NFL Power Rankings: Atlanta Falcons and 3 Struggling Teams with Top-10 Ability

There have been plenty of feel-good stories to this point in the NFL season, but there have been equally as many horror stories. Many of the teams that had been expected to be among the NFL's elite have stumbled out of the gates.

While there is plenty of time to rebound, these teams must begin to turn things around before their seasons get out of hand. Eventually, the most talented teams always rise to the top, so they still have a fighting chance.

Here are three teams who have struggled thus far, but still have top-10 ability and a great chance to bounce back after rough starts.

New York Jets

The Jets showed great resiliency in coming back to beat the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1, and followed that up with a demolition of the Jacksonville Jaguars. However, back-to-back losses to the likes of the Oakland Raiders and Baltimore Ravens leave the Jets with a record of just 2-2.

The vaunted New York defense has struggled to stop the run and the Jets' offense has failed to run the ball with any type of consistency. If that continues, a third consecutive trip to the AFC Championship Game is unlikely. A playoff berth may be out of the question too.

New York's result against the New England Patriots this week won't determine its season, but a win would obviously go a long way in re-establishing it as one of the league's best teams. Once the Jets find the right balance on offense, I expect them to turn the corner.

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles were the victims of too much advanced billing, being dubbed the "Dream Team" due to their high-profile offseason acquisitions. Philadelphia's flaws, particularly on defense, have been exposed during its 1-3 start.

Still, the Eagles have the makings of one the most explosive offenses in the league, with Michael Vick under center and LeSean McCoy, DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin working as his main weapons. Even so, the offensive line will absolutely have to buckle down moving forward.

A win over the Buffalo Bills would be huge in Philadelphia's turnaround, but a Week 5 loss could be crippling. In a division as tightly-contested as the NFC East, every loss hurts. As a result, the Eagles need to get on a winning track and can't afford more than a couple more defeats.

Atlanta Falcons

After going 13-3 last season, the Atlanta Falcons were a decided favorite to make a run at the Super Bowl in 2011. A 2-2 start has tempered expectations a bit, but the Falcons have shown how dominant they can be offensively in wins over the Eagles and Seattle Seahawks.

The main Achilles' heel for Atlanta thus far has been its defense. They have hemorrhaged yardage through the air and have yet to win a lower scoring game. As great as the Falcons offense can be, the defense absolutely must improve in the coming weeks.

Atlanta will have a true litmus test with regards to where it stands this week, in a Sunday night battle with the Green Bay Packers. Like the Jets against the Patriots, a loss won't sink the Falcons, but a win will put them right back where they want to be.

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