NFL Power Rankings: Soaring Teams That Will Nosedive with Week 16 Losses

There is no better time to go on a hot streak in the NFL than with the regular season winding down. The Green Bay Packers proved that last season by using a late surge to nab a playoff spot, roll all the way to the Super Bowl and defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Quite a few teams may be in the same position this season, but finishing strong is easier said than done. With the playoffs just a couple of weeks away, there are a bunch of teams that view the next few games as must-win contests. With that said, here are three soaring teams that will crash and burn in Week 16. 

San Diego Chargers

In what has become a yearly habit of the San Diego Chargers, they are firmly in the middle of a December swoon that has seen them win three consecutive games. This has come after a six-game losing streak nearly knocked the Bolts out of contention. San Diego has battled back, though, to the point where it is just a game back of the Denver Broncos for the AFC West lead.

As much as the Chargers want to win this week, the same can be said for their opponents. The Detroit Lions are on the brink of their first playoff berth since 1999, but they must first beat the Chargers in order to clinch a spot. The Lions have played quite well over the past couple of weeks in their own right and they will also have home-field advantage in this game. None of San Diego's opponents have been able to expose its defensive deficiencies in recent weeks, but I believe quarterback Matthew Stafford and the Lions will. 

Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles looked to be dead in the water, but if everything breaks the right way it is possible that they could still win the NFC East. The first step will be beating the Dallas Cowboys on the road. While that won't be easy, the Eagles' offense is suddenly humming thanks to the return of quarterback Michael Vick from injury and the continued dominance of running back LeSean McCoy.

Philly still has plenty of issues, though, as the offense is prone to turning the ball over and the defense has a penchant for giving up big plays. Defense, in particular, could be a big issue against a Cowboys team that has been red-hot offensively. Quarterback Tony Romo is playing the best football of his career and he seems determined to prove his detractors wrong. As a result, I like Dallas in this game. 

Arizona Cardinals

In what has perhaps been the most surprising late-season run, the Arizona Cardinals have won four games in a row and six of their past seven to even their record at 7-7. They are still technically in the NFC playoff hunt, although they would need to get lots of help to make it. Regardless of that, you can't help but be impressed with the way the team has responded after a nightmarish start to the season.

The Cards will take on a team this week whose playoff hopes are much more realistic in the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals are currently trailing the New York Jets for the final AFC playoff spot based on a tiebreaker. Cincinnati is a very responsible and fundamentally-sound team, especially on the road, and will not be easy to beat. Provided the Bengals run the ball well and play solid defense as usual, they should be able to put a stop to the Cardinals' winning ways.

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