NFL Power Rankings Week 10: Rising Teams Facing Big Challenges

The New York Giants were one of several teams around the NFL that came up with big statement wins in Week 9 to push themselves up the power rankings and, in some cases, from the scrap heap to the playoff push.

That won't be an easy task, though—not with the challenges that lay ahead for each of them in Week 10.

New York Giants

The Giants came up with a huge road win over the Patriots on Sunday, proving that Eli Manning and company have what it takes to not only win the NFC East, but perhaps contend for another Super Bowl.

Not that Big Blue is necessary out of the woods yet or that another second-half collapse isn't still on the horizon. The G-Men will embark on a five-game stretch that will determine if they truly are ready to be considered among the league's elite, beginning with a trip to San Francisco to take on the resurgent 49ers.

Scoring a win in the Bay will be anything but easy for New York, but a soft Niners pass defense should be pliable fodder for Eli and his emerging band of no-name receivers.

New York Jets

While the Giants are off on the West Coast, the Jets will have MetLife Stadium all to themselves...and the Patriots, of course.

Gang Green looked great in shutting down a previously potent Bills offense and now finds itself in a three-way tie for first place in the AFC East.

The Jets dropped their first meeting with the Pats this season, but should benefit from the piles of film that the Cowboys, the Steelers and the Giants have built up in shutting down Tom Brady and his downfield-deficient receivers.

Atlanta Falcons

Soooo, remember when the Falcons were dead and buried behind the Saints and the Buccaneers in the NFC South?

What a difference a month (and three wins) makes. Granted, there's not much to be learned from a 31-7 loss over the Colts, other than the fact that Indy still stinks.

Nonetheless, Matt Ryan and the Falcons, whose wings once appeared clipped beyond repair this season, now find themselves just a half-game back of New Orleans in the standings with a pivotal home game against the Saints on tap for Week 10.

A fourth win in a row, then, would vault Atlanta back to the top of the division, though keeping up with Drew Brees' high-flying bunch will be no easy feat.

Josh Martin's Week 9 NFL Power Rankings

1. Green Bay Packers

2. San Francisco 49ers

3. Baltimore Ravens

4. New York Giants

5. New Orleans Saints

6. Detroit Lions

7. Atlanta Falcons

8. Pittsburgh Steelers

9. New England Patriots

10. New York Jets

11. Cincinnati Bengals

12. Houston Texans

13. Buffalo Bills

14. Dallas Cowboys

15. Philadelphia Eagles

16. Chicago Bears

17. San Diego Chargers

18. Kansas City Chiefs

19. Denver Broncos

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

21. Tennessee Titans

22. Oakland Raiders

23. Minnesota Vikings

24. Carolina Panthers

25. Cleveland Browns

26. Seattle Seahawks

27. Washington Redskins

28. Jacksonville Jaguars

29. Arizona Cardinals

30. Miami Dolphins

31. St. Louis Rams

32. Indianapolis Colts