NFL Playoff Picture: 3 Teams That Desperately Need First-Round Bye

First-round byes in the playoffs are always nice, but some teams need them more than others.

Some teams, like the 2010 Green Bay Packers, can breeze through the playoffs without the extra rest and without a home game.

But, then there are teams that need first-round byes for a variety of reasons, whether it's to guarantee a home game or rest some injured players.

Let's take a look at three teams that desperately need a first-round bye in the 2012 NFL Playoffs.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers could really use an extra week off to get Ben Roethlisberger healthy.

Big Ben suffered an ankle injury in the first meeting with the Cleveland Browns, and it's still affecting him.

So, rather than going into the playoffs with a hobbled Big Ben, they'd like an extra week off to relax and get healthier all-around. And with an aging defense, the more rest they get, the better.

Plus, playing in front of the home crowd is never a bad thing.

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens could really use a first-round bye for much different reasons than the Steelers.

A first-round bye means a home playoff game, and the Ravens really need to play at home to be successful in the playoffs.

This season, the Ravens are 8-0 in Baltimore and 3-4 on the road. Clearly, something about Baltimore agrees with this team.

The Ravens need to play in Baltimore, or it'll be another early playoff exit for them.

Also, with the way the offense relies on Ray Rice, getting him an extra week off would be great.

New Orleans Saints

The Saints offense relies on precision, finesse and timing. Those are three things that often disappear in bad weather.

So, the Saints could really use a first-round bye, otherwise they'd find themselves going to San Francisco in the second round.

Though San Francisco isn't the worst place to play in January, the winds are often unpredictable. That could affect Drew Brees and the passing game. 

Playing the game in the Superdome would be a huge advantage for the Saints.