NFL Power Rankings Week 10: Teams That Will Shake Up Wild Card Races

With eight weeks to go in the 2011 NFL season, the postseason picture is starting to become pretty clear. There are a couple of division leaders that look like locks for the playoffs, and the wild-card chases in either conference are coming into focus.

The wild-card chases promise to be particularly chaotic this year, as it's pretty clear that the lockout has leveled the playing field a little. Some good teams are going to be gunning for a playoff spot, and some mediocre teams are going to be gunning for the same thing.

It's difficult to see how all this will pan out. But from the look of things right now, I think you can expect the teams listed below to shake up the wild-card races.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No. 19 overall)

Right now, it looks like one NFC wild-card team is going to come out of the North, and the other is going to come out of the South.

Exactly which team comes out of the South is going to be the issue going forward. The Atlanta Falcons have the edge on the Buccaneers now, but I think that could change at a moment's notice.

First and foremost, I don't think the Bucs have played their best football yet this season. Secondly, they have a pretty favorable schedule down the stretch, as they get to play the Tennessee Titans, Jacksonville Jaguars and the Carolina Panthers twice.

The Bucs also wrap up the season in Atlanta, and it wouldn't be all that surprising if a wild-card berth is on the line.

Dallas Cowboys (No. 15 overall)

The way things are currently situated, it doesn't look like a wild-card team is going to come out of the NFC East. Somebody is going to have to get hot for that to happen.

If any team can do it, I think it's the Cowboys (sorry, Eagles fans). They've been inconsistent this season, but they still have enough talent to keep up with any team in the league. Moreover, you have to like their schedule down the stretch.

In their final eight games, the Cowboys play the Washington Redskins, Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals and the Eagles. They also play the Buccaneers in Week 16, which is a game that could have huge wild card implications.

If it gets to that point, don't be surprised if the Cowboys sneak into the playoffs.

Chicago Bears (No. 12 overall)

The Chicago Bears are going to have to surpass the Detroit Lions in the NFC North if they are to earn a wild-card berth, but don't doubt their ability to do that. They get to play the Lions head-to-head in Week 10 and their schedule down the stretch is extremely favorable.

In their final seven games, the Bears will play each of the four AFC West teams. They also have games against the Seattle Seahawks and Minnesota Vikings.

Those are all winnable games, and I actually wouldn't be shocked if the Bears won all of them. They're hitting their stride at the right time.

Pittsburgh Steelers (No. 6 overall)

The AFC wild-card picture is going to be a mess up until the final day of the season. It seems like every team in the conference is in the chase, and there's no telling how the chips are going to fall.

Oddly enough, one team that could find itself on the outside looking in is the Pittsburgh Steelers. They're currently in third place in the AFC North, and you have to have your doubts about their ability to come back to win the division now that they've been swept by the Baltimore Ravens.

The key for the Steelers will be exacting the same punishment on the Cincinnati Bengals, who haven't played the Steelers or the Ravens yet. 

If the Steelers can win one or both of those games, they could be home free. The Bengals have it pretty tough down the stretch, and it's clear from one glance at their schedule that the Steelers do not.

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