NFL Power Rankings Week 15: Assessing Teams That Are Simply on a Roll

Whether a team is making a late playoff surge, pushing for a higher seed or beginning to pull away within their division, getting on a roll is never a bad thing.

To that end, here are three teams with the current longest winning streaks for the 2011 season.

Green Bay Packers (13-0)

The Packers' 46-16 win over the Raiders was perhaps their most complete game of the year. Oakland is a solid team with a respectable ground game and improved pass attack, but Green Bay just obliterated them.

Not only did Green Bay's pass defense improve, but they picked off four passes and forced another fumble. On the year that gives Titletown's defense 27 INTs and nine forced fumbles.

What's even more impressive is that Aaron Rodgers didn't play his best game (he threw INT No. 6, rating of 96.7), so as scary as it may seem, there's still room for this team to improve.

Houston Texans (10-3)

Despite being mauled by injuries, the Houston Texans continue to win and have run off seven straight. QB T.J. Yates is playing with great confidence and the Texans are playing as a complete team.

The rushing attack ranks No. 2 and the defense is still in the Top Five against the pass and rush. Four of their wins during this stretch have come on the road and three of those wins were against teams contending for a playoff spot (Tennessee, Atlanta, Cincinnati).

With the Titans losing to New Orleans in Week 14, the Texans won the AFC South for the first time in the franchise's history. The playoffs are coming back to the city of Houston for the first time since 1993.

Denver Broncos (8-5)

Obviously the play of Tim Tebow in the fourth quarter and OT has been remarkable to say the least. But the Broncos Orange Crush defense is what's giving him those opportunities.

During Denver's six-game win streak, the defense has allowed an average of just 17 points per game. Thanks to the golden toe of kicker Matt Prater, the Broncos have played as a complete team more than anything else.

Denver just continues to roll, plain and simple. They're not ever out of any games because the offense is careful with the ball and the defense knows how to force turnovers and punts. Regardless of how much longer Tebowmania lasts, it's certain that the Broncos have played with a newfound purpose since starting 1-4.

Week 15 NFL Power Rankings (LW = Last Week's Rank) (* = MNF Teams)

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

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