NFL Power Rankings: Playoff Contenders That Still Haven't Peaked

There are only eight weeks left in the 2011 NFL regular season. If nothing else, that means that a lot of teams are running out of time to make a move in the postseason chase.

In the coming weeks, we're definitely going to see the men separate themselves from the boys. It's just a matter of which playoff contenders are going to take that extra step, not to mention which ones are actually capable of taking that next step.

Personally, I think there are four contenders out there that just haven't peaked yet. As we move forward, don't be surprised if they get hot and pull away from the pack.

San Diego Chargers (No. 17 overall)

You could probably put any AFC West team here, but I'm going with the Chargers for a couple of reasons.

Above all, I still think the Chargers have more talent than any of the other teams in the division. This season has been a struggle for them, but they're going to be a dangerous team if they can come together and play up to their capabilities.

More than anything else, what the Chargers need is for Philip Rivers to pick it up. All he really needs to do is cut down on his interceptions, as he leads the league with 14. If he can stop throwing the ball to the other team, the Chargers will score points in bunches. 

Once they do that, they'll be off and running.

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New York Jets (No. 12 overall)

The Jets have won three games in a row, and they finally won a game on the road this past weekend in Buffalo, but I still think they have room to improve.

There's nothing wrong with the Jets' defense, but their offense could certainly be a little better. We know all about the struggles they've had running the football this year, and those struggles have had a negative affect on the offense as a whole, particularly on Mark Sanchez.

If, and I stress if, the running game shows up, the Jets are going to be a scary team. They'll be able to take a lot of pressure off Sanchez, and they will once again be the ground-and-pound team they've been for the last couple of seasons.

It's a formula that has taken the Jets to two straight AFC Championship Games, and it could take them to a third if they rediscover it.

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Atlanta Falcons (No. 10 overall)

I've been defending the Falcons all season, so it goes without saying that I'm digging their three-game win streak.

Nonetheless, I still think the Falcons can get better. We finally saw them use Julio Jones as he is meant to be used, but I didn't like seeing the Falcons get away from using Michael Turner. He's the kind of back that deserves 25 carries per game, and he got just 19 carries against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.

This may seem like a small gripe, but I see this as a continuation of a trend that was ongoing before Jones got hurt and had to sit out a couple of games. In games in which Jones has played, Atlanta's offense was a little too pass-heavy. Against better teams, that could be its doom.

The Falcons don't have to do much, but there is still a good offensive balance somewhere out there that they can achieve.

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Cincinnati Bengals (No. 8 overall)

When it comes to the Bengals, I have no complaints to make.

Nope, not one. They play great defense, they run a balanced offense and they have two of the best rookies in the league in Andy Dalton and A.J. Green. They're an easy team to root for.

However... 

One thing I would like to see this team do is beat one of the two traditional superpowers in the AFC North. The Bengals are good, but I need to see them beat the Pittsburgh Steelers or the Baltimore Ravens before I can believe it.

As luck would have it, the Bengals play the Steelers in Week 10 and the Ravens in Week 11. What a coincidence.

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Zachary D. Rymer's Week 10 Power Rankings

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