NFL Power Rankings: Stock Watch for Teams Making Late Playoff Pushes

We see it happen time and time again: Teams make late playoff pushes and get hot at the right time.

That being said, here are three teams who are on the cusp of the playoffs right now, but are very capable of doing some solid damage come January.

Cincinnati Bengals (6-2)

Cincinnati's best win may only be over the 5-3 Buffalo Bills at home. However, the Bengals have shown to not only be early starters, but late finishers as well.

They were down against Buffalo and made a comeback— much like against Tennessee—in Week 9. Now, four of their next five games are going to truly test the Bengals: They play Pittsburgh twice, at Baltimore and at home versus Houston.

If Cincy can fight through that stretch and come out 8-5 or 9-4, they may very well win the AFC North also. Nonetheless, Cincinnati is still alive for the postseason, and until they get removed from the discussion, the Bengals are for real.

New York Jets (5-3)

When the Jets began 2-3, it appeared that the 2011 season was going to be for naught. However, New York has quickly turned their season around and now is in the hunt for a division title.

Much thanks to the Pats' losing two straight, but in any event, Rex Ryan's crew has won three straight and plays New England at home in Week 10.

Last season, New York bested them at home, and the Pats' could lose for a third straight week—the second straight to a team from NYC. If the Jets take this one, they will have sole possession atop the AFC East and control their own destiny with a somewhat favorable schedule remaining.

Pretty crazy to think that was possible back in Week 5, right?

Atlanta Falcons (5-3)

Since beginning the season 1-2, the Atlanta Falcons have won four of their last five games (only loss in that stretch to Green Bay), and have two games remaining against the NFC South-leading Saints.

Their first game against the Saints is in Week 10, which could really shake up the NFC playoff picture. Atlanta is just a half-game behind New Orleans, and they also have yet to play Tampa at home.

The remaining schedule isn't overly difficult, and their next three games are at home, but the road games at New Orleans, Carolina and Houston will be very telling to the true identity of the Falcons.

Because, beating the Colts in Indianapolis on the road doesn't hold much weight.

Week 10 NFL Power Rankings (LW = Last Week's Rank) (* = MNF Teams)

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

Be sure to check out John on Bleacher Report. 

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