NFL Power Rankings Week 10: Rating All 32 Teams Based on Playoff Experience

With more than half of the season in the books, the NFL playoff races are starting to heat up.

Postseason experience can be a huge advantage for veteran teams trying to make a playoff push.

Several teams coming in near the bottom of this list will be sure to add some playoff experience before this 2011 season is out.

Here are the power rankings for every team based on their playoff experience.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers are a perennial playoff power with veterans up and down the roster.

Ben Roethlisberger led this team to Super Bowl wins in 2005, 2008 and came up just short against the Green Bay Packers in 2010.

2. New England Patriots

Tom Brady and the New England Patriots have reached the playoffs in seven out of the last eight seasons.

The second half of the "aught's" decade did not go quite as smoothly as the first. After Super Bowl victories in 2001, 2003 and 2004, the Patriots have suffered playoff disappointments.

Despite not taking home the title the last several years, this team is loaded with seasoned playoff vets.

3. Indianapolis Colts

Since drafting Peyton Manning in 1998, the Indianapolis Colts have been the ultimate mark of consistency. Following Manning's rookie season, the Colts have missed the playoffs exactly one time.

Their string of nine consecutive postseason appearances will be snapped in 2011, but this team boasts a staggering amount of playoff experience.

4. Green Bay Packers

The reigning Super Bowl champs look like a team that will be rising even higher on this list during the next few years.

The Green Bay Packers are team with both veteran presence and emerging stars.

5. New York Giants

The New York Giants recorded one of the most memorable wins in Super Bowl history by dashing the Patriots hopes of a perfect season.

It never hurts to have a Super Bowl MVP under center for your team.

6. Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore has had a championship-caliber defense for the past decade.

It's time for Joe Flacco and the offense to put together a strong playoff run to get this team back to the Super Bowl.

7. New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints have gone from laughing stock to NFC powerhouse.

Led by Drew Brees, the Saints took home the title in 2009.

8. New York Jets

Rex Ryan's New York Jets have been extremely dangerous coming into the playoffs as a wild card team.

"Gang Green" has made runs to the AFC Championship Game the past two seasons.

9. San Diego Chargers

The Chargers have been disappointed in the playoffs time and time again.

On the positive side, that means that they are making the postseason consistently. Who knows? One of these years Norv Turner's guys might put it all together.

10. Chicago Bears

Jay Cutler and Brian Urlacher led the Chicago Bears on a surprising run to the 2010 NFC title game.

Add in a 2006 Super Bowl loss, and the veterans on this team have plenty of playoff seasoning.

11. Philadelphia Eagles

With Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb, the Philadelphia Eagles were a playoff regular.

There offensive playmakers are young, and the defense has seen quite a bit of change. These guys have seen the postseason, but don't have the long history there that the top teams do.

12. Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals have been a different team since the retirement of Kurt Warner.

However, before Warner rode off into the sunset, this team put together some playoff runs, including a 2008 Super Bowl appearance.

13. Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys have not been able to get anything going in the playoffs. Since the 2005-2006 season, Tony Romo's team has only one win in their four games played.

Unfortunately for fans of Big D, the postseason experience has been sour, but it is experience nonetheless.

14. Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons are a team poised to climb this list over the next several seasons.

With Matt Ryan, Roddy White and Julio Jones forming the offensive nucleus, Atlanta will be a playoff contender for years to come.

15. Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings have been a quality team with no long-term answer at quarterback.

With Donovan McNabb riding the pine, the Vikes hope that Christian Ponder can grow with Adrian Peterson to get this team back to the playoffs soon.

16. Tennessee Titans

The Tennessee Titans reached the playoffs in 2007 and 2008.

Another boost for this squad is the experience that new quarterback Matt Hasselbeck brings from his time in Seattle.

17. Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals are also going through a youth movement. Andy Dalton and A.J. Green have stepped in for Carson Palmer and Chad Ochocinco.

It's easy to forget that this team was in the playoffs as recently as 2009.

18. Washington Redskins

Despite aggressive spending, the Washington Redskins have not been able to put together a winning team.

The Redskins reached the playoffs in 2005 and 2009 and will rely on the experience of veterans such as London Fletcher.

19. Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks are a completely re-done team under Pete Carroll. The players who made the Super Bowl in 2005 are essentially all gone.

These "new" Seahawks gained experience during a surprising appearance last season.

20. Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos have not been to the playoffs since 2005. With significant roster turnover, that doesn't leave a lot of experience here.

The Broncos get their playoff experience from their secondary of Champ Bailey and Brian Dawkins.

21. Kansas City Chiefs

Matt Cassel led a resurgent Kansas City Chiefs organization to the playoffs in 2010. This was only the franchise's third postseason appearance since 1997.

22. Carolina Panthers

There are few holdouts left from the Carolina Panthers' playoff runs.

The most notable is bounceback star receiver Steve Smith.

23. Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars reached the playoffs in 2005 and again in 2007.

Their most important player, Maurice Jones-Drew, was a part of that 2007 team.

24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tampa Bay was a force in the early part of the decade. Under John Gruden and Tony Dungy the Buccaneers were a defensive nightmare.

On one of the league's youngest teams, veteran Ronde Barber is still hanging tough and playing well.

25. Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins' last playoff trip came back in 2008.

Most of the playoff experience on this squad comes from Jason Taylor and linebacker Karlos Dansby.

26. Oakland Raiders

The Oakland Raiders have not gotten a sniff of the playoffs since 2002. It's safe to say that the roster has changed a little bit since then.

Newly acquired quarterback Carson Palmer does bring some playoff experience from his time with the Bengals.

27. Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions were 0-16 in 2008. The Lions have drafted well in recent years and gotten themselves back on track.

This lack of experience is sure to change this year.

28. San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers are another team that has not seen playoff football for quite some time.

Like the Oakland Raiders, their last appearance was in 2002, but like the Lions, that is about to change.

29. Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills franchise has been in a sad state since its dominance in the 1990's.

With a strong start in 2011 the Bills are in a position to challenge for a playoff spot this year. Their experience comes from linebackers, Nick Barnett and the now injured Shawn Merriman.

30. Houston Texans

The Houston Texans have had the misfortune of sharing a division with Peyton Manning and the Colts.

Outside of kicker Neil Rackers, there is not much playoff experience to speak of. However, this is yet another team low on this list poised to make a postseason trip.

31. Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns have not made the playoffs since 2002 and are not exactly stacked with playoff performers from other teams.

Cornerback Sheldon Brown does bring playoff experience from his days in Philadelphia.

32. St. Louis Rams

The St. Louis Rams are another team lacking playoff experience.

Like the Browns, their most experienced player comes from the Philadelphia secondary. Safety Quintin Mikell is one of the few Rams who have seen playoff action.