Power Ranking The Decade:
Middle Of The Pack # 20-11
by Chris Brophy
27/5/2008
 
In the second part of our decade of power rankings, we look at the teams who make up the middle of the pack. Some got close at times, others were just plain inconsistent. Does your team make up one of the teams in positions 20-11? Read on and see:
 
20, Kansas City Chiefs
Record: 64-64 (0.500)
Play-off Appearances: Two (0-2)
Division Titles: One (2003)
Super Bowl Appearances: None
 
Currently struggling, the Chiefs have been entertaining to watch for most of this decade with the high powered offense of Al Saunders run by Trent Green for most of it. It worked for Dick Vermeil in St Louis but couldn't even muster a play-off win in KC. His veteran group has all but disappeared now and Herm Edwards is trying to rebuild it quickly. He needs to or this decade will end badly and their ranking will suffer.
 
19, Dallas Cowboys
Record: 62 - 66 (0.484)
Play-off Appearances: Three (0-3)
Division Titles: One (2007)
Super Bowl Appearances: None
 
The Team of the 1990's found the going tough in this decade but they are in a position to finish the decade on a high and move up in future rankings. Ultimately though, despite Jerry Jones trying most things, including opening a can of Tuna (which the Dolphins are now trying but in a different recipe) this team has failed to deliver consistency and a play-off victory in three tries.
 
18, New York Jets
Record: 62-66 (0.484)
Play-off Appearances: Four (2-4)
Division Titles: One (2002)
Super Bowl Appearances: None
 
This team really has provided a roller coaster ride over the decade. They post a winning record, then they disappear into the bowels of averageness just as quickly. Herm Edwards tried to ride Curtis Martin as far as he could and is now in Kansas City trying to do the same thing with Larry Johnson. If current Coach Eric Mangini doesn't turn things around this year, the bottom twelve beckons for the Jets rather than a climb up the chart.
 
17, New Orleans Saints
Record: 62-66 (0.484)
Play-off Appearances: Two (2-2)
Division Titles: Two
Super Bowl Appearances: None
 
When you have the previous history of the Saints, this decade can be considered one that holds many fond memories. They have managed their first play-off victory and reached the NFC Championship Game for the first time ever the season before last. The problem the first play-off win brought was that it bought the awful Aaron Brooks four years of mediocre performances that really didn't deserve that much of a chance.
 
16, Jacksonville Jaguars
Record: 64-64 (0.500)
Play-off Appearances: Two (1-2)
Division Titles: None
Super Bowl Appearances: None
 
You have to feel a little bit sorry for the Jaguars, realignment put them in a division that saw the Titans as a really strong team as the decade began and has seen the Colts be dominant since. Winning your division is the first part of long term success but the Jags have still managed to make some noise despite never topping either Tennessee or Indianapolis. At the same time, until they do start getting more than just wild cards, they probably will never be able to climb any higher on this list in future years.
 
15, Carolina Panthers
Record: 59 - 69 (0.461)
Play-off Appearances: Two (5-2)
Division Titles: Two (2003, 2005)
Super Bowl Appearances: One
 
Another team that has seen super highs and real lows in this part of the list. 1-15 in 2001 (after winning their first game) brought to an end the George Seifert reign and since then, John Fox has delivered two division titles and the franchise's lone Super Bowl appearance. Things have slowed down again recently and change could be on the cards again soon if this downturn continues.
 
14, San Diego Chargers
Record: 64-64 (0.500)
Play-off Appearances: Three (2-3)
Division Titles: Three (2004, 2006, 2007)
Super Bowl Appearances: None
 
Their record for the decade is an even .500 but let's not forget where they were at the start of the noughties. Mike Riley was a Head Coach who went 1-15 and didn't get fired and they had Ryan Leaf as their trigger man. That's like playing Russian Roulette with five of the six chambers loaded! To overcome this disaster, they brought in Martyball and got exactly what Martyball delivers. Regular season success... post season misery. Norv Turner got them closer to the ultimate goal this year and the fact the team posted a NFL best record in 2006 (14-2) and has entertained us with the delights of LaDainian Tomlinson means they get ranked above the half way mark despite a half way type record.
 
13, St Louis Rams
Record: 68-60 (0.531)
Play-off Appearances: Four (3-4)
Division Titles: Two (2001, 2003)
Super Bowl Appearances: One (2001)
 
The 1990s ended on a high with one of the most exciting Super Bowl wins ever and the current decade started well too but ever since they were pipped by the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVI, it's been slowly falling apart. Kurt Warner went as quickly as he came and whilst the offense has been entertaining to watch for the majority of the decade, the veterans of those heady days are either gone or not far from going. This past season probably has seen them drop below a couple of teams they might feel they have been more successful than.
 
12, Tennessee Titans
Record: 70-58 (0.547)
Play-off Appearances: Four (2-4)
Division Titles: Two (2000, 2002)
Super Bowl Appearances: None
 
The Titans, bar a mid-decade hiccup, have been pretty consistent. They no longer have the edge over the Colts in the division but they have remained competitive for the most part and despite having to purge the roster because of salary cap problems and having a mini-rebuild, they boast a coach who has steered his team for the entire decade and four double digit winning seasons. They'll be hoping Vince Young can help them climb back to where they were early in decade before the Noughties run out.
 
11, Denver Broncos
Record: 77 - 41 (0.602)
Play-off Appearances: Four (1-4)
Division Titles: One (2005)
Super Bowl Appearances: None
 
Just missing out on the top ten are the Broncos who have an excellent won-loss record for the decade and before this season just gone, had not had a losing season in the decade. However, the fact is whilst they have performed in the regular season, they have failed badly in the post season. It is worth noting their only post season win of the period was over the defending Super Bowl Champion Patriots in 2005, stopping the Pats getting a three-peat.
 
Next Edition: The Top Ten # 10-1
Previously: Wooden Spoon Winners # 32-21