NFL Power Rankings, Week 14: Second straight loss has the Steelers almost out of the Top 10

The only consistent aspect of the Pittsburgh Steelers early in the season were their inconsistencies.

After an opening week tie with the Cleveland Browns, followed by a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, the Steelers had shown it all — amazing offense, head-scratching play calling and shoddy defense, among others.

Needless to say, the Steelers experienced a precipitous drop in the weekly NFL Power Rankings because of their poor play which resulted in a 0-1-1 record heading into Week 3. However, a 30-27 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday Night Football had the Steelers on the rise. Right on cue, the next week they suffered a 26-14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday Night Football, the Pittsburgh roller coaster was again on the decline.

Have no fear Steelers fans, a dominant performance in Week 5 vs. the Atlanta Falcons in followed by a big win over the Cincinnati Bengals had the team continuing on their upward trend. Or as Mike Tomlin would say, “The arrow is pointing up.”

Inconsistent was the theme early with this team, but they seemed to have rectified this after beating the Baltimore Ravens in Week 9 and the Carolina Panthers in Week 10, extending their winning streak to five straight games. A narrow victory in Jacksonville over the Jaguars moved the Steelers’ win streak to six games, and continued their ascent in the weekly rankings.

If fans were thinking things were too good to be true, the Denver Broncos slapped a big fat ‘L’ on the Steelers’ schedule in Week 12 — dropping the team down the rankings in the process. After the Week 13 Los Angeles Chargers came into Heinz Field and gave the Steelers their second straight loss.

In reality, these power rankings mean nothing, but they’re great for conversation and debate. This week, the Steelers barely stayed in the Top 10.

Check out the rankings, and let us know what you think in the comment section below!

ESPN

1. Los Angeles Rams
2. New Orleans Saints
3. Kansas City Chiefs
4. New England Patriots
5. Los Angeles Chargers
6. Houston Texans
7. Pittsburgh Steelers
“We’re No. 1 in: Sacks. The Steelers remain the league leaders, with 39. The defense is predicated on sacks and turnovers, and though Pittsburgh is one of the league’s worst in turnover ratio, five Steelers have at least 4.5 sacks, with T.J. Watt tied for ninth in the NFL with 10.”
8. Chicago Bears
9. Seattle Seahawks
10. Baltimore Ravens

CBS Sports

1. Los Angeles Rams
2. Kansas City Chiefs
3. New England Patriots
4. New Orleans Saints
5. Houston Texans
6 .Dallas Cowboys
7. Seattle Seahawks
8. Chicago Bears
9. Los Angeles Chargers
10. Pittsburgh Steelers
“That was not a good home loss to the Chargers. Why didn’t they run the ball with the lead?”

NFL.com

1. New Orleans Saints
2. Los Angeles Rams
3. New England Patriots
4. Kansas City Chiefs
5. Los Angeles Chargers
6. Houston Texans
7. Pittsburgh Steelers
“Not sure what happened in the second half on Sunday night against the Chargers, but the Steelers fell apart, as did their hopes for home-field advantage or a bye in the AFC playoffs. Pittsburgh now trails the Chiefs by 2.5 games and is behind the Texans by 1.5, with only four games left to play and Houston eyeing a (quite) favorable schedule going forward. Back to Sunday: The Steelers came out flat on offense in the second half, couldn’t get to Philip Rivers, then stunk up the joint on special teams. Artie Burns jumped three times while this blurb was being typed.”
8. Chicago Bears
9. Seattle Seahawks
10. Dallas Cowboys

SB Nation

1. Los Angeles Rams
2. Los Angeles Chargers
3. Houston Texans
4. Chicago Bears
5. New England Patriots
6. Kansas City Chiefs
7. New Orleans Saints
8. Seattle Seahawks
9. Baltimore Ravens
10. Dallas Cowboys
11. Cleveland Browns
12. Pittsburgh Steelers