NFL Power Rankings Week 16: Saints, Pats Contenders & Ravens, Broncos Pretenders

On a week-to-week basis, we learn which teams are contenders and which are pretenders.

Teams like Packers are still contenders, as well as are the Steelers and/or 49ers, pending the result of tonight's head-to-head match-up.

However, we did get some revealing indications of who's becoming even more legitimized and who still needs to prove their worth.

Here are two of the league's contenders and two of the league's pretenders, in my opinion.

Contender: New Orleans Saints (11-3)

The Saints were definitely a contending team before, but they now have gained significant respect because of some much-needed road wins.

After eight weeks of play, New Orleans was 5-3, with all three losses on the road. Well, they've won six straight since then, and three of those wins were on the road— Atlanta, Tennessee, and Minnesota. The offense continues to be virtually unstoppable, and the defense has improved against the pass.

Their remaining games, however, are against Atlanta and Carolina; neither is a cakewalk. Both remaining opponents came within three points of besting the Saints at home. And, although New Orleans is better at home, a divisional rival is always capable of pulling off the upset.

Right now, it appears that New Orleans is getting the NFC's No. 2 seed, especially if San Francisco loses once more. Now, no matter how much the Saints have improved on the road, the playoffs are a different animal.

There, we see New Orleans having lost their previous two road postseason games (at Chicago in 2006, at Seattle in 2010). It's the next step for Saints, which will tell us even more in January.

Contender: New England Patriots (11-3)

Earlier this season, we talked all we wanted about how "weak" the Patriots remaining schedule was. But, winning in Denver over the Broncos is something Tom Brady simply has had trouble with.

Heading in, Brady was 1-6 (including the postseason) against Denver. With Tim Tebow on the other side and an early Broncos lead, it almost seemed certain that Brady would lose again.

Well, New England proved their worth by doing what they do best— they scored.

And often.

Besides the Steelers, the Patriots have been the AFC's most consistent team and are winners of six straight. Simply put, this is has been a different team than the one that started just 5-3.

The defense proved they could stop the run and get QB pressure, even on the mobile Tebow. And, New England simply lived up to the hype.

The win clinched the Pats a playoff spot and the AFC East title, so another bye-week is quite possible.

Although they've struggled in the past in the playoffs, Tom Brady is still under center, so there's always a chance.

Pretender: Baltimore Ravens (10-4)

Baltimore swept the Steelers this year. But other than that, the Ravens haven't been overly impressive.

Beating the 49ers at home was important, but we saw how vulnerable San Francisco was after they lost to Arizona on the road.

In addition, the win over Houston came when the Texans were without WR Andre Johnson and LB Mario Williams. Now, include losses to Tennessee, Jacksonville, Seattle, and San Diego. The Ravens fail to win consistently on the road.

And, with a 3-4 road record right now, it would not be surprising to see Baltimore drop to the AFC's No. 5 seed. Pittsburgh has two winnable games left in the Rams and Browns. The Ravens must still play at Cincinnati.

For a team that has lost four games they should have won, the Ravens have been exposed on more than one occasion. Let's face it, a lot has to happen for the Titans, Seahawks, and Chargers to make the playoffs, and neither of those teams had any business beating Baltimore.

Nonetheless, they clinched a playoff spot. However, the question is whether or not they can win in the playoffs.

The Ravens must prove themselves in January.

Pretender: Denver Broncos (8-6)

Tebow Mania may not have ended in the loss to New England, but the Broncos were exposed.

Competing with a legit Super Bowl contender is just too much for them right now.

Tom Brady picked a part the defense, and the Broncos offense couldn't keep pace against a mediocre (at best) defense.

Yes, turnovers played a role. Maybe the game would have been closer. However, Denver was simply outmatched.

Against the NFL's worst pass defense (allowed over 300 yards per game coming in), Tim Tebow only managed 194 yards (albeit on just 22 attempts). Sure, his rush yards helped, but there isn't a team in this league that will match New England when a passing game is not present.

Every team that has beaten the Pats this year has had an establishes aerial assault. It's something Denver lacks, and it proved to be costly. If the Broncos are poised to make a deep run in January, a significant improvement in throwing the ball is needed.

If being one-dimensional put up only 23 points against the Patriots' defense, they'd be lucky to score close to that against a team with a better defense, like the Steelers or Texans.

Week 16 NFL Power Rankings (LW = Last Week's Rank) (* = MNF Teams)

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

Follow John Rozum on Twitter @ Sportswriter27