NFL Power Rankings: Postseason Contenders Making the Biggest Leaps

The postseason push has started in the NFL, and there is not a lot of time left for teams to sort themselves out. We have seen some contenders who started slow finally turn things around and are playing the way that we expected them to all along. 

That is not a good formula to use, but sometimes there are just some things that are out of your control. And at least they figured things out while there is still time to make a run. 

The power rankings are starting to reflect this shift, which has everything after the Green Bay Packers at No. 1 in a state of flux. 

Here are the three biggest movers in the rankings this week. 

Denver Broncos (8-5)

What is left to be said about the Broncos that hasn't already been said? The more appropriate question would be what is left to be said about Tim Tebow, but the franchise might as well be renamed the Denver Tebows. 

While I am still skeptical of this team as a legitimate playoff team, it is hard to argue with a six-game winning streak and a one-game lead in the AFC West. 

Plus, the fact that the schedule works out so well for this team over the final three weeks. With the exception of Sunday against New England, the Broncos are a shoo-in for 10 wins. 

Detroit Lions (8-5)

The Lions are not going to be the team that we expected them to be after that 5-0 start, but they are doing just enough to stay in that upper tier of teams in the NFC. 

An easy schedule the next two weeks is going to be enough to push this team to a 10-win season for the first time in 16 years. 

While the defense does not do enough on a consistent basis to really push this team into the elite category, the offense is so good that the Lions can give teams fits if they are able to sneak into the postseason. 

They would be a great matchup for the San Francisco 49ers, if things worked out and they met in the Wild Card Round. 

New York Giants (7-6)

If you look up the word "dangerous" in the dictionary, you should see a picture of the 2011 New York Giants. 

It has been an uphill battle for this team the last six weeks because of all their problems in the secondary, but every other unit is playing well enough to carry them deep into the postseason. 

Eli Manning deserves a lot more credit for his performance this season than he is getting. He will finish with numbers that only Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees can top, and those players are pretty good if you didn't know. 

Assuming they are able to stay on top of the NFC East, they will be a dangerous out for the other five teams in the conference when the postseason starts. 

 

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