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Week 11 Best & Worst in the NFL

Written November 13, 2008 by Evan Altemus

I typically don’t think power rankings are a very useful handicapping tool, as almost every team is vulnerable in certain situations. However, I think that the average person doing NFL betting should be aware of which teams are the best and worst in the league. The best teams are capable of beating any team in the league, especially as an underdog. New York is coming off of two straight outright underdog wins, Pittsburgh has won several games this season as an underdog, and Tennessee is still undefeated. The worst teams in the NFL can be split up into two categories: point spread monsters and point spread disasters. Some of the worst teams should be avoided, as they have the capability to get blown out in any game.

1. New York Giants – This spot was very close between the Giants and Titans. However, New York has the edge in experience as well as having played a tougher schedule. They know what it takes to win tough games, evident once again by their recent road win at Philadelphia. They have the best running game in the NFL, a confident quarterback, and an excellent defense. The Giants have proven they are worth of this ranking with their recent wins over the Eagles and Steelers.

2. Tennessee – The Titans are still undefeated, but the true test of this team will be how they handle their first loss of the season. It is doubtful that they will finish the regular season 16-0, so how will this team respond when faced with adversity? They have everything it takes to make a Super Bowl run though. Kerry Collins has proven that he is capable of putting the team on his back as well.

3. Pittsburgh – This team has everything it takes to make a Super Bowl run, but they just have to put it all together and stay healthy. The Steelers have one of the best defenses in the league, both against the run and the pass. Ben Roethlisberger must eliminate his mistakes in order for Pittsburgh to make a run. However, Willie Parker will be back this week, and his return should help Big Ben. Pittsburgh has a dominant defense and an excellent home field advantage, which will make them tough to beat in the playoffs.

4. Philadelphia/Indianapolis/Carolina – I am combining these teams under one list because I feel that they are all dark horse Super Bowl contenders that not many people are talking about. Indianapolis is getting healthy, and Peyton Manning has beaten the best defenses in the league this season. He single handedly led his team to wins over Minnesota, Pittsburgh, and Baltimore. The defense also has Bob Sanders back from injury. Philadelphia combines a physical defense with a high scoring offense. Donovan McNabb is one of the best quarterbacks in the league, and Desean Jackson gives the Eagles a deep threat capability. Carolina has one of the best defenses in the league, as well as a power running attack. Steve Smith is capable of taking any pass the distance. They will be a dangerous playoff team for any opponent in the NFC.

24. Cleveland – This team’s talent level is much higher than their record and performance so far this season. They showed their potential in their Monday Night Football win over the Giants, giving New York their only loss of the season. However, they have blown two straight 4th quarter leads because of a lack of focus. This team lacks focus and toughness, making them a risky wager as a favorite.

25. Houston – This team is more than capable of beating any team in the league. However, they find several different ways to lose games. The Texans have also had to deal with a hurricane this season. Houston should be an excellent point spread team for the rest of the season, especially as a large underdog.

26. Seattle – They haven’t been able to travel east and win on the road, even with Matt Hasselbeck. The Seahawks are in a transition period between coaches. This season is the last for Mike Holmgren, while Jim Mora waits to take over while on the staff. Seattle has also been plagued with injuries. Look for them to have some point spread value in the 2nd half of the season.

27. San Francisco – The 49ers are still a work in progress under coach Mike Singletary. They don’t have the personnel to successfully run Mike Martz’s pass happy offense. Their defense has given up 24 points or more to almost every team they have faced. In addition, mistakes still plague this team, evident by their late 4th quarter drive that stalled out against Arizona on Monday night.

28. Kansas City – The Chiefs are showing improvement, but they still aren’t capable of consistently winning games. Kansas City will be an excellent point spread team if Tyler Thigpen continues his good play. Larry Johnson’s return should help this week. The defense is still a mess though and the Achilles heel of the team. Quarterbacks have been able to have field days on the horrendous secondary. Even Jeff Garcia threw for over 300 yards against the Chiefs.

29. Cincinnati – The running game is one of the worst in the league, putting the offense squarely on the shoulders of inexperienced quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. The defense has been spotty as well this season. Marvin Lewis will more than likely be out of a job after this season unless something dramatically turns around. Carson Palmer returning from his elbow injury is this team’s only hope.

30. Oakland – Al Davis has taken the offensive play calling duties away from coordinator Greg Knapp. Enough said. Davis has completely ruined this team, as he has consistently destroyed any progress this team has made over the years. The offense lacks playmakers and a quality quarterback. The defense has played well in spots this season, but they can’t overcome a horrible offense.

31. St. Louis – Anytime you are down 40-0 at halftime to an average opponent, you deserve to be listed this low. Quarterback Marc Bulger has played awful lately, especially without Stephen Jackson in the line-up. The Rams offensive line has been a huge problem as well. Their defense has also played very poorly, giving up 23 points or more in 6 out of 9 games this season.

32. Detroit – The Lions are absolutely horrible. When their opponents show up even semi-motivated it usually leads to a blowout. Jacksonville absolutely owned them last week, and some Jaguars players were supposedly joking around about how bad this team is. Their running game is non-existent, and their defense is even worse. This team has a serious chance of ending the season winless. Their remaining schedule has all quality teams. Their opponents for the rest of the season include Carolina, Tampa Bay, Tennessee, Minnesota, Indianapolis, New Orleans, and Green Bay. Can you say 0-16?

Hopefully this article will help you do a better job of beating the NFL betting lines this weekend, but if not you can always sign up for the NFL picks offered by our expert handicappers!