NFL Power Rankings Week 15: Dallas Cowboys and Teams Falling Fast

Eric BowmanDec 13, 2011

The 2011 NFL season is getting close to the end, and over these last few weeks a couple of teams have continued to slip down the power rankings.

With little time to make up room, some teams have no hope for the playoffs or to even be considered a strong team anymore.

It's be an unpredictable season, but we wouldn't change it for anything in the world, especially since there was a period of time when fans thought there would be no games played.

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Here are three teams that are falling fast in the power rankings.

Dallas Cowboys

With their second loss in a row, the Cowboys are on a downward spiral. They haven't played well in recent weeks, struggling to beat the Washington Redskins and the Miami Dolphins.

The loss to the Giants this past Sunday put Dallas out of first place in the NFC East, and if the Cowboys don't get their act together they could end up missing the playoffs.

There are only three games remaining, and since the Cowboys must battle the Buccaneers, Eagles and Giants, they better make sure they start playing up to their full potential or this season will be viewed as a failure.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Considering how this season has gone so far, don't be surprised if the Bucs decide to make some changes in the offseason.

Tampa Bay has now lost seven consecutive games, and the schedule doesn't get much easier. In the last three games, the Bucs will take on the Cowboys, Panthers and Falcons, which means they could lose all three.

To end the season losing 10 straight games would be very devastating for a young team that had so much promise. A normal offseason should help, but for now, the Bucs continue to drop.

Chicago Bears

Without Jay Cutler, the Bears knew they could rely on the run game. However, when Matt Forte got hurt all hope was lost.

Once considered a lock for a postseason wild-card spot, the Bears are an afterthought since losing three games in a row now.

There is no true leader on the team, something that was made clear when the Denver Broncos rallied from being down by 10 to winning in overtime.

Don't expect much from Chicago in coming weeks because the Bears are toast this season. They take on the Seahawks, Packers and Vikings to finish the year, and the Bears will struggle in all of those games.

Eric Bowman’s 2011 NFL Power Rankings

1. Green Bay Packers

2. New Orleans Saints

3. Baltimore Ravens

4. Pittsburgh Steelers

5. New England Patriots

6. San Francisco 49ers

7. Houston Texans

8. Atlanta Falcons

9. Detroit Lions

10. New York Jets

11. New York Giants