NFL Power Rankings Week 9: Gauging Which Teams Are in Biggest Trouble

As the smoke begins to clear of the playoff picture, some of those still alive aren't necessarily sitting in the prettiest of positions.

And it appears to be even more chaotic in the AFC, where two divisions have three teams tied for the lead, and the largest differential in one division is just two games.

Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3)

The Steelers may be 6-3, but two of those losses are to Baltimore, so winning the division this season doesn't appear to be happening. Also, Pittsburgh has two games left against Cincinnati, a team that's a lot better than given credit for.

Now include its games at Kansas City and San Francisco, and Pittsburgh has a bit more difficult of a final stretch than previously anticipated, that is, before the season began.

The defense may rank in the top 10, but it's clear that Dick LeBeau's defense is not its usual self. To that end, the run game hasn't been working on offense, and Roethlisberger continues to feel pressure when dropping back.

Although the Steelers should make the postseason, it doesn't feel like one of those years where they make a deep run.

Buffalo Bills (5-3)

Since their 3-0 start the Buffalo Bills have gone just 2-3 and now face an eight-game stretch where five are on the road. Not to mention they are all knotted up with the Pats and Jets at 5-3 atop the AFC East.

The defense continues to force turnovers, but it's not good enough to solely rely on making plays as such. The Bills need to force three-and-outs and prevent teams from scoring points, which hasn't occurred.

Perhaps the Jets had the perfect game plan, however, it was obvious that Buffalo's offense was struggling, and we're beginning to find out who the Bills really are: pretenders.

That said, don't be surprised when the Bills just miss the postseason and disappoint everyone.

Oakland Raiders (4-4)

Sure the Raiders are tied for first in the AFC West, but that's with San Diego and Kansas City, also 4-4, and the Broncos are now just one game back of everyone at 3-5.

Unfortunately for Oakland also, the schedule doesn't get any easier. The Raiders hit a stretch where four of their next five games are on the road, and they play host to the Bears, Lions and Chargers (that's it).

Green Bay, Minnesota, San Diego and Kansas City are all still left on the road, and being in the midst of a two-game losing streak doesn't bode well either.

If the Raiders don't get things fixed quickly, they'll be fortunate to finish 7-9 or 8-8.

Week 10 NFL Power Rankings (LW = Last Week's Rank) (* = MNF Teams)

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

Be sure to check out John on Bleacher Report. 

You can follow him on Twitter @ Sportswriter27.