NFL Power Rankings Week 11: Identifying the Biggest Surprises for Week 11

To say that the 2011 NFL season has given us some surprising results would be a gross understatement. For some reason this schizophrenic season just continues to toss us random results and we're left to deal with them.

I don't know if there has ever been as crazy a year as we've seen through the first 11 weeks of this one and things aren't looking like they'll settle down any time soon.

I mean, really, other than the undefeated Green Bay Packers and the winless Indianapolis Colts are there any teams that have performed the way you've expected week to week this season?

Didn't think so. 

Here is a breakdown of the biggest surprises from Week 11.

Philadelphia Eagles 17, New York Giants 10

Really Giants? Really? You're going to lose at home on Sunday Night Football to an Eagles team without Michael Vick? Really?

Last night's game was essentially gifted to the G-Men on a platter. Vince Young started at quarterback for the Eagles and looked like...well, he looked like Vince Young. The 28-year-old signal-caller completed 23-of-36 passes for 258 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions. 

Meanwhile, the Giants could get almost nothing done offensively. Eli Manning threw for 264 yards, but managed just one touchdown pass, while throwing an interception and fumbling the ball away on a key late drive that could have tied the game.

The Giants rushed for just 29 yards and allowed the Eagles to beat them up physically. The loss dropped New York to 6-4, while Philadelphia improved to 4-6. 

Just when I thought Manning and the Giants could be relied upon for a solid performance they go and turn in a clunker like that. Now you have to question whether they can actually hold off the Cowboys for the NFC East title.

Buffalo Bills Tank Another One

Remember a few weeks ago when the Buffalo Bills were 5-2 and the "feel-good" story of the NFL season? Yeah, about that...

Yesterday the Bills dropped their third straight game to fall to 5-5 on the season. Sunday's 35-8 loss to the Miami Dolphins was both embarrassing and enlightening, as it showed the Bills really don't have a whole lot to offer when running back Fred Jackson (who left early with an injury) isn't on the field.

When the Bills were 4-2 they rewarded starting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick with a seven-year, $62.2 million contract making him the highest-paid player in Bills history. The team is 1-3 since then with only a win over the hapless Washington Redskins to show for it.

The team's three-game losing streak started with a 27-11 loss to the New York Jets, then continued with a 44-7 drubbing at the hands of the Dallas Cowboys and yesterday culminated with a blowout loss to the Dolphins.

None of those games have been close, and the team has been dominated in all phases of the game. But yesterday the Bills simply should have won. The Dolphins are surging a bit but Buffalo is a much better team and it didn't show on the field.

The Buccaneers Showed Some Life

While they lost to the 10-0 Green Bay Packers on Sunday, the 4-6 Tampa Bay Buccaneers put up a solid fight. While the 35-26 score looks like a comfortable win for the Packers, the Bucs closed the gap to 28-26 with 4:25 to go in regulation. 

Third-year quarterback Josh Freeman wasn't perfect but he did complete 28-of-38 passes for 342 yards and two touchdowns. His two interceptions were very costly, but he was in command of the game for the most part. Meanwhile running back LeGarrette Blount rushed 18 times for 107 yards and a score and looked to finally be back at full strength.

The Packers won on Sunday and I don't believe in moral victories, but there were plenty of encouraging signs from Tampa Bay—especially considering they were on the road in cold weather and were able to give the defending Super Bowl champions (and the favorites to repeat) a really solid fight. 

The Bucs out-gained Green Bay 455 to 378 and held the Packers to just 91 rushing yards. 

There were a lot of positives from a Tampa Bay team that has been a disappointment to this point in the season.

Full Power Rankings

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.