Cohen's NFL Rankings Through Week 15

This is the time of the year when teams need to begin to play at their best, heading into the postseason. History has shown that playing well in December can translate into playing for Championships in January. Just look at last year's Giants team that got hot in the final two weeks of the regular season and used that momentum to win four straight road games to win the Super Bowl. In other words, anything can happen. Could the same happen for the 8-5-1 Eagles? Or the 9-5 Falcons? Or the 9-5 Patriots? It sure can.

1) Pittsburgh Steelers (11-3): No team is tougher mentally and physically than the Steelers. Pittsburgh's huge comeback victory against the Ravens proved that the Steelers are the best team in the AFC. Now they go down to Tennessee and prove it for real this weekend, with home-field advantage on the line.

2) Carolina Panthers (11-3): No team is hotter than the Panthers. The Panthers have won three straight and six of seven. Early in the season, rookies DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart were the story for the Panthers; now the rest of the offense is catching up. Steve Smith had nine catches for 165 against Denver, giving Carolina a complete offense. They go for home-field advantage in the NFC in a game against the suddenly slumping Giants.

3) Indianapolis Colts (10-4): The Colts are red hot. They have won seven straight and look poised to finish the season 12-4, clearly the most dangerous team in the AFC playoffs. In spite of the 30th ranked rushing game, Peyton Manning has managed to throw for 3,543 yards and 23 touchdowns. The Colts passing attack is ranked sixth in the league, which is remarkable for such a bad ground attack.

4) N.Y. Giants (11-3): They are in big trouble. Not only have the Giants failed to deal with the Plaxico Burress situation, on the field, they have been banged up lately. Brandon Jacobs missed the Cowboys game due to a knee injury and is questionable for Sunday. The offensive line is also beat up, and it showed as Eli Manning was sacked eight times Sunday. It appears the Giants are suddenly going in reverse at the wrong time of the year.

5) Tennessee Titans (12-2): The Titans are showing signs that they are really not that good. Down 13-12 to the Texans, Jeff Fisher decided to put the ball in the hands of Kerry Collins, instead of kicking a winning field goal. Result: Big Mistake. Collins overthrew his intended receiver on fourth down, ending the game. Anytime a team has Collins as its quarterback, and a receiving corps where Justin McCareins is the only big name on the team, it means bad things can happen.

6) Dallas Cowboys (9-5): The Cowboys are really playing well. The Boys defense had eight sacks of Eli Manning on Sunday and has surrendered 20 points only twice in the last five games. Even with Terrell Owens causing so many distractions, the Boys are still in position to make the playoffs.

7) Philadelphia Eagles (8-5-1): The Eagles are starting to take off. After Donovan McNabb's benching in a 36-7 loss to the Ravens in mid November, the Eagles are beginning to figure things out. First, it was a blowout victory against the Cardinals, a gutsy win against the Giants and a laugher against the Browns. If the Eagles win out, they will make the playoffs. The tie they had early in the season will give them an slight advantage over any team that is 10-6.

8) Minnesota Vikings (9-5): The Vikings are starting to catch fire. In fact, behind Carolina, the Vikings are the hottest team in the NFC. They have won four straight, and are poised to win out and finish 11-5. The Vikings even have a shot at the number two seed and bye week, if the Giants lose out. Adrian Peterson has been great this year, leading the league in rushing with 1,581 yards. The quarterback tandem of Tavaris Jackson and Guss Frerotte have been decent this year. In relief of Frerrotte a week ago, Jackson went 11 for 17 for 163 yards and four touchdowns.

9) Miami Dolphins (9-5): Chad Pennington has the Fish on fire. The Dolphins find ways to squeak games out, so, with that, they are in a position to win the AFC East if they win out. The Dolphins have to focus this week against the lowly Kansas City Chiefs; they don't want to get caught looking ahead to the Jets in the season finale.

10) New England Patriots (9-5): In the end, it didn't matter that Tom Brady didn't play this season. You think the Pats would have been better than this if Brady were healthy? Maybe by a game or two, but not by much. Bill Belichick might deserve coach of the year honors more than anyone else for keeping this team focused after its leader went down in week one. Matt Cassel has developed into a legitimate number one quarterback throwing for 3,270 yards and 18 touchdowns. Don't be shocked to see the Patriots in the playoffs in two weeks.