan. I know what it is to love a team that constantly trips over itself and destroys your hopes. I know what it is to blind yourself to their faults. Think for a moment how much talent that Eagles squad of yours has, and reflect for a moment on how hideously incompetent my own squad has often appeared this year. Then reflect on the fact that despite all of that talent, the Eagles are 3-5, while the Bucs, the youngest team in the NFL who have played awful football for a great portion of the year, are 4-4.

The Eagles- despite the talent on their roster, despite their potential, despite your love for them, despite the rationale that surely soon they must deliver- are overrated. They aren't going to turn it around. The first step is acceptance.
Andy Dalton 11-09-2011 12:24 am xxx.xxx.xxx.170 (total posts: 1)
147     21

How are the Bills above the Bengals? Cmon Walt, even the tards at ESPN know to put the Bengals in the top 10.
biggshow 11-09-2011 12:23 am xxx.xxx.xxx.195 (total posts: 1)
18     16

Drop Mike Williams TB for Jacoby Ford?
Zeekmo 11-08-2011 11:44 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.117 (total posts: 5)
22     22

Cardinals still behind the Rams, huh? I guess that thing called "PLAYING THE GAME" doesn't mean anything anymore, does it? Might as well give the Eagles the Super Bowl then, since they've got the most talent on paper
Knowledge God 11-08-2011 10:06 pm xxx.xxx.xxx9.30 (total posts: 4)
64     45

The 49ers are good, and they'll obviously make the playoffs, but they're not a legitimate Super Bowl threat.

Alex Smith will still get raped by quality defenses, not to mention their only victories over +.500 teams this year were against the actually-not-that-good Lions and the not-as-good-as-their-record Bengals.

SF has a great defense, a solid O-Line, Frank Gore, and most importantly, a coach with a new playbook. They were also unbelievable against the Bucs. But they're not the #2 team in the league, nor will they be for the foreseeable future.
Knowledge God 11-08-2011 07:04 pm xxx.xxx.xxx9.30 (total posts: 4)
15     28

David likes when a well-endowed man sprays White Happy Juice all over his ugly face.
@@ 11-08-2011 03:57 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.136 (total posts: 1)
139     32

Confused is all butt hurt down there because the 49ers are ranked 4th. Who have they played? There quaterback hasn't once proven himself and there only offensive threat is Frank Gore. But hey, We will see on Thanksgiving who truly deserves that #2 spot.
David 11-08-2011 03:34 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.230 (total posts: 1)
139     25

Walt's jokes that are not funny anymore ... Matt Millen, Derek Anderson, Kevin Reiley, the fantasy draft thing (never was funny), and the spam email thing.

Walt's jokes that are always funny: Emmitt Smith, making fun of inept announcers.

Walter, I'm just saying, there are so many untapped NFL personalities to make fun of. How about Gruden, Ditka, Chris Carter ... the list goes on and on. I like the Chris Simms bit. Just try not to overdo it and use it every single day. Your Millen joke is seriously so old and overdone I can barely even stand this site anymore.
Baylor's Blake Griffin? 11-08-2011 02:46 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.151 (total posts: 1)
58     19

Blake Griffin, the overrated Clippers forward/rookie of the year somehow? Or are we talking about Robert Griffin? The shockingly talented grad student that'll skip NFL for law school more than likely. Because there's no way he can do both.
Nick 11-08-2011 02:16 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.198 (total posts: 1)
86     21

There are four people to blame for the Browns mess.

1. Mike Holmgren--Apparently instead of hiring the best candidate he had to hire the best candidate that had ties to him. You realize that we only interviewed three! people for this job? Perry Fewell was the token minority candidate and Mike Mularkey turned the Browns down after interviewing. Plus they fired Mangini who wasn't liked in Cleveland but you gotta admit that his teams were disciplined and prepared. I think he needed another year to turn this around.

2. Tom Heckert--For all of the above plus trading up for Hardesty.

3. Pat Shurmur--Really? How can the Browns hire every emotionless head coach with completely different front offices every time a change is made? He sucked as an OC for the Rams last year as Sam Bradford led the league in YPC. Now he doesn't even have an OC and is sucking at two jobs. We ran on 11 straight first downs on Sunday. How could anyone be that stupid when your starting running back is Chris Ogwhatever. Not looking for trick plays but we should be catering to the strengths of the players on the team instead of pounding the square peg into the round hole with our playbook that doesn't suit; the offensive line, the quarterback, the receivers, and the running backs.

4. Colt McCoy--He can't handle the blitz. Look what Alex Smith is doing at the blitz this year. If you burn a team when they blitz, guess what happens? They stop blitzing. If you keep getting knocked around making wayward passes when the defense blitz guess what happens? They blitz on every play. He doesn't check down to a pass when there is 10 people in the box! Now maybe that isn't his fault as maybe he isn't allowed. But don't you think maybe it's time to challenge some authority when you eat dirt on every play?

Holmgren is a hell of a coach but he was a god awful GM/Front Office Personnel Evaluator in Seattle who had the role taken away from him. Why in God's name did they give him all this power?
Nick Bradley 11-08-2011 01:37 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.226 (total posts: 1)
31     27

Niner hater!

the 49ers were up 19-3 with 4 minutes to go and let the Skins get a garbage TD. 19-3 in a game with two good defenses is a blowout. Think before you write

Against the Browns, we were up 17-3 with 6 minutes to go when Cribbs got a garbage TD. Again, think before you write.
Wharthog 11-08-2011 01:30 pm xxx.xxx.xxx4.22 (total posts: 3)
19     17

I tried understanding why the kielbasa comment was so funny and I finally realized it was because you never hear of anyone eating kielbasa any more. It's always used in conversation when someone is shoving it up someone's nether regions. This is not a good thing if your livelihood is impacted by kielbasa sales.
Potter 11-08-2011 12:49 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.109 (total posts: 1)
20     17

That rant was that of a frustrated fan who doesn't understand Football on the business side. Everyone saw what Colt McCoy could do against first teamers when he had protection, it is painfully obvious that the Browns' offensive line has regressed every week since the preseason started.

Another problem is that there is no offensive coordinator and Pat Shurmer is spreading himself too thin, he needs to hire someone and not burn himself out.






2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 22


2013 Fantasy Football Rankings - May 22


2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 21


Charlie's 2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 20


NFL Picks - Feb. 3







2012 NFL Power Rankings. Week: Offseason Power Rankings | Final Preseason 2012 NFL Power Rankings | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | Final Reg. Season | 19 | 20 | 21 | Final |

2011 NFL Power Rankings. Week: Offseason Power Rankings | Final Preseason 2011 NFL Power Rankings | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | Final Reg. Season | 19 | 20 | 21 | Final

2010 NFL Power Rankings. Week: Offseason Power Rankings | Final Preseason 2010 NFL Power Rankings | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | Final Reg. Season | 19 | 20 | 21 | Final

2009 NFL Power Rankings. Week: Preseason Power Rankings | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | Final Reg. Season | 19 | 20 | 21 | Final |

2008 NFL Power Rankings. Week: Preseason Power Rankings | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | Final Reg. Season | 19 | 20 | 21 | Final |

2007 NFL Power Rankings. Week: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21

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