DTTWSB Week 6 NFL Power Rankings

This year in the NFL has been difficult to get a finger on who is a contender and who is a pretender. Teams like Minnesota and Dallas have vastly underachieved, while teams like Chicago and Tampa Bay only have one loss so far. Now is the time where teams must separate themselves from the pack. We'll see if that starts to happening this Sunday. Here are the power rankings for the upcoming Week 6 of the NFL.

1. New York Jets (4-1): Each week this team begins to look better and better. Wide receiver Santonio Holmes coming back gives them even another playmaker, as if they didn't have enough. Running back Ladanian Tomlinson has definitely found the fountain of youth. It's a toss up between them and the Steelers as to who is the best in the league, I'm going with the Jets this week.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1): This past week the Steelers had a much-needed bye week so that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger could regain chemistry with those wide receivers. That defense will continue to look good if they can stay healthy. The sky is the limit for this team. The only team that could get in their way are the Jets, but as you saw in my preseason predictions I have the Steelers beating the Jets in the AFC Championship game.

3. Baltimore Ravens (4-1): What's there left to say about the Ravens? They have a great organization and that shows every Sunday when they step onto the field. It's going to be exciting seeing them and Pittsburgh battle for that AFC North division title. If quarterback Joe Flacco can continue to get better and safety Ed Reed comes back 100 percent healthy, this team will be a very tough out come January.

4. Indianapolis Colts (3-2): After the top 3 teams there is a significant drop off. I'm not impressed with this Colts but I couldn't find anyone other than the "Big 3" to put ahead of them. A lot of teams have gaping holes. The Colts defense looked good this past Sunday because they were going up against a terrible Chiefs offense. I don't expect much from this team come playoff time.

5. Atlanta Falcons (4-1): The Falcons are in the exact same place they were last season. We'll see if they can continue to improve or if they'll become complacent. They haven't played tough competition so far. It will be interesting to see how they do against the Eagles if Michael Vick plays.

6. Washington Redskins (3-2): This is the surprise team in this weeks power rankings. If it wasn't for becoming complacent against the Texans in Week 2, this team would be 3-2. The 'Skins are built to beat teams that are not balanced, like Dallas and Green Bay. Quarterback Donovan McNabb and head coach Mike Shanahan will continue to get better chemistry throughout the season.

7. New England Patriots (3-1): It's going to be interesting to see how good the Patriots are without deep threat wide receiver Randy Moss. They picked up wide receiver Deion Branch from the Seattle Seahawks this week but I don't expect him to be a major factor. All the pressure will be on wide receiver Wes Welker and the two rookie tight ends to pick up the production. Let's see if they can do it.

8. Tennessee Titans (3-2): The Titans are a very physical football team. Being tough and physical translates great to the postseason when the weather gets colder. They are an excellent rushing football team because they have the best running back in the league in Chris Johnson. If you fall behind this team, you will struggle stopping them. If you want proof ask the Dallas Cowboys.

9. Green Bay Packers (3-2): I had a feeling the Packers inability to run the football and block up front was going to haunt them. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is a flat out stud but it's hard to throw the ball from your back. Other than running back Brandon Jackson's 70-yard run, the Redskins shut down their running game. They better stack wins in a hurry otherwise the Vikings will be breathing down their neck.

10. Minnesota Vikings (1-3): I think I'm the only person in the country that has the Vikings in his top 10 power rankings. I see way too much talent on this team for them to just go away quietly. They have an early playoff game this Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys, another underachieving team. We saw the potential that this Favre-Moss connection has. If they're in the playoffs, I don't think anyone will want to see them.