NFL Playoff Picture: Super Sleepers That Are Poised to Make a Postseason Splash

Every season a few sleepers shake up the postseason picture by upsetting a higher seed.

The NFL is riddled with parity and we all know anybody can beat anybody else on a given day. That means no team should be discounted in the playoffs, regardless of its seed or regular-season record.

The Packers proved this by winning the Super Bowl last season as the sixth seed in the NFC. I doubt we will see another sixth seed repeat that success this season, but there are several lower seeds that will make some noise in the coming weeks.

These are the scariest sleepers of the 2012 NFL playoffs.

Detroit Lions

With their potent offense and terrifying defensive line, the Lions can beat anybody in the league.

Matthew Stafford has been phenomenal in his third year out of Georgia, finishing in the top five in the league in touchdown passes (41), passing yards (5,038) and completion percentage (63.5).

Calvin Johnson caught 16 of those touchdowns to finish second in the NFL. He also led the league in receiving yards (1,681) and finished fourth in receptions (96).

The Lions have a tough matchup with the Saints in Round 1, but if Ndamukong Suh and Kyle Vanden Bosch can pressure Drew Brees, Detroit will have a great chance.

New York Giants

The Giants won three of their last four games, including a do-or-die matchup against Dallas on Sunday night to sneak into the playoffs.

That's bad news for the rest of the NFC, which will now have to deal with a Super Bowl-tested quarterback in Eli Manning and a fearsome Giants pass rush.

Manning has had another excellent season, breaking his brother's record for most fourth-quarter touchdown passes. He also finished with 4,993 yards, more than other quarterback prior to this season other than Drew Brees and Dan Marino.

Like Detroit, the Giants have a few vicious pass-rushers that can wreak havoc in the backfield. Justin Tuck, Jason Pierre-Paul and Mathias Kiwanuka give quarterbacks hell on the regular.

I doubt we'll see another Super Bowl appearance for New York this season, but with its level of talent and experience, anything can happen.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Regardless of their seeding, the Steelers should be considered title contenders every year as long as they have Ben Roethlisberger and an elite defense.

Big Ben didn't have a great regular season, but he's still got all the talent, toughness and experience necessary to lead Pittsburgh to another championship.

Plus, it's not like he has to do a ton. With that defense, all Roethlisberger has to do is take care of the ball and make a few key plays.

As usual, Pittsburgh has one of the best defensive units in the league. It only gives up 172.2 passing yards per game (first in NFL) and its 15 touchdown passes allowed are tied for second fewest in the league.

The defense also excels at stopping the run, which will be key in the first round when the Steelers take on the Broncos and their league-leading rushing attack. The Steelers allow just 101.7 rushing yards per game and only the 49ers have surrendered fewer touchdowns on the ground.

If they get a few lucky breaks, there could be another championship parade in Pittsburgh this year.

Cincinnati Bengals

I was doubtful about Cincinnati's playoff chances, but it got a perfect draw in the first round when it will take on the injury-riddled Houston Texans.

Andy Dalton will likely struggle against the Texans defense, but he'll fare better than Houston quarterback T.J. Yates.

If the Bengals win, they will face New England in Round 2. They'll probably get blown out by Tom Brady and company, but you never know.

With Dalton and A.J. Green on board, the Bengals are built for the future. However, they will be dangerous in this year's postseason as well.