NFL Week 11 Power Rankings

The big news this week was BUF taking out KC to end the Chiefs' nearly year-long win streak. However, neither that game, nor DET blowing out JAX, nor PIT grinding down BAL, caused a ripple in the Power Rankings. The Rankings are based on what team is more likely to win theoretical, single-game, neutral-site matchup at this point in time. Given those parameters, the Chiefs remain the team to beat, due to their big-game experience, possession of the best defense among the upper-echelon teams, and Hall of Fame QB. The Bills beating KC is nothing that has not happened before, and it will take more than that to shake the top of the Rankings in any meaningful way.

With seven weeks left in the season, five teams (KC, DET, BUF, PHI, PIT) look to have their playoff tickets punched, while another nine (NE, CAR, TEN, DAL, NYJ, NYG, CLE, LV, JAX) are playing out the string.

That means 18 teams - and that's being generous - are competing for nine playoff spots. Let's break it down:

AFC

In at the moment 

HOU (leads South, seven wins); BAL (wild card, seven wins); LAC (wild card, seven wins); DEN (wild card, six wins).

Looking in

IND (5-6): Needs to finish with a minimum of four wins out of last six games. Very possible with a Week 15 win vs. DEN. 

MIA (4-6): Needs five out of seven. Could be tough.

CIN (4-7): Needs to run the table; probably not happening with two vs. PIT.

NFC

In at the moment

ATL (leads South, six wins); AZ (leads West, six wins); MIN (wild card, eight wins); GB (wild card, seven wins); WAS (wild card, seven wins).

Looking in

LAR: Needs five, maybe four, out of seven. Brutal schedule, but nine wins could take the West.

SEA: Needs five, maybe four, out of seven. Schedule also brutal, could take control by sweeping AZ in next three weeks.

SF: Needs five, maybe four, out of seven. Beat up, brutal schedule, dangerous if healthy.

TB: Six of seven vs. easy schedule puts Bucs in wild card mix. Swept vs. ATL means division is probably out of reach.

NO: Needs to run the table vs. decent schedule. Probably not happening.

CHI: Needs to run the table vs. brutal schedule. Not happening.