NFL Power Rankings: Green Bay Packers and 5 Teams Who Should Be Postseason Locks

This list could potentially change if the Detroit Lions improve to 5-0 tonight against the Chicago Bears, as winning your first five games gives you over a 90 percent chance of making the playoffs. But without factoring in tonight's game, these five teams should be postseason locks after five weeks of NFL football:

1. Green Bay Packers

The Lions are still right on their heels and could join them at 5-0, but there doesn't appear like much can stop this team from securing 12 or more wins and a bye in the first round of the playoffs. Aaron Rodgers has cemented himself as one of the top players in the game, and no one is playing better than he is right now. Rodgers is the NFL MVP after five weeks. The defense also showed signs of life against the Falcons, which is a good sign for the defending Super Bowl champions.

3. New Orleans Saints

The Saints had to come back to beat the Panthers on the road in Week 5, but they now sit a game above Tampa Bay for the top spot in the division. And in all reality, each of the three teams below them in the NFC South standings appear to have major question marks. The Saints' biggest threat, the Atlanta Falcons, coughed up a 14-point lead and already have three losses. The Buccaneers just lost by 45 points to a team in the NFC West. And the Panthers aren't ready to compete for playoff spots yet, despite the brilliance of Cam Newton.  

6. San Diego Chargers

The Chargers haven't necessarily been impressive in getting to 4-1, but wins are wins for San Diego, especially in first half of the season. A notoriously slow-starting team, the Chargers are setting themselves up for a division title—they lead the Raiders by a game at this point—and a comfortable playoff position. There's still a long ways to go, and Oakland is going to be a factor in the division, but the Chargers look like a team that is headed to the postseason in 2011.

8. San Francisco 49ers

No team in the NFL holds a wider lead in their division than the 49ers, who are fresh off a 48-3 win over the Buccaneers. Coach Jim Harbaugh has turned this team around, and even quarterback Alex Smith appears to be a different player in 2011. The rest of the NFC West is in shambles despite the Seahawks' improbable win in New York. With a quarterback that is finally figuring things out and a defense that is better now than it ever was under Mike Singletary, the 49ers are on the fast track to their first playoff appearance since 2002.  

4. New England Patriots

You didn't really think I'd leave the Patriots off this list, did you? New England dispatched its AFC East rival on Sunday, which gave the Jets their third loss already this the season. The Patriots' challenge in the division is currently the upstart Buffalo Bills, who knocked off New England just two weeks ago. Both teams are 4-1 and stand a solid chance at playing postseason football. I'll give the edge to the Patriots, who have been there before and know what it takes to win games when it matters most—in December and January. The Bills certainly look improved, but the Pats still hold the edge to win the East. 

Full Week 6 Power Rankings

1. Green Bay Packers (5-0)	17. New York Jets (2-3)
2. Detroit Lions (4-0)*	18. Atlanta Falcons (2-3)
3. New Orleans Saints (4-1)	19. Chicago Bears (2-2)*
4. New England Patriots (4-1)	20. Cincinnati Bengals (3-2)
5. Baltimore Ravens (3-1)	21. Philadelphia Eagles (1-4)
6. San Diego Chargers (4-1)	22. Cleveland Browns (2-2)
7. Buffalo Bills (4-1)	23. Seattle Seahawks (2-3)
8. San Francisco 49ers (4-1)	24. Carolina Panthers (1-4)
9. Houston Texans (3-2)	25. Kansas CIty Chiefs (2-3)
10. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2)	26. Minnesota Vikings (1-4)
11. Oakland Raiders (3-2)	27. Denver Broncos (1-4)
12. Washington Redskins (3-1)	28. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-4)
13. Dallas Cowboys (2-2)	29. Arizona Cardinals (1-4)
14. New York GIants (3-2)	30. Miami Dolphins (0-4)
15. Tennessee Titans (3-2)	31. Indianapolis Colts (0-5)
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2)	32. St. Louis Rams (0-4)

*Plays on Monday night