NFL Playoff Scenarios: Power Ranking the Most Dangerous Bubble Teams

You've heard it before, "the team nobody wants to play in the playoffs." That phrase can be uttered in different situations.

This season, there are a few examples of teams that may or may not make the postseason, but could be a major problem if they do.

Maybe they were held back by injuries, or there was a change at QB, the head coaching position or both. The momentum and chemistry can change, and change a team that was once an afterthought to a legitimate contender.

Here are the most dangerous teams that haven't clinched a spot, power ranked by potential playoff threat level.

14. Oakland Raiders 7-7

The Raiders are still in the hunt for the final wild-card spot, as well as the AFC West. They probably won't grab either. The team has faltered on the defensive side of the ball, losing three straight.

The defense has allowed an average of 36 points per game during the streak. In their last win, they gave up 20 points to the Caleb Hanie led Bears. 

The Raiders would be a welcomed playoff draw for most teams.

13. Seattle Seahawks 7-7

The Seahawks are 7-7; they just blasted the offensively challenged Bears 38-14. Their playoff run will get a true test of legitimacy this week against the 49ers.

The Seahawks will be eliminated this week, but even if they pulled the freaky upset over the Niners, the Seahawks don't scare many teams.

They still have too many questions on the offensive line in pass-protection, due to injuries and how many people are true believers in Tarvaris Jackson.

12. Tennessee Titans 7-7

The Titans became that team last week. The team that gave the Indianapolis Colts their first victory. The Titans have a nice defense, but their disarray in the passing game with Matt Hasselbeck's health and Jake Locker's inexperience is crippling.

Chris Johnson and the running game have been erratic. The Titans have weapons, but they aren't striking fear in many teams either.

11. Arizona Cardinals 7-7

The Cards have been on a roll. John Skelton gets it done; it is rarely pretty, but he gets it done. Patrick Peterson has easily been the most impacting defensive rookie this year. He is dynamic in the return game and shutting down his side of the field in coverage.

The Cards have playmakers on offense with Larry Fitzgerald and Beanie Wells. When healthy, Wells has been solid; he'll likely top the 1000-yard mark in his next two carries.

The team has won four close games in a row. They will not be on many playoff teams' wish lists come January.

10. Kansas City Chiefs 6-8

The Chiefs are 6-8, but they just thumped the Packers, and the defense looked stellar in the process. Under the tutelage of new interim head coach Romeo Crennel, the Chiefs look like a different team.

Kyle Orton looked comfortable under center, and let's not forget the fact that this team has playmakers like Dwayne Bowe, and to a man, the defense is solid.

They held the vaunted Packers offense to only 14 points Sunday. That is impressive, even if it was without Greg Jennings.

9. Chicago Bears 7-7

Before you call me crazy, this is about potential danger in the playoffs. If, by some stretch, the Bears can win out, and get help (highly unlikely) to reach the playoffs, they would likely have Jay Cutler and Matt Forte back.

The Bears defense has been sound all year; the second half against the Seahawks was just fatigue and frustration. No one will want to play Chicago with their two best offensive players back and the defense recharged.

8. Cincinnati Bengals 8-6

The Bengals have dropped four of their last six. The only wins in this stretch are against the Browns and Rams. The losses came to Baltimore, Pittsburgh (twice) and Houston. That list shows me that the Bengals aren't among the AFC's elite.

Still, they are a formidable opponent and finish up with Arizona and Baltimore. If they get in, they will have earned it, and teams will have to prepare for a top-10 defense and a premier deep threat in AJ Green.

7. NY Jets 8-6

The Jets have been as erratic as their QB Mark Sanchez. The defense, which was once the strength, has also been inconsistent.

When Sanchez plays well, and the Jets stop the run, they can beat anybody; the problem is, nobody knows which of those factors will work in their favor on a weekly basis.

6. Detroit Lions 9-5

Sure, Detroit is 9-5 and almost locked into a playoff spot, but this team is mistake prone and largely undisciplined. These two flaws are the types of things that beat you in the playoffs. Matt Stafford is erratic, especially when it comes to accuracy.

Case in point, the big play to Calvin Johnson last week was drastically under thrown. Were it not for Megatron's amazing gifts, the Lions would be 8-6 and sweating much harder. Still, Megatron makes this team a handful to prepare for.

5. NY Giants 7-7

The Giants defensive line and running game showed up for a couple weeks, and then Eli Manning proceeded to deliver the biggest stinker of the year last week against the Redskins.

In his defense, Hakeem Nicks traded in his hands for steel plates and dropped more balls than is acceptable. Still, when the Giants click they are a balanced and tough squad.

The performance through three-and-a-half quarters against Green Bay proved that in Week 13.

5. Dallas Cowboys 8-6

The Cowboys seem to have rebounded from their two-game stupor to regain control in the NFC East...for now. The Cowboys have elite receivers, a defense that stops the run (seventh overall) and most of all, Tony Romo has played well, so far in December.

The Cowboys could make a Super Bowl run, if they can eliminate the silly mistakes by players and the coaching staff (cough, stop icing your own kicker).

4. Denver Broncos 8-6

The Broncos are currently leading the AFC West, but the division title is still in doubt. The Patriots put a halt to Tebow-mania last week by lighting up the Denver defense for 41 points. As big as Tebow is to team success, they cannot win without stellar defense and field position.

The defense sets the table for Tebow's late heroics. No team wants to face Denver in a close game in the fourth quarter.

3. San Diego Chargers 7-7

The Chargers are finally playing the way we expected them to. Predictably, the Chargers are on their annual December run. The division is within their grasp, as is the last wild-card spot.

The key to the surge is the play of Philip Rivers. After underachieving all year, Rivers has eight TD, no INT and a QB rating of 90.5 in the Chargers' four-game win streak...beware.

2. Atlanta Falcons 9-5

The Falcons have one of the most balanced offenses is the NFL. They have a QB that makes very few mistakes, a bruising running game with two different, but effective receivers, with a solid and legendary tight end.

The Falcons are also fourth against the run. In Week 5, they outplayed Green Bay for over two quarters before they became too conservative and lost 25-14. The Falcons are dangerous.

1. Philadelphia Eagles 6-8

I know many people think this is crazy, but the Eagles are still ultra talented. The Eagles running the table is not out of the question with Washington and the Cowboys on the schedule. If the Cowboys lose the season finale against the Giants, and the Giants lose to the Jets this week, the Eagles win the division at 8-8 through tie-breakers.

So, yeah, they need a lot of help, but if they do make it in the "Dream Team" and all their talented pieces will be revitalized with a second chance. Mike Vick is healthy and the Eagles defense has stepped up. LeSean McCoy is doing his best Marshall Faulk impersonation keying the team's resurgence.

Nobody wants to see the Eagles in the playoffs.