NFL Power Rankings: Hottest Teams Leading Up to Playoffs

You don't always need momentum leading up to the playoffs, but it certainly can't hurt.

Several teams in the NFL are getting hot at just the right time, with just one more week left in the regular season.

Whether it be a team feasting on mediocre competition or an NFC West squad gaining more believers, some soaring playoff contenders should be feared heading into the postseason.

Here's a look at my Week 17 NFL power rankings, complete with the hottest teams in the league (in italics).

1. Denver Broncos (12-3)

The Broncos have won 10 straight contests, including victories over the New Orleans Saints, Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens. Peyton Manning has been superb and the defense is playing well.

2. Atlanta Falcons (13-2)

The Falcons may have the easiest schedule in the NFL, but you can't exactly fault them for beating up on inferior competition. Matt Ryan has gotten back on track since the Week 14 loss to the Carolina Panthers, leading the Falcons to consecutive victories over the New York Giants and Detroit Lions.

3. Green Bay Packers (11-4)

The Packers have won four straight and nine of their last 10 contests. The defense is much better than last season and the return of Clay Matthews is huge. Having Aaron Rodgers helps, too.

4. Seattle Seahawks (10-5)

The Seahawks have won four straight and six of their last seven games. That includes a 42-13 thrashing of San Francisco last week. This team has a promising quarterback in rookie Russell Wilson, an elite running back in Marshawn Lynch and the defense to wrap everything up in a nice, neat little bow. Seattle is for real.

5. San Francisco 49ers (10-4-1)

The 49ers are starting to look too inconsistent for their own good. They beat Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, then got blown out by the Seahawks. They also suffered a 26-3 loss to the Giants earlier in the season and went 0-1-1 against the St. Louis Rams.

6. New England Patriots (11-4)

The Patriots followed up a loss to San Francisco with a narrow win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 16. Tom Brady curiously has five interceptions in his last four games.

7. Houston Texans (12-3)

The Texans have lost two of their last three games and the offense is having problems, whether it be Matt Schaub or the running game. It's not how you start; it's how you finish.

8. Cincinnati Bengals (9-6)

The Bengals have won six of their last seven games, improbably clinching a playoff berth. The defense hasn't allowed more than 20 points to any opponent during that span.

9. Washington Redskins (9-6)

The Redskins have won six straight games and will capture the NFC East if they beat the Dallas Cowboys in Week 17. Robert Griffin III is the definition of a dual-threat and don't forget about unheralded rookie running back Alfred Morris, who somehow made it all the way to the sixth round of the draft.

10. Baltimore Ravens (10-5)

Baltimore's pass defense hasn't been the same this season and Joe Flacco has been inconsistent, but both stepped up in a critical 33-14 win over the New York Giants in Week 16. Will the momentum continue into the playoffs?

11. Indianapolis Colts (10-5)

Indianapolis has the second-worst strength of victory among remaining playoff contenders, but you have to admire a rookie quarterback willing his team to victory time and time again. And the Colts did defeat the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers this season, two playoff contenders.

12. Minnesota Vikings (9-6)

Adrian Peterson has carried the Vikings all season long, but it was the defense and second-year quarterback Christian Ponder who stepped up in the Week 16 victory over the Houston Texans. That has to be a good sign for the team.

13. Chicago Bears (9-6)

This offensive line is atrocious, but the defense has mainly kept the team in the playoff hunt. It's not rocket science: Jay Cutler needs better pass protection. It's been the same story for years.

14. Dallas Cowboys (8-7)

This team's inconsistency on offense, combined with the defense's apparent inability to step up against high scorers, has left Dallas on the outside looking in. A win against the Redskins this week could change that, though. Of course, the Redskins tend to score a lot of points.

15. New York Giants (8-7)

An epic second-half meltdown has Tom Coughlin's team with an outside shot of making the playoffs this season. When Eli Manning goes, so do the Giants. Especially considering they have one of the worst pass defenses in the league.

16. St. Louis Rams (7-7-1)

The Rams continue to scratch and claw their way to respectability, with wins over the Redskins, Seahawks and 49ers this season. Is Sam Bradford the answer under center, though?

17. New Orleans Saints (7-8)

The Saints have averaged the third-most points in the NFL this season, yet they are 7-8. That will give you an idea of how bad this team's defense is.

18. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-8)

When all you have left is Ben Roethlisberger and he lays a dud, you find yourself scoring 10 points in a critical game. The defense needs to get younger and the running game needs to find talent.

19. Miami Dolphins (7-8)

Considering Miami's preseason expectations, this is almost a success story for the Dolphins. The win over the Seahawks in Week 12 was encouraging, but the offense simply has to get better. Adding some pieces in the receiving corps for young quarterback Ryan Tannehill would be a good idea.

20. Carolina Panthers (6-9)

A three-game winning streak has the Panthers looking better, especially considering they had a lot of close losses earlier in the season. Learning how to win close ball games is essential for this squad.

21. San Diego Chargers (6-9)

The running game has been abysmal and Philip Rivers hasn't been the same this season, but failing to come out on top in close ball games has more to do with the coaching staff than anything.

22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-9)

You can't expect to win many games with this pass defense, but starting quarterback Josh Freeman has fallen off a cliff. Is he the answer for Tampa Bay? He's certainly inconsistent.

23. Cleveland Browns (5-10)

This team desperately needs some help on the offensive line and in the receiving corps, as well as a respectable cornerback opposite Joe Haden, but you also wonder if the Browns made the wrong choice with rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden.

24. New York Jets (6-9)

The Jets offense is incredibly hard to watch, whether it be on the ground or through the air. Jets fans are hoping they find a new quarterback fast.

25. Buffalo Bills (5-10)

The Bills can't defend the run and their offense is a turnover machine, led by quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. C.J. Spiller must feel like no matter what he does, the Bills lose. He must feel like that because it's true.

26. Arizona Cardinals (5-10)

A new quarterback couldn't come fast enough for Arizona. A new running back would be nice, too. Throw in a much-improved offensive line and the Cardinals might be a .500 team.

27. Tennessee Titans (5-10)

There are (understandably) doubts about Jake Locker being the franchise quarterback of the Titans and there are also doubts about whether this team can stop the pass, especially after the 55-7 loss to Aaron Rodgers and the Packers.

28. Detroit Lions (4-11)

Matthew Stafford has not been the same and a defense that was supposed to be up-and-coming last season is allowing 27.4 points per game, the fourth-worst mark in the NFL. When you've lost seven straight games, you start wondering about the coaching staff.

29. Philadelphia Eagles (4-11)

How can this offense and defense be so bad? How can a team have a turnover differential of minus-23 and give up 28 passing touchdowns? Because the talent is overrated on both sides of the ball and the coaching staff doesn't know what it's doing.

30. Oakland Raiders (4-11)

I don't know what's worse, the offense or the defense. This team is such a mess on so many different levels that fans get angry when a kicker misses out on the Pro Bowl. "C'mon, he was our only shot!"

31. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-13)

With one of the worst offenses and defenses in the league, it's not a surprise that not one player from the Jaguars made the Pro Bowl roster.

32. Kansas City Chiefs (2-13)

When Brady Quinn is your starting quarterback, you have major issues. And for all the Pro Bowl selections on the defensive side of the ball, the Chiefs have still allowed 25.8 points per game this season. Jamaal Charles must feel like he's living in the Twilight Zone. That's the only way the Chiefs could lose a game with him rushing for 226 yards.

What are your thoughts?