It’s true what they say about “any given Sunday.” With so much parity in the National Football League, any team is capable winning from week to week.
But let’s face it, these five teams are going to get their butts kicked on most Sunday afternoons. They’re the five worst in the NFL.
5. San Francisco 49ers (2010 record: 6-10) – For San Francisco to be competitive, quarterback Alex Smith (career 51 touchdowns, 53 interceptions) must finally step up. Running back Frank Gore can handle a heavy load, but he can’t do it alone. The defense needs to make more plays, too. It ranked in the bottom half of the league last year in points allowed.
4. Cleveland Browns (2010 record: 5-11) – Even with running back Peyton Hillis breaking out for 1,177 yards and 11 touchdowns last season, the Browns had the second worst offense in the league. And they didn’t do much in the offseason to improve it. The team’s fate is in the hands of second-year quarterback Colt McCoy and first-time NFL coach Pat Shurmur. Yikes!
3. Buffalo Bills (2010 record: 4-12) – Buffalo’s offense lacks punch with Ryan Fitzpatrick calling signals and defensively there are plenty of holes. Last season, the Bills had the worst run defense in the league and only four teams allowed more total points. Plus, the Bills are a combined 1-11 over the last two season in their own division. Expect more of the same.
2. Cincinnati Bengals (2010 record: 4-12) – Gee, I wonder why Carson Palmer would rather retire than play another season for the Bengals. Could it have something to do with the fact that the team has no legitimate receivers? The offense now is in the hands of unproven quarterback Andy Dalton and running back Cedric Benson. Don’t expect the defense to bail them out; it ranked No. 22 in the NFL in 2010.
1. Carolina Panthers (2010 record: 2-14) – Top pick Cam Newton is the future of the Panthers, but the present outlook is bleak. Even an experienced quarterback would struggle with this crew (last in the NFL in passing in 2010). The Panthers scored a league-worst 196 points in 2010. It’ll be up to the defense to keep the team in games … uh, never mind. First-year coach Ron Rivera is in for a long season.
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Five NFL breakout candidates for 2011: Fan’s take
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Top five active NFL head coaches: Fan’s take
Top five NFL game-breakers: Fan’s take
NFL Network’s top 100 of 2011: Fan reaction
Adam Martini is a freelance sports writer who proudly wears his Rodney Hampton jersey on Sundays during the football season. He grew up in Queens, N.Y. rooting for the Giants despite being surrounded by Jets fans.
Sources
Pro-Football-Reference.com.
The Official Site of the National Football League.