NFL Playoff Scenarios: Division Winners with Reason to Worry

All but two divisions are wrapped up for the 2012 NFL Playoffs.

The Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants play in the NFC East title game on Sunday Night from MetLife, a.k.a Snoopy, Stadium, while the Denver Broncos and Oakland Raiders will settle the AFC West by each playing a division foe.

If the Broncos can hold off scorned quarterback Kyle Orton and the Chiefs, they'll win the West. But if they lose and the Raiders beat the Chargers, Oakland takes the West.

Either way, the AFC West winner is trouble, though.

As for the NFC East winner, they have reason to worry as well but they're not the only ones with problems.

Giants and Cowboys - No. 4 Seed in NFC

Big Blue or Big D will host a Wild Card playoff game against either the Atlanta Falcons or Detroit Lions.

The Cowboys already hosted the Lions this year and let a big lead slip away in early October, but they haven't seen the Falcons.

The Giants haven't seen either team, but would much rather take on the dome-loving Falcons. Although the Lions have play inside as well, they've proven to be more capable outdoors than Matt Ryan and the Falcons.

Whoever wins the NFC East has the potential to be extremely dangerous in the postseason, but both Wild Card teams are capable storming into Jerry World or Snoopy Stadium and upending the division winner.

Broncos and Raiders - No. 4 Seed in AFC

This division doesn't matter as much as the NFC East race. Whichever unlucky soul wins the AFC West will have to play either the Baltimore Ravens or the Pittsburgh Steelers. Kansas City went through this last year when they won the West and they were promptly demolished.

Unfortunately, the same is going to go for this year's winner. Baltimore and Pittsburgh are on a collision course to battle each other in the postseason once again.

Saints and 49ers - Nos. 2 or 3 Seed in NFC

Holding home-field advantage over every team not named Green Bay is huge for both the Saints and the 49ers. The team that falls to the three-seed is going to have to visit the other in the divisional round if they can escape the Wild Card.

Both teams have a huge advantage at home, the Saints more so than anybody else in the playoffs, and whichever one of them has to hit the road at least once until going to Green Bay has reason to worry.

Houston Texans - 3 Seed in AFC

Doomed. For the Texans to actually win a postseason game they're lucky to be in the Wild Card. They could draw the Bengals, Jets, Raiders or even the Titans if all hell breaks loose.

The last team they want to see will be New York because they know all about the playoffs, but otherwise, they stand a chance at home in the Wild Card because of their defense and run game.

When it comes to the divisional round, they're doomed to have to play either Baltimore, Pittsburgh or New England.

Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers - Nos. 1, 2, 3 or 5 Seed in AFC

One team will win the division and the other will be the Wild Card five seed. The division winner can still be the No. 1, No. 2 or No. 3 seed.

These two teams need only fear on thing: each other.

New England Patriots - No. 1 or 2 Seed in AFC

Bill Belichick and Tom Brady haven't won a playoff game since 2007. Their biggest issue is themselves and physical football teams. They'll be able to handle the divisional round easy, as long as it is not the Jets.

The AFC title game, if Baltimore or Pittsburgh, will be one hell of a battle.