NFL Week 11 Predictions: Power Ranking 15 Teams on Playoff Life Support
With Week 11 beginning in the NFL, the playoff picture is starting to take shape. There are a handful of teams that look like virtual locks for the playoffs, but there a ton of teams whose future is best described as murky.
This piece features teams that, mathematically, still have a shot at the playoffs. They're ranked from those most likely to make the playoffs, to those that are one loss away from watching the playoffs from their couch.
Nothing is impossible for these teams, but for many of them, their playoff hopes, at best, can be considered "highly unlikely."
15. The Chicago Bears
1 of 15
How They Got This Close To Extinction:
The Bears have been inconsistent this year, and they have an offensive line your grandmother can get through. Still, the team has been living a relatively charmed life so far, but this team has the potential to collapse down the stretch and miss the playoffs.
This Week:
The Bears take on the Miami Dolphins tonight in Thursday night football. This game will take big strides in determining the fate of both teams.
Prediction:
Bears 30 Dolphins 14
Panic Scale:
Two.
The Bears have been inconsistent, but they've still managed to stay atop the NFC North. At this point, even if the Packers surge and win the division, the Bears still could end up with a Wildcard, barring a total collapse.
14. Kansas City Chiefs
2 of 15
How They Got This Close To Extinction:
The Chiefs started the season 3-0, but now they're behind the Raiders in the division and they got blown out by the Broncos last week. The Chiefs have one of the best running games in the league and quarterback Matt Cassel plays smart, but Cassel doesn't do anything to inspire true playoff excitement.
Plus the defense is giving up too many points.
This Week:
The Chiefs take on the Arizona Cardinals and Derek Anderson's Arm Of Doom (Trademarked). The Cardinals still have a shot at the playoffs because they play in the NFC West, but there are only so many losses one team can have.
Prediction:
Chiefs 30 Cardinals 10
Panic Scale:
Three.
The Chiefs still think they can win the division, and they aren't wrong. But going from five wins to at least 10 wins in one offseason isn't an easy task. The Chiefs were making it look easy the first month of the season, but the grind of the long season is taking its toll.
13. Oakland Raiders
3 of 15
How They Got This Close To Extinction:
Inconsistent play early in the season, quarterback issues, and the usual Raiders nonsense put this team in a small hole they since have climbed out of, but with the Chiefs having the same 6-3 record, it's still any team's division at this point.
This Week:
The Raiders get the Pittsburgh Steelers, a very angry Pittsburgh Steelers led by Ben Roethlisberger and a run defense that hurts people. The Raiders couldn't have picked a worse week to play the Steelers...Not that there's ever a good week.
Prediction:
Steelers 34 Raiders 24
Panic Scale:
Three.
The Raiders have beaten the Chiefs once this year, and the team is confident they are going to go deep in the playoffs.
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12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
4 of 15
How They Got This Close To Extinction:
The Buccaneers lost to the Falcons and the Saints, which puts them behind in the division. Finishing 10-6 won't mean much if the Saints and Falcons finish ahead of them.
This Week:
The Bucs get the San Francisco 49ers this week, and the 49ers have been showing new life with Troy Smith at quarterback. The Bucs have great fourth quarter comeback potential, but a lot of analysts think the Bucs have been overachieving this year.
Prediction:
49ers 38 Buccaneers 31
Panic Scale:
Three.
The Buccaneers still believe they can win the division, so there's no real panic in Florida yet.
11. Houston Texans
5 of 15
How They Got This Close To Extinction:
The Texans went from worst to first and back pretty fast this year. They came out of the gates charging and took control of the AFC South, traditionally dominated by the Indianapolis Colts. Now they're below .500 after two tough losses and at the bottom of the division.
This Week:
The Texans get the red hot New York Jets, who are coming off of back-to-back road overtime wins. The Jets are a tough team and a legitimate threat to win the Super Bowl. That being said, the Texans are better than their record indicates
Prediction:
Texans 27 Jets 24
Panic Scale:
Four.
The Texans are worried because of how close the division is, but that closeness means if they get on a hot streak, they can rise back up through the ranks rapidly and make the playoffs.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars
6 of 15
How They Got This Close To Extinction:
The Jaguars, technically ahead of the Texans, are only there because of a Hail Mary pass. They haven't been consistent, and a lack of consistency will bite you down the stretch. Quarterback David Garrard has been streaky, and the Jags' defense gives up more points than the Texans do compared to how many points the offense scores: -54 to -40. That will catch up with the Jaguars if they don't improve.
This Week:
The Jaguars have the Cleveland Browns this week, which now is a much tougher contest than anyone would've thought six weeks ago. The Browns almost beat the Jets on Sunday, losing on a good pass play with 16 seconds left in overtime. However, the Jaguars still remember last year's drubbing at the hands of the Browns and they're looking to get some revenge.
Prediction:
Browns 28 Jaguars 20
Panic Scale:
Four.
The Jaguars are riding high right now, but the potential for a big fall is there, and the Jaguars may become the latest victims of the Cleveland Browns.
9. St. Louis Rams
7 of 15
How They Got This Close To Extinction:
The Rams shouldn't even be in this conversation, but they play in the NFC West, where anything is possible. Really, the Seahawks, who currently lead the division, could just as easily be here. The Rams are rebuilding and dealing with injuries to what little talent they have. Sam Bradford has stayed healthy, which has been the difference this year.
This Week:
They get the Atlanta Falcons, and the Falcons aren't about to take this team lightly. At 4-5, the Rams already have won as many games this year as a lot of their fans had hoped they would. But this week probably won't go the way the Rams want. The Falcons are pretty good.
Prediction:
Falcons 24 Rams 14
Panic Scale:
Five.
The only reason the panic scale isn't higher is because the Rams are playing better than anyone thought, so the fact they're in playoff contention this late in the season is keeping expectations low.
8. Arizona Cardinals
8 of 15
How They Got This Close To Extinction:
The Cardinals are an awful team playing in a lousy excuse for an NFL division. They have Derek Anderson's Arm of Doom behind center, which somehow destroys offensive coordinators, head coaches and makes your defense stink. Yet the Cardinals still have a pretty good chance to win the division. The NFL really needs to step in and just disqualify the NFC West from the playoffs so a more worthy team doesn't get hosed.
This Week:
They face a very upset Kansas City Chiefs squad. This game won't be pretty.
Prediction:
Seattle 17, Cardinals 14
Panic Scale:
Six.
Cardinals fans are a resilient lot, not there are that many of them in Phoenix. Seriously. I lived there for two years and saw more Steelers, Cowboys and Packers fans than I did of the home team. They all came out of the woodwork the week of the Super Bowl, so they're there somewhere. And wherever they are, they're not that worried because it's the NFC West.
7. San Francisco 49ers
9 of 15
How They Got This Close To Extinction:
The 49ers came out and played terrible. This was a division the 49ers could be dominating easily given the talent on the team, but it just didn't happen. Close games were lost, opportunities were missed, and now Troy Smith has lit a spark under the team.
This Week:
The 49ers get the Buccaneers this week in what is a very important game for both of them. However, the 49ers seem to have gained some momentum lately, and they come into this game with a bit of an edge they wouldn't have had even two weeks ago.
Prediction:
San Francisco 38 Tampa Bay 31
Panic Scale:
Six.
This would be higher, but again, it's the NFC West.
6. Cleveland Browns
10 of 15
How They Got This Close To Extinction:
Not starting Colt McCoy in Week 1. McCoy has completely changed the character of the offense to the same degree Peyton Hillis did at the beginning of the year. All of a sudden, the Browns have a good quarterback in addition to a great running back. The chances the Steelers and the Ravens both collapse by the end of the year are slim, but maybe one of them will and the Browns could sneak into the playoffs via the Wildcard. But they have to run the table the rest of the season to do it.
This Week:
They have the Jacksonville Jaguars, who aren't as good as their record but they're still a dangerous team.
Prediction:
Browns 28 Jaguars 20
Panic Scale:
Seven.
Browns fans have started to get the playoff taste in their mouth and there's too many scenarios to snatch it away again. This team had made a remarkable turnaround but they've had trouble closing out games, and the Jets loss last week represents the third game this year that legitimately was "winnable."
5. Washington Redskins
11 of 15
How They Got This Close To Extinction:
By playing poorly in the NFC East. Head Coach Mike Shanahan has made some real dumb mistakes, Donovan McNabb has been inconsistent and the defense didn't show up for Monday night's game versus the Eagles last week.
This Week:
The Tennessee Titans are the opponents, and they are coming off of a tough loss to the Miami Dolphins. While the Titans do have some questions right now, they don't have as many as the Redskins.
Prediction:
Tennessee 32 Redskins 17
Panic Scale:
Seven.
The Redskins were doing okay until Monday night. Now they know there are huge problems that need fixing, and they're running out of time in a division that probably already has all the playoff spots locked up by the Giants and Eagles.
4. Miami Dolphins
12 of 15
How They Got This Close To Extinction:
The Dolphins were an enigma coming out of training camp because there were questions about how effective their offense was going to be and how good the defense would hold up in the AFC East. Now they're down to their third quarterback, second special teams coach, and the Jets and Patriots just keep getting further ahead in the division.
This Week:
Thursday night versus the Chicago Bears. A lot is riding on the line here, as a loss could pretty much sink the Dolphins season.
Prediction:
Bears 30 Dolphins 14
Panic Scale:
Eight.
Between the quarterback situation, and the prospect that things still could get worse, the Dolphins know they don't have much room left to maneuver.
3. San Diego Chargers
13 of 15
How They Got This Close To Extinction:
By once again coming out and losing games they should have won, the Chargers find themselves fighting an uphill battle to make the playoffs. The Chargers currently are looking up at the Chiefs and the Raiders in the division, and there's little argument over who actually has the better team statistically. The Chargers have done second half surges before, so they'll be looking to do it again this year.
This Week:
The Broncos come to town Monday night, and the Chargers really don't want to lose another divisional game. Expect this to be a very fierce, competitive game as the Broncos are playing with something to prove.
Prediction:
Chargers 45 Broncos 38
Panic Scale:
Eight.
How many times can they dig themselves out of the same hole before the trench just collapses on top of them?
2. Dallas Cowboys
14 of 15
How They Got This Close To Extinction:
The Cowboys came out of the gates flat and sloppy, then they gave up on their coach, and now they want to play for the new coach. They absolutely slaughtered the Giants last week, and amazingly enough, they're still mathematically in the playoff hunt.
This Week:
The Cowboys get a hurting Lions team that still doesn't have enough talent to overcome injuries even if they are a much better team than last year.
Prediction:
Cowboys 35 Lions 28
Panic Scale:
Nine.
The Cowboys still have the slimmest playoff hopes you can have, and Dallas fans are holding onto that slim thread now that new Head Coach Jason Garrett seems to have lit a fire under the team. Playoffs still are a pipe dream, but as long as that possibility exists, the team is going to latch onto it.
1. Minnesota Vikings
15 of 15
How They Got This Close To Extinction:
We don't have enough time to discuss everything that went wrong with the Vikings this year, but amazingly enough, the Rocket Scientists at NASA found a slim mathematical possibility of how the Vikings still could get into the postseason. It involves running the table, the Packers and Bears knocking each other off, dogs and cats living together, and the color red being renamed Ozala. But if the scientists at NASA believe it's possible, we'll go with it.
This Week:
The Vikings have the next and probably final chapter in the grudge match between Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers. This will put the final nail in the coffin, but we can't make that official until the game is over.
Prediction:
Packers 24 Vikings 21
Panic Scale:
Ten.
The only questions surrounding the Vikings right now are whether or not Favre gets benched, whether or not Brad Childress gets fired, and whether or not anyone outside of Minnesota cares anymore.
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