NFL Week 14 Contenders and Pretenders

Week 14 of the 2011 NFL season is winding down, and while a handful of teams have already secured postseason berths, many others are still jockeying for playoff position and a spot in the National Football League's second season.

However, even among playoff contenders, there is some delineation between teams with legitimate championship aspirations and those that are as likely as not to be one and done, so here's a look at an updated list of NFL contenders and pretenders.

1. Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers moved to 13-0 after drubbing the Oakland Raiders Sunday, and given that they have a very real chance of running the table in the regular season, I think it's pretty safe to say that the defending world champions are the real deal.

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2. San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers have already secured the NFC West title, but now find themselves tied with the New Orleans Saints for the No. 2 seed in the NFC after a loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Issues along their offensive line are beginning to raise serious questions abut their viability in the postseason.

PRETENDER

3. Baltimore Ravens

They say that defense wins championships, and if there's one thing the 10-3 Baltimore Ravens—who control their own destiny in the AFC North—have plenty of, it's defense, so if their offense can be a bit more consistent, the Ravens may well be the team to beat in the AFC.

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4. Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys certainly seem to have the talent to be a legitimate contender in the NFC on paper, but erratic play and quarterback Tony Romo's penchant for late-season implosions would seem to indicate an early postseason exit for the Cowboys should they even get there.

PRETENDER

5. Pittsburgh Steelers

The ankle injury suffered by Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in Thursday's win over the Cleveland Browns is cause for concern, but Big Ben has played with nagging injuries before, so the defending AFC champions should once again be a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs.

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6. Cincinnati Bengals

A heartbreaking loss to the Houston Texans in Week 14 dropped the Cincinnati Bengals to 7-6 on the season. After getting off to a hot start, it appears that the young Bengals may find themselves on the outside looking in when the playoffs begin.

PRETENDER

7. Denver Broncos

I can't believe I'm saying this, but after pulling out another comeback win on Sunday, the Denver Broncos have now won seven of eight and are in the driver's seat in the AFC West. If there's one thing the past two months have shown us, it's that you'd be foolish to count out those kooky Fighting Tebows.

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8. Houston Texans

With their victory over the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday, the Houston Texans secured the AFC South title and their first postseason berth in franchise history, but with rookie T,J. Yates under center, it's hard to see the Texans being able to defeat the AFC's elite in the postseason.

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9. New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints were one of the few teams to give the Green Bay Packers a run for their money this season, and while the Saints lost to the Pack on opening night, their offense is likely the only one in the NFC capable of hanging in there in a shootout with Aaron Rodgers and Co..

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10. New England Patriots

The 10-3 New England Patriots are well on their way to yet another AFC East crown, but as Sunday's blowup between quarterback Tom Brady and offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien demonstrated, there is some angst in Beantown, likely in regards to the Patriots' awful defense.

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