The 12 Teams That Will Make The 2010-2011 NFL Playoffs And Why

As the 2010 season gets underway, what better to predict than who will be playing when the 2010 regular season ends. I predict the six teams from each conference (AFC and NFC) in the order that they will finish.  

Enjoy and leave some comments with your thoughts!

Check out The 3-4 for more NFL Analysis and Predictions

AFC 1st Seed: Indianapolis Colts

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

INDIANAPOLIS - SEPTEMBER 02: Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis Colts watches from the sidelines during the NFL preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 2, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Ge

The Colts are coming off a year when they very easily could have gone 16-0 had they chosen to play their starters in the last two games.. They had locked up the first seed in the AFC and chose to rest their starters. I'm not sure that they can have as much success in the regular season unless their running game improves a bit. The Colts' have Bob Sanders healthy (for now) which will drastically improve their defense and Peyton Manning is a winner.  

AFC 2nd Seed: Baltimore Ravens

Larry French/Getty Images

BALTIMORE - AUGUST 28: Anquan Boldin #81 of the Baltimore Ravens makes a catch during the game against the New York Giants at M&T Bank Stadium on August 28, 2010 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens lead the Giants 17-3. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images

I think the Ravens' addition of Anquan Boldin this offseason was the biggest move of the year. The Ravens have long had a powerful run game and punishing defense. The Ravens now have a quarterback with a rocket for an arm, and adding Boldin is going to take a ton of pressure off of Derrick Mason and another new addition at WR in Donte Stallworth. The Ravens defense will be above average as long as Ray Lewis is in the middle (and perhaps longer). They are huge up front with Haloti Ngata and Rookie Terrence "Mount" Cody.

AFC 3rd Seed: New York Jets

Chris McGrath/Getty Images

NEW YORK - MARCH 16: New York Jets Darrelle Revis poses for a portrait on March 16, 2010 in New York, New York. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

The Jets had one of the flashiest offseasons in recent memory, adding to a team that ran their way to the AFC Championship game. They added the likes of WR Santonio Holmes, CB Antonio Cromartie, RB LaDanian Tomlinson, OLB Jason Taylor and veteran QB Mark Brunell. The Jets' big question mark is at quarterback with Mark Sanchez at the helm. I was really torn between picking the Patriots or the Jets to win the AFC East but I think the Patriots just have too many question marks on defense.

AFC 4th Seed: San Diego Chargers

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

NEW ORLEANS - AUGUST 27: Ryan Mathews #24 of the San Diego Chargers in action against the New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome on August 27, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

The Chargers have the luxury of playing in a very weak AFC West, but they are currently without two former Pro Bowlers in WR Vincent Jackson and LT Marcus McNeill.  The Chargers are expecting huge things from rookie RB Ryan Mathews. They will need some players to step up (cough, Shawne Merriman) on defense if they want to make any moves in January. They need a pass rush, especially with the loss of Antonio Cromartie.

AFC 5th Seed: New England Patriots

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - SEPTEMBER 02: Tom Brady #12 and Rob Gronkowski #87 of the New England Patriots celebrate after teaming up for a first quarter touchdown against the New York Giants on September 2, 2010 at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherfo

Tom Brady is going to have a huge year this year. The young talent that they have at wide receiver and tight end is astounding. Randy Moss and Wes Welker have been Brady's favorite targets in the past but he now has young players such as WRs Brandon Tate, Julian Edelman and rookie TEs Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski. The defense is very inexperienced, however. The pass rush may be a concern with the loss of DE Ty Warren to injured reserve. CB Leigh Bodden is out for the year and three of the four starters in the secondary are in their second or first year. However, Brady will be able to carry them to, at worst, a wild-card spot in the playoffs.

AFC 6th Seed: Houston Texans

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

GLENDALE, AZ - AUGUST 14: Wide receiver Andre Johnson #80 of the Houston Texans catches a 44 yard touchdown reception past Justin Miller #47 of the Arizona Cardinals during preseason NFL game at the University of Phoenix Stadium on August 14, 2010 in Gle

The Texans have been steadily improving since the franchise began in 2002. I think the Texans are ready to take the next step and make the playoffs this year. They have a top five quarterback and arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL, but their running game is a huge concern, especially after the injury to rookie RB Ben Tate. Brian Cushing will be out four games and the loss of CB Dunta Robinson is big, but with Cushing in the lineup the Texans have an elite linebacking corps.

NFC 1st Seed: New Orleans Saints

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

NEW ORLEANS - SEPTEMBER 09: Head coach Sean Payton of the New Orleans Saints looks on against the Minnesota Vikings at Louisiana Superdome on September 9, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

I know this is a bit unfair considering their first game has already happened, but beating the Vikings in week 1 was an enormous win for the Saints. Not only was it a very tough opponent but it was essential for the defending champs to make a statement in week 1. They return almost every starter from a year ago, and the only team I see that could beat them out for the first seed is...

NFC 2nd Seed: Green Bay Packers

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

GREEN BAY, WI - AUGUST 26: Jermichael Finley #88 of the Green Bay Packers signals, along with a referee, a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts during a preseason game at Lambeau Field on August 26, 2010 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Jonathan Dan

Aaron Rodgers has done more than just fill in for Brett Favre the last two seasons and Ryan Grant has run for over 1,200 yards the last two years. The Packers and the Vikings will both win a lot of games in the division playing two games each against the Lions and Bears. In addition to their great offense they have a very solid defense and they should be able to knock off the Vikings for the NFC North title.

NFC 3rd Seed: Dallas Cowboys

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 02: Wide receiver Dez Bryant #88 of the Dallas Cowboys at Cowboys Stadium on September 2, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

The Dallas Cowboys have an incredibly stacked roster, but the NFC East will simply be very competitive this year. The Cowboys will have to play the Eagles, Giants and the much improved Redskins twice each. The Cowboys are definitely the superior team and will win the NFC East but will not finish with a record good enough to earn them a bye week.

NFC 4th Seed: San Francisco 49ers

Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

OAKLAND, CA - AUGUST 28: Frank Gore #21 of the San Francisco 49ers looks on against the Oakland Raiders during an NFL preseason game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on August 28, 2010 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

If the 49ers were in any other division I highly doubt they would be a divisional winner. However, they are in the NFC West with the Seahawks, Cardinals and the Rams.  The 49ers also have Frank Gore, Vernon Davis and Patrick Willis. The three of them singlehandedly give them a chance to win every game in that division.

NFC 5th Seed: MInnesota Vikings

Chris McGrath/Getty Images

MINNEAPOLIS - JANUARY 17: Quarterback Brett Favre #4 of the Minnesota Vikings congratulates wide receiver Sidney Rice #18 on his 45 yard touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys during the fourth quarter of the NFC Divisional Playoff Game at Hubert H. Humphr

The Vikings have the ability to be one of the top wild-card winners in recent years. Two of the top three teams in the NFC are in the division and the winner of this division could come down to a tiebreaker. It doesn't help that they began their season 0-1. Losing Sidney Rice for half of the year is a big blow and Greg Camarillo will need to step up for them to have a shot at the NFC North.

NFC 6th Seed: Atlanta Falcons

Marc Serota/Getty Images

MIAMI - AUGUST 27: Running back Michael Turner #33 of the Atlanta Falcons runs against the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium on August 27, 2010 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)

I think the Eagles, Giants and Redskins will beat up on each other enough that there will be no wild card winner from the division. The Falcons absolutely have the talent to make the playoffs and to make a push. Matt Ryan is a gamer and having targets like Tony Gonzalez and Roddy White with a rushing attack powered by Michael Turner is certainly helpful.