Power Rankings: Super contenders have rough week

Updated Dec. 16

There are no Super Bowl favorites anymore.

The New York Giants and Tennessee Titans, who we anointed as the teams that would meet in Tampa in seven weeks, have fallen on tough times.

The Titans were upset by the Houston Texans on Sunday and the Giants have lost two consecutive games, including a 20-8 defeat at Dallas on Sunday night.

That isn't exactly rolling into the postseason.

Both can still lock up the top seed in their respective conferences this week with victories, but now there are questions.

Do the Titans throw it well enough? How hurt is Albert Haynesworth and when will he be back? What happened to the Giants' offensive line against the Cowboys? Do they have the same ability to score without Plaxico Burress?

The Titans play host to the Pittsburgh Steelers next Sunday in a game featuring the league's top two scoring defenses. But Haynesworth is out with a knee injury that will be an enormous -- as in 340 pounds enormous -- hit for the Titans.

If the 12-2 Titans win, they lock up the AFC's top seed. If they don't, the Steelers can steal it with a victory the following week at Cleveland.

The Giants play host to the Carolina Panthers, a team that has won three consecutive games to get to 11-3, the same record as the Giants. The winner takes the No. 1 seed in the NFC. If the Giants were to lose and then lose to the Vikings in Week 17, there would be a chance they could even lose a first-round bye.

It's amazing how quickly things change in the NFL. That's why it's also imperative to be hot going into the playoffs.

The Giants, of all teams, know that well. They got hot at the right time in 2007, won three consecutive playoff games on the road, and then beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl. That team peaked at the right time.

This one doesn't seem to be.

Neither are the Titans. They've lost two of their past four games, prompting some speculation that the magic has gone for Kerry Collins.

My theory is they've always been too run reliant. That helped protect Collins. Now they need to open it up more.

Collins can do it. He has to show it, though.

Poll Which team will reach the Super Bowl? Both Giants Titans Neither

If they don't have a capable passing game come January, it won't matter anyway. The running game and defense win championships, but you have to be able to throw it to score.

The Giants did it last year, the Colts the year before that and the Steelers the year before that. They threw to score and then ran to win.

After losing this week, the Titans and Giants each drop down a notch in our CBSSports.com Power Rankings, with a new team at the top in the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Even though the Giants won at Pittsburgh on Oct. 26 -- which should put them higher than the Steelers -- the fact the Giants have lost two consecutive games factors into my decision.

The Titans are second, with the Giants third.

But if things turn around for those two this week, one of them could be back at the top. Then we'll start it all over again, that talk about the Titans and Giants in the Super Bowl.

They better just hope they haven't cooled too much at this critical point in the season.

The Power Rankings through Week 15:

Power Rankings
Current		Team	Previous
	1	Steelers · Trends	3
	If they win out, they win the top seed in the AFC. That means winning Sunday at Tennessee. That won't be easy.
	2	Titans · Trends	1
	I still think their passing game has to be better. If they think they're running on Pittsburgh this week, they can forget that.
	3	Giants · Trends	2
	Is it time to panic? Not yet. But a loss to the Panthers on Sunday will be a crushing blow. They've been the top seed for most of the season. To lose it now would be damning.
	4	Panthers · Trends	4
	They play the Giants in a game that will decide the top seed in the conference. The best thing to come out of their victory over Denver is the way the passing game got going. That shows they can do it.
	5	Colts · Trends	5
	They've won seven in a row, but they still don't seem to be clicking all the way. It has helped that they've been playing bad teams.
	6	Cowboys · Trends	7
	Despite all their problems, especially off the field, they can lock up a playoff spot with two consecutive victories. If they get in, they'll be dangerous.
	7	Falcons · Trends	9
	If they win their final two games, they're a playoff team. That would be incredible. It won't be easy going to Minnesota this week.
	8	Vikings · Trends	10
	One more victory and they're division champs. If they get any type of quarterback play in the playoffs, they will be dangerous. Tarvaris Jackson seems to have made strides.
	9	Ravens · Trends	6
	It won't be easy bouncing back from that tough loss to the Steelers with a short week in preparing to play the Cowboys. They could go from a division lead to out of the playoffs if they don't watch out.
	10	Buccaneers · Trends	8
	Two consecutive division losses have them in playoff-elimination mode the rest of the way. They can't afford another. The good news is they close with home games against San Diego and Oakland.
	11	Jets · Trends	11
	The way their defense is playing, they won't last long even if they do make the playoffs. At least Brett Favre found his receivers again against the Bills.
	12	Dolphins · Trends	13
	If they win their final two, they win the division. They need to play better than they did against the 49ers on Sunday.
	13	Eagles · Trends	14
	Maybe that benching was just what Donovan McNabb needed. He has been a different player since.
	14	Patriots · Trends	15
	After two weeks out west they come home with a chance to win the division with two victories to close it out. The wild-card route isn't out of the question either.
	15	Cardinals · Trends	12
	They're a playoff team. Does it look like it? They can't run the ball and that shows up every week. What happened to the defense against the Vikings?
	16	Bears · Trends	16
	They get an 11-day break between games, playing last Thursday and then again Monday. Two wins could give them the division.
	17	Texans · Trends	21
	They are really playing well. I think a lot of AFC teams should be happy they have no chance to make the playoffs.
	18	Saints · Trends	17
	Their season is now officially a disappointment. They can throw it, but they don't run it well enough and they don't play good enough defense. That has to change.
	19	Broncos · Trends	18
	Hard to believe that team we saw at Carolina is about to win a division. But one more victory and they lock it up.
	20	Chargers · Trends	20
	They're still alive in the playoff chase. That's hard to believe, but true. If they win out, and the Broncos lose two, they win the division.
	21	Redskins · Trends	19
	Bye-bye playoffs. They've really tumbled down this list in the past month. Injuries and bad quarterback play have done that.
	22	Bills · Trends	22
	Is Dick Jauron in trouble? He could be. This team has collapsed and there is speculation he could be gone. I'm not so sure that's the right thing to do.
	23	Jaguars · Trends	26
	So maybe they haven't quit. And here's a bet they play hard for the television audience this week against the Colts, a team they don't like all that much.
	24	Packers · Trends	23
	The one thing that shows up is how poorly they rush the passer. It doesn't matter how good the secondary plays, they get no pressure at all. You won't win that way.
	25	49ers · Trends	24
	They've made improvement under Mike Singletary. Now comes the tough part: Deciding if he's their guy.
	26	Browns · Trends	25
	This miserable season has two games left. They have to be happy about that.
	27	Seahawks · Trends	30
	Two more games for Mike Holmgren. That's kind of sad. Then again, he might want out after this season.
	28	Bengals · Trends	31
	All those who thought they had packed it in, raise your hands. Hey, me too. They showed something in beating the Redskins.
	29	Chiefs · Trends	27
	Their young players are improving, which is a good sign for next season. Now they have to decide if Tyler Thigpen is the long-term answer.
	30	Raiders · Trends	28
	Just stink, baby. Does it matter who coaches this team? They aren't very good. Think Lane Kiffin is laughing in Knoxville, Tenn.?
	31	Rams · Trends	29
	Do they keep Jim Haslett around? Probably not, but this mess isn't his fault. Give him some players and he'll get the job done.
	32	Lions · Trends	32
	They aren't going winless without a fight. They played hard against the Colts. I still don't think they get one.