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?   69% Neither     20% Giants     8% Titans     3% Both   Total Votes: 35155

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: