NFL Power Rankings: Red-Hot Teams That Will Continue to Ascend in Week 13

With just five weeks remaining in the season, it is becoming more and more apparent which teams are truly contenders and which teams are merely pretenders. Now is the time for teams to start playing their best football as they prepare for a playoff push, and several squads are doing just that.

The NFL is a league full of streaks, and it just so happens that a handful of teams will enter Week 13 riding a hot streak. Not all of them will be able to continue their winning ways, but here are three red-hot teams that will continue to roll this week.

Oakland Raiders

Since acquiring quarterback Carson Palmer from the Cincinnati Bengals, the Oakland Raiders have been a vastly-improved team. They have ridden a nice little wave of success over the past several weeks and currently sit atop the AFC West with a 7-4 record.

They stand a great chance of keeping or extending that lead when they face the Miami Dolphins in Week 13.

The Dolphins have been playing solid football lately as they won three straight games before losing on a last-second field goal against the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving. The Dolphins are at home and have had extra time to prepare for the Raiders, but Oakland is ultimately more talented.

Provided the Raiders can strike a nice offensive balance with Palmer and running back Michael Bush, they should cruise to victory.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers have had some shaky moments this season, particularly against the Baltimore Ravens, but they continue their winning ways despite that.

The Steelers are tied atop the AFC North with the Ravens, but currently would lose out on a tiebreaker. Because of that, Pittsburgh needs to continue winning if it is going to entertain thoughts of another division title.

Pittsburgh will host a tenacious Cincinnati Bengals team that is just one game back of both the Steelers and Ravens. The Steelers beat the Bengals on the road a couple weeks ago, but defeating them again won't be easy.

I do give Pittsburgh the nod, however, as the Bengals' secondary has proven to be quite vulnerable thanks to the injury to Leon Hall, giving quarterback Ben Roethlisberger a strong possibility for a big day.

New England Patriots

After losing consecutive games to the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants, the New England Patriots seemed to be on the ropes. The Pats have gone on a tear since then, however, and now hold a commanding two-game lead over the New York Jets in the AFC East.

With the way the Patriots are playing they could probably beat anyone right now, but even their worst effort will likely be enough to beat the Indianapolis Colts at home.

The Colts have been awful in all facets this season, so this game figures to be a laugher. Quarterback Tom Brady and his never-ending group of pass catchers should have an absolute field day against Indy's soft defense. New England does have defensive issues, particularly in the secondary, but Curtis Painter and Co. aren't likely to make the Pats pay for their shortcomings in that area.

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