NFL Power Rankings Week 12: Teams to Start Prepping for Draft with Another Loss

Wes ODonnellNov 23, 2011

The only way a team with seven losses can make the postseason is by winning a division title.

Heck, we saw the 7-9 Seattle Seahawks make the playoffs and win a postseason game last year. Meanwhile, multiple 10-6 teams were on the outside looking in.

This year isn't any different. The AFC West is terrible while the AFC North has three potential playoff teams.

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The AFC South is even worse with one legitimate playoff contender, but there are two because the division is so bad.

The NFC West is all but locked up for the San Francisco 49ers while the NFC North has three potential playoff teams, but the latter two (Detroit and Chicago) are playing for wild-card spots behind the undefeated Green Bay Packers.

The NFC East and South both have two teams legitimately in contention.

That leaves a lot of teams on the outside already. Here is a look at teams that can start their draft prep early this year.

Philadelphia Eagles

Another loss will be the Eagles' seventh and will banish them from playoff contention. More than just the draft, this team needs to figure out which direction it's headed in.

The Eagles overpaid for Michael Vick and are now stuck with him. They have yet to pay DeSean Jackson and they made a lot of short-term moves this offseason they must deal with.

For a season that started with so much promise, the Eagles are on the verge of thinking about a new season already.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

After such a promising 2010 season where the Bucs finished the year 10-6, things have gone south quickly.

Tampa Bay has already matched its loss total from a year ago and one more loss will mean the end of its playoff hopes.

The Buccaneers are basically out of the NFC South race already and won't be able to earn an NFC wild-card berth at 9-7, if they're even lucky enough to finish at that mark.

The Bucs will go into this offseason looking for help in the secondary, on the defensive line and at wide receiver.

Cleveland Browns

Their season is basically over, but the Browns could technically run the table and end up 10-6.

That is highly unlikely considering they've won back-to-back games only once this season. In fact, it's remarkable they have four wins at all.

Their wins came against teams with a combined 10-30 record.

Head coach Pat Shurmur has had a lot to deal with this year, but has shown some promise. Should they lose a seventh game they can start thinking about how to make a legitimate playoff push for 2012.

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