NFL Power Rankings: Stock Watch for Teams Making Late Playoff Pushes

To say that the 2011 NFL season hasn't been filled with inconsistent uncertainty would be an understatement. We've come to learn specific teams' inconsistencies, but the past few weeks have proven otherwise.

With that in mind, here are three teams making playoff pushes that no one thought would have been possible three weeks ago

Chicago Bears (6-3)

After five weeks of football the Chicago Bears were 2-3 and most people were writing them off indefinitely. Well, little did those cynics know that all three of the Bears losses at that time were to the Packers, Saints and Lions. They were winning games they were supposed to win, however.

That said, fast forward to the conclusion of Week 10 and Chicago finds itself riding a four-game win streak and coming off a dominating 37-13 win at home over Detroit—the last team to best Chicago.

With four straight games against the AFC West and the Seahawks thereafter, the Bears are likely going to be around 9-5 heading into Week 16. Not bad for a team that started 2-3 and was on thin ice.

Dallas Cowboys (5-4)

For as consistent as the Cowboys have played all season long, it seems they finally brought everything together in Week 10.

Dallas dismantled the Buffalo Bills 44-7 and is now just one game back of the Giants in the NFC East, a team the Cowboys still have to play twice. Then include the Cowboys' schedule otherwise (Redskins, Cardinals, Dolphins) and Big D could finish around 10-6 and win the division.

After the catastrophe that was the 2010 season, it's clear Jason Garrett was the right hire as head coach. All that remains is whether Dallas can keep up the consistency, because they are prone to dropping a couple after getting back on track.

Denver Broncos (4-5)

Don't look now but the Denver Broncos are back in the playoff hunt. Sure it's because the AFC West is a complete atrocity, but someone still has to win the division, right?

That said, the Broncos have won three of their last four games, two straight in the division, and are gradually gaining confidence. QB Tim Tebow is winning games despite having any real success throwing the football.

The concern is whether that can keep up, and if so, then more power to Tebow and the Broncos. However, if it fails, then Denver has some serious identity searching to do. With games against Minnesota (solid defense), Chicago and New England outside the division remaining, being a one-dimensional veer offense may not last.

Nonetheless, here's to Denver changing the NFL landscape and bringing the option offense back into pro football.

Week 11 NFL Power Rankings (LW = Last Week's Rank) (* = MNF Teams)

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

Be sure to check out John on Bleacher Report. 

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