NFL Power Rankings: New York Giants and 3 Teams That Will Continue Their Ascent

While every team would love to open the season with a win, the NFL season is a marathon, not a sprint. Several teams have already bounced back from tough Week 1 defeats, and are among the league's best teams.

Here are three teams who will continue their ascent up the rankings with Week 5 victories. 

New Orleans Saints

The Saints were just one yard short from possibly taking the Green Bay Packers to overtime in Week 1, but they haven't let that heartbreaking loss affect them. The Saints have rattled off three straight wins and should be in line for another against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

Drew Brees and the passing game have been as dangerous as ever, and the defense has stabilized since the opening week. The Saints may be considered the top team in the league in no time.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers were barely clipped by the Detroit Lions in Week 1, but they have shown why they were a 10-6 team in 2010 over the past couple weeks. The Bucs have won three straight and are tied with the Saints for first in the NFC South.

Tampa Bay will face another 3-1 team in the San Francisco 49ers this week. Although the game is on the road, Tampa seems to be very capable of winning tightly-contested games, so it should come out on top.

New York Giants

The Giants lost to the Washington Redskins in Week 1 and looked to be in shambles with a host of injuries on defense. Since that loss they are 3-0, however, including a win over their divisional rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles.

The G-Men will host a beleaguered Seattle Seahawks team in Week 5 that simply isn't as good away from home. I expect Eli Manning to orchestrate an aerial attack en route to a blowout win.

Mike Chiari's Week 5 NFL Power Rankings	Previous Week's Ranking
1. Green Bay Packers	1
2. Detroit Lions	2
3. New Orleans Saints	3
4. Houston Texans	6
5. Baltimore Ravens	8
6. New England Patriots	5
7. San Diego Chargers	7
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers	14
9. Buffalo Bills	4
10. San Francisco 49ers	18
11. New York Giants	12
12. Tennessee Titans	21
13. Washington Redskins	13
14. Atlanta Falcons	16
15. New York Jets	9
16. Dallas Cowboys	10
17. Pittsburgh Steelers	11
18. Oakland Raiders	17
19. Philadelphia Eagles	15
20. Chicago Bears	19
21. Cincinnati Bengals	25
22. Carolina Panthers	22
23. Cleveland Browns	20
24. Arizona Cardinals	23
25. Seattle Seahawks	27
26. Denver Broncos	24
27. Jacksonville Jaguars	26
28. Kansas City Chiefs	32
29. St. Louis Rams	28
30. Indianapolis Colts	31
31. Miami Dolphins	30
32. Minnesota Vikings	29