NFL Power Rankings: Gauging Which Teams Are in Biggest Trouble

After suffering devastating losses, the following four teams are in the most trouble in our Week 15 NFL power rankings:

Chicago Bears

The loss of both Jay Cutler and Matt Forte have simply been too much for the Bears offense to overcome. In the two games without them, the Bears have scored a grand total of 13 points.

And it has to be noted how bone-headed Marion Barber was to close out Sunday's 13-10 overtime loss to the Broncos. Stay in bounds on the final drive and the game is likely Chicago's. Secure the football on the first drive of overtime and the game is likely Chicago's. 

Behind a game in the NFC wild-card picture, plus games with red-hot Seattle and Green Bay in the next two weeks, means Chicago's playoff hopes for this season are in big trouble.

Oakland Raiders

Rarely can you say this in an NFL game, but the Raiders didn't even belong on the same field as the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. For a team that's fighting for a playoff spot, falling behind by 34 points and giving up 46 total are completely unacceptable. 

Now, the Raiders find themselves a full game (plus a tiebreaker loss with Denver) back in the AFC West with three to go. Oakland plays both Detroit and an emerging Chargers team during those final three. Oakland will be hard-pressed to turn its season around in time.

Cincinnati Bengals

When the season is all said and done, the Bengals are going to be kicking themselves for letting a big win slip through their fingers. A rookie quarterback (T.J. Yates) just shouldn't be able to drive his team down the field like that for a winning score if you plan on playing postseason football. 

The Bengals are now a game back of the New York Jets for the final wild-card spot, and the Titans took over the tiebreaker over Cincinnati by virtue of conference record. All in all, Week 14 was a turning point for the Bengals season—and not in a good way.

Tennessee Titans

Like the Bengals, the Titans should be frustrated about what transpired in the final seconds. With a chance to win the game on the last play, the Titans couldn't even get a pass off and took a sack—preserving the Saints' win on the road in Tennessee. 

The Texans are now division champs, so it's wild card or bust for the Titans. The Jets hold a one-game lead, but who goes to the playoffs may come down to if Tennessee can beat the Texans—a team likely to be still fighting for playoff position—on the road to close out the season.  

Week 15 Power Rankings

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

*Play Monday night