5 teams whose Super Bowl window is closing fast 

The 2021 NFL season has been unique in that it feels like Super Bowl contenders come and go with each passing week. While teams like the Arizona Cardinals, Green Bay Packers, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers have mostly stayed steady, other teams have seen major ups and downs.

Five teams in particular had a rough Week 12 and appear to be nearing a point where their respective Super Bowl windows could be closing. Let's take a look at those five teams and see what exactly is going on.

#5 - Tennessee Titans

The Tennessee Titans were dealt a tough blow a few weeks ago when star running back Derrick Henry was ruled out for the remainder of the regular season. But the running game was not the problem in Week 12.

The Titans ran the ball 39 times for 270 yards in the 36-13 loss to the New England Patriots. The problem was a lack of defense and Ryan Tannehill having yet another forgettable game without Henry in the backfield.

His latest 93-yard performance followed a loss against the Houston Texans in which he threw four interceptions in a 22-13 loss. That loss is what stands out as such a major concern for a Titans team that began the year with an 8-2 record, right on track for Super Bowl contention.

On the bright side, the Titans are tied for the most wins in the AFC. However, fans can also point to the fact they just got destroyed by the Patriots, who have recently emerged as top Super Bowl contenders. If the Titans run for almost 300 yards and lose by 23 points, that is a major reason for concern.

#4 - Los Angeles Chargers

Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers had a signature win in Week 3 over the Kansas City Chiefs. The win proved they could compete against the best, a week after suffering a close loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

The Chargers reached 4-1 and it looked like Herbert was going to take the team to new heights and perhaps a Super Bowl. Yet Los Angeles are now 6-5 and just lost to the Denver Broncos in Week 12 with a 28-13 final score.

The Chargers will drop 40 points one week, only for the offense to fail to show up the next. Perhaps that is due to a new head coach and a young quarterback leading the way. Whatever the reason, this team is at risk of ruining a great start that had fans dreaming of the Super Bowl.

The Chiefs are starting to get back to their usual ways, and the Chargers are now in a three-way tie with the Broncos and the Las Vegas Raiders for second place in the AFC West at 6-5.

One way to get back on track for Super Bowl aspirations is to take down the Cincinnati Bengals, another contenders, in Week 13. But if the Chargers fail in that task, they may not even be able to climb out of the basement of their own division.

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Also Check Out: Complete NFL Bye Weeks 2021 Schedule

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Tennessee Titans v Los Angeles Rams

#3 - Los Angeles Rams

The Los Angeles Rams have now lost three consecutive games to fall to 7-4 after a 7-1 start that had fans dreaming of a Super Bowl appearance. Is the Odell Beckham Jr. curse back in full effect?

Jokes aside, a closer look at the Rams' schedule may shed some light on their recent struggles. They had wins over the Chicago Bears, the New York Giants, the Houston Texans, and the Detroit Lions early in the year. That boosted their win total, but it is fair to note they also beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The defense was the problem in Week 12 against the Green Bay Packers, and that was a surprise given they were coming off a bye week. The loss puts the Rams two games behind the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC West division. While a Wild Card berth is not the worst thing, it is not what fans had in mind when the season began with Super Bowl dreams.

#2 - Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills are the only team on this list who won in Week 12. They did so in grand fashion with a 31-6 blowout win over the New Orleans Saints on Thanksgiving. So why are they on this list?

That has to do with some questionable losses, coupled with the resurgence of the New England Patriots. The Bills now enter Week 13 as the No. 6 seed in the AFC, just one game ahead of three other contenders.

Two losses in particular stand out as major red flags for the Bills and their pursuit of a Super Bowl. The first was the 9-6 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 9. That is inexcusable against any team, let alone one of the worst in the NFL.

Then came a 41-15 beatdown at the hands of the Indianapolis Colts. The Bills are still 7-4, but these terrible losses have allowed the Patriots to climb atop the AFC East. The two teams meet in Week 13 on a Monday night, with divisional supremacy on the line. If the Bills want to keep their Super Bowl hopes alive, they must win.

#1 - Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys have been in a bit of a rut since starting the season at 6-1. They have now lost three of their last four games. and Ezekiel Elliott is dealing with injury issues late in the season.

They will be without Mike McCarthy this coming Thursday following a positive COVID-19 test, which could disrupt the flow of the offense.

It's not like the Cowboys have entered a major freefall. However, it is never good when a hot start turns into more losing than winning.

The game against Kansas City stands out as a reason why this Super Bowl window may be closing. It was a chance for the Cowboys to prove a point in what could be considered a Super Bowl preview. Instead, they fell by a final of 19-9.

The Cowboys should make the playoffs, but they look like the fourth or fifth-best team in the NFC right now. That does not exactly scream that they are Super Bowl favorites.