NFL Power Rankings: Gauging Which Teams Are Moving Most

The San Diego Chargers and Miami Dolphins are moving rapidly in my power rankings—they're just moving in opposite directions. 

Three weeks ago, the Dolphins were 0-7 and sat at the bottom of my power rankings behind even the lowly Indianapolis Colts. Since then, they have bounced back to a ridiculous degree, beating the Kansas City Chiefs 31-3, the Washington Redskins 20-9 and the Buffalo Bills 35-8. Where did this come from?

The Dolphins have dominated the past three games on both sides of the ball and have gotten solid quarterback play from backup Matt Moore. They have also unlocked running back Reggie Bush as a weapon while working rookie Daniel Thomas into the mix as well. While a late-season surge probably isn't enough to save head coach Tony Sparano's job, it is encouraging.

Miami isn't headed to the playoffs, but with the way the team has been playing lately, they have rocketed up to 17th in my rankings despite a 3-7 record. With Dallas, Oakland and Philadelphia looming over the next three weeks, we'll see how real this burst has been.

While the Dolphins are rising, the Chargers are in the middle of a monumental collapse. San Diego opened this season with sky-high expectations and rallied to a 4-1 start. Since then, the Bolts have taken a nose dive, and after Sunday's 31-20 loss to the Chicago Bears, they are now 4-6 and occupy last place in the AFC West.

San Diego's collapse has had a lot to do with injuries, as three-fifths of the team's offensive line is currently on the shelf, while defensive stalwarts Luis Castillo and Shaun Phillips are also sidelined. But that's no excuse for a team this talented.

Head coach Norv Turner's team is incredibly soft, and his play-calling hasn't helped the situation. He's relying far too much on the arm of quarterback Philip Rivers, when he doesn't actually have time to throw the football. How Turner still has his job is beyond me, and I'd be shocked if he keeps it after this season.

The Chargers have fallen off the map in my rankings, going from a top five team at the beginning of the season to being ranked 21st. And I don't see things getting any better for the Bolts.

NFL Power Rankings, Week 12*

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

*These rankings are subject to change pending the outcome of Monday night's Patriots-Chiefs contest.