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.
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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 | Colts · Trends | 1 | |||||||
| They won four games in November by a total of 10 points. They're not dominating, but they are winning. | ||||||||||
![]() | 2 | Saints · Trends | 2 | |||||||
| They get a major test next week when the Patriots come to town for a Monday night game. Is that the end of the unbeaten season? | ||||||||||
![]() | 3 | Vikings · Trends | 3 | |||||||
| Brett Favre might be having his best season. Who said he would flop? Oh, me. | ||||||||||
![]() | 4 | Patriots · Trends | 5 | |||||||
| They bounced back nicely against the Jets and have a two-game lead in the division, but the Saints will be a great barometer for where they are now. | ||||||||||
![]() | 5 | Cowboys · Trends | 7 | |||||||
| They beat the Redskins, but they still looked off. They'll get it going Thursday against the Raiders. | ||||||||||
![]() | 6 | Bengals · Trends | 4 | |||||||
| What was that in Oakland? That reminds us a little of why they're still the Bengals. They had no business losing that game. | ||||||||||
![]() | 7 | Chargers · Trends | 9 | |||||||
| They are rolling again after a slow start. What else is new for this team? They are the class of the AFC West, just like we thought they'd be. | ||||||||||
![]() | 8 | Cardinals · Trends | 10 | |||||||
| They played a decent road game against the Rams, even if they made it interesting in the end. The running game is getting cranked up, which is great for the playoff run. | ||||||||||
![]() | 9 | Eagles · Trends | 11 | |||||||
| They snapped a two-game losing streak against the Bears to keep their playoff chances solid. This is the time when the Eagles usually get it going. | ||||||||||
![]() | 10 | Steelers · Trends | 6 | |||||||
| They just haven't looked that good this season. Something is off. It might be wise to work on that kickoff coverage. | ||||||||||
![]() | 11 | Giants · Trends | 12 | |||||||
| Eli Manning's big game saved their season against Atlanta. Now they face a tough road game at Denver on a short week. | ||||||||||
![]() | 12 | Broncos · Trends | 8 | |||||||
| Was their start a fraud? It sure looks like it. They aren't playing well on either side of the ball, but especially on offense. | ||||||||||
![]() | 13 | Jaguars · Trends | 16 | |||||||
| If the playoffs started today, they'd be in. Wow. They aren't winning pretty, but they're finding a way. | ||||||||||
![]() | 14 | Packers · Trends | 17 | |||||||
| Losing Al Harris and Aaron Kampman for the season will impact that defense in a big way. It's good that the offense is playing better now to help offset it. | ||||||||||
![]() | 15 | Falcons · Trends | 14 | |||||||
| They have three consecutive homes games to turn their season back around. The defense just gives up too many big plays. | ||||||||||
![]() | 16 | Dolphins · Trends | 21 | |||||||
| Chad Henne is growing up. As he does, they will be better. The playoffs are still possible. But don't lose at Buffalo. | ||||||||||
![]() | 17 | Ravens · Trends | 15 | |||||||
| They've been a disappointment so far. If they lose to the Steelers this week, they can say goodbye to the playoffs. | ||||||||||
![]() | 18 | Texans · Trends | 13 | |||||||
| That loss at home to the Titans is a big hit to their playoff chances. They just never got it going on offense. Kris Brown choked two weeks in a row. Now the Colts come to town. | ||||||||||
![]() | 19 | Titans · Trends | 22 | |||||||
| They are somehow still alive at 4-6. Winning four consecutive games after opening 0-6 is impressive. Vince Young is doing a nice job. | ||||||||||
![]() | 20 | Jets · Trends | 18 | |||||||
| Mark Sanchez is playing like a rookie. But it doesn't mean he should sit down. He needs to grow and playing is the right way. | ||||||||||
![]() | 21 | Panthers · Trends | 19 | |||||||
| They will likely have a new coach next season and that could mean the end for Jake Delhomme. He just isn't good enough. | ||||||||||
![]() | 22 | Bears · Trends | 20 | |||||||
| Is Lovie Smith in trouble? He might be. Cutler sure hasn't lived up to the expectations. He needs help. | ||||||||||
![]() | 23 | 49ers · Trends | 23 | |||||||
| They can forget the playoffs now. The rest of the season is about finding out if Alex Smith is the long-term answer at quarterback. | ||||||||||
![]() | 24 | Bills · Trends | 25 | |||||||
| Perry Fewell's first game showed a team that will still fight. And there was a Terrell Owens sighting. Amazing. | ||||||||||
![]() | 25 | Seahawks · Trends | 24 | |||||||
| Count this team as one of the biggest flops of the season. But injuries have played a big part. Is Mike Holmgren coming to the rescue? | ||||||||||
![]() | 26 | Chiefs · Trends | 26 | |||||||
| They're on a two-game winning streak. Beating the Steelers is a big step for this young team. The Chiefs are improving. | ||||||||||
![]() | 27 | Redskins · Trends | 27 | |||||||
| The best thing to come out of the Cowboys loss is that Jason Campbell played better. They're still fighting. | ||||||||||
![]() | 28 | Raiders · Trends | 28 | |||||||
| Say hello to the bench, JaMarcus Russell. Bruce Gradkowski is the guy the rest of the way. | ||||||||||
![]() | 29 | Lions · Trends | 31 | |||||||
| Matt Stafford showed against the Browns that he was the right pick last April. They have their building block. | ||||||||||
![]() | 30 | Rams · Trends | 29 | |||||||
| Do you feel sorry a little for Steven Jackson playing on this team? He's having a huge season. And now Marc Bulger is out? Ouch. | ||||||||||
![]() | 31 | Buccaneers · Trends | 30 | |||||||
| Josh Freeman played like a rookie against the Saints, but he will have those days. It's hard to believe that's a Bucs defense we've been watching. It tells us why Jim Bates was fired. | ||||||||||
![]() | 32 | Browns · Trends | 32 | |||||||
| The good news is Brady Quinn is looking better. The bad news is the defense regressed. They have a long way to go to being able to compete for a playoff spot. | ||||||||||



































