NFL Power Rankings: Teams Figuring Things out at the Right Time

It was right around this time last year that the Green Bay Packers got hot and started a run that took them all the way to the Super Bowl.

Coincidentally, this run didn't finally stop until this past weekend, when the Packers suffered their first loss in a calendar year. It was fun while it lasted.

If the Packers' hot streak taught us one thing, it's that getting hot at the right time can make a world of difference. They happened to get hot on the eve of the 2010 postseason, and it ultimately resulted in a championship.

That the Packers got hot when they did was no accident. Something clicked, and it kept clicking for an entire year.

At the risk of getting peoples' hopes up, here are four teams that are clicking right now.

Detroit Lions (No. 9)

While I typically wouldn't count a two-game win streak as a "hot" streak, there are things to admire about the way the Lions have played in the last two weeks.

Above all, you have to like how Matthew Stafford has played. Despite getting virtually no help from his rushing attack, he's thrown six touchdown passes and no interceptions. I take this as a sign that his finger is fully healed, and that's a great sign for the Lions.

Of course, it helps that Stafford got a ton of help from Calvin Johnson on Sunday. He looked like the same Calvin Johnson who tore apart the NFL earlier in the season, and that is also a good sign. If he can carry this dominance over to the postseason, nobody is going to want to play the Lions.

The Lions are still an imperfect team, make no mistake about that. But after watching them play the last two weeks, I'm inclined to say that they are a very dangerous imperfect team.

Atlanta Falcons (No. 7)

Just like the Lions, the Falcons have only won two games in a row, and thus barely qualify as a team on a "hot" streak.

But with the Falcons, you have to look back even further. Overall, they've won  seven of nine, and the only losses in that span were in overtime to New Orleans and at Houston. The only teams to beat this Falcons squad in their last nine games just so happen to be two of the very best teams in the NFL.

Matt Ryan deserves all sorts of credit. In his last five games, he's thrown 12 touchdowns and just two interceptions. Both of those came at Houston. Ryan typically plays solid football, but recently he's been playing great football.

The Falcons have a chance to make a major statement win on Monday night at New Orleans. Even if they don't, don't sleep on the Falcons when the postseason arrives. They're looking good.

New England Patriots (No. 4)

It seemed like the Pats got cold for a couple weeks, but in retrospect their two-game losing streak in late October and early November was nothing to panic about. It was a bump in the road.

Since then, the Pats have won six games in a row, and the only win that wasn't dominant was their victory at Washington in Week 14. All the others were never really in doubt, and the Pats even managed to slay Tim Tebow and the mighty Denver Broncos this past Sunday.

Through it all, Tom Brady has been as brilliant as ever. During New England's win streak, he's tossed 15 touchdowns and just one pick. He's right up there with Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers in terms of passing, and that's high praise this year.

Lastly, the Patriots very quietly grabbed hold of the No. 1 seed in the AFC when the Pittsburgh Steelers lost to the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night. Business as usual.

New Orleans Saints (No. 2)

If you don't already fear the Saints, you should do so now. They've won six games in a row, and they look pretty scary.

As they usually do, the Saints are doing it all with their offense. They're second in the league in scoring, and that's no accident when you take a look at what Drew Brees has done this season. He's on a record-breaking pace, and he hasn't made a mistake in weeks.

We've seen Brees and the Saints offense look this good before. They were this dominant back in 2009, and things ended up going pretty well this year.

The truly scary part is that Brees and the Saints look even better this season. Packers, you've been warned.

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