NFL Power Rankings: Gauging the League's Most Unpredictable Teams

There are a few teams in the NFL I simply cannot figure out. 

I've watched their games, seen them play at a playoff-caliber and witnessed them fall flat on their face masks. 

These clubs needs to play with a nearly perfect record to make the postseason and I believe the talent is there for them to do it.

Is there consistency?

I'm not so sure.  

Oakland Raiders

The Raiders are winners of their their last two games. 

Great. 

Before that, they suffered humiliating losses to the Chiefs and Broncos.

Before that, they beat the Browns and won in Houston.

It looks like Carson Palmer has settled into the Raiders' offense, and the running game is certainly one of the best in the league just like last season.

However, right when I'm ready to crown them the champions of the AFC West, they simply don't show up.

Their defense is just too shaky and Palmer is still prone to the occasional, head-scratching interception.

Oakland gets the Jay Cutler-less Bears this week at home before two straight games on the road against the Dolphins and Packers.

We'll learn a lot more about the Raiders after the upcoming three-game stretch.

I think.    

New York Jets

Which loss was more embarrassing for the Jets, getting blown out at home by the Patriots or getting Tebow'd last Thursday in the fourth quarter? 

New York is reeling. 

I'm not ready to totally bury them because they do have a lot of talent on the outside at receiver and on defense. 

Their offensive line is solid (except when this happens), and is there a better secondary in football?

That's why I can't figure this team out. I don't mean to totally bash him, but in a schizophrenic way Mark Sanchez is killing his Jets through 10 games of the 2011 season. 

Can he be an efficient quarterback like he was against the Chargers, Bills and Cowboys? 

I'm not so sure. 

The Jets should beat the injury-riddled Bills this week, but if Sanchez struggles, the New York media and fans won't be friendly to the former first-round pick. 

Philadelphia Eagles

OK, so just about everyone buried the Eagles after their consecutive losses to the Bears and Cardinals in Weeks 9 and 10. 

Then, they were inexplicably dominant against New York from a defensive standpoint and Vince Young rebounded from three interceptions to throw the game-winning touchdown to Riley Cooper of all people.

Just like that, Philadelphia has momentum again. 

The Eagles have a distinct chance to go 5-1 in the NFC East and still miss out on the postseason.  

Definitely. 

They have so much talent on offense and their pass rush is a very underrated group. 

Yes, underrated. 

Maybe Vince Young is the difference?

Week 12 NFL Power Rankings

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