NFL Predictions: What Does the 2011 Playoff Picture Look Like?

With Week 2 in the books and Week 3 coming up fast, it is time for some early playoff talk.

Some teams like the Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills have exploded out of the gate and surprised us all, while others like the Kansas City Chiefs have failed miserably to live up to their fans' expectations.

The Green Bay Packers still look like the team to beat, but what about the rest of the playoff race?

Teams all over the league are shifting, rising and falling in the standings. Despite having played only two games, we have gotten a good look at the strengths and weaknesses of many NFL teams.

Based on the way these teams have played one another so far, here is an early look at how the playoff picture could turn out for the 2011 NFL season

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NFC No. 1 Seed: NFC North Champion Green Bay Packers

Is there any real question here? The Green Bay Packers have the players, the coaching and the drive to complete another playoff run. Despite an oddly huge performance against them by rookie Cam Newton, Aaron Rodgers and his team look as dangerous as ever.

It doesn't seem likely that the Chicago Bears or Detroit Lions could overtake the defending champions for the division title, and given that they already defeated the New Orleans Saints, it seems likely that the Packers are heading for a first round bye and the NFC's number one seed.

If any team in recent memory has looked like it had a chance to repeat, it is the 2011 Green Bay Packers.

Final Record: 13-3

NFC No. 2 Seed: NFC South Champion New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints look poised to re-take their division crown after falling to the Wild Card in 2010. They have looked solid and streamlined on offense and stout on defense. Losing to the Green Bay Packers by eight points in the season opener at Lambeau Field is nothing to be ashamed of.

They have played far better in their first two games than the division rival and defending NFC South champion Atlanta Falcons, and it should translate into the title for them.

They could find themselves in a re-match with the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship game, in a battle of the conference's top two seeds.

Final Record: 11-5

NFC No. 3 Seed: NFC East Champion Philadelphia Eagles

Despite all of the holes on the Philadelphia Eagles' roster, they still emerge as the favorites to win the NFC East. It won't be in the ''Dream Team" fashion that their fans and players wanted, but they'll limp right on in.

This is only because it is difficult to buy into the Washington Redskins as a legitimate team just yet, despite their 2-0 record. Both the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants are heading for a 9-7 record or worse, if what we have seen is anything to judge by.

The Eagles will win this division, but barely. Their road to the Super Bowl will include three playoff games.

Final Record: 10-6

NFC No. 4 Seed: NFC West Champion San Francisco 49ers

The San Fransisco 49ers will finally find themselves in the playoff hunt this year. Though they failed to dominate the NFC West as they were projected to do in 2010, the division is as weak as ever and they have a chance to do so now.

After soundly defeating the Seattle Seahawks while putting up 33 points (which is no great feat), the 49ers managed to take the Dallas Cowboys to overtime, forcing them to win a nail biter. That in and of itself is a victory for the 49ers, as the Cowboys have been considered a borderline elite team for 2011.

They have been pressuring the quarterback well, racking up six sacks in the first two games. So far they have allowed the fewest rushing yards in the NFL, an admirable fact considering they faced Felix Jones and Marshawn Lynch in back to back weeks.

With a healthy Michael Crabtree, the 49ers possess a formidable group of weapons for beleaguered quarterback Alex Smith. Between Crabtree, Braylon Edwards, Vernon Davis and Ted Ginn, SOMEBODY will catch a few balls this year.

Most importantly, the NFC West can likely be won this year with an 8-8 or 9-7 record. At 1-1, the 49ers are tied for first and playing the best football in the division.

After all, the Arizona Cardinals' one win was against the Carolina Panthers. Expect it to come down to a battle between San Fransisco and the St. Louis Rams

Final Record: 8-8

NFC No. 5 Seed: Wild Card Atlanta Falcons

The defending NFC South Champions and 2010's No. 1 seed in the NFC is looking at a drop off for this year, down to the Wild Card. The Atlanta Falcons have not played very well through their first two games, managing to barely squeak out a win against the Philadelphia Eagles.

However, this is one team that can turn things around. Matt Ryan is a savvy veteran now and the team has not lost any important pieces this year, only gained them. They will right the ship and start winning games the way they did last season, in a decisive fashion.

Dark Horse Contender: Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears already handed the Falcons a loss this season, giving the team even more of a reason to play every game like the playoffs now. If the Falcons and Bears should end up with the same record, the Chicago Bears will take the fifth seed right out from underneath Atlanta in the tiebreaker. However, Chicago has two games with Detroit and Green Bay to get there, so this one is going to the Falcons.

Winner: Atlanta Falcons

Final Record: 11-5

NFC No. 6 Seed: Wild Card Detroit Lions

Disclaimer: This is not jumping on the Detroit Lions' bandwagon, as I wrote back in August that the Lions would be a sleeper playoff contender. They stopped sleeping when they put up 75 points in two games.

The Detroit Lions have arrived and they are for real. Matthew Stafford is playing the best football of any quarterback not named Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers or Drew Brees, and the defense is every bit as vicious and stifling as even the greatest optimist had hoped for.

Teams around the NFL will soon realize that it is futile to run the ball on this team's front seven. Beating them through the air will not be easy, since the aforementioned Stafford is throwing to a litany of offensive weapons that include Calvin Johnson, Nate Burleson and two solid tight ends in Brandon Pettigrew and Tony Scheffler.

This team has juice and they have youth. They are going to be dangerous throughout 2011.

Dark Horse Contender: Chicago Bears

Given that they meet twice, it is possible that the defending NFC North Champion Chicago Bears could challenge the Lions for this Wild Card spot. With both team's schedules, the race for this slot could come down to the wire, with both teams looking at a possible 10-6 record.

Look for them to split the season series and the battle to come down to a tiebreaker, which the Lions will likely win, giving them their first playoff appearance in over a decade.

Winner: Detroit Lions

Final Record: 10-6

AFC No. 1 Seed: AFC East Champion New England Patriots

Yeah yeah, same old stuff again. The New England Patriots are once again storming out of the gate, sweeping aside their opponents as if they were playing against a high school varsity team. Tom Brady has set the record for yards in two games (shocker!) and there doesn't seem to be any weakness on their team that they can't compensate for.

It doesn't matter how many yards their secondary gives up, because their offense will just put up even more. No, the Patriots aren't going 16-0, but they're probably looking at a repeat of last year: being the top seed and exiting the playoffs early.

Final Record: 13-3

AFC No. 2 Seed: AFC South Champion Houston Texans

Even if Peyton Manning had been playing this season, I would still put the Houston Texans as the champions of the AFC South. They finally have the personnel at every position group on the roster and now they have the defensive coaching that they lacked before.

In two games, the new and improved Texan defense has completely and utterly dominated their opposition, allowing a league-best 271 YPG of offense and accumulating five sacks through two games.

Their offense remains a powerhouse, as running back Ben Tate is racking up 100 rushing yards per game in relief of the injured Arian Foster and Matt Schaub to Andre Johnson is still one of the deadliest plays in the NFL.

The Texans will explode into the postseason in 2011 for the franchise's first ever playoff appearance.

Final Record: 11-5

AFC No. 3 Seed: AFC North Champion Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens are dangerous every year for their powerhouse defense, but 2011 is showing a Ravens squad that can play offense as well.

It would be wise to pay more attention to the Ravens' beat down of the Pittsburgh Steelers rather than their fluke loss to the Tennessee Titans. With the pieces they have in place and the level at which they are playing, they are all but guaranteed a playoff appearance.

The ongoing duel for the AFC North continues between the Ravens and Steelers, but 2011 will belong to Baltimore.

Final Record: 11-5

AFC No. 4 Seed: AFC West Champion San Diego Chargers

The San Diego Chargers caught a lucky break this season: The Kansas City Chiefs forgot that the NFL lockout ended.

Without the Chiefs in their way, there really isn't much to stop the Chargers from taking the AFC West. Despite a three way tie at 1-1 between them, the Oakland Raiders and the Denver Broncos, it seems likely that their high powered offense will carry them to the title.

Dark Horse Contender: Oakland Raiders

The Raiders are certainly capable of sneaking up on the Chargers, having swept them in 2010, but their secondary will be a problem against Philip Rivers and Vincent Jackson, as well as their other 2011 opponents.

Don't count the Oakland Raiders out by any means, but it is probably safe to expect the Chargers back in the playoffs this year.

Final Record: 10-6

AFC No. 5 Seed: Wild Card New York Jets

Once again, the New York Jets will finish the regular season with a record worthy of a division title anywhere else in the NFL, only to find the New England Patriots standing in their way. This will be the third straight year of the Mark Sanchez/Rex Ryan era that the Jets will make the playoffs as a Wild Card.

Will Rex Ryan's predictions come true? Is this finally the Jets' year to make the Super Bowl?

Probably not, but Rex has to be doing something right, because they keep winning games.

Is another epic showdown in store between the Pats and Jets for the divisional game? We'll see.

Final Record: 11-5

AFC No. 6 Seed: Wild Card Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers don't mind being the sixth seed. They've been there before and won the Super Bowl. However, they won't be getting their bye week or any kind of home field advantage in the postseason.

The Baltimore Ravens already beat them once this year and are looking like the better team. The road to the division title for them now goes through the Ravens, so they'll be playing three games if they want to be in the Super Bowl for 2011.

Another standard ground-and-pound-to-the-playoffs is in store for Pittsburgh.

Final Record: 10-6