2011 NFL Power Rankings: Week 14

Updated: December 6, 2011, 4:06 PM ET

ESPN.com

Week:

For the many teams on the fringe of the playoffs, time is running out.

With only four weeks left in the regular season, teams such as the Bengals, Cowboys, Falcons, Giants, Lions and Raiders -- all losers in Week 13 -- need to remedy their inconsistent ways or else. They're not the only ones living on the edge. The Broncos and Titans helped their causes with victories on Sunday, but, at 7-5, neither has much margin for error.

So who will emerge from the fray and ultimately nail down postseason spots? Our voters (ESPN.com's John Clayton, ESPN.com's Ashley Fox, AFC South blogger Paul Kuharsky, NFC West blogger Mike Sando and AFC East blogger James Walker) have some hunches.

Let's start with the Broncos. Five straight victories have vaulted Denver to the top of the AFC West and all the way to No. 10 in the rankings. The Falcons, despite losing at Houston, actually moved up one position to No. 8. The Cowboys dropped only one spot to No. 9, a light punishment for their overtime loss in Arizona.

The Bears and Raiders weren't viewed in the same positive light, as each team fell five spots. Chicago (No. 17) is still 7-5, but, with Caleb Hanie (six picks in two starts) at quarterback and RB Matt Forte out indefinitely with a knee injury, our voters apparently don't see much upside in the Windy City. Oakland also has key injuries on offense, as well as a tough upcoming schedule.

Are both teams' playoff bubbles about to burst?

Perhaps, but they're not the only ones on tenuous ground.

2011 Power Rankings: Week 14
RANK	TEAM / RECORD	TRENDING	COMMENTS
1	Packers 12-0	-- Last Week: 1	Dallas' Jason Garrett could learn from Aaron Rodgers and the Packers about how to execute a game-winning field goal drive. (Clayton)
2	Ravens 9-3	-- Last Week: 2	The Ravens are back to December football. Baltimore rushed for 290 yards against Cleveland. (Walker)
3	49ers 10-2	-- Last Week: 3	The 49ers claimed their 18th division title in the Super Bowl era and first since 2002. (Sando)
4	Saints 9-3	-- Last Week: 4	The Saints are keeping pressure on the 49ers in the chase for the second seed and a first-round playoff bye. (Sando)
5	Steelers 9-3	-- Last Week: 5	LB James Harrison (three sacks versus Cincy) reminded us he's still one of the NFL's top pass-rushers. (Walker)
6	Patriots 9-3	-- Last Week: 6	The Patriots' biggest challenge is themselves. They can't fall asleep against a cupcake schedule. (Walker)
7	Texans 9-3	-- Last Week: 7	Confidence in Houston's headquarters is as high as anywhere in the league outside of Wisconsin. (Kuharsky)
8	Falcons 7-5	1 Last Week: 9	The Falcons' completion percentage against the Texans was their lowest since Week 2 of the 2008 season. (Sando)
9	Cowboys 7-5	1 Last Week: 8	The overtime loss to Arizona could haunt the Cowboys through the offseason. Horrible late-game decisions kept the door open for the Giants in the division. (Fox)
10	Broncos 7-5	6 Last Week: 16	They're converting believers game by game and getting help from the rest of the fading AFC West. (Kuharsky)
11	Jets 7-5	4 Last Week: 15	Jets QB Mark Sanchez is channeling his inner Tim Tebow with clutch fourth quarters. (Walker)
12	Lions 7-5	1 Last Week: 11	The Lions are committing so many dumb penalties that officials are starting to run out of flags. (Clayton)
13	Titans 7-5	4 Last Week: 17	Three wins in their final four games could get the Titans into the playoffs. But the hot Saints will be a tough matchup Sunday in Nashville. (Kuharsky)
14	Bengals 7-5	1 Last Week: 13	The Bengals are 0-3 against the big boys (Ravens, Steelers) in the AFC North. (Walker)
15	Raiders 7-5	5 Last Week: 10	Injuries contributed to poor play and a loss to Miami, but the Raiders have to wake up or be victims to Tebowmania. (Kuharsky)
16	Giants 6-6	2 Last Week: 14	They've lost four straight games and face the Cowboys in Dallas next, but which team in the horrid NFC East is playing better than the Giants? (Fox)
17	Bears 7-5	5 Last Week: 12	Lovie Smith wants to stand pat with Caleb Hanie and Josh McCown at QB. Suddenly, the Bears' playoff run is being intercepted. (Clayton)
18	Cardinals 5-7	7 Last Week: 25	The Cardinals have allowed five touchdowns in their past five games after allowing 20 in their first seven. (Sando)
19	Seahawks 5-7	5 Last Week: 24	Upcoming games against the banged-up Rams and Bears have revived long-shot playoff hopes. (Sando)
20	Bills 5-7	1 Last Week: 19	Buffalo is in a tough situation defensively. The Bills can't stop the run or rush the passer. (Walker)
21	Chargers 5-7	1 Last Week: 22	The Chargers stopped the bleeding in Jacksonville, but Norv Turner's fate appears sealed. (Kuharsky)
22	Dolphins 4-8	4 Last Week: 26	The Dolphins, 4-1 in their past five games, are the team no playoff hopeful wants to face. (Walker)
23	Chiefs 5-7	2 Last Week: 21	The Chiefs' bad quarterback situation wasn't quite as bad as the Bears' bad quarterback situation on Sunday. (Kuharsky)
24	Eagles 4-8	6 Last Week: 18	A leaderless, dysfunctional mess. At least the Eagles should have Michael Vick back this week at Miami. (Fox)
25	Panthers 4-8	3 Last Week: 28	It would be fun to go back and listen to analysts' pre-draft concerns over Cam Newton's pro prospects. (Sando)
26	Buccaneers 4-8	6 Last Week: 20	The Buccaneers have not won a game in 51 days dating to an Oct. 16 victory over the Saints. (Sando)
27	Commanders 4-8	4 Last Week: 23	The Redskins have lost seven of their past eight games, including most recently to the Jets. New England is next. Can they win even one more? (Fox)
28	Browns 4-8	1 Last Week: 27	How bad is Cleveland's offense? The Browns have scored just one more point (175) than the winless Colts (174). (Walker)
29	Jaguars 3-9	-- Last Week: 29	Monday night's blowout loss crystallized the Jags' main problem -- they simply lack talent to compete. (Kuharsky)
30	Vikings 2-10	-- Last Week: 30	Good move to give Leslie Frazier another year. Because the talent level has dropped off so much, there are no quick fixes. (Clayton)
31	Rams 2-10	-- Last Week: 31	A shutout loss to the 49ers left the Rams with a 10-44 record dating to the 2008 season. (Sando)
32	Colts 0-12	-- Last Week: 32	The Colts' secondary situation was already bad. Now, two corners who were regulars are on injured reserve. (Kuharsky)
Biggest Jump: 7 Biggest Drop: 6 Make your own Power Rankings