NFL Power Rankings: Resilient Teams That Will Keep Climbing in Week 16

Every one of these teams has experienced struggles in recent weeks. Two of them did win their last game, but that followed a nasty stretch of ugly games. 

Week 16 will be kinder to all three of these teams. As a result, every one of them will be higher after this week's action.

Denver Broncos

Losing to the Patriots is not the end of the world. Their offense is top-notch, and there were times when the Broncos looked quite impressive on Sunday. It was far from the blowout that we saw vs. the Lions in Tebow's second start. 

This week, they go on the road to take on the Buffalo Bills. At the very least, they will make a great step towards clinching the AFC West. It's not at all inconceivable that the division will be clinched by the end of Sunday.

But whatever the other AFC West teams do, the Broncos are going to win on Sunday. The Bills don't have the team to beat them and the Broncos are actually playing good football right now beyond just Tim Tebow.

Detroit Lions

The Lions needed a big win on Sunday, and they got it. They've responded from a losing streak that nearly took them out of the playoffs with a two-game winning streak to bring them back in. The Chargers are hot, but the Lions will step up and end their winning streak. 

This team is now on track to make the playoffs. It's not likely that they will do well once there, but they are going to continue rising into the playoffs. 

The clutch magic that saw from this team early in the season is back. Their line will give Philip Rivers trouble all day, and Calvin Johnson is a matchup nightmare for the San Diego secondary. 

Dallas Cowboys

Every time you think this team is done, they go on a run. When you think they are going to lock things up, they go on inexplicable losing streaks. 

Fortunately, they are playing a team that can be described in an identical way. The Cowboys are playing at home in this one. They will put the Eagles away and if the Giants can't beat the Jets, the NFC East will belong to Dallas.

Despite what happened early in the season, Dallas matches up quite well to the Eagles. They will win this one and move up a few slots going into Week 17.

Michael Dixon's Week 16 NFL Power Rankings

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

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