NFL Power Rankings: Sliding Teams That Will Continue to Plummet

In the NFL, all it takes is one good stretch or one bad stretch to make or break your season. Several teams are finding that out the hard way, as they are riding major losing streaks into the season's final and most decisive month.

All it takes is a single win to turn that around, however, but that is much easier said than done. There simply isn't much time left when it comes to making a playoff push. Here are three struggling teams that will continue to slide with Week 14 losses.

Buffalo Bills

Despite starting 5-2, the Buffalo Bills now sit at 5-7 as they have dropped five straight decisions, including the last two by less than a touchdown. While the Bills may have been flash in the pan early in the season, perhaps the biggest reason for their downfall has been injuries to major contributors such as Fred Jackson, Kyle Williams and Shawne Merriman.

The Bills will face another struggling team this week in the San Diego Chargers. The Bolts had lost an incredible six straight prior to Monday night's victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Chargers have a tendency for pulling it all together late in the season.

San Diego's talent level is undeniable, and if quarterback Philip Rivers plays against Buffalo like he did against Jacksonville, then the Bills probably don't stand much of a chance.

New York Giants

It wasn't too long ago that the New York Giants had a very comfortable lead in the NFC East and looked to be a lock for the postseason. They have lost four straight games, though, and are now trailing the Dallas Cowboys by a game.

New York will have an opportunity to pull even as it faces Dallas on Sunday night, but I give the Cowboys the advantage at home.

Despite having the best crop of pass rushers in the league, the Giants have struggled to pressure the quarterback during their losing streak, and have been torched by the pass in turn. If the Giants can't get in the face of Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, then he will likely be able to pick apart New York as he will have a full allotment of weapons with receiver Miles Austin set to return.

Chicago Bears

At 7-5, the Chicago Bears are still currently in the playoff mix in the NFC, but they have lost two straight games and incurred a couple devastating injuries. Quarterback Jay Cutler is likely to miss the remainder of the regular season with a thumb injury, while do-everything running back Matt Forte will miss anywhere from two to six weeks with an MCL sprain.

This means that quarterback Caleb Hanie and running back Marion Barber will have to carry the offensive load for the Bears moving forward. That didn't work out well in a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs last week, and I don't expect much to change on the road against the red-hot Denver Broncos on Sunday.

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