NFL Power Rankings Week 15: Looking at Teams with Most Momentum

The Green Bay Packers aren't the only club surging with momentum right now in the NFL. 

The New England Patriots are on a five-game winning streak and have quite the quarterback calling the shots on offense. 

Exact same situation for the Drew Brees-led Saints. 

Things are a bit different in Houston and Denver. 

Don't count out T.J. Yates or Tim Tebow. 

Let's examine these teams as we enter the final three games of the 2011 season. 

Green Bay Packers 

Greg Jennings was hurt in the Packers' spanking of the Oakland Raiders, but I don't envision that greatly hindering their potent offensive attack.

Why?

Because Aaron Rodgers spreads the ball around better than any signal-caller in the league and call me crazy, but I wouldn't be shocked if you forget Jennings is even on the sideline down the stretch. 

Even if they stumble and lose a game, something I don't think will happen, they're my Super Bowl favorite.

New England Patriots

Without Tom Brady, the Patriots are fighting for a Wild Card right now. With their "bend-then-mistakenly-break" defense, they need a near masterpiece from Brady each game to win. 

Rex Grossman looked awfully like the Florida Gators' Rex Grossman on Sunday. 

I do have faith in this club if they get to the postseason, mainly because of Brady's past success in the winter months. 

However, a matchup with the Ravens or Steelers, regardless of the location, could ultimately doom New England's season. 

New Orleans Saints 

Drew Brees is functioning his respective offense nearly as well as Aaron Rodgers is operating the Packers. The Saints defense isn't nearly as susceptible as the Patriots, but they've never been a dominant unit and they aren't creating turnovers like they did in 2009. 

The most underrated facet of this club is their running back committee. 

Mark Ingram, Pierre Thomas and Darren Sproles each bring their own skill set to the field and are equally as effective on check-downs and in the screen game. 

For as vertical of a passing team as New Orleans is, Brees knows the importance of utilizing the easy, underneath throws. 

Houston Texans 

Maybe T.J. Yates isn't as bad as we initially thought. He threw for 300 yards with two touchdowns including the game-winner on the road against a stout Bengals defense. Houston's defense is one of the league's best and has the scheme and talent to slow down the most fast-paced offenses. 

It looks like they have a respectable starter in Yates and should lean on their running game and defense in the postseason. 

Denver Broncos 

The Broncos are in a fantastic position to win the AFC West and they play in the most marquee matchup of Week 15 against the Patriots. 

This isn't the place to argue my opinion on Tim Tebow and his viability as an NFL starter, but I know one thing: His record is 7-1 as a starter this year, and right now, that's all that matters. 

The defense is an underrated group that boasts two bona fide, dangerous edge-rushers in Elvis Dumervil and Von Miller. 

Don't forget about Willis McGahee or Matt Prater, either. 

Both are under-appreciated aspects of the Broncos' magical run and have provided the club with great stability all season. 

NFL Power Rankings, Week 15

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