NFL Playoff Predictions 2011: Which Teams Are Most Likely to Upset?‏
The dust has settled, the schedule is set and the NFL playoff picture is now in full swing heading into next weekend.
With Saturday night quickly approaching, the discussion now shifts to the Wild Card round, kicking off in six days' time when the Indianapolis Colts meet the New York Jets and the New Orleans Saints take a trip to the 7-9 Seattle Seahawks.
However, unlike last season, things aren't quite so clear as far as pre-postseason predictions go.
Who will pull off the typical playoff upset this weekend?
The contenders remain questionable, but after paying close attention to the regular season, anything is possible in the 2010 postseason.
NFC Wild Card: New Orleans Saints at Seattle Seahawks
1 of 10
Upset Possibility: Seattle Seahawks
Reason Why:
The Seahawks were far from convincing on Sunday night against the St. Louis Rams and at 7-9, who knows how far the Pete Carroll freight train will carry them in the month of January.
If there is one thing that Seahawks fans can hang their hat on, though, it is the fact that Seattle holds the benefits of home-field advantage, a factor that played a major part in Carroll's 16-6 win over the Rams in Week 17.
More to the point, quarterback Charlie Whitehurst is also feeling the slightest ounce of confidence flowing through his veins at the moment. Passing for 192 yards and one touchdown this week, Seattle can now rely on Whitehurst to deliver the goods against a strong Saints team, which is ranked fourth in overall defense.
Most folks are choosing to ignore the Seahawks' playoff campaign right now due to their below-.500 record. Fortunately, Carroll is still confident ahead of next week, and maybe, just maybe, the Seahawks can pull off the seemingly unthinkable.
It's a stretch and with the Saints defending their 2009 Super Bowl title, it will be no cakewalk. Still, it's been a while since Seattle has made it this far, so who knows what they have in store for us.
NFC Wild Card: Green Bay Packers at Philadelphia Eagles
2 of 10
Upset Possibility: Green Bay Packers
Reason Why:
Labeled as one of the scariest teams to make it into the postseason, the Green Bay Packers avoided a brief scare against the Chicago Bears this week, knocking off Lovie Smith's men in a 10-3 victory at Lambeau Field.
Aside from the victory itself, though, the Packers managed to take total control over the Bears' starting roster, particularly on offense, as Green Bay's 3-4 scheme recorded two interceptions against Jay Cutler and limited No. 6 to just 168 yards on the day.
Why will they upset the Philadelphia Eagles away at Lincoln Financial Field?
While it is a huge gamble, Green Bay has already been down this path before. In Week 1, the Packers traveled to Philadelphia to face Andy Reid's crew, and although Kevin Kolb was the starter for much of the game, the Packers still managed to record a 27-20 victory to start the season.
Last but not least, the Packers defense is frightening. In the past three weeks, Green Bay has successfully limited Tom Brady, Eli Manning and Jay Cutler to the very bare minimum.
Michael Vick is a totally different ball game, but the Packers have the skill, experience and blitzing ability to seriously test the Eagles main man in his first playoff game since 2004, when he was an Atlanta Falcon.
AFC Wild Card: New York Jets at Indianapolis Colts
3 of 10
Upset Possibility: New York Jets
Reason Why:
Like them or not, the New York Jets simply can't be taken lightly now that they have made the postseason.
In Week 17, Rex Ryan chose to sit the majority of his starting players against the Buffalo Bills, much to the demise of Chan Gailey, who saw his team still fail to record a victory against an already playoff-bound team.
Now the Jets will travel to Indianapolis, in a game that is already shaping up to expose a newfound rivalry between two of the AFC's most potent offensive teams of recent years and, more or less, exercise the scoreboard heavily throughout.
So now the question must be asked, how will the Jets storm into Lucas Oil Stadium and pull off the unthinkable?
One word: defense.
This week against the Tennessee Titans, the Colts struggled to beat a below-.500 team and, ultimately, allowed quarterback Kerry Collins to throw for 300 yards and two touchdowns. More importantly, Indianapolis had to rely on an Adam Vinatieri field goal to earn them a 23-20 victory.
Therefore, Rex Ryan must take advantage of this circumstance. Currently, the Jets are ranked third in overall defense and are phenomenal against both the pass and run.
Yes, this is Peyton Manning we're talking about, but the Colts have looked shaky all year in big games when it comes to AFC bragging rights.
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AFC Wild Card: Baltimore Ravens at Kansas City Chiefs
4 of 10
Upset Possibility: Kansas City Chiefs
Reason Why:
The Chiefs looked dismal in Week 17, slipping up to the Oakland Raiders 31-10 at Arrowhead Stadium, while head coach Todd Haley chose to play quarterback Matt Cassel throughout the game.
Yet as disappointing as this loss was for the Chiefs, Kansas City still finds itself in the playoffs this season after a remarkable year in 2010.
Unfortunately, they do have to face the Baltimore Ravens.
Yes, the Ravens will be taking a trip to Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday night, in a game that is quite possibly the hardest fixture of the Wild Card round to decipher at this point in time, due to the distinct similarities of both teams involved.
Like the Seattle Seahawks, however, the Chiefs do have home-field advantage, a factor that should benefit Kansas City immensely.
As we all know, Arrowhead Stadium is one of the loudest places in all of the NFL, and seeing as though the Chiefs have spent what feels like an eternity outside of January football, you can bet your house that a sea of red will be loud and proud.
Other than that, Kansas City does have the rushing advantage over the Ravens. Ranked first in the league, running back Jamaal Charles should pose a serious threat to John Harbaugh's defense, which is ranked fifth overall.
This should be a tightly-contested game, but one that may act as an upset either way depending on the outcome.
NFC Divisional Round: Green Bay Packers at Atlanta Falcons
5 of 10
Upset Possibility: Green Bay Packers
Reason Why:
If Green Bay does overcome the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card round, they will be placed up against the Atlanta Falcons in one of the NFC's scheduled divisional games.
For those of you that are willing to rewind to Week 12, the Falcons avoided the jaws of defeat by out-muscling the Packers in the fourth quarter to record a game-winning field goal thanks to a clutch Matt Ryan drive.
Forget third time being the charm, because the Packers only need two shots.
After feeling the pressure back in Week 12, Green Bay is now accustomed with the Falcons' game plan. One, don't blitz Matt Ryan. Two, don't trust the special teams. And three, make sure you grant Aaron Rodgers enough time in the pocket.
It's not a favorable scenario for fans right now, but it's one that is a huge possibility in the coming weeks. Experts have labeled Green Bay as a real threat for a reason, and that menacing attack could come into effect if the Packers are to meet the Falcons for the second time this year.
NFC Divisional Round: Seattle Seahawks at Chicago Bears
6 of 10
Upset Possibility: None
Reason Why:
If the Seattle Seahawks found some unbeknown way to take control against the New Orleans Saints in the Wild Card round, their Divisional matchup would be tossed up to the Chicago Bears, with a trip to Soldier Field in hand.
Unfortunately, this is as far as the Seahawks may come though.
For you see, the Bears will be fresh, they will be agile and most importantly, they will return home to a very hostile Chicago crowd that has been waiting for a playoff berth since Jay Cutler took over under center two years ago.
Sure, it is easy to say that an upset chance is feasible for Seattle, but for a fifth year inexperienced quarterback like Charlie Whitehurst isn't favored to overcome Julius Peppers, Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs and the Bears dominating defense.
AFC Divisional Round: Kansas City Chiefs at Pittsburgh Steelers
7 of 10
Upset Possibility: None
Reason Why:
With a win over the Baltimore Ravens early in the Chiefs playoff campaign, their next opponent would likely pop up against the Pittsburgh Steelers, in a tough trip away to Heinz Field in the Divisional round of the postseason.
Excitement?
This game would pack some serious energy.
Unfortunately for all of the Arrowhead faithful, the Chiefs would have to be a strong force to waltz into Pittsburgh and knock off the always-strong Steelers at home.
The run game may be a huge factor for the Chiefs in the Wild Card round, but the Steelers have their own running weapon in Rashard Mendenhall, who could seriously tear the Chiefs' 14th rank rush defense to shreds.
You don't lose to the Oakland Raiders in the last week of the season for no reason, so perhaps the few kinks that remain in the Chiefs game will catch up with them if they are to meet Pittsburgh anytime soon.
AFC Divisional Round: New York Jets at New England Patriots
8 of 10
Upset Possibility: New York Jets
Reason Why:
The defensive game plan of the Jets has already been mentioned earlier. What hasn't been mentioned though, is Rex Ryan's offensive structure that once again finds itself under the spotlight for the second year in a row.
If New York were to pull off an upset over the Colts, then they would most likely wind up head to head with their AFC East division rivals, the New England Patriots.
Is there a chance the Jets can pull out a win in New England?
Of course there is, and here's why.
Firstly, the Jets are of course familiar with New England. After losing one and winning one in 2010, New York will look to bounce back from their poor offensive display in Week 13, that saw the Jets post only a single field goal on the board.
Looking past that, it is also the Mark Sanchez factor that comes into play. This issue could come back to haunt New York, but if Sanchez is to prove to everyone that he is a much improved quarterback, he must take control against the Patriots on one of the biggest playoff stages in his career.
The Patriots are a force for any team this postseason, and the Jets are one team that could possibly take them down. Let's wait and see.
NFC Conference Championship: Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears
9 of 10
Upset Possibility: None
Reason Why:
Some may say that the Green Bay Packers upsetting the Chicago Bears is no major storyline at all. And that is why it is unlikely to happen.
For all of the Packers' explosive passing ways and big time defensive stands this season, Mike McCarthy's run game has taken a serious shot in the leg since Ryan Grant fell injured in Week 1 of the regular season.
Therefore, this factor alone will seriously hurt the Packers in January.
Still, if the Packers do meet the Bears for a spot in the Super Bowl, Green Bay will travel to Chicago, and they will have to overcome a fresh looking Bears side that will be seeking revenge for their Week 17 loss at Lambeau Field.
This game would most likely be snow bound, and most folks in either hometown would love that. Yes, the Packers excel in cold weather, but the Bears could shock the world and make the Super Bowl after all.
Chicago's defense is great, Jay Cutler has shaken off his 2009 interception rust, and even though the wide receiver core is a little fickle at times, the Bears were in this exact same situation in 2006.
Rex Grossman was the quarterback then, but we all know what happened four years ago.
AFC Conference Championship: New York Jets at Pittsburgh Steelers
10 of 10
Upset Possibility: New York Jets
Reason Why:
The Jets are a pick not everyone is willing to back, but the truth remains the same—New York can be a very threatening team when momentum starts to pick up.
In 2009 the Jets only came as far as the AFC Conference Championship, losing out to the Indianapolis Colts 30-17 in an unconvincing manner for head coach Rex Ryan and his entire team to exit the season on.
Fool me once, shame on me, fool me twice, shame on you.
If the Jets are to make it as far as the big dance, they will possibly take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in a game that will once again draw viewers toward a classic AFC clash that only unfolded several weeks ago in the regular season.
Why should you favor the Jets?
Because they pulled off the unthinkable in Pittsburgh just three weeks ago, defeating Ben Roethlisberger and company 22-17 away at Heinz Field.
New York know the recipe to defeat Mike Tomlin's crew, and the Steelers offensive line has looked shaky lately, giving up 10 sacks in the past month against two below-.500 teams in Cincinnati and Carolina.
This is not the scenario you want to see going up against Darrelle Revis and the Jets defense, so as of now, New York stand as upset favorites if this matchup should unfold in three weeks time.
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