NFL Power Rankings Week 11: Looking at the Tightest Division Races

Save for the NFC South, where the New Orleans Saints have opened up a two and a half game lead over the Atlanta Falcons, and the NFC West, where the San Francisco 49ers could clinch in the coming weeks, the rest of the divisions have some compelling races.

Let's take a look at the best of the races: 

NFC East

A loss in San Francisco by the New York Giants (6-3) and a two-game winning streak for the Dallas Cowboys (5-4) has this race back to being a tight one.

With a brutal schedule ahead for the Giants, this race should stay close. A win from the Philadelphia Eagles over the Giants this weekend could make things very interesting down the stretch.

NFC North

The 9-0 Green Bay Packers are sitting comfortable atop the division, but I'm more interested in the battle for second place that is being waged right now between the Detroit Lions (6-3) and Chicago Bears (6-3). They split their season series, so it all comes down to how the last seven games shake out.

Could both teams make the playoffs as the NFC's two wild cards?

AFC East

There's still a case that both the New York Jets (5-4) and Buffalo Bills (5-4) can win the East, but it's looking increasingly more likely that the New England Patriots (6-3) will hold onto the top spot for the remainder of the season. They hold a one-game lead with a tie breaker over the Jets.

If the Bills can stop their recent slide, however, the Week 17 game in New England could loom large.

AFC North

This division can't sort itself out because the teams at the top keep ensuring it stays close. The Baltimore Ravens (6-3) have had several cracks at running away with it but have fallen on their face in games they should have won.

As it stands now, the 7-3 Pittsburgh Steelers rule the roost, with the 6-3 Cincinnati Bengals still in contention. With three games against the Steelers and Ravens remaining, the Bengals ultimately will have a large say in who wins the North. 

AFC South

The injury to Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub opens up this division. At 7-3, the Texans still sit in a good spot. But I wouldn't sleep on the Tennessee Titans (5-4), who can make this close and still have a Week 17 matchup with Houston.

AFC West

There's a case that the AFC West is the worst division football (I still think it's the NFC West, hands down), but you could also argue it's the most intriguing, too, as all four teams have a shot at being the division champion. The San Diego Chargers (4-5)  have the big names and the pedigree to make a run, but the Oakland Raiders (5-4) look like the most complete team.

The Kansas City Chiefs (4-5) took a big blow when Matt Cassel went down with a hand injury. And don't sleep on the darkhorse Denver Broncos (4-5), who have won three of four games with Tim Tebow at the helm.

Week 11 Power Rankings

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