NFL Power Rankings: Contenders with Most to Lose on Thanksgiving Weekend

Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends and football.

Unfortunately, a few contending teams in the NFL have a lot to lose on this holiday weekend.

The playoff picture is becoming clearer with each passing week, but also gets tighter too.

Here a few contenders with more to lose than just their dignity at the dinner table.

Chicago Bears (at Oakland Raiders)

The loss of Jay Cutler spells trouble for the Chicago Bears.

They've won five straight games and are 7-3 but are chasing a wild card berth and cannot afford to lose games.

The Raiders aren't a conference foe, but Chicago can't afford losses to anyone as they battle with the Lions, Giants, Cowboys and Falcons for a playoff berth.

Oakland is starting to figure things out and having Caleb Hanie start his first game of the year in the Black Hole is dangerous.

The Bears need to win or teams will smell the blood in the water.

San Diego Chargers (vs. Denver Broncos)

All that needs to be said for the Broncos is Tim Tebow.

As for the Chargers, they're 4-6 and riding an inexplicable five-game losing streak. They'd have to win-out to even have a shot at wild card berth.

The Broncos currently trail the Raiders by one game in the AFC West while the Chargers trail the Raiders by two and Broncos by one.

If San Diego falls any further, to a division rival no less, it may be time to completely write them off.

Philip Rivers needs to rally this team for a win or there will not only be no playoffs for San Diego, but there will be consequences this offseason.

New York Giants (at New Orleans Saints)

The Giants are starting their now-annual late-season skid. They started off good once again this year with a combination of elite play from Eli Manning and an opportunistic defense.

But they haven't played 30 minutes of a game, let alone 60 minutes, and have the toughest schedule in the league.

They've blown their two-game lead over the now-surging Cowboys and allowed the Eagles to breathe for one more week.

A third straight loss would be crippling and a devastating blow to the Giants' psyche. 

They still have to play the Cowboys twice and they can count that as a blessing, but they need to start showing a sense of urgency early in games or they'll be eaten alive by better competition.

Wes O'Donnell’s Week 12 Power Rankings  

1. Green Bay Packers

2. San Francisco 49ers 

3. New England Patriots

4. Pittsburgh Steelers

5. New Orleans Saints

6. Baltimore Ravens

7. Houston Texans

8. Chicago Bears

9.  Detroit Lions 

10. Atlanta Falcons

11. New York Giants

12. Dallas Cowboys

13. Cincinnati Bengals

14. Denver Broncos

15. Oakland Raiders  

16. New York Jets

17. San Diego Chargers  

18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

19. Philadelphia Eagles

20. Tennessee Titans

21. Buffalo Bills

22. Miami Dolphins 

23. Kansas City Chiefs 

24. Minnesota Vikings 

25. Arizona Cardinals

26. Carolina Panthers

27. Seattle Seahawks

28. Washington Redskins

29. St. Louis Rams

30. Jacksonville Jaguars

31. Cleveland Browns

32. Indianapolis Colts