NFL Power Rankings: Which NFC Contenders Will Prove Their Worth in Week 10?

As unbelievable as it is, we're now past the NFL midway point and need to seriously start talking playoffs.

There is one team, the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers, who have legitimately separated themselves from the pack.

As for the rest of the league, there are a lot of teams that need to prove their worth as potential Super Bowl contenders.

Here are the ones with the best chance in Week 10.

New Orleans Saints

New Orleans rebounded nicely from their ugly loss to the St. Louis Rams by beating Tampa Bay at home, but they still have work to do.

Drew Brees and company hung around with Packers in Week 1 but have suffered through a few of their classic letdowns this season.

Going into Atlanta will be a big test for them.

The Falcons, who look to be getting healthy and scary with Julio Jones back in the fold, are a different team in the Georgia Dome.

If New Orleans is going to be taken seriously again this year, they have to beat them this week.

Detroit Lions

Detroit is taking their show on the road this week to Chicago. The Bears, defending NFC North champions, are much better at Solider Field then they are anywhere on the road.

If the Lions want to prove they belong at the top of the conference then they'll have to beat teams like the Bears on the road.

Matt Stafford and company have the potential to make some noise this year in the postseason, but they need to prove they can consistently win.

Knocking off their division rivals will be huge.

San Francisco 49ers vs. New York Giants

Whoever wins this game will prove a lot to the rest of the league.

Big Blue is coming off an indescribably huge win over the New England Patriots in Week 9 and will take their show to San Francisco in Week 10.

The 49ers continue to play ugly—but they win football games.

Coach Jim Harbaugh has done a phenomenal job of keeping his players grounded, and at 7-1, they've all but locked up the NFC West already.

But this week is different. Now it is time for them to prove they can handle one of the more proven teams in the NFC.

For all the Giants' inconsistency at times, Tom Coughlin's team when healthy has been one of the most dangerous in the league over the last five years.

The Giants know what it takes to win in the postseason. The 49ers need to learn.

This is a huge opportunity for both teams, and the winner will have proven a lot to get it done.

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