NFL Power Rankings: Mid-Level Teams with Style To Thrive in January

There are some teams lurking in the middle of the power rankings that have the potential to roll through the playoffs. If you can run the ball and play defense in the playoffs, you can have success.

The following three teams have shown the potential to do just that.

No. 10 Baltimore Ravens

The way this season is going, the Ravens appear to be custom made for the playoffs. After all, we are talking about this team:

The Ravens will not have to concern themselves with playing teams they should destroy in the playoffs. This will free them from their nemesis: the letdown game.

Beyond that, the Ravens have the defense to succeed in the playoffs. This team is third in rushing yards allowed per game and sixth in rushing yards allowed per game.

The one red flag for the Ravens is their inconsistency in the running game and the ease with which they abandon it. Ray Rice had just five carries in the Ravens loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

On the season, Rice is averaging 4.1 yards per carry, yet the Ravens are only 25th in the NFL in rushing attempts per game. They need to start letting Rice carry this offense.

No. 12 Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys are starting to find their groove. They owe that largely to the emergence DeMarco Murray and the rushing attack.

Murray has averaged at least 6.3 yards per carry since becoming the starting running back four games ago. The Cowboys are not coincidentally 3-1 in that stretch.

This has helped take the load off Tony Romo and free up the passing lanes when he does throw. The Cowboys rushing attack is also set to get a boost as Felix Jones will be returning to spell Murray.

The Cowboys will combine this dangerous and balanced offensive attack with a solid defense as a foundation for playoff success.

Their defense is 11th in rushing yards allowed per game and 13th in passing yards allowed per game. They have been up and down on defense, but have shown flashes of brilliance.

They are coming off of a particularly stellar effort against the Bills in which they allowed only seven points. If they can put together a string of good defensive showings in the playoffs, this team will be dangerous.

No. 13 Oakland Raiders

The Raiders can run the football. This is an ingredient for success in the playoffs.

They have the best 1-2 RB punch in the league and a very good run-blocking offensive line.

They are fourth in the NFL in rushing yards per game, and fifth in yards per rush at 5.0.

The Raiders are also now developing the passing game to balance out this rushing attack and take defenders away from the line of scrimmage. QB Carson Palmer is making big strides in this passing offense.

That is clearly evident in this stat:

The emergence of the passing game will make the Raiders' offense unstoppable.

The red flag with the Raiders is their rush defense. They have shown that they can be dominant unit.

They held the Texans to 70 rushing yards at 2.8 yards per carry, but they also allowed 299 yards rushing to the Broncos.

If they can find some consistency on defense this team will be dangerous in the playoffs.

Richard Langford's Week 11 Power Rankings

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