NFL Power Rankings: Most Dangerous Teams in Second Half of Season

NFL teams can be contenders, pretenders, cellar-dwellers and everything in between.

Everything knows what to expect from the teams in those first three categories, but the in-between teams aren't as easy. For one reason or another, those franchises can't put it all together on a weekly basis, but that doesn't mean they can't do it.

In the second half of the season, a few teams will be a major threat week in and week out. Let's power rank the teams, focusing a little more on those dangerous squads.

1. Atlanta Falcons

No, the 7-0 Falcons aren't dangerous. I'm kidding, of course. Obvious contenders like this aren't necessarily what I'm talking about, but if you don't consider Matt Ryan and this passing attack pretty scary, you're more of a man than I.

2. Houston Texans

J.J. Watt leads the league in sacks, and he's one of the most intelligent linemen that you'll ever see. Throw in another All-Pro year by Arian Foster, and this looks more and more like Houston's year.

3. San Francisco 49ers

Depending on which Alex Smith shows up, this is the best team in the NFC. An incredible defense combines with a blue-collar run game to pack a punch that most teams don't have the heart to stand down. 

4. New England Patriots

The NFL's No. 1 scoring offense has hit some hurdles, but this team will be there when it matters most. Tom Brady has support from Stevan Ridley and the run game. Now, he just needs support from his own pass defense.

5. Green Bay Packers

Aaron Rodgers is the league's top quarterback, and this team will always be a threat because of that. This isn't the same team from a year ago, but a 42-24 thumping of Houston in Week 6 showed what they're capable of doing.

6. Chicago Bears

Yes, the Bears are dangerous, and everyone knows that by now. Defensively, Chicago is stellar. Jay Cutler still isn't, but hey, what's new?

7. New York Giants

The Giants are 6-2, riding a balanced offense so far. Never ever sleep on Tom Coughlin's group. Just when you think they're down, the Giants win an extremely important game. Eli Manning has two Super Bowls for a reason.

8. Denver Broncos

I'll keep this simple. Peyton Manning is dangerous therefore Denver is dangerous. That is all.

9. Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore doesn't have a dangerous defense this year, but its offense is better than it has been in a long time. Joe Flacco fan or not, this team has a lot of weapons.

10. Pittsburgh Steelers

Fearing the Steelers down the stretch is usually a good idea, and this year is no different. Pittsburgh isn't necessarily getting healthy. Instead, the pieces in place are getting better.

Ben Roethlisberger is playing the best football of his career, having thrown 14 touchdowns and three interceptions so far. Todd Haley's offense seems to strike a comfort zone with Big Ben, giving him many easy looks and allowing him to take care of the football.

Adding to that, at least lately, has been Jonathan Dwyer. The Steelers' run game has struggled without Rashard Mendenhall in the backfield, but Dwyer has been much better in the last two games—eclipsing the 100-yard park both times. He's finding more creases at the line of scrimmage, helped in part by an improvement along the Steelers' offensive line.

Defensively, Pittsburgh isn't as glamorous, but it's another ho-hum effort from Dick LeBeau's group. Ranking No. 1 against the pass and No. 9 against the run, this defense is ready to roll.

The Steelers don't have a cakewalk through their second-half schedule, but this team is heading in the right direction. With Roethlisberger at the helm, the Steelers can put up enough points to damage any defense.

Combine that with experience and the savvy of this franchise, and Pittsburgh is here to stay.

11. Miami Dolphins

Whether Ryan Tannehill is healthy in Week 10, this Miami team is very interesting. Using a ball-control offense and stellar run defense, the Dolphins have the ingredients to pull upsets over better teams.

This isn't a perfect team, but Reggie Bush, Lamar Miller and Daniel Thomas have proven to be effective as a three-headed monster in the backfield. Miami's 11th-ranked rushing attack allows Tannehill to play more at ease, taking the pressure off of the Dolphins' passing game and controlling the clock at the same time.

Defensively, Miami struggles to stop the pass at times, but the league's No. 3 run defense forces offenses to take a one-dimensional approach. This can give several teams problems, especially if the quarterback isn't up to the task of carrying the offense.

Miami has the benefit of playing with no real expectations. Entering the season as one of the league's worst, the team's first-half success is already something it can hang its hat on.

Taking the AFC East over New England isn't likely, but crazier things have happened.

12. Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings are an interesting team, but there's nowhere to turn when Adrian Peterson doesn't have a big game on the ground. Very close to contending, but a difficult NFC North slate doesn't make that job any easier.

13. Seattle Seahawks

With five games in CenturyLink Field and three away from it to close the season, the Seahawks will be tough to play for sure. Outside of a trip to Soldier Field in Week 13, this team should remain relatively comfortable.

The equation is simple. If you play Seattle's game, it's at your own risk. Running the ball north-south, allowing Russell Wilson to control the clock and playing stellar defense are all key elements of that idea.

No one will mistake Seattle for the most dynamic team in the league, but its home crowd makes things very difficult on opponents. Wilson still has a ways to go as an NFL starter, but he's cerebral enough to make quality plays when his team needs it.

When Marshawn Lynch runs well and "The Legion of Boom" is able to make plays in the secondary, the Seahawks can beat anyone.

14. Detroit Lions

Ndamukong Suh is quite dangerous. Just ask Jay Cutler:

The rest of this team isn't quite ready though. Matthew Stafford struggles behind a poor offensive line, forcing him to turn the ball over more than the Lions would like. On top of that, a crowded backfield still can't produce any yards to help the team's passing attack.

15. Washington Redskins

Robert Griffin III is as dangerous as it gets, but this team couldn't stop anyone through the air if it tried.

16. Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals have four losses, three of which came to Baltimore, Miami and Pittsburgh. That's fine, but those are the only three above-average teams they've faced. That doesn't bode well for this team's overall record as it make its way through the second half of the season.

17. St. Louis Rams

The Rams play scrappy defense, but a tough second-half schedule won't bode well for a team currently on a three-game losing streak.

18. Indianapolis Colts

Andrew Luck is dangerous. Reggie Wayne is dangerous. The Colts pass defense is dangerous. Outside of that, the Colts are still a year or two away from making any real waves.

19. Philadelphia Eagles

This team is in turmoil, and it has no direction to it whatsoever. Building a talented team the wrong way is possible, and the Eagles are a prime example. This offseason, disassembling the major parts here would be a wise idea.

20. New Orleans Saints

I want to say this is one of the league's most dangerous teams, and prior to Denver's easy win Sunday night I would have, but this team doesn't have nearly enough outside of its passing attack to threaten anyone.

21. Arizona Cardinals

After starting 4-0, the Cardinals have lost four straight. Overall, this looks like a defeated team on both sides of the ball. Add in marginal talent on offense, and this team shouldn't worry anyone.

22. Dallas Cowboys

Dallas couldn't get out its own way long enough to be dangerous even if it wanted to be. Tony Romo is a rare breed, capable of throwing for 200 yards in a half and following it with five consecutive interceptions.

23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

If Tampa Bay had something that even slightly resembled an NFL secondary, it would be in business. But it doesn't, and it's going to play .500-ish football the rest of the way.

Don't sleep on this team though. Josh Freeman only has five interceptions and seems to have found himself again after a rough third NFL season. He's surrounded by plenty of weapons as well. Vincent Jackson, Mike Williams and Tiquan Underwood are all vertical threats, complementing Freeman's big arm perfectly.

In the backfield, Doug Martin is a rising star. With 543 rushing yards and three touchdowns, he's proving himself every week. Throw in 200-plus receiving yards and another touchdown, and the Boise State product has the makings of one of the NFL's best all-around backs.

I already mentioned the Buccaneers' struggles against the pass, but defending the run is a different story. Allowing just over 85 yards per game, guys like Mason Foster, Lavonte David, Michael Bennett and Gerald McCoy have wreaked havoc in opposing backfields all year long.

Tampa Bay is young, but Greg Schiano has this group headed in the right direction. As long as Freeman plays like he's capable of, this team can beat anyone on any given week.

24. Tennessee Titans

Tennessee is the only team in football allowing more than 30 points per game. Even Jacksonville could score on this terrible unit.

25. Buffalo Bills

Any offense that has to support a dreadful defense like this wouldn't succeed, and Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Bills fall into that category.

26. Oakland Raiders

The Raiders have played like a dangerous team lately, but forgive me if I refuse to consider the idea of Carson Palmer leading a dangerous team. Refusing to use Darren McFadden like the talent he is just doesn't make sense, but Oakland will have its moments.

27. Cleveland Browns

The youngest team in the NFL has its moments, but too many dropped passes are keeping Brandon Weeden from gaining the confidence he needs.

28. San Diego Chargers

How dangerous could any team that just lost 7-6 to the Browns really be? Add that to the 35-point comeback San Diego let up the Broncos in Week 6, and the Chargers are the same underachievers everyone knows.

29. New York Jets

The wrath of Rex Ryan is dangerous after each game this team loses, and failing to use Tim Tebow may have some cosmic consequences, but this team has very little that others should fear. Outside of Antonio Cromartie very few players are playing at a high level.

30. Carolina Panthers

Cam Newton is (barely) dangerous this season, which doesn't bode well for Carolina. Way too many missing pieces on both sides of the ball will have this team picking high in the 2013 NFL draft.

31. Jacksonville Jaguars

Cecil Shorts is proving himself to be a very dangerous deep threat (20 catches for 400 yards), but the Jaguars are tame.

32. Kansas City Chiefs

Unless the Chiefs suddenly understand how to take care of the ball and Romeo Crennel learns how to be a head coach, this squad is far from dangerous.