NFL Week 15 Predictions: 5 NFL Teams That Will Continue Rising

Even though we are coming up on Week 15 of the NFL season, there are plenty of teams that are getting hot at the right time.

Some of these teams won't be making the playoffs, but they will be building momentum for the 2012 season. Other teams are rising at the perfect time in hopes of making a deep playoff run.

Here are five teams that will continue rising after Week 15.

Houston Texans

Many thought that the Houston Texans would suffer a major setback after Matt Schaub and Matt Leinart went down with injuries.

However, they've done just the opposite, as they've won every game since those injuries and have a current win streak of seven games. This week, they get the Carolina Panthers at home, which should be an easy victory.

The Panthers have been rather awful against the run, and Houston just happens to boast one of the best backs in the game in Arian Foster. Plus, Houston's defense has been able to get pressure on quarterbacks at will in recent weeks.

Their eighth straight win will also keep them in the running for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. With remaining games against the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans, it's very likely that Houston will finish the regular season with a 13-3 record.

New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints had a difficult time putting away the Tennessee Titans last week, but they should have no such difficulty against the Minnesota Vikings this week.

Currently, the Saints are one of the hottest teams in the league, thanks in part to the most high-powered offense out there. Drew Brees is having a career year as he leads New Orleans back into the playoffs.

Even with the Vikings getting Adrian Peterson back this week, they still don't stand much of a chance. If the Saints completely destroy Minnesota, which is likely, it should give them a great boost heading into the final two weeks of the season.

Green Bay Packers

Yes, the Green Bay Packers are going to beat the Kansas City Chiefs to go 14-0 on the season.

In fact, this game may be even uglier than last week's game against the Oakland Raiders. The Packers defense has already seen, and destroyed, Kyle Orton once this year, and it wouldn't be too surprising if they did it again.

The loss of Greg Jennings could cause a slight drop in the offensive production of Green Bay, but there are so many weapons on this offense that it won't be much of a drop.

After crushing Kansas City and Oakland in back-to-back weeks, Green Bay will be as high as they've been all year long.

Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks have literally come out of nowhere to be one of the hottest teams in football right now.

Most of the credit for their resurgence belongs to Marshawn Lynch, who has easily been the best running back in the league for the past month. As long as he can continue to pile up yards and touchdowns, the Seahawks should continue their dominant play.

Their matchup this week against the Chicago Bears isn't ideal from an offensive standpoint. However, with Caleb Hanie at quarterback, it looks like a very good defensive matchup.

Look for Seattle to pull out the victory to get to .500 this week and stay in the playoff hunt.

Arizona Cardinals

Where the heck did the Arizona Cardinals come from?

They are one a three-game winning streak, and they've won two of those games against potential playoff teams. Last week, they beat the San Francisco 49ers, and the week before, they took down the Dallas Cowboys.

What is so impressive about the Cardinals' most recent wins is that they've all been close wins. This team is learning to win when it matters, and even though it may be too late in the season, they are still playing like one of the better teams in the league.

The Cardinals have been good both offensively and defensively and should have no problem stopping the Cleveland Browns to improve their current winning streak to four games.