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 didn't look great against the 49ers, but they found a way. That's what good teams do. It has to be good having Bob Sanders back again. | ||||||||||
 | 2 | Saints · Trends | 2 | |||||||
| It was a little bit of a struggle against the Falcons, but the schedule is favorable the rest of the way, to say the least. Is an undefeated season possible? | ||||||||||
 | 3 | Vikings · Trends | 4 | |||||||
| They have a real hold on the division after sweeping the Packers. They really are a balanced team and Brett Favre is coming off a big game. There, I said it. Aside from the Steelers game, he is playing well. | ||||||||||
 | 4 | Broncos · Trends | 3 | |||||||
| After their first loss, here come the champions. The Pittsburgh Steelers will provide another stiff test for the Broncos. They need to throw it better. Period. | ||||||||||
 | 5 | Patriots · Trends | 5 | |||||||
| They come off the bye with a chance to take a real hold of the division by beating Miami. You know they'll be ready for the Wildcat. | ||||||||||
 | 6 | Bengals · Trends | 6 | |||||||
| At 5-2 after their bye, they get a rematch with the Ravens this week. They can throw it better now than when they beat them the first time, which should help. | ||||||||||
 | 7 | Steelers · Trends | 7 | |||||||
| They can show they are back with a road victory at Denver. The bye week gives them a little edge heading into that one, although Denver will be angry coming off its first loss. | ||||||||||
 | 8 | Eagles · Trends | 8 | |||||||
| We get Eagles-Cowboys this week for first place in the NFC East. That should be fun. The Eagles are rolling after that Oakland disaster two weeks ago. | ||||||||||
 | 9 | Cowboys · Trends | 11 | |||||||
| Is it time to stop ripping on Tony Romo? He's playing some of his best football. The defense, which was a problem much of the season, is playing better. | ||||||||||
 | 10 | Ravens · Trends | 14 | |||||||
| They had to beat Denver to save their season, but now they get a big one against the Bengals on the road. To have a real chance to win the division, they need that one. | ||||||||||
 | 11 | Cardinals · Trends | 9 | |||||||
| Can anybody figure this team out? They play well on the road and stink it up at home. Good thing they're on the road this week. | ||||||||||
 | 12 | Giants · Trends | 10 | |||||||
| They are an example of how fast things can go bad in the NFL. If that defense doesn't play better soon, they could be playoff-less. | ||||||||||
 | 13 | Texans · Trends | 16 | |||||||
| The improvement of the defense to go with that passing game has really helped this team. They do have a lot of premium talent on the defensive side of the ball. | ||||||||||
 | 14 | Chargers · Trends | 17 | |||||||
| They seemed to right things the past two weeks, but now must head east to play a desperate Giants team. That won't be easy. | ||||||||||
 | 15 | Falcons · Trends | 12 | |||||||
| They played well at New Orleans, especially in the second half, and the schedule gets easier now. They are a good 4-3 team. | ||||||||||
 | 16 | Packers · Trends | 13 | |||||||
| Boy that offensive line is bad. If they don't improve there, Aaron Rodgers doesn't stand a chance. | ||||||||||
 | 17 | Bears · Trends | 19 | |||||||
| Nothing like the Cleveland Browns to provide the perfect potion for all that ails a team. Facing Arizona at home this week won't be as easy. | ||||||||||
 | 18 | Dolphins · Trends | 22 | |||||||
| That wasn't pretty against the Jets, but they found a way. Now they have to go to New England, with a chance to get back into the race. Playing two consecutive road games is tough. | ||||||||||
 | 19 | Jets · Trends | 15 | |||||||
| There is no way they should have lost to the Dolphins at home, but at 4-4 they have been way too inconsistent. How about some special-teams work this week? | ||||||||||
 | 20 | Jaguars · Trends | 18 | |||||||
| They will be a .500 team at best. The defense isn't very good, so they will play a lot of high-scoring games. The good news is they have a winnable game against Kansas City this week. | ||||||||||
 | 21 | Panthers · Trends | 24 | |||||||
| Was that a job saver for coach John Fox and a season saver last week in Arizona? It was a big win, but those two things are still to be decided. | ||||||||||
 | 22 | 49ers · Trends | 20 | |||||||
| Playing close isn't good enough. They have to start winning those kinds of games. It's hard when they're limited on offense. | ||||||||||
 | 23 | Bills · Trends | 21 | |||||||
| The run defense is really bad and they don't have the offense to make up for it. Did you ever think they would long to get Trent Edwards back so much? | ||||||||||
 | 24 | Seahawks · Trends | 23 | |||||||
| They've been a major disappointment in a lot of people's minds. But the injuries have crippled this team. It's a tough first year for Jim Mora Jr. | ||||||||||
 | 25 | Raiders · Trends | 25 | |||||||
| At least they showed up and competed against the Chargers. It's more than they did the previous week. Wonder how Tom Cable's troubles will affect the team? | ||||||||||
 | 26 | Chiefs · Trends | 26 | |||||||
| They come off their bye with the Larry Johnson saga hanging over their heads. Something they need more of: Better play from Matt Cassel. | ||||||||||
 | 27 | Redskins · Trends | 27 | |||||||
| Did they fix things during the bye? Is Jim Zorn safe now that he made it through the week off? Can they turn it around? Doubtful. | ||||||||||
 | 28 | Rams · Trends | 31 | |||||||
| They won. They won. They won. After 17 consecutive losses, they should celebrate. Steven Jackson is having a good year for a bad team. | ||||||||||
 | 29 | Titans · Trends | 32 | |||||||
| The move to Vince Young paid off. Yeah, as long as Chris Johnson runs for 228, it paid off. They did show more life coming off their bye in winning for the first time. | ||||||||||
 | 30 | Lions · Trends | 28 | |||||||
| Losing to the Rams drops them down a few spots. They are competing, which is a good sign for this young team. | ||||||||||
 | 31 | Browns · Trends | 29 | |||||||
| Does this team need a bye or what? Do they really have to play out the season with that offense? | ||||||||||
 | 32 | Buccaneers · Trends | 30 | |||||||
| The Josh Freeman Era begins, and it's the right thing to do. They have to get him going for the future. Why wait? | ||||||||||
