NFL Power Rankings: 4 Week 1 Losers Who Are Still Playoff Contenders

For fans who are steadfastly committed to their favorite NFL team, there are few things worse than having to bear the shame of a Week 1 loss. No doubt some of your co-workers and fellow students are still bearing that shame on Monday morning.

For some of these fans, there is a bright side. Their team may have lost, but it's not quite the end of the world. There are a couple teams out there that are better than they looked on Sunday.

Despite all evidence to the contrary, some of them are even still playoff contenders.

There are four teams that I think fit the latter bill. So if one of the teams listed below is your favorite, feel free to rejoice.

4. Dallas Cowboys

To be perfectly honest, I didn't have the Cowboys pegged as a playoff contender heading into their Sunday-nighter at the New York Jets.

They proceeded to make me conclude otherwise. And even though they ended up losing, 27-24, I still think there are reasons to be optimistic about the Cowboys.

For example, Tony Romo returned to throw for 342 yards and two touchdowns. If he can keep that up, the Cowboys will be able to hang with anybody.

If Romo can actually hang on to the ball, the Cowboys might even be able to beat anybody.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Concerning Tampa Bay's 27-20 loss to the Detroit Lions, my guess is that there are two prevailing trains of thought.

The first is that the Lions proved that Tampa's 10-win season last year was a fluke. The other is that the Lions are for real and that the Bucs just happened to be their first victim.

I believe the second one.

I also believe that the Bucs are still for real. It seemed like they got dominated, but the fact that the Bucs managed to keep it close despite not playing their best football is worth noting. Had they played the way they're capable of playing, they would have won.

Yes, the Bucs are going to be hard-pressed to keep up in the NFC South, but I still think they're going to win more games than they lose. That might be enough given the amount of parity within the division.

2. Atlanta Falcons

Like many other would-be fortune tellers out there, I thought the Falcons were going to roll over the Chicago Bears on Sunday.

Instead, the exact opposite happened. The Bears rolled right over the Falcons, winning by the final of 30-12.

And if you're a Falcons fan, it wasn't pretty.

But you know what, Falcons fans? I wouldn't be too worried. The Falcons are as talented as any team in the league and are in fact a better team than the one that went an NFC-best 13-3 last year. And after a game like this, things can only get better.

That is, unless the Philadelphia Eagles have something to say about that this coming Sunday.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers

Somewhere around Pittsburgh's fifth turnover on Sunday, a friend of mine sent me a text that read simply: "Since when do the Steelers suck?"

It was a good question, and I have to say I had no answer for it. I still don't.

Let's face it. The Steelers did suck against the Baltimore Ravens. They were down early, and things just got uglier for them en route to a 35-7 loss. I'm actually surprised it was that close since the Steelers committed seven turnovers.

Instead of moping about it, Steelers fans should take after Falcons fans. After a loss like this, things can only get better.

Besides, do you really think the Steelers are going to miss out on the playoffs? Given the amount of talent they have, I don't think so.

Not yet, anyway.

2011 NFL Power Rankings
1. New England Patriots
2. Green Bay Packers
3.  Baltimore Ravens
4. Philadelphia Eagles
5. New Orleans Saints
6. Houston Texans
7. San Diego Chargers
8. Pittsburgh Steelers
9. Atlanta Falcons
10. Detroit Lions
11. Chicago Bears
12. New York Jets
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
14. Arizona Cardinals
15. Dallas Cowboys
16. Kansas City Chiefs
17. New York Giants
18. St. Louis Rams
19. Oakland Raiders
20. Jacksonville Jaguars
21.  Tennessee Titans
22. Washington Redskins
23. Indianapolis Colts
24.  Buffalo Bills
25. Miami Dolphins
26. Cleveland Browns
27. San Francisco 49ers
28.  Carolina Panthers
29. Minnesota Vikings
30. Cincinnati Bengals
31. Denver Broncos
32. Seattle Seahawks