NFL Power Rankings Week 12: Contenders That Won't Climb Any Higher in Rankings

Most years, it's not that difficult to separate the truly elite teams in the NFL from the rest of the rabble. They tend to stand out more than most.

This year, there are only two teams I would classify as being truly elite. The rest are either trying to be elite or far from being elite. I presume this to be a lockout problem.

Of the teams trying to be elite, there are a couple that just aren't going to cut it in the long run. I foresee them struggling down the stretch, and then subsequently getting knocked down a few pegs in my power rankings.

There are a couple of reasons for this. Firstly, because I'm a contemptible, cretinous curmudgeon and these are my rankings. Second and more importantly, I truly believe these teams are as high as they're going to get.

Oakland Raiders (No. 11)

There are things to like about the Raiders. Their running game is elite, Carson Palmer is looking pretty good, their defensive line is outstanding and they have two dudes with very strong legs doing work on special teams.

Everything else is just OK, and it doesn't help that the Raiders have serious discipline issues. They are a good team, but they are well short of great.

I have the Raiders at No. 11 now, and I just don't see them moving any higher. Their schedule is pretty tough from here on out, and I think they'll be lucky to go 3-3 the rest of the way. A 9-7 record should be good enough to win the division, but it won't make them a Top 10 NFL team.

At least, not in my book.

Detroit Lions (No. 10)

Out of nowhere on Sunday, Matthew Stafford started kicking ass and the Lions looked like the Lions of September and early October.

But this happened at home. Against the 2-8 Carolina Panthers. Not much of a statement win as far as I'm concerned. 

The Lions will get a couple more shots at statement wins down the stretch, but I think they're more likely to tumble out of the playoff race. Two games against Green Bay and games at New Orleans and Oakland are not going to be easily won.

True, the Lions could win these games. But they won't.

Chicago Bears (No. 8)

The Bears are a pretty good team and I think they'll sneak into the playoffs as a wild-card team, but they're on here anyway because Caleb Hanie can only take you so far.

Say what you will about Jay Cutler, but the dude was having a pretty solid season. Losing him for a couple of weeks is a huge blow, and the Bears are going to lose some games they would have otherwise won.

Bears fans had better hope Cutler is back by the time the postseason rolls around.

Houston Texans (No. 5)

The Texans are in the same boat as the Bears. They're a really good football team, but losing Matt Schaub is going to hurt. You can expect Gary Kubiak to use an offense that minimizes Matt Leinart's impact, and I have a feeling the Texans are going to tread water the rest of the way.

Lucky for them, the rest of the AFC South has already drowned.

Zachary D. Rymer's Week 12 Power Rankings

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