NFL Power Rankings Week 11: Sliding Teams on Their Last Leg

The NFL schedule is starting to sort out the pretenders from the contenders rather quickly.

With each passing week, we see teams drop off and fewer rise up.

A 16-game schedule is kind to no one (well, maybe the Patriots if you haven't seen their remaining schedule), and the men are quick to be separated from the boys.

Here are a few sliding teams on the their last leg.

Buffalo Bills (5-4)

Buffalo is only one game out of first in the AFC East, but they've been exposed.

The division rival Jets beat them up two weeks ago, and the loss in Dallas was absolutely demoralizing.

They've now lost four of their last six (all against potential-to-likely playoff teams).

This week they travel to Miami to take on the surging Dolphins. Tony Sparano's team has won two straight games.

If Buffalo drops this game, it is all over for them. If they can salvage a win, they still have a chance to make a push at what will likely be a Wild Card berth.

This is a do-or-die game for them.

San Diego Chargers (4-5)

Philip Rivers' team has lost four straight games. Call it what you will—it is straight-up embarrassing.

Win or lose, they'll still be in the hunt for the lowly AFC West title, but a loss would be extremely damaging.

They travel to Chicago to take on the surging Bears in a game that will be a great measuring stick for them.

Chicago has really turned it on of late and doesn't appear ready to slow down.

The Chargers are running out of opportunities fast.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5)

That 10-win season from a year ago seems so far away.

Tampa Bay loses close games because they cannot find themselves offensively. 

They want to be a power running team but can only give their lead back 10 carries per game because he cannot be trusted on third down and because they're usually trailing.

As unkind as it is, their season hinges on this matchup with the Packers in Week 11.

If Tampa Bay drops a sixth game, they'll have to win out to even make a run at the Wild Card. The NFC is simply too talented for a 9-7 team to even fathom the postseason.

The Bucs know this well, after missing out at 10-6 a year ago.

Wes O'Donnell’s 2011 NFL Power Rankings  

1. Green Bay Packers

2. San Francisco 49ers 

3. New Orleans Saints

4. Pittsburgh Steelers

5. New England Patriots

6. Baltimore Ravens

7. Houston Texans

8. Chicago Bears

9.  Detroit Lions 

10. New York Giants

11. Atlanta Falcons

12. New York Jets

13. Dallas Cowboys

14. Cincinnati Bengals

15. Oakland Raiders  

16. Buffalo Bills

17. San Diego Chargers  

18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

19. Philadelphia Eagles

20. Tennessee Titans

21. Denver Broncos

22. Arizona Cardinals  

23. Kansas City Chiefs 

24. Minnesota Vikings 

25. Washington Redskins

26. Carolina Panthers

27. Seattle Seahawks

28. Miami Dolphins

29. St. Louis Rams

30.  Jacksonville Jaguars

31. Cleveland Browns

32. Indianapolis Colts