NFL Playoff Predictions: 5 Questions That Will Be Answered This Postseason

The following five questions will surely be answered during the 2011 NFL playoffs:

No Defense, No Problem?

If the New England Patriots win on Sunday, the NFL's two worst passing defenses (yardage-wise) will then occupy the No. 1 seed in each conference (the Green Bay Packers are obviously the other in the NFC). Will each team's lack of defense fly in the postseason?

The Packers were a much better defensive team overall last season during their Super Bowl run, and the Patriots have struggled all season on that side of the ball. Are the offenses good enough to compensate? Can the defenses rebound in time to not be a liability? We'll find out in the postseason.

Who's the Real MVP?

The postseason has no effect on the voting for NFL MVP, but it will give us a confirmation on whether or not that choice was correct. Many think Aaron Rodgers, the front-runner for the award, and Drew Brees, who's a close second, will meet up again sometime in the playoffs. And Tom Brady, the consensus third place player, has the opportunity to pass his way to another Super Bowl appearance, likely against some of the NFL's best defenses (Ravens, Steelers, Texans).

One quarterback should get his shot to prove his true MVP worth when it matters most.

Will the Real Alex Smith, Please Stand Up?

49ers quarterback Alex Smith has been great during the regular season, but we all know how different life is in the postseason. For the 49ers to get to the Super Bowl, they'll need him to not only manage the game, but also potentially win one or two.

Can he really go head-to-head with the likes of Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees and Eli Manning—Super Bowl winning quarterbacks—and come away with wins? As good as the 49ers defense is, their playoff hopes ride on the shoulders of Smith.

Is Lambeau Field Still a Home-Field Advantage in January?

The last time the Green Bay Packers walked off Lambeau Field during the postseason, the New York Giants were celebrating a win that propelled them to the Super Bowl. This Packers team is obviously different than the 2007 team, but it will be interesting to see what kind of effect home-field advantage has for the Packers.

Will it slow down Brees and the Saints if they come marching in? Will it be an advantage for the 49ers, who run it well and play suffocating defense, if the weather is poor?

Will Seeding Matter in the AFC?

By my estimation, the AFC has no clear favorite. The Patriots are likely to be the No. 1 seed, but both the Ravens and Steelers are just as much a threat to go to the Super Bowl as New England.

That begs the question, does it even matter where the teams are seeded? Any of the three teams can go on the road to win. Will playing a home game be the deciding factor between three evenly-matched teams?