NFL Power Rankings: Stock Watch for League's Top Teams

Some stocks have certainly changed after Week 15 for some of the NFL's top teams. With the Steelers playing on Monday night and the Ravens losing, the AFC North is shaken up.

Elsewhere, the race for the NFC's top seed tightened up with Green Bay losing, New Orleans winning, and San Francisco hoping to bounce back against Pittsburgh. To that end, here are stocks for some of the NFL's top teams.

Green Bay Packers (13-1): Stock Unchanged

Although the Packers lost they're still the NFL's best team. You don't win a Super Bowl and then start of 13-0 without being a damn good team, so one loss doesn't ruin everything.

Much like when the Saints lost to the Rams in St. Louis (who's worse than Kansas City), it was just a bump in the road and a minor slip up. Plus, it was to the Chiefs advantage in having Kyle Orton as he played the Packers earlier this season while in Denver.

As for Green Bay, sure the shot at perfection is now lost but repeating is quite possible. Home-field advantage is still alive and going through Lambeau Field for anyone will be difficult.

Perhaps the scariest aspect about the cheese is that they still have room for improvement. Aaron Rodgers was under a good amount of pressure on Sunday and the defense must learn to live without forcing turnovers.

That being said, the Packers are healthier and playing more consistent at this time in 2011 than they were a year ago, so unless Green Bay does not win the Super Bowl they will be the NFL's best team.

New Orleans Saints (11-3): Stock Up

When the 2011 NFL season kicked-off between the Packers and Saints in Green Bay, that game was a prequel to the NFC title game.

New Orleans is the only team who can match Green Bay offensively and their defenses both allow so many yards and points, it will come down to who plays more flawless football. As for New Orleans, they have clinched a playoff spot and are learning to play well on the road.

Regardless of who it's against, a road win in the NFL is impressive and The Big Easy has won three straight away from The Superdome (Atlanta, Tennessee, Minnesota). Perhaps the road loss to St. Louis put everything in perspective because Drew Brees and Co. have not lost since.

The Saints have the NFL's best offense and rank No. 1 in passing and No. 9 in rushing. That solid ground game will pay dividends when the weather breaks in outdoor playoff games, so that is to their advantage.

And with games left against the Falcons and Panthers at home, although neither are cakewalks, finishing 13-3 and on an eight game win streak will bode well for at least the NFC's No. 3 seed. Everything comes down to whether San Francisco falls once more, which is quite possible since the Cardinals proved they were vulnerable.

New England Patriots (11-3): Stock Up

The Patriots may have played what many consider a weak schedule However, they swept the Jets who are currently in the playoffs and now have a big road win over the Broncos.

Tom Brady has struggled against Denver throughout his career and with The Orange Crush on a six-game win streak it looked as if New England would fall once again to The Mile High City. Well, after the first quarter, the Pats outscored Denver 34-10 and won 41-23.

New England now takes a six-game win streak to close out the regular season at home against Miami and Buffalo, two likely wins to finish 13-3. At the moment New England has a solid grasp on a playoff bye as well as a shot at the AFC's No. 1 seed.

The defense has been gradually improving, is getting more QB pressure and playing better zone-coverage. As long as that continues, the Pats' have a great shot to beat the Steelers, Ravens, and/or Texans this January because the offense will put up points.

Baltimore Ravens (10-4): Stock Down

Once again the Ravens lose to an inferior team on the road. Outside of Pittsburgh, Baltimore does have wins over Houston, NY Jets, and San Francisco, but neither are on the level of Pittsburgh.

A big reason, is because the Texans were without Andre Johnson and Mario Williams (arguably their two best players), the Jets may be in the playoffs but are overrated, and the 49ers literally have no offense to match anyone who can score.

And as evidence by their losses to Tennessee, Jacksonville, Seattle, and San Diego, Baltimore's stock has dropped. Their inconsistent play on the road will cost them in the playoffs as it has this regular season.

Despite having WR Torrey Smith and RB Ray Rice, the offense is not explosive enough to dominate consistently and the defense struggles against offenses with the potential to be high-powered.

Arizona proved that in Week 8, but the Ravens made a comeback because the Cardinals simply lack talent across the board. Week 17 will be the tell all sign though, as the Ravens play at Cincinnati.

The Bengals playoff hopes are still alive and they almost pulled off the upset in Baltimore. Don't be surprised if Baltimore drops another road game to an inferior opponent, because it's already happened four other times.

Houston Texans (10-4): Stock Down

It was overdue, but Texans rookie QB TJ Yates finally had his rookie moment and struggled in a game since becoming the starter.

Now, not all hope is lost for Houston because they have won the division, and for their sake let's hope WR Andre Johnson returns sooner than later. But it was evident that their injuries have finally caught up with them in the loss to Carolina.

A dominant, yet young and inexperienced defense like Houston's can only hold up the fort for so long before an offense breaks through and the Panthers did just that. Also, with playing at Indianapolis this week, the Colts are feeling confident after beating Tennessee in Week 15.

Houston is a vulnerable bunch this week and needs a win to ensure at least the AFC's No. 3 seed. That being said, the last team any three seed in the AFC wants to face are the New York Jets.

Because as we all know, the Jets were the No. 6 seed each of the last two seasons and went on to the AFC title game. When January comes around, don't be surprised if Houston is one-and-done.

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)

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