NFL Power Rankings: 4 Teams Gaining the Most Momentum

Week 16 isn't the best time for a team to build momentum if it's already out of the playoff discussion. However, ending strongly can do wonders for a team's morale and bodes well for its chances for a good follow-up season.

Here are four teams that have picked up speed in the waning weeks of the 2011 NFL season, closing with my full, 32-team power rankings for Week 17.

Philadelphia Eagles (7-8)

The Philadelphia Eagles are on just their second win streak of the season, having won their last three games. In those games, they've outscored their opponents 91-36 and have done their part to potentially knock two teams out of the playoffs.

Unfortunately, the Eagles themselves are out of playoff contention with the New York Giants' win over the New York Jets in Week 16. But for a team that entered 2011 as heavy postseason favorites, this late-season push should shore up head coach Andy Reid's job security and sets them up nicely for a strong showing in 2012.

Carolina Panthers (6-9)

Though the Carolina Panthers statistically cannot end their season above .500, six wins is still four better than how they ended their 2010, and they'll only get better in 2012.

Thanks to rookie quarterback Cam Newton, the Panthers' previously-woeful offense is one of the most productive in the league. They're in the top three in terms of rushing yards and are No. 11 in overall passing yards this season.

Newton himself has broken the single-season passing yardage record for a rookie quarterback, with 3,893 thus far, and has the most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in a single season, with 14. He's got a number of talented weapons on offense to assist him, with just their defense acting as a major Achilles heel for the team this year.

However, that defense has shown up in a big way in the last two weeks, holding opponents to just 29 total points in that time while the Panthers have put up 76 point of their own.

While a winning record or a playoff appearance would be a much bigger achievement for the team than simply ending the season with momentum on their side, it's a good sign that, with a few key additions, they'll be a dangerous team in 2012.

New York Giants (8-7)

The New York Giants are just one big win away from snagging the NFC East title and, with it, the division's lone playoff spot. Though their winning streak sits at just one game, that single win (in concert with a Dallas Cowboys loss) should provide the team with enough momentum to win that championship on Sunday night.

The Giants are having yet another up-and-down season that has been marked by another slump in the second half of the year. They went 6-2 through their first eight games but have lost five of their remaining seven and lost control of the divisional lead for a good chunk of the season.

No one thing can be pinpointed when trying to find the cause of this collapse. Ultimately, that means it points to inconsistent play by a number of players on both sides of the ball.

If quarterback Eli Manning is playing well, perhaps his receivers are not. Maybe the defense performs well stopping the run one week but giving up big passing plays as they do it.

Whatever the combination, the Giants are used to this late-season slump; it's how they bounce back from it that matters most. With momentum on their side, they shouldn't have much trouble dispatching the Cowboys in Week 17 and win the NFC East title.

Cincinnati Bengals (9-6)

The Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton isn't the only rookie quarterback having a record-setting year. The Cincinnati Bengals' Andy Dalton has improbably helped lead his team to a 9-6 record, and now they're sitting on the precipice of being the third AFC North team to make the playoffs this season.

The Bengals weren't supposed to amount to much this season, thanks to Dalton's rookie presence under center, a seeming lack of high-caliber receiving targets for him and an inconsistent defense doing the offense little favors.

Instead, Dalton has been spectacular, throwing 3,166 yards, 20 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, with the help of fellow rookie wide receiver A.J. Green. The running game, led by Cedric Benson, has been more than workable and their defense has played well.

Though Cincinnati's playoff destiny isn't in its sole control, the Bengals' two-game win streak and the fact that they have something serious to play for when they take on the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday afternoon should provide them with enough momentum to hold up their end of the deal.

Even if they don't make the postseason, the Bengals have proven a very formidable team in 2011. In 2012, with a few more components and a smart showing in the draft, they could become one of the most fearsome teams in the AFC.

Full 32-Team NFL Power Rankings for Week 17

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

*Subject to change pending outcome of Monday night's Saints-Falcons contest