NFL Power Rankings Week 13: Teams Just Outside the Playoff Picture

With five weeks left in the 2011 NFL regular season, we've got a long way to go before the playoff picture in both conferences are settled. 

High-drama in December is exactly what we want as professional football fans. 

For now, let's look at the teams currently on the outside looking in and glance at their remaining schedule. 

Detroit Lions (7-4)

The Lions have proven to be an explosive team that can't find consistency against better defenses. 

Their defensive unit isn't as ferocious as we expected it to be following their 5-0 start, either. 

But Detroit undoubtedly has the talent on both sides of the football to make the postseason. Looking at their schedule, they have the unenviable task of traveling to New Orleans to take on the Saints in prime-time next week. They also have two of their next three at home against the Vikings, Raiders and Chargers. 

Detroit ends the season at Green Bay. 

9-7 looks very possible, but they may need to get to 10 wins to make the postseason. 

Time to step up, Matthew Stafford. 

New York Giants (6-4)*

*The Giants play the Saints on Monday Night Football tonight.

If the Giants cannot establish the run, they're going to have an incredibly tough time advancing to the postseason. 

Eli Manning is still having a fantastic season, but with the injuries on defense, they can't rely on Manning to win every game in the fourth quarter. 

They don't exactly have the easiest schedule in December, either. The Giants get the Saints tonight, then home against the Packers followed by a road trip to Dallas. 

They should get past the Redskins at home, and the Giants end with the Jets and a visit from the Cowboys in a game that could determine their season. 

Maybe their pass-rush and the receivers can carry them to the playoffs.

Denver Broncos (6-5)

Tim Tebow is taking the NFL world by storm. 

Has this guy really inspired his teammates? 

It's very possible. 

The defense is playing great, Willis McGahee is running like he's wearing a Miami Hurricanes uniform and Eric Decker looks like a young Ed McCaffrey. 

The Broncos' schedule is intriguing, mainly because it's always fun to watch their opponents alter their defensive game plan around Denver's offense. 

They travel to Minnesota next week, then come home to the Bears and Patriots before heading to Buffalo on Christmas Eve. 

The Denver Tebows end their season against the Chiefs in front of their home crowd. 

Can No. 15 pull off the miracle?

New York Jets (6-5)

The Jets kept their playoff hopes alive with a nail-nibbling win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. 

Mark Sanchez was extremely shaky all game, but four of his 17 completions went for touchdowns. He'll have to improve drastically if New York makes a run at that last playoff spot. 

The Jets have road games against the Redskins, Eagles and Dolphins to end the year, and games at Met Life stadium against the Chiefs and Giants. 

I think their loss to the Broncos sealed their fate, but anything's possible.  

Power Rankings

Week 12 NFL Power Rankings 

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

*MNF Matchup