NFL Power Rankings: Which Teams Are Guaranteed Postseason Locks?

Although we're just getting to the halfway point in the 2011 NFL season, you would think that more teams would stand out from the crowd. However, thanks to the upsets and underachievers, only a select few are the current diamonds in the rough.

That being said, two were on a bye last week, one is on a bye this week and one of the three is a postseason lock by default.

Green Bay Packers (7-0)

The only unbeaten team left, and although their pass defense is still skeptical, the rush defense and offense is stellar enough to keep Green Bay rolling.

Let's put it this way: if the Packers can beat the Saints despite Drew Brees going off like he did in Week 1, it's going to be difficult ousting the cheese. Another big reason is because the teams with some of the best defenses don't have a New Orleans-esque offense to complement them.

So, even if Green Bay's offense slows down, their defense is good enough to shut down the above average offense, as opposed to the elite.

New England Patriots (5-1)

Until the Patriots get dethroned from atop the AFC East with Tom Brady under center, New England remains a postseason lock all season long.

The funny thing is, they're practically exact replicas of Green Bay in the AFC with a stellar offense and weak pass defense. Only difference being, the Pats slipped up once (Buffalo), but it obviously had no effect.

And they had two weeks to prepare for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who always seem to have trouble with Tom Brady regardless. With the AFC West and South being weak, the AFC East is going to have at least one wild-card team. Not saying that it will be New England, but that only increases their odds.

San Francisco 49ers (5-1)

Alas, we come to the postseason lock by default: San Francisco.

The NFC West is still the NFL's weakest division, as evidence by the No. 2 team being Seattle, who has a record of 2-4.

A 9-7 record will win this division easily, and 'Frisco will be better, as the remaining schedule is quite easy outside of the Ravens. But that by no means this division will be a cake-walk in the playoffs.

Much thanks to Arizona going 4-2 combined between their '08 and '09 appearances and Seattle defeating New Orleans last year, the NFC West knows how to play in January.

Just be sure to watch out for the 49ers in the postseason because, when it comes, some old rivalries will be restored between the 49ers, Packers and the Dallas Cowboys (provided Dallas wins the NFC East).

Week 8 NFL Power Rankings (LW = Last Week's Rank) (* = MNF Teams)

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

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