The Bucs have slipped a spot to 14th in the latest Sports Illustrated power rankings. Still, who would have thought that a week into December that the Bucs would be considered to among the top half of the NFL? SI NFL writer Don Banks writes:

I started to think the Bucs' best days in 2010 were clearly behind them with those back-to-back losses to the Ravens and Falcons in the books, but then I happened to glance at their next three games: at Washington, home against both Detroit and Seattle. They could easily be 10-5 at that point, and perhaps that Week 17 trip to New Orleans will be a meaningful affair after all.

Click here to read the entire list, which is topped by the Patriots, Falcons and Saints.