NFL Power Rankings: New York Jets and Mid-Tier Teams Emerging as Contenders

Finally, after seven weeks of action in the 2011 NFL season, we are starting to get a clear understanding of which teams will be contenders this year.

This week was a crucial one for many teams who have gotten off to inconspicuous starts to the season. After the games this week, it's clear that there a bunch of mid-tier teams that are still strong contenders this year.

Here are three teams with wins this prior weekend that will contend as the season continues.

New York Jets

After a 3-3 start, there were many questions surrounding the New York Jets and their inconsistencies early in the year. This week was considered by many to be the deciding game in the Jets season. With a win against the Chargers, they would be alive in the race. A loss would begin a slide the rest of the season.

The Jets walked away with a fantastic late-game comeback to keep their season alive.

The team finally put together a full game. Sanchez threw the ball well. New York ran it well for the first time this season. The defense played a complete game. If the Jets can keep playing like this, they will be in the playoff hunt at the end of the year.

Atlanta Falcons

Just like the New York Jets, the Atlanta Falcons have struggled to find any consistency this year. After a big win against the Detroit Lions this weekend, it appears that they have things back on track.

Atlanta has looked like a team desperate to adapt to the new pass-happy style of play in the NFL in the early weeks. That just isn't the way the team is built.

In the team's three losses, Michael Turner has run the ball less than 20 times per game. In their four wins, Turner has more than 20 carries. Running the ball is the key for this Falcons team. If they continue to do it, they will be in the thick of things in a weak NFC playoff race.

Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs got off to a terrible start to the 2011 season. At 0-3, they were one of the main names thrown out in the "Suck for Luck" race. Now, they are 3-3 and a legitimate contender in the AFC West.

The Chiefs looked atrocious on offense and defense to kick off the year. The two games prior to their bye week, it appeared they had found some offense. Cassel was finding receivers and Jackie Battle emerged as the running back for the team. This week, it looked like the defense could have found it's grove as well. The Chiefs defense shut out the Raiders this weekend and scored 14 of the team's 28 points.

Suddenly, Kansas City is only one game out of this weak AFC West division.