6 NFL Teams Whose Preseason Play Won't Go Unnoticed in Power Rankings

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NFL power rankings are usually somewhat subjective, but each week these rankings provide a good benchmark for where each NFL team is.

While the preseason is not a great indicator of what will happen in the regular season, a few teams have distinguished themselves in positive and negative ways this preseason.

The following are teams that are trending up or down after half of the preseason is in the books.

TRENDING UP: Atlanta Falcons

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While it's tough to look at the Falcons' 0-2 preseason record and say that the team is trending upwards, but Atlanta has been clicking on all cylinders and has proved that its passing game will light up scoreboards this season.

Matt Ryan looks as good as he ever has (27-of-34 for 329 yards and two touchdowns compared to one interception), distributing the ball among talented targets like Roddy White and Julio Jones.

The Falcons should skyrocket up the power rankings after an impressive show of fireworks in the preseason.

TRENDING UP: Indianapolis Colts

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The Colts are not going to crack the Top 20 in many power rankings, but the team has showed that it is a potential sleeper with franchise quarterback Andrew Luck.

Incidentally, Luck is second to Chase Daniel in the league in preseason passing yardage right now with 363 in his two games played. Daniel has the benefit of having played an extra game, so technically Luck leads the league in yards.

Indianapolis has a new, scrappy mentality and figures to build an underdog reputation in 2012 behind Luck.

TRENDING UP: Cincinnati Bengals

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The Bengals have started off the preseason in a very good fashion, going 2-0 and proving that some new players are great fits.

It's not that one or two specific players have been going off, but the entire team is playing well together and the defense looks phenomenal.

If the team can overcome some early injuries, Cincinnati may finally take the AFC North title.

TRENDING DOWN: Dallas Cowboys

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The Cowboys have looked bad on offense and just can't figure out who will be catching Tony Romo's passes in 2012.

Dez Bryant, Miles Austin and Jason Witten are all battling injuries and can't perform well in the preseason, so slot receiver types like Dwayne Harris and Cole Beasley have had to step up.

Their success probably won't last terribly long and it looks like it could be a long year in Dallas.

TRENDING DOWN: New York Jets

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This New York Jets team has just looked really, really bad.

The quarterback position is a mess and a poor offensive line isn't really helping matters on that front; offensively, it's unclear if the Jets will even be competent.

Shonn Greene is also having a tough time running the ball effectively and the Jets have just been outclassed by better opponents thus far.

TRENDING DOWN: Denver Broncos

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There was a lot of excitement about quarterback Peyton Manning's arrival in Denver, but the veteran looks like a shell of his former self in Bronco orange.

Manning has been throwing interceptions and has had trouble reading zone coverage. This signal caller isn't in his prime anymore and it's been evident during the preseason.

Also, it's clear that the Broncos have a lack of weapons, and without Manning at his best, there's a chance that this team misses the playoffs.

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