NFL Power Rankings: New York Jets and Teams That Will Make Late Charges

There are only four weeks left in the NFL regular season, but that's still enough for fringe playoff teams to get hot in order to make the postseason. Here are three teams on the rise whose schedules will aide them down the homestretch.

New York Jets

The Jets have bounced back from the brink of elimination to get right back into the playoff race. Back-to-back wins over the struggling Bills and Redskins leave New York at 7-5. With every game down the stretch being of the winnable variety, they should be able to force their way into the playoffs.

Reverting back to a run-first offense was the smartest move the Jets could have made. Mark Sanchez is prone to mistakes, so if you force him to throw it nearly 40 times the results will be disappointing. With the new plan of attack in effect, they are rounding into form at the perfect time.

Detroit Lions

Who would have thought that after starting 5-0, Detroit would be fighting for its playoff life in Week 14? The Lions have lost five of their last seven games due to a struggling defense and an offense that isn't able to overcome the large deficits.

But the good news is that Detroit's schedule gets easier and should allow them to right the ship. Other than a visit to Lambeau Field in the finale, the rest of the Lions' games are winnable. If they can bare down and play smart football (no childish penalties), they'll turn things around in short order.

Seattle Seahawks

Don't look now but the team that knocked New Orleans out of last season's playoffs is starting to gain some momentum. The Seahawks have won three of their last four and face a gimme next Monday night against a surprisingly terrible Rams squad.

They'll need to win at least three games, and maybe even run the table, to put themselves in position to claim a postseason berth. It might seem unlikely right now, but nobody thought they had a chance against the Saints, either.

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