NFL Power Rankings Week 11: Outlook for All 32 Teams Entering Sunday's Action

The first game of Week 11 is in the books, as the Indianapolis Colts strengthened their stranglehold atop the AFC South by beating the Tennessee Titans.

Plenty more movement should occur before the upcoming slate of games have played out, so it's worth taking a look at all 32 teams before Sunday's action gets underway.

The NFL's elite have seemed to separate themselves from the rest of the pack, but the top two teams in this edition of power rankings will do battle twice in the next three games.

As the playoff race heats up, here is an overview of each franchise's outlook, with the analysis focusing on rather surprising postseason contenders whose stock should continue to rise with wins this week.

Note: Teams analyzed in more depth are italicized.

1. Kansas City Chiefs (9-0)

Even though the Chiefs haven't beaten anyone with a record better than .500, they have contributed to that statistic by, well, winning all their games.

Head coach Andy Reid has been rejuvenated by his arrival in Kansas City, and the same goes for his players, who comprised a talented roster but didn't have the right guidance until now.

All the pieces are coming together, with quarterback Alex Smith continuing to silence critics by simply getting it done. A massive AFC West showdown with the Broncos awaits, though. That should prove just how good this Chiefs team is.

2. Denver Broncos (8-1)

Legendary QB Peyton Manning has been bothered by an ankle injury, but he's listed as probable on the Broncos' final injury report.

There was no way Manning wasn't going to be on the gridiron for Sunday's prime-time clash with the Chiefs, but he is facing an amazing defense that is No. 1 in sacks (36) and in points allowed per game (12.3).

As long as Manning can stand, though, he needs only minimal movement in the pocket. His quick release should serve him well with his plethora of weapons, but the Broncos will need to slow down Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles to seize control of the AFC West.

3. Seattle Seahawks (9-1)

Uh-oh, rest of the NFL. Percy Harvin hasn't played a down this season, yet the Seahawks have done enough on offense to win nine of 10 games and reign supreme atop the NFC West.

Harvin returns this week to face his old Minnesota Vikings teammates at CenturyLink Field, per Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. Seattle's second-year signal-caller Russell Wilson has yet to lose at home in his young career.

Look for the Seahawks to continue rolling and moving one step closer to clinching the West, along with potentially the No. 1 seed in the NFC. With a balanced offense, the addition of Harvin and a stout defense, Pete Carroll's bunch looks like a surefire Super Bowl contender.

4. New Orleans Saints (7-2)

The Achilles' heel for the Saints continues to be the rush defense. Although the unit's ranking improved slightly to 23rd in the league in Week 10, it still yielded well over five yards per carry in a blowout victory over the Dallas Cowboys.

New Orleans' front seven will be put to the test against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, but the good news is, Drew Brees is still the quarterback and is looking as prolific as ever.

5. Carolina Panthers (6-3)

Between Cam Newton not pressing as much for big plays and the defense playing some of—if not the best—football in the league, the Panthers are in the midst of a run to the playoffs.

It helps that Jonathan Stewart has returned to the backfield, which is now three-deep with DeAngelo Williams and Mike Tolbert, whose size also allows him to function as a fullback at times.

Linebacker Luke Kuechly is making a case for himself as a Defensive Player of the Year candidate in racking up 75 combined tackles and three interceptions already.

Defensive end Charles Johnson is also on a hot streak in registering at least one sack in each of his past four games, giving him 8.5 on the season. That's been part of Carolina's rise to being a top-five pass defense, but the unit is No. 2 versus the run, too.

None of this is good news for Tom Brady and the Patriots, who travel to Bank of America Stadium for Monday Night Football.

6. New England Patriots (7-2)

As mentioned above, Brady and Co. are in trouble against the Panthers' formidable defense.

Also hurting New England in the immediate future is that Kuechly can match up with star tight end Rob Gronkowski in coverage and at least limit his explosiveness.

Beyond next week's encounter with Denver, though, the Patriots don't face another team that currently sports a winning record for the rest of the season. That should allow them to win the AFC East for the 10th time in the past 11 seasons.

7. San Francisco 49ers (6-3)

Colin Kaepernick looked like an unstoppable force of nature in leading the Niners to a Super Bowl appearance last season. However, since throwing for over 400 yards in Week 1, his passing ability has dipped in a big way.

That's somewhat due to a dearth of weapons around him, but Kaepernick should still be faring better than he is with a running game and defense as strong as San Francisco's to support him.

Expect a heavy dose of Frank Gore, as the Niners try to keep the ball away from the Saints and Brees as much as possible at the Superdome.

8. Detroit Lions (6-3)

The new NFC North leaders seemed like a dysfunctional bunch teetering on the brink of wasting a talented nucleus and undergoing a regime change following the 2013 season.

However, nine of the team's 12 losses in 2012 were by eight points or fewer, so there were signs that the Lions could turn it around.

The secondary remains a liability, but as long as Matthew Stafford is delivering bullets to Calvin Johnson and Reggie Bush runs well, Detroit is a force to be reckoned with.

9. Indianapolis Colts (7-3)

As reported by Mike Wells of ESPN.com, the usually calm quarterback Andrew Luck was fed up with trailing for the third consecutive game at halftime of Thursday's road game in Tennessee.

Luck fired up the team and promptly led them to a comeback victory in the final 30 minutes to give Indianapolis a three-game advantage in the division.

Even with Reggie Wayne gone for the season, it appears the Colts may be in for a stellar playoff run after all with Luck as their leader.

10. Cincinnati Bengals (6-4)

With six interceptions in his past two games, quarterback Andy Dalton is flashing some of the inconsistency that has skeptics questioning his ability to be the long-term answer under center in Cincinnati.

Being that generous with the football will not bode well for the Bengals on Sunday, as they try to expand their lead at home in the AFC North against the Cleveland Browns, who beat them 17-6 in a prior Week 4 contest.

11. New York Jets (5-4)

Head coach Rex Ryan has coached up the defense to maintain its elite level of play, but it all comes down to rookie QB Geno Smith's ability to protect the football.

If Smith can limit his mistakes and continue to cut down on the 13 interceptions he threw in the first half of his maiden pro campaign, the Jets have a shot at the wild card—and even to catch the Patriots in the AFC East.

12. Philadelphia Eagles (5-5)

It's hard to dismiss Nick Foles' brilliant play as a fluke, considering he's thrown 16 touchdowns and zero interceptions this season.

Great quarterback play elevates the entire team, and even though the Eagles will continue to rely on NFL lead rusher LeSean McCoy as the foundation of the offense, Foles' play has to have Philadelphia fans encouraged.

At 5-5, the Eagles have a shot to move ahead of the idle Cowboys for sole possession of first place in the NFC East—and possibly never look back.

But for some of his outrageous opinions, ESPN personality Skip Bayless brings up a good point ahead of the Eagles' Week 11 home game against the Washington Redskins:

Even though home field has not been kind to Philadelphia lately, look for Foles and McCoy to carve up a terrible Washington defense en route to a victory that will also halt their division rival's postseason aspirations.

13. Chicago Bears (5-4)

With the NFC North still to be had, quarterback Josh McCown has to step up in place of Jay Cutler as he did in Week 9's win over Green Bay to keep the Bears' postseason hopes alive.

Chicago is not a good defense at the moment, so running the offense through running back Matt Forte will be as vital as ever. McCown faces tough conditions ahead in Week 11 and a difficult matchup in the Baltimore Ravens at Soldier Field.

14. Green Bay Packers (5-4)

It's up to Scott Tolzien—or perhaps the recently re-signed Matt Flynn—to hold the fort down until prolific QB Aaron Rodgers returns from injury.

Rookie bruiser Eddie Lacy and James Starks have helped Green Bay's rushing attack immensely, but it remains to be seen if the duo can still be productive with Rodgers out for multiple weeks.

Traveling to MetLife Stadium to take on the improving Giants will be a stiff test for Tolzien, but Clay Matthews should help the defense out after knocking off the rust in his first game back since Week 5 last Sunday.

15. Arizona Cardinals (5-4)

Even with the statuesque Carson Palmer being protected by a shoddy offensive line and playing in the NFC West, Arizona is trailing in the wild-card standings by just one game.

That's a testament to the coaching chops of Bruce Arians, along with a defense that has been elite against the run and has benefited from the emergence of shutdown corner Patrick Peterson, who plays sparingly on offense, too.

If rookie RB Andre Ellington gets more touches, the weapons at Palmer's disposal should be bound for bigger plays as the second half of the season wears on. That could be enough to push the Cardinals to the fifth or sixth seed.

16. Cleveland Browns (4-5)

The new regime and new coaching staff have brought a renewed swagger to the Browns that finally has the organization have the look of turning things around for sustainable success.

Questions still loom at the most important position, but Jason Campbell has done a great job at QB in his first two starts in Cleveland without throwing an interception.

What has shaped this team's identity is the defense, coached up by coordinator Ray Horton into one of the league's best in yielding an NFL-low 4.5 yards per play, per TeamRankings.com.

That will be the foundation for their success on Sunday in Cincinnati, an opponent the Browns conceded only six points to in a Week 4 triumph.

As long as Campbell can continue avoiding mistakes and the defense remains stout, Cleveland should find itself within a half-game of first place in the AFC North after a huge road win at Paul Brown Stadium.

17. Dallas Cowboys (5-5)

America's Team continues to be an enigma. There's no mystery as to what ails the Cowboys: It is defense. Coordinator Monte Kiffin has been an abject failure in Dallas.

A lot of blame falls on signal-caller Tony Romo, but even his sharpest critics can't blame him for what's transpiring right now. Even with that against them, the Cowboys are still tied for the NFC East lead and in the thick of the playoff chase.

18. Baltimore Ravens (4-5)

The defending Super Bowl champions saved their 2013 season by winning in overtime over the Bengals in Week 10, but now they have to travel to Chicago.

Thankfully for Baltimore, the Bears defense isn't as good as it has been in years past against the run in particular. That provides a golden opportunity for Ray Rice and Bernard Pierce to right the ship and provide balance for QB Joe Flacco.

19. Tennessee Titans (4-6)

It seemed all doom and gloom when Jake Locker was declared out for the season, but his backup Ryan Fitzpatrick played great against Indianapolis on Thursday in registering a 111.6 passer rating.

Chris Johnson also ran with a renewed purpose, and the defense has been physical all season. It was a victim of Luck at his best in the second half, but the Titans are still in the wild-card chase. If the Jets lose in Buffalo, Tennessee will still be just one game back.

20. San Diego Chargers (4-5)

The offense is fine, which was to be expected with Mike McCoy as head coach. Defense has been the issue in San Diego, as the Chargers rank 29th in total yards allowed per game.

A good sign is that they are 12th in points allowed, though. With Philip Rivers experiencing a resurgence, the playoffs are still an outside possibility. The problem is that the league's two best teams occupy the Chargers' division.

21. St. Louis Rams (4-6)

Hey! A Tavon Austin sighting! The playmaker the Rams traded up to get in the most recent draft exploded for two touchdown catches totaling 138 yards and a 98-yard punt return to pay dirt in a blowout of the Colts in Week 10.

It remains to be seen if that was an aberration or not, but offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer has a Week 11 bye to figure out how to put the ball in Austin's hands more often.

22. New York Giants (3-6)

Never count out the Giants, but never count on them. After starting out 0-6, this team has somehow rallied to win three straight games and get back into the NFC East hunt.

Eli Manning has thrown a league-high 16 interceptions, and in stark contrast to recent years, the G-Men seem to be winning in spite of him more than because of him. Andre Brown gave the running game new life in Week 10, while the defense sustained its recent high level of play.

Things are looking up in the Big Apple, but it comes down to Manning making fewer mistakes down the stretch.

23. Miami Dolphins (4-5)

Legitimate questions have to be raised about Ryan Tannehill and his viability as a franchise quarterback. It is only Year 2, but he's in such a similar offense to the one that he ran in college.

The offensive line is a problem with the absences of Jonathan Martin and Richie Incognito, but Tannehill should be functioning at a higher level than he has. Miami has yielded the most sacks in the league, yet many of those are on Tannehill for holding the ball too long.

General manager Jeff Ireland was aggressive in revamping the roster this offseason. While it seemed the pieces were fitting together early on, that's no longer the case.

24. Washington Redskins (3-6)

Robert Griffin III is showing flashes of the electric QB that took the league by storm last season, but not enough to lift Washington to another playoff berth.

At this point last season, the Redskins had the same record and went on a seven-game winning streak to win the NFC East. Barring another miraculous run like that, it looks like a season of disappointment in the nation's capital.

25. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-6)

Getting back on track was necessary for the defense in particular after getting lit up for 55 points in New England in Week 9.

The Steelers kept their slim hopes alive in the AFC North by beating Buffalo at home, but the running game is still suspect, which will force Ben Roethlisberger to keep willing his team to wins under center.

A showdown with the NFC North-leading Lions looms, where Big Ben will likely take some punishment from the likes of Ndamukong Suh and Co.

26. Buffalo Bills (3-7)

E.J. Manuel made his return to the lineup in Week 10 but averaged under four yards per attempt in a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Not a good look for the first-round pick, that's for sure.

But those are some of the growing pains Manuel was expected to endure. A home game against the Jets may generate enough buzz to reignite Manuel and the Bills to play spoiler, but they're still another year or two away from contending for the postseason.

27. Oakland Raiders (3-6)

Dual-threat quarterback Terrelle Pryor is out with a knee injury for Sunday's contest in Houston, along with RB Darren McFadden, per the team's injury report. So that's not a good sign. The next option is undrafted rookie Matt McGloin.

The Raiders have a sieve for an offensive line as it is, and the defense isn't good enough to support an offense that can't run or pass effectively at the moment.

Unless McGloin is some kind of revelation, this team should lose a third straight game—to an opponent that has lost seven consecutive contests entering Week 11 at that.

28. Atlanta Falcons (2-7)

A nightmarish rash of injuries knocked Julio Jones out for the season and has limited Roddy White all year. That makes QB Matt Ryan's job a lot more difficult, especially with the league's worst rushing attack complementing him.

Jason Snelling's arrest earlier in the week, along with the questionable status of Tony Gonzalez and Harry Douglas, makes the Falcons' offensive outlook even direr ahead of Sunday's game in Tampa Bay.

29. Houston Texans (2-7)

Case Keenum is a great story—undrafted back in 2011 out of the University of Houston, now starting in the same city where he set NCAA records and thriving for the most part.

The problem is, it's too late for the Texans to climb back into playoff contention, much less defend their AFC South crown.

Evaluators within and even outside the organization should be watching Keenum closely to see how he holds up in the back half of the season. Otherwise, there will be much to forget with this Houston team.

30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-8)

Beating the Dolphins would have looked better, say, a month ago, but a win is a win for the Buccaneers.

Third-round rookie Mike Glennon is showing promise at QB even without star rusher Doug Martin to help him out. There is talent on the defense, too, but a coaching change seems necessary to push Tampa Bay to the next level.

31. Minnesota Vikings (2-7)

Beyond Adrian Peterson, there isn't much to be optimistic about in Minnesota. If not for Peterson's extraordinary 2012 campaign, it's pretty clear the Vikings wouldn't have gone to the postseason.

Until they get a straight answer as to who the quarterback of the future will be and a better defensive backfield, the onus will be on Peterson to put the team on his back.

32. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-8)

At least the Jags haven't given up, evidenced by their Week 10 win over the Titans, which gave first-year head coach Gus Bradley his maiden victory.

Even with Maurice Jones-Drew, though, Jacksonville is 31st in the league in rushing, and sports the worst rush defense. Facing a Cardinals team bidding for a playoff spot in Week 11 should enhance the Jaguars' chances of landing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 draft.