NFL Power Rankings Week 14: Looking at Teams Just on Outside of Playoff Picture

This late in the year it's not a bad thing to be on the cusp of the playoff picture looking in. It's gives a lot of motivation to the players as something to strive for.

And with this season still needing to clinch six more division champions, there's a few teams fighting for those final playoff spots. That being said, here are five teams on edge and viewing from the outside.

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New York Giants (6-6)

Although the Giants lost to the mighty Packers in Week 13, the Dallas Cowboys fell to the Cardinals in Arizona.

In turn, that put Dallas at 7-5 and the Giants at 6-6 with four games left and still two games remaining between both teams.

The only problem for the Giants, however, is that they have to play the Redskins and the Jets, neither of which are cakewalks.

As for Dallas, Big D has Philly at home and at Tampa Bay sandwiched between the G-Men. So, the Cowboys have a much easier road these last four games.

This week is the first meeting between the two and it's in New York. You can expect the Giants to win here but Dallas will be 9-6 whereas New York will be 8-7 when they rematch in Week 17.

There, the Cowboys win the division and head to the postseason while the Giants suffered through arguably the toughest schedule during the last half of the year.

Don't worry, Giants fans, Dallas doesn't last long in the playoffs.

New York Jets (7-5)

Of the teams fighting for a playoff spot from the outside looking in, the Jets are in the worst position.

For starters, they don't have the tiebreaker over Oakland or Denver, so regardless of who wins the AFC West, New York must finish with a better record than one of them.

To make matters worse, the Jets are No. 9 in the AFC and is backed up because the Titans and Bengals both have a better conference record. Additionally, Gang Green must play home to Kansas City, at Philly, the Giants, and at Miami.

The Chiefs are really the only easy win here.

Thereafter they must play an Eagles team that randomly shows up against superior teams (depends on what Eagles team they get, the one that blasted the Cowboys and beat the Giants, or the one that lost to Arizona and Seattle).

Then the in-state and inter-conference Giants are also fighting for their division, so that will be a big game strictly for New Yorkers.

Their final game at Miami is possibly the most difficult. The Dolphins have won four of their last five games and are a completely different team than when they played the Jets in Week 6. Realistically the Jets could finish 10-6 but they won't beat the Eagles in Philly, the Giants, or Dolphins.

So, expect another 9-7 season from the Green Men but not a playoff berth.

Detroit Lions (7-5)

The Lions may have started 5-0, but they've gone just 2-5 since; however, the postseason is still alive.

Right now Detroit is No. 7 in the NFC and sitting in front of them are the Atlanta Falcons. What's killing Detroit right now is the Falcons having the head-to-head tiebreaker.

Therefore, the Lions must hope to either finish with a better record than Atlanta, or hope the Bears begin to crumble. The latter is the more feasible outcome.

Currently being plagued by injuries the Chicago Bears sit at No. 5 and have a better conference record than the Lions (tied within the division). So, the question is how long will the Bears hold on?

Each have to play Green Bay once (loss) however, three of Chicago's four final games are on the road.

Include their injuries and the Lions will surpass the Bears by season's end at 9-7, while The Windy City finishes 8-8.

Congrats Detroit, you're going to the playoffs!

Oakland Raiders (7-5)

Now that the Denver Broncos have taken over the top spot in the AFC West, the Oakland Raiders fell from the No. 4 seed to No. 8 in the AFC.

Having the head-to-head over the Jets is big, but they still need some help in the Titans and Bengals losing, which is asking a lot.

The Raiders next two game are at Green Bay and home versus Detroit, so best case-scenario is beating the Lions who have struggled on the road.

Thereafter are the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium and the Chargers fly up north for a visit to the Coliseum. Potentially another split because Kansas City always plays the Raiders tough and the Bolts are in the midst of a catastrophic breakdown.

All this being said, don't expect Oakland to finish better than 9-7 and they'll just miss out of the playoffs. 

Tennessee Titans (7-5)

The Titans are perhaps in the best of all positions for AFC teams on the brink.

They're currently No. 7 in the AFC and have games left against New Orleans (home), at Indianapolis, Jacksonville (home), and at Houston.

Believe it or not, but Tennessee can beat the Saints. All three of New Orleans' losses have come in road games (Packers, Buccaneers, Rams) and the Titans are better than Tampa and St. Louis.

In addition, Tennessee knows how to beat good teams at home. Two of their wins have come over Baltimore and Denver in Nashville, TN. so don't be shocked when they beat the Saints.

Runninback Chris Johnson has exploded in the past few games which has made a definite impact on winning three of their last four games.

When all the smoke clears, expect Tennessee to finish 10-6 and earn the AFC's No. 6 seed.

Week 14 NFL Power Rankings (LW = Last Week's Rank) (* = MNF Teams)

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

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