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NFL Power Rankings: Gauging the Week's Biggest Fallers

Chris Trapasso
Nov 22, 2011

Can it get worse for the Buffalo Bills, Tampa Bay Buccaneers or the San Diego Chargers?ย 

They're the biggest fallers in this week's power rankings.ย 

Let's look at what has gone wrong in these respective cities over the last month.ย 

Tampa Bay Buccaneersย 

The Bucs beat the Saints in Week 6 to move to 4-2. Things looked great. Josh Freeman out-dueled Drew Brees.ย 

It was going to be a three-team race for the AFC South title.ย 

Then Earnest Graham was lost for the year and Tampa Bay hasn't been able to recover.ย 

They've lost four straight games and despite giving the Packers a game in Week 11, they've been totally out of sync on both offense and defense.ย 

I was certain Freeman was going to take that next step as a quarterback, but he's actually regressed this season, throwing 11 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.ย 

They are still young, so they aren't near a rebuilding mode.ย 

That's the silver lining in the Bucs' 2011 season.ย 

Buffalo Billsย 

Where to start with the Bills?ย 

Their defense was exposed by Mark Sanchez, of all people, three weeks ago, and after that 27-11 beat-down at the hands of their division rivals, they've looked like the "same old Bills."

They can't stop anybody. Not even the Dolphins.ย 

Like many other teams in the league, they've dealt with many injuries and their surprisingly solid offensive is in complete shambles without Eric Wood and Demetrius Bell.ย 

Ryan Fitzpatrick has struggled since his contract extension, but many of his interceptions have come off drops by his wide receivers.ย 

Teams have figured out Chan Gailey's quick-throw, spread system and Buffalo can't simply outscore their opponents anymore.ย 

San Diego Chargersย 

Philip Rivers is ready to forget about the 2011 season. He's been a turnover machine and although a chunk of his league-high 17 interceptions have come on tipped passes, many were the result of poor decisions.ย 

The defense isn't terrible, but they aren't stout enough to deal with continual short fields.ย 

Ryan Mathews and Mike Tolbert have been in and out of the lineup and they really miss Darren Sproles.ย 

Stunning to see the Chargers start out so well, then lose five straight games.ย 

Week 12 Power Rankings

1.ย Green Bay Packersย (10-0)17.ย Tampa Bay Buccaneersย (4-6)ย ย 
2.ย San Francisco 49ersย (9-1)18.ย Tennessee Titansย (5-5)
3.ย New Orleans Saintsย (7-3)

19.ย San Diego Chargersย (4-6)ย ย 

4.ย Pittsburgh Steelersย (7-3)20. Philadelphia Eagles (4-6) ย 
5.ย New England Patriotsย (7-3)21.ย Buffalo Bills (5-5)
6.ย Baltimore Ravensย (7-3)ย 22.ย Seattle Seahawksย (4-6)ย 
7.ย Chicago Bearsย (7-3)ย ย ย 23.ย Cleveland Brownsย (4-6)ย 
8.ย Houston Texans (7-3)ย 24.ย Arizona Cardinalsย (3-6)
9.ย New York Giantsย (6-4)ย 25. Miami Dolphinsย (3-7)ย ย 
10.ย Detroit Lionsย (7-3)ย 26. Kansas City Chiefsย (4-6)ย 
11.ย Dallas Cowboysย (6-4)ย ย 27.ย Jacksonville Jaguarsย (3-7)ย 
12. Cincinnati Bengalsย (6-4)ย ย 28.ย Minnesota Vikingsย (2-8)
13. ย Oakland Raidersย (6-4)ย 29.ย Washington Redskinsย (3-7)
14.ย Atlanta Falconsย (6-4)ย 30.ย Carolina Panthersย (2-8)
15. ย New York Jetsย (5-5)ย 31.ย St. Louisย Ramsย (2-8)
16.ย Denver Broncosย (5-5)ย 

32.ย Indianapolis Colts (0-10)