NFL Power Rankings: Chicago Bears, New York Giants and Teams Dropping Fast

While it’s imperative to pay attention to the NFL power rankings every week, it gets even more important as the season draws to a close.

With the playoffs just around the corner, teams like the Chicago Bears and New York Giants were dealt serious blows.

A terrible week has caused a huge issue in the power rankings for many teams that were supposed to be the cream of the crop. They’re not.

Chicago Bears: While the defense has regained its form and the return game with Devin Hester is ever potent, it is the offense that will again let the team down.

Enigmatic Bears quarterback Jay Cutler broke his thumb during Sunday's 31-20 victory over the San Diego Chargers. That leaves Caleb Hanie as the team’s starter.

While there isn’t much to go on as far as NFL experience is concerned, if Hanie plays like he did in his senior year of college at Colorado State, the Bears will be watching the NFL playoffs from the golf course.

New York Giants: There is no bigger joke in the NFL right now than the “Dream Team” Philadelphia Eagles. Losing to them makes you almost as bad as they have been this season.

When the New York Giants were defeated by Philadelphia on Sunday, it threw the entire NFC East division into chaos and exposed the Giants as fraud division leaders.

If the Giants want to avoid falling in both the power rankings and the standings, they need to figure out their offensive line play to protect Eli Manning and get their run game going.

Buffalo Bills: What happened to the Buffalo Bills? They started the season as one of the biggest surprises in years, but have turned into one of the biggest jokes of 2011.

With a dangerous rushing attack and a stellar pass game working early in the season, it was just a matter of time before the Bills offensive players realized they are only mediocre.

With a porous defense that is allowing a terrible 372 yards per game to opponents, it’s no wonder that Buffalo has lost five of their last seven games.

Check back for more on the National Football League as it comes, and check out Bleacher Report’s NFL Page to get your fill of all things football.

Follow @Donald_Wood