NFL Power Rankings Week 10: Teams That Will Recover from Early-Season Woes

Slowly but surely, we're starting to see whose early-season wins were legitimate, and whose were flukes. 

Conversely, other teams are starting to heat up after slow starts. Some of them, like the Eagles, appear to have dug too big of a hole. The Eagles are playing better football now but a 3-5 start is just too much to overcome, especially in a division with a 6-2 team. 

Other teams however, have started slow but are now back into contention. These teams have placed themselves into a good enough position for a second-half run to the playoffs. They will do it. 

Chicago Bears

The Bears have found a way to hide their greatest weakness and exploit their greatest strengths.

The Eagles' defense has had some problems in 2011, but its pass rush has been a consistent strength. Yet the Bears, who have had a hard time defending Jay Cutler all season, found a way to keep him from getting sacked. In Philadelphia on a Monday night, that's not a fluke.

The Falcons could also go into this spot, but remember that the Bears hold the tiebreaker over them. Also, the Lions, who the Falcons have the tiebreaker on, are a full game ahead of Atlanta and have a manageable second-half schedule. Look for the Bears and Lions to be the two NFC Wild Card teams.

New York Jets

Will we see the Jets in another AFC Championship game? No, I would call that highly doubtful. But beating the Bills in Buffalo does an awful lot to help their standing. 

The AFC West and AFC South will not produce a wild-card winner. The Jets are actually in good position to win the AFC East with a win vs. New England this week. I don't see them winning the division, but a wild-card berth is a strong bet. 

If the Ravens win the AFC North and the Patriots win the AFC East, that leaves the Bengals, Bills, Jets and Steelers to battle for two wild-card spots. I like New York's chances.

Houston Texans

The Texans started the season well, but eventually dropped to 3-3 and looked vulnerable. Then, they went on a three-game winning streak, earning a 6-3 record in the dismal AFC South. 

Other than the Texans, there isn't a single team in the AFC South with a record above .500. The Titans do sit at 4-4, but I don't see that holding. 

Games against Jacksonville, Indianapolis and Tennessee await. The Texans will be heavily favored in all of them. If they win those games and lose the rest, they will be 9-7. I don't see them doing that poorly, but even if they do, 9-7 will be enough to win that division.

Michael Dixon's Week 10 NFL Power Rankings

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