NFL Power Rankings: Shaky Playoff Contenders That Will Bounce Back

Things are starting to heat up in the NFL as we approach the month of December. There are playoff contenders that are starting to catch fire, while others have hit a stumbling block or two in recent weeks. 

The good news for those teams that have stubbed their toe is that there is still plenty of time for them to turn things around.

The power rankings have undergone some drastic changes in recent weeks due to all of the surprising outcomes that we have seen, but as we hit the home stretch, things will start to get back to normal—or at least as normal as things can be in the NFL. 

Here are three playoff contenders that will come back nicely after a down week or two. 

San Francisco 49ers (9-2)

Week 12 was a bad one for the 49ers. Not only did they miss out on having a Thanksgiving dinner in their hometown, but the Ravens defense destroyed their offensive line and Alex Smith was left on an island with no hope of rescue.

But if you want to look at the glass half full, the 49ers had to travel across the country on a short week to play one of the best teams in the AFC. It is no wonder that they struggled—there are few teams that would have been able to come away with a victory under those circumstances.

The 49ers are still going to the playoffs. They will still be the No. 2 seed in the NFC in all likelihood, and everything will be back to normal this week against St. Louis.

Detroit Lions (7-4)

Stomping incidents aside, the Lions have a lot to be proud of heading into Week 13. They are still the second-best team in the NFC North and have the inside track on the postseason if they win out.

The schedule gets a little tougher for them over the next few weeks, starting with a game against New Orleans this week, but they can prove themselves as a playoff team during this time.

Don’t give up on them just yet, because they still have a dynamic offense with Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson leading the way, and the defense will get better thanks to all the controversy surrounding Ndamukong Suh right now.

New York Giants (6-4)

They still have to play this week, but the Giants are a dangerous team as we head down the final stretch of the season and into the playoffs.

Few teams in the NFC can match their balance on offense and defense. Eli Manning is playing as well as he ever has, the receiving corps is as deep as there is and the defense doesn’t get the credit that it deserves.

The late-season swoons that have plagued the Giants for the last two years will be a thing of the past as they get back in the playoffs and prove that they belong with the NFC’s elite.

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