NFL Power Rankings: Which Powerhouses Stumbled in Week 10?

There were losses yesterday that sent teams like Baltimore and the New York Giants from Super Bowl contenders to teams that could miss out on the playoffs this year.  

The NFL is a roller-coaster league. One week you’re at the top of the ride with your team, earning a huge win over a rival or on a big winning streak.  

Then the next week you're suffering a crushing loss that deflates all of that momentum. After the loss you go from thinking the best to “When are we even going to win another game?”  

These teams all suffered that crushing loss last week and now their fans are searching for answers. 

Baltimore Ravens 

Baltimore built this team to beat one team and one team only in the NFL: the Pittsburgh Steelers.  

It’s why they were so dominant in Week 1 and Week 9 when they played the Steelers while struggling on the road against their other opponents. In their three losses on the road, they have come against teams with a combined record of 11-16.  

The loss to the Seattle Seahawks was just the tipping point for a Ravens team that had a chance to continue the stranglehold of the AFC North Division. Instead, they struggled on offense, going away from their running game while trusting their quarterback to throw 52 times.  

Now they have a tough game against Cincinnati for not only the lead in the division, but to stay in playoff contention. 

New York Giants 

The Giants had a lot of people believing in them when they were able to beat the New England Patriots in their last game. Then they went out and laid a giant egg against the San Francisco 49ers. Now everyone is back off the Giants and Eli Manning bandwagon.  

With their loss it not only puts the Giants in a big hole for the No. 2 spot in the conference, but it opens the door for the Dallas Cowboys to take control of the NFC East Division.  

The Giants now have a one-game lead with two games remaining against Dallas. That loss against San Francisco may just have set the wheels in motion for an epic collapse in New York. 

Detroit Lions 

For those people who were waiting for the Lions collapse back into mediocrity in the NFL, you may have gotten your wish.  

Coming into the game against division rival Bears, they had a two-game lead for the last playoff spot in the NFC. Now, after a crushing defeat that saw the Lions get blown out 37-13, they are behind the Bears for that playoff spot.  

Detroit still owns the last playoff spot in the conference, but they have lost three of their last four games.  

Detroit can get back into the win column next week as it hosts the Carolina Panthers. After that, however, it’s two games against Green Bay and at New Orleans and Oakland.  

That’s five games where the Lions have a great chance of losing. 

These three teams suffered crushing losses last week. Now they are in risk of continuing a downward spiral that will lead them missing the post season.

T.J. McAloon's 2011 NFL Power Rankings

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

Follow @tjmcaloon