NFL Playoff Predictions: Underrated Teams Most Likely to Make Deep Runs

With the NFL regular season coming to a close on New Year's Day, it is time to start thinking about the playoffs. Specifically, the teams that are in, or will get in, that are not getting the respect that they deserve. 

We see at least one surprise team every year make a run that no one saw coming. It happened last year with the Seattle Seahawks, though I don't know if you can call one win a deep run. 

This year is going to be interesting, because there are so many teams bunched so close together, so anything that you can imagine happening could actually happen. 

Here are three teams that will make surprising playoff runs this year. 

Dallas Cowboys/New York Giants

Either one of these NFC East teams has the potential to win at least two playoff games and play for the right to go to the Super Bowl. 

Of course, they also have the potential to get blown out in the Wild Card Round because they have not shown any kind of consistency this season. 

Both teams feature great quarterbacks who aren't afraid to play under the brightest spotlight. They have countless playmakers on offense, particularly at wide receiver. Their defenses have been suspect at times, but the talent is still there for them to dominate. 

Whoever wins Sunday night's game will have all the confidence in the world as they prepare to host a playoff game next week. 

Detroit Lions

I know that they didn't inspire a lot of confidence this week against the Green Bay Packers, but I look at what they can do on offense, particularly against a team like New Orleans, and think that they can do something in the postseason. 

Calvin Johnson is a monster that can't be stopped by anyone. All that Matthew Stafford has to do, if he wanted to, is throw the ball up to Megatron and let him make a play. 

I can see them winning their first game, then going into San Francisco (if things work out that way) and winning. 

Tennessee Titans

While there is still work that has to be done for the Titans to get in the postseason at the time of this writing, if they are able to sneak in, they are going to be a dangerous out. 

Remember, Matt Hasselbeck was leading the Seahawks in that upset over the New Orleans Saints last year. If they were able to get in as the No. 6 seed, they would take on the Houston Texans, whom they just beat in Week 17 to stay alive. 

If they win that game, they would then go to New England, and as we know, the Patriots don't play defense. In a scenario like that, anyone can win. 

Chris Johnson has bounced back after a terrible start to finish with respectable numbers—986 yards and an average of 4.0 yards per carry. If he can get hot in the playoffs, who knows what this offense will look like.

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