NFL Power Rankings Week 11: Surging Teams That Will Continue to Rise

Adam WellsNov 16, 2011

While every NFL team is looking to find consistency all year long, the best time to find your momentum is right now. We are entering the home stretch of the season and the competition for playoff positioning is fierce.

There are a few teams that have made waves in the last few weeks and they look like they are going to continue to rise up the power rankings and be very dangerous when the playoffs roll around.

The key thing for the teams on this list has been making adjustments. They struggled early in the year because they were trying to figure out what their identity was supposed to be instead of what it actually is.

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Now that they have figured that out, they have taken off and look like tough outs when January rolls around.

Here are three teams that will continue to soar in the power rankings.

Dallas Cowboys

One more time, I am going to put my eggs in the Dallas Cowboys’ basket. They have been up and down all season long, but they look like they are finally ready to stay on an upward trajectory.

The biggest difference between this team now and earlier in the season is the running game. Specifically, the emergence of DeMarco Murray has given the offense the spark that it needed. They have found consistency on the offensive side of the ball, which has been missing.

The defense has been playing lights out for the last month, save for that one hiccup against the Eagles. They are going to make a run in the NFC East. Not only are they playing well, but their schedule over the next three weeks is cake—at Washington, vs. Miami and at Arizona.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Since the Steelers no longer have to play the Ravens this season, they should be fine the rest of the way. They won a very emotional and physical game against division rival Cincinnati on Sunday and are ready to take control of the AFC North.

The Steelers lead the division by a half game over the Ravens, though both teams have three losses and the Ravens own the tiebreaker.

Still, the Steelers are hot and have found their rhythm as we enter the home stretch of the regular season. They are off in Week 11 and come back with a soft schedule over the final six weeks with the exception of another game against Cincinnati in Week 13 and at San Francisco in Week 15.

Chicago Bears

Speaking of teams getting hot at the right time, how about those Chicago Bears? You can’t call them one-year wonders anymore, especially considering how well that defense is playing right now.

The Packers and 49ers have the longest winning streaks in the NFC at nine and seven games, respectively, but the Bears own the third longest at four.

Offensive coordinator Mike Martz has parked his stupid pride and done what is best for the team, allowing Jay Cutler to do quick three- and five-step drops and short passes instead of always having to throw the home run pass.

Matt Forte is the best all-around running back in the NFL and deserves MVP consideration, and the rest of the team is taking its cues from him.

Adam Wells' Week 11 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