NFL Power Rankings Week 10: 3 Playoff Contenders That Will Drop

Every playoff contender hits a couple bumps in the road during the regular season.

This is the NFL, after all, where not playing up to your potential is savagely exposed by your foes.

Three teams riding high thus far will suffer tough defeats in Week 10, and one of them may surprise you.

Here they are.

Cincinnati Bengals (6-2)

I love how the Bengals have bounced back this season.

Given they were largely expected to be the worst team in the league, it's been truly remarkable how they've come together.

But I foresee trouble for the Bengals on Sunday when they host the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Steelers lost on a last-second touchdown last week against the Baltimore Ravens, but the Ravens are a better team than the Bengals and the Steelers beat the New England Patriots in Week 8.

I see the Steelers roaring back come Sunday and causing problems for rookie quarterback Andy Dalton and Co.

New York Jets (5-3)

Sorry Jets fans, but you're going 0-2 against the Patriots this season.

You solely look at Week 9 and you would think the Jets would win this one. They defeated the Buffalo Bills while the Patriots lost to the New York Giants.

But I'm not looking at one week, I'm looking at them as overall teams, and I just don't see the Jets having the offense to score more than the Patriots. FYI: I'm still not a fan of quarterback Mark Sanchez or running back Shonn Greene.

They lost, 30-21, in Week 5, and I see a similar score unfolding at MetLife Stadium.

San Francisco 49ers (7-1)

Yes, you heard me right, the San Francisco 49ers.

Given I'm a 49ers fan, you have no idea how much it hurts to say this.

But every team has a trap game during the season and I expect this to be one of three the 49ers face this season (the other two being against the Ravens and Steelers).

The New York Giants are coming off a 24-20 defeat of the Patriots, without receiver Hakeem Nicks and running back Ahmad Bradshaw, and there's a chance both could be back in action in Week 10.

Despite a tumultuous offseason, the Giants have looked good this season, holding a 6-2 record, and quarterback Eli Manning has been magnificent.

The Giants have 28 sacks this season, most in the league, and despite the 49ers' offensive line looking better than earlier in the season, I see the pressure affecting quarterback Alex Smith.

Manning will be the difference in this game, finding a way to get it done against a dominant defense.