NFL Playoff Picture: 4 Teams with Easiest Paths to a Championship

Just because it's easy doesn't guarantee anything. However, it's better to have the easier road to enhance the shot at a Super Bowl win.

With Week 17 this week, the NFL playoffs are right around the corner.

So, here are four teams (two from each conference) with easy postseason roads to Super Bowl XLVI.

Green Bay Packers (14-1)

In addition to having home-field advantage this postseason, the Packers also have a distinct advantage over every other NFC team that's clinched a playoff berth.

They are an outdoor, cold-weather city franchise.

Now, obviously the New York Giants become included if they beat the Dallas Cowboys in Week 17. However, it still makes life easier for the residents of Titletown.

That being said, you would think a pass-oriented offense wouldn't thrive in bad weather conditions, but since the Packers were able to overcome that hurdle last January (at Philadelphia and at Chicago), home sweet home won't be a problem either.

Also, with teams like New Orleans not known for stellar play on the road (already lost at Green Bay in Week 1) as well as Atlanta and Detroit making it three dome teams, the frozen tundra of Lambeau is to the Packers' advantage.

Green Bay knows how to play well in harsh field/weather conditions, taking home-field advantage to another level.

Pittsburgh Steelers (11-4)

A lot with the Pittsburgh Steelers comes down to whether they'll have to meet the Baltimore Ravens in January. The Ravens have the blueprint for beating Pittsburgh, already besting them twice.

The only concern for Baltimore is whether it can beat Pittsburgh a third time, and possibly twice in The Steel City. So, just in that regard, the odds aren't that much against Blitzburgh.

Elsewhere though, the path is rather cake.

The Denver Broncos have no pass offense and are vulnerable at defending the pass. The Steelers' defense will dominate the Broncos' offense and air it out to force Denver to be down early. Or, if the Steelers play the Raiders, it's virtually the same situation except Oakland is slightly more effective through the air.

Then there's the Houston Texans, who are simply too banged up to compete. Their defense will cause trouble for Pittsburgh's offense, however the Steelers' defense will dominate if the Texans' offense remains one-dimensional.

That leaves us with the New England Patriots. Pittsburgh already beat the Pats once, and the Steelers will have plenty of confidence if they meet again, regardless of the location.

New England's lack of a true WR that can stretch the field creates mismatches that Pittsburgh can capitalize on, as we saw during their regular season game. Tom Brady may have thrown for two TDs and no picks but only 198 yards.

Pittsburgh will outscore New England since the Pats' pass defense has hurt them more than anything.

San Francisco 49ers (12-3)

Not mentioned on the Packers slide were the San Francisco 49ers.

San Francisco is the only team properly equipped to beat the Packers in Green Bay. For one, the Packers' defense is vulnerable against the run, as we saw in their game versus Kansas City.

Green Bay allows almost five yards per rush and running the ball is what separates the 49ers from every other NFC playoff team. They know how to run the ball and run the ball well.

Defensively, the 49ers' front seven has the capability to take over any game.

If one stud pass-rusher such as Tamba Hali from K.C. can get pressure on a QB, the 49ers can do thrice the damage. Rookie Aldon Smith combined with DLs Justin Smith and Ray Edwards will be tough to stop, whether it's New Orleans or Green Bay.

And don't forget about Patrick Willis.

If the 49ers get Frank Gore going and can control the game tempo early on defense, anyone they face is in trouble.

New England Patriots (12-3)

The Pittsburgh Steelers, as mentioned earlier, are the one team the New England Patriots don't want to face.

Other than that, the Pats have a good shot at beating everyone else. The Ravens would be the next threat, as stopping their offense comes down to shutting down RB Ray Rice.

So, stack the box, blitz and play man coverage. New England is worst in zone, so singled up is the Patriots' best option against the Ravens. And blitzing Joe Flacco will force him to make some poor decisions.

Offensively, they will move the ball on Baltimore, because Tom Brady has solid protection and he doesn't make bad decisions. No one on the Ravens defense can account for TE Rob Gronkowski one-on-one, which will make room for Wes Welker and Deion Branch underneath.

Other than Baltimore, the Pats already proved they can stomp on Denver and Oakland, and the Texans won't matter since they're too banged up. Let's put it this way: Regardless of how great Houston's defense is, Tom Brady will still outplay T.J. Yates.

Not to mention, with a win over Buffalo, the Patriots get home-field advantage. And if there's any place that New England would want Pittsburgh, it's at home.

Follow John Rozum on Twitter @ Sportswriter27.