NFL Power Rankings 2015: Team Records and Standings Predictions for Week 11

Although more than a month remains in the 2015 NFL regular season, the true Super Bowl contenders are starting to distance themselves from the rest of the pack.

In addition, initial concerns about teams underperforming through the first half of the season are becoming genuine problems. The Denver Broncos and Green Bay Packers are two of the bigger examples of previously strong teams seemingly unraveling more and more as the year goes on.

The playoffs are still a ways down the road, but the postseason picture may start to look a little more clear following Week 11.

Here's a look at the league hierarchy heading into this week's games and three storylines surrounding teams that remain in the playoff discussion.

Week 11 Power Rankings

Rank	Team	Current Record	Week 11 Opponent	Proj. Record
1	New England Patriots	9-0	Buffalo Bills	10-0
2	Carolina Panthers	9-0	Washington Redskins	10-0
3	Arizona Cardinals	7-2	Cincinnati Bengals	8-2
4	Cincinnati Bengals	8-1	Arizona Cardinals	8-2
5	Minnesota Vikings	7-2	Green Bay Packers	8-2
6	Green Bay Packers	6-3	Minnesota Vikings	6-4
7	Denver Broncos	7-2	Chicago Bears	8-2
8	Pittsburgh Steelers	6-4	BYE	6-4
9	Atlanta Falcons	6-3	Indianapolis Colts	6-4
10	Buffalo Bills	5-4	New England Patriots	5-5
11	New York Giants	5-5	BYE	5-5
12	New York Jets	5-4	Houston Texans	6-4
13	Seattle Seahawks	4-5	San Francisco 49ers	5-5
14	Oakland Raiders	4-5	Detroit Lions	5-5
15	Philadelphia Eagles	4-5	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	4-6
16	Miami Dolphins	4-5	Dallas Cowboys	4-6
17	Kansas City Chiefs	4-5	San Diego Chargers	4-6
18	Chicago Bears	4-5	Denver Broncos	4-6
19	Washington Redskins	4-5	Carolina Panthers	4-6
20	Indianapolis Colts	4-5	Atlanta Falcons	5-5
21	Houston Texans	4-5	New York Jets	4-6
22	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	4-5	Philadelphia Eagles	5-5
23	St. Louis Rams	4-5	Baltimore Ravens	5-5
24	New Orleans Saints	4-6	BYE	4-6
25	Dallas Cowboys	2-7	Miami Dolphins	3-7
26	Jacksonville Jaguars	3-6	Tennessee Titans	4-6
27	Detroit Lions	2-7	Oakland Raiders	2-8
28	Tennessee Titans	2-7	Jacksonville Jaguars	2-8
29	Baltimore Ravens	2-7	St. Louis Rams	2-8
30	San Diego Chargers	2-7	Kansas City Chiefs	3-7
31	San Francisco 49ers	3-6	Seattle Seahawks	3-7
32	Cleveland Browns	2-8	BYE	2-8

Week 11 Storylines

Are the Denver Broncos Any Better with Brock Osweiler?

Joe Mahoney/Associated Press

At this point, Brock Osweiler can't be any worse than 39-year-old Peyton Manning. ESPN's Adam Schefter confirmed Osweiler will start for the Denver Broncos in Week 11 since Manning is dealing with a foot injury and the general effects that come with old age.

Pro Football Focus grades Manning as the 30th-best quarterback in the NFL this year. Nick Foles, Brandon Weeden and Johnny Manziel are a handful of the QBs listed ahead of him, to put that into perspective.

ESPN Stats & Info highlighted one of the biggest issues plaguing Manning this year:

Denver has one of the best defenses in the league this year. The Broncos rank first in yards allowed (277.3 YPG) and third in points allowed (18.7 PPG).

But as good as that defense is, the Broncos will make a quick exit in the playoffs if Manning doesn't improve or Osweiler proves to be just as bad or even worse under center.

This week will be a good test for Osweiler. The Chicago Bears are allowing only 217 yards a game through the air but a slightly less impressive 7.1 yards an attempt. Football Outsiders is even less impressed by the Bears, placing them 18th in pass defense DVOA.

Chicago won't be a pushover, nor does it boast the kind of stout secondary that puts Osweiler at a disadvantage before the game even starts. If he can have a big game, it will allay some of the fears in Denver.

Can Tony Romo's Return Revive Dallas Cowboys' Near-Lifeless Playoff Chances?

Brian Blanco/Associated Press

Even at 2-7, the Dallas Cowboys still have an outside shot of winning the NFC East. The New York Giants lead the division at 5-5, and the Cowboys could climb to within two games with a win over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.

Dallas fans have a small reason to be optimistic with Tony Romo in line to start. ESPN's Ed Werder reported Monday that Romo is healthy enough to return to the field, while the Cowboys announced they released Brandon Weeden on Tuesday in order to open up a roster spot for Romo.

To his credit, Romo isn't yet closing the door on the postseason (Caution: Linked video contains NSFW language):

An 8-8 record might be enough to capture the NFC East, but the Cowboys will in all likelihood need to win their next seven games in order to have a shot. Considering they still have to play the Carolina Panthers and Green Bay Packers, that will be a tall order.

With a win Sunday, though, Dallas can still cling to whatever hope remains that it can keep playing through January.

Does Rex Ryan's Luck Turn Around Against New England Patriots?

Bill Wippert/Associated Press

Rex Ryan wasted little time after joining the New York Jets making his attitude toward the New England Patriots very clear.

"I never came here to kiss Bill Belichick's, you know, rings," Ryan said in June 2009 in an interview on WFAN (via Yahoo Sports' Joe Zedalis). "I came to win. Let's just put it that way. So we'll see what happens. I'm certainly not intimidated by New England or anybody else."

Ryan-coached teams are 4-11 against the New England Patriots since 2009, so the rivalry between Belichick and Ryan—if you could even call it that—is one-sided.

Most recently, the Patriots beat the Buffalo Bills 40-32, and the final score is deceiving since Buffalo scored 19 points in the fourth quarter.

The Bills are coming off two wins and own the final wild-card spot in the AFC heading into Week 11.

Beating the Patriots would be a major feather in the cap for Buffalo and establish the team as a serious player in the conference. A loss, however, would undo the Bills' recent momentum.