NFL Playoff Scenarios: Teams You Want To Count Out, but Can't Just Yet

With just three weeks remaining in the 2011 season, the postseason picture is beginning to take shape.

Chicago Bears

Without their top two offensive players, the Bears have been unable to score enough points to beat two teams that scored a grand total of 23 points. Obviously, the drop off from Jay Cutler to Caleb Hanie and Matt Forte to Marion Barber has been steeper than most thought.

The Bears now have to find a way to claw their way back into the win column against the Seahawks and Packers over the next two weeks. Those will be tough matchups.

However, Chicago does finish with Minnesota in Week 17 and holds a head-to-head tiebreaker over the Falcons. If the Bears beat the Vikings and the Lions lose to the Packers in Week 16, the Bears will also have a tiebreaker over Detroit if the two teams finish with an identical record.

Oakland Raiders

You can't fault the Raiders for losing to the undefeated Packers on the road, but this was a team that simply gave up on winning the game in the first half. The Raiders were simply going through the motions once they fell behind by a few scores. Before you knew it, the Packers were up 34-0. That's not the kind of effort you want to see from a team fighting for a playoff spot against one of the NFL's hottest teams. 

That team is, of course, the Denver Broncos. Denver now sits a game ahead of Oakland and holds the tiebreaker. Still, the Broncos have to face New England next week before traveling to Buffalo. If the Raiders can win out against Detroit, Kansas City and San Diego, a playoff berth may still happen.

Dallas Cowboys

Losing two straight games in heartbreaking form like the Cowboys have would be a season-ender for most teams in most years. These Cowboys, however, still have a chance to get their season back on track.

Not only do they have winnable games against Tampa Bay and Philadelphia remaining, but Dallas also finishes the season with the Giants in Week 17. Whoever wins that game is likely going to be the team that wins the NFC East.