NFL Power Rankings Week 15: Denver Broncos and More Teams Rising at Right Time

It's all about timing in the NFL. A team can't afford to peak too early like the Buffalo Bills or risk losing a promising start. Other teams, such as the three listed below, have found their strides at the right time, and it could be enough to push them into the playoffs.

Denver Broncos

Tim Tebow fever has taken the country by storm. Since taking the reigns in Denver, Tebow has helped lead the Broncos to a 7-1 record thanks to numerous fourth-quarter comebacks. That includes the team's six-game winning streak heading into Sunday's game against the New England Patriots.

They now control their own destiny in the AFC West with three games left to play. Although knocking off the Patriots is a tall task, the Broncos have two winnable games to finish the season. Assuming the defense can keep playing at an extraordinary level, the playoffs are within reach.

Atlanta Falcons

After a tough loss to the New Orleans Saints in Week 10, the Falcons have bounced back nicely by winning three of their next four games. The offense is slowly starting to round into form, which would make them a very dangerous team come playoff time.

Atlanta currently holds one of the two NFC wild card spots and have games against the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tampa Bay Buccaneers left on the schedule. That should be enough to push them into the postseason for the third time in four years.

New York Jets

Rex Ryan always seems to get his guys fired up at the most opportune moments. Following back-to-back losses that put their playoff dreams in peril, the Jets have rattled off three straight wins to put themselves back into a wild-card slot.

The turning point came when New York decided to move back toward a ground-and-pound offense. Mark Sanchez can't be trusted to carry an offense on his shoulders, so getting Shonn Greene back on track was important, and it appears the resurgence came just in the nick of time.

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