NFL Power Rankings Week 9: Which Contending Teams Are Headed for a Free Fall?

Here's a quick look at three NFL teams that are currently contending in their division but might not be able to claim that fact in a couple of weeks.

Cincinnati Bengals (No. 12)

I'm sure most people thought the AFC North was going to be a two-horse race between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens, but look who's sandwiched right in between the two.

The Cincinnati Bengals, at 5-2. 

With a couple of rookies and a running back that's slowing down, this is quite surprising. But Andy Dalton and A.J. Green have looked far more experienced than a couple of rookies, and the Cincy defense has been spectacular. 

Still though, the Bengals have four games against the Ravens and Steelers left. It's hard to imagine this young team keeping pace.

Tennessee Titans (No. 19)

The Titans have been quite the enigma this season. They've lost to Jacksonville. They've dominated Baltimore. They've gotten annihilated at home by Houston. They've roughed up Cleveland on the road.

I'm still trying to figure out this team, but one thing is sure. They are a contender in the wide-open AFC South. 

Still though, Chris Johnson just looks lost this season. As defenses start paying less attention to him, Matt Hasselbeck will have trouble moving the ball through the air. Johnson's struggles are going to start hurting the whole team.

Throughout the next nine weeks, the Titans have Cincinnati at home, travel to Carolina, travel to Atlanta, host Tampa Bay, travel to Buffalo, host New Orleans and travel to Houston. 

That's seven games they could very easily lose. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No. 17)

The Bucs are another team that is absolutely unpredictable week in and week out. I'm quite sure that I'm 0-7 predicting their games this season.

Maybe a Week 8 bye helped them settle things down, but who knows?

LeGarrette Blount is expected to be back and that helps, but Josh Freeman needs to be more consistent. Tampa Bay was successful last year because of his play, but he just hasn't been the same this year. 

Upcoming games at New Orleans and at Green Bay could spell trouble for this team.

But then again, that probably means they'll win both of those games. 

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

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