New England Patriots Playoff Scenarios: Ranking Pats' Top Title Threats

New England Patriots—Super Bowl champions.

This statement rings eternal in the ears of all Patriot fans. For them, the Pats are forever keepers of the Lombardi Trophy—they just let other teams borrow it now and again.

In the eyes of many in Patriot Nation, the Pats are infallible. To these select group of sycophants, Tom Brady is the Kwisatz Haderach and the flawed defense is the Steel Curtain incognito.

Suggesting otherwise means risking being excommunicated from the Church of Patriot Place.

Nevertheless, the road to Indianapolis won't be a police-escorted open lane for the Patriots. There are a few road blocks along the way that the Patriots must navigate.

Granted, some of the Pats' potential playoff opponents are just minor inconveniences—like roadkill on a leisurely Sunday drive through the country—but a few of the other opponents are more like a jackknifed tractor-trailer clogging up the Mass Pike during rush-hour traffic in a Nor'easter.

So—which team ranks as the Patriots' biggest title threat?

7. Houston Texans

There are three fairly benign teams in the AFC playoff field—Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos and Houston Texans. Of the three, the Houston Texans seem the most benign to me. 

Why? T.J. Yates and the lack of firepower on offense.

For a couple of games, Yates looked like the reincarnation of Earl Morrall, leading the Texans to victories over the Cincinnati Bengals and Atlanta Falcons.

Unfortunately for the Texans, they aren't the '72 Miami Dolphins playing in some by-gone era when a backup quarterback and a bruising running game can be instrumental in leading them to a Super Bowl victory.

The Texans have looked vulnerable losing games against the Carolina Panthers and Indianapolis Colts before falling to the Tennessee Titans in a meaningless game. 

Why Pats' fans should lose sleep: The Texans have the fourth-ranked defense in the NFL that might be able to slow down the Pats' offense and a ball-control offense that could play keep away from Brady.

Why Pats' fans should sleep comfortably: With Yates at quarterback, the Texans don't have enough firepower to keep pace with the Patriots' offense.

6. Denver Broncos

If you had predicted that the Denver Broncos would be in the playoffs after being whupped by the Detroit Lions 45-10, you would have been put in a straitjacket and given daily doses of lithium.

However, the Broncos found a way to win with Tim Tebow—begotten, not made—as their quarterback, pulling out six straight victories including two in overtime.

As with all novelties, eventually the luster wears off and reality sets in—mainly, the Broncos have a glorified running back with an inaccurate arm playing quarterback.

The Broncos limped into the post-season—a season-ending three-game losing streak that started with the Patriots ended in a 7-3 snoozefest against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Why Pats' fans should lose sleep: If the Broncos survive the Pittsburgh Steelers, renewed confidence might propel the Broncos on a mini-streak in the playoffs.

Why Pats' fans should sleep comfortably: The Patriots have seen this one-trick pony before and gave it a beat down 41-23 in Week 15.

5. Cincinnati Bengals

Ironically, of the benign teams, the Cincinnati Bengals are the most settled at quarterback.

Rookie Andy Dalton has exceeded expectations and has performed beyond his years. Furthermore, the defense has played well, ranking seventh in total yards allowed per game (316.2) and ninth in points allowed per game (20.2).

Combine that with Cedric Benson—a solid, if not spectacular, running back—and the Bengals could put up a fight with the Pats.

Why Pats' fans should lose sleep: If Benson runs well and Dalton plays mistake-free football, the defense might be able to slow the Pats down just enough to make the game close at the end.

Why Pats' fans should sleep comfortably: After all, these are the Cincinnati Bengals, a team that hasn't won a playoff game since 1990.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers are the walking wounded right now. Ben Roethlisberger has a bum ankle and Rashard Mendenhall is out with a torn ACL.

However, the Steelers are loaded with battle-tested veterans who have played in two of the past three Super Bowls. The defense is one of the best in the league and the offense still has some weapons in Mike Wallace, Antonio Brown and Heath Miller.

Plus, Roethlisberger is no stranger to playing through injury—he led the Steelers to the Super Bowl last season despite having an injured foot.

Why Pats' fans should lose sleep: The Steelers beat the Patriots in the regular season.

Why Pats' fans should sleep comfortably: Even with a healthy Roethlisberger and Mendenhall, the Steelers' offense managed to score only 23 points against the Pats despite having the ball for over 39 minutes.

3. Baltimore Ravens

Of the Pats' possible AFC opponents, the Baltimore Ravens pose the biggest threat.

Offensively, they can pound the ball with Ray Rice who had 1,364 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns during the regular season.

Defensively, they finished third in total yards allowed per game (288.9) and points allowed per game (16.6) 

And the team is not intimidated by playing in Foxboro.

Why Pats' fans should lose sleep: The Ravens have beaten the Steelers (twice), Bengals (twice), San Francisco 49ers and Houston Texans (with Matt Schaub), all playoff teams.

Why Pats' fans should sleep comfortably: The Ravens have lost to the Tennessee Titans, Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars and San Diego Chargers, all non-playoff teams.

Interlude

If the Patriots are able to hoist the Lamar Hunt trophy at the end of the AFC round, they will still have to face a title threat in the Super Bowl—either the New Orleans Saints or the Green Bay Packers.

Which one is the biggest threat?

2. New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints are playing out of their minds offensively.

Against their last six opponents, they have scored 40-plus points on four of them—New York Giants (49), Minnesota Vikings (42), Atlanta Falcons (45) and Carolina Panthers (45).

Statistically, the offense ranks first in the NFL in yards per game (467.1) and second in points per game (34.2).

Drew Brees threw for 5,476 yards (an NFL record) and 46 touchdowns (first in the NFL).

It's quite possible that Brees could throw for a 1,000 yards against the Pats in the Super Bowl.

Why Pats' fans should lose sleep: The roof of Lucas Oil Stadium will probably be closed for the Super Bowl—the Saints are averaging 39.2 points in domed stadiums.

Why Pats' fans should sleep comfortably: The Saints will have to play the NFC championship against the Packers in Green Bay, where the temperature will be zero Kelvin.

1. Green Bay Packers

How good is the Green Bay Packers' offense?

Well, their backup quarterback threw for 480 yards and six touchdowns—both franchise records—last weekend against the Detroit Lions.

The Packers are averaging 35 points per game and have multiple weapons in Jordy Nelson, Greg Jennings, Jermichael Finley, James Jones and Donald Driver.

And, this just in—Aaron Rodgers is good.

In 15 games, he threw for 4,643 yards and 45 touchdown passes.

Why Pats' fans should lose sleep: Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Why Pats' fans should sleep comfortably: The Packers' defense has been almost as rancid as the Pats' defense, so the Pats have hope of winning an 84-77 Arena Football League-type shootout in the Super Bowl.