NFL Power Rankings Week 14: Who's A Legitimate Super Bowl Contender?

NFL Power Rankings Week 14—the good are getting better and the playoff picture is forming. It's how you play in December that matters.

Let's get to it:

1.  New England Patriots (10-2): You didn't need to watch the entire game Monday night to realize that Tom Brady and his band are tuning up for a serious run to the Super Bowl. Made the Jets look like a team heading for one of those run-of-the-mill college bowl games. The P-men are for real and they know what it takes to win it all. That's why they're here at the top.

2. Atlanta Falcons (10-2): Matty Ice brought his team from behind to beat that upstart band of Buccaneers in Tampa Sunday afternoon/evening. Ryan has a knack for fourth-quarter comebacks and has his team on the move. They're in the toughest division in the NFC.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3): Hardest hitting team in the NFL and they're getting the fines to show for it. The way things are going, the NFL commissioner is going to have to put some lace around that NFL logo shield. The Men of Steel looked more than impressive against the Ravens. Defense wins in December.

4. Chicago Bears (9-3): They were trying to run Lovie Smith out of town, now he's got his team in the thick of the battle. It will go down to the wire between the Bears and the Pack in the NFC North. Look for both to make it to the postseason.

5. Philadelphia Eagles (8-4): Seems like the Eagles are getting a bit better every week and Mike Vick continues to be the comeback player of the year in the NFL. They're locked in a serious battle for the NFC East and should make some noise in the postseason.

6. New Orleans (9-3): Is it possible that the defending Super Bowl champions are flying under the radar? The Falcons are stealing a lot of headlines right now, but don't count the Saints out. If they cannot overtake the Falcons in the NFC South, they'll get one of the two wild cards.

7. Baltimore Ravens (8-4): Lost the heart breaker to Pittsburgh but still have what it takes to play beyond December. Defense wins in December, didn't we say that just a moment ago?

8. Green Bay (8-4): Locked in a battle for the NFC North with the Bears. If they don't take the division, they could end up with one of the two NFC wild cards.

9. New York Jets (9-3): Took the butt-kicking of all butt-kickings on Monday night. Rex Ryan will have to regroup his guys in a hurry and try and regain some momentum. Otherwise the Jets could slide out of the playoff picture.

10. New York Giants (8-4): Will need some stellar play out of Eli Manning down the stretch. G-men are battling the Eagles for the division. Second place in the division will be battling for a wild card spot.

11. Kansas City (8-4): Not very impressive against Denver on Sunday, but someone has to win the AFC West, don't they?

12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5): Raheem Morris' team lost a heart breaker to Atlanta. They lost a 24-10 lead in the fourth quarter. Still they're not out of the playoff picture yet as Morris has them on the "race to 10." Even if they get there, it still might not be good enough for a wild card berth.

13. Jacksonville Jaguars (7-5): The Jags weren't supposed to be very good this year but there they were pounding the ground game on Sunday with Maurice Jones Drew. They're in a battle with Indy for the division and only the division winner gets into the playoffs.

14. Indianapolis Colts (6-6): They need to steady the ship and Payton Manning better knock it off with the interceptions or the Colts will be heading for vacation early.

15. St. Louis Rams (6-6): Someone has to win the DREADFUL NFC West, don't they?

16. Seattle Seahawks (6-6): The Seahawks can't possibly win the DREADFUL NFC West, can they?

17. San Diego Chargers (6-6): Disappointing and then some.

18. Oakland Raiders (6-6): Total overachievers this year.

19. Cleveland Browns (5-7): When you've got lemons, make lemonade.

20. Minnesota Vikings (5-7): Hopefully the end of the Brett Favre era.

21. Miami Dolphins (6-6): How is this a .500 team?

22. Dallas Cowboys (4-8): No truth to the rumor that Jerry Jones is going to name himself the new head coach.

23. Houston Texans (5-7): They were supposed to be better than this.

24. Tennessee Titans (5-7): Is there a Vince Young suicide watch on yet?

25. Washington Redskins (5-7):  Albert Haynesworth is on double-secret probation and Daniel Snyder is getting exactly what he deserves.

26. San Francisco 49ers (4-8): Who's in line to replace Mike Singletary?

27. Arizona Cardinals (3-9): Time to look forward to the 2012 draft.

28. Denver Broncos (3-9): Time for a new coach and time to find out if Tim Tebow is really a quarterback.

29. Cincinnati Bengals (2-10): Really folks, isn't it about time to show Marvin Lewis the door?

30. Detroit Lions (2-10): Will have yet another top draft pick.

31. Buffalo Bills (2-10): These Bills can't even circle the wagons.

32: Carolina Panthers (1-11): Not as good as their record indicates. The new home of Cam Newton.