NFL Playoff Power Rankings: How Do the Remaining Playoff Teams Stack Up?

It's that time of year again: The 2011 NFL regular season is history and the quest for Super Bowl XLVI is about to begin. 

As we finished up Week 17 this past weekend, we now have a crystal clear picture of the playoffs seeding and where each team lines up. However, playoff seeding doesn't always prove to be accurate, given the No. 1 seeds from both conferences don't make it to the Super Bowl year after year—that hardly happens. 

In that spirit, let's take a better look at the 12 remaining teams and see how they stack up against each other.

Here are my NFL playoff power rankings. 

12. Denver Broncos

How aren't the Denver Broncos the worst team in the playoffs? I mean, they're the only team without a winning record as they finished 2011 at 8-8.

Tim Tebow and the Broncos' magic appears to have run out as they have lost their last three games and have struggled tremendously to score points.

If the Broncos cannot score points, they will not succeed in the playoffs. 

11. Houston Texans

It's hard to believe in a team without a true starting quarterback, as T.J. Yates left Sunday's game with an apparent left shoulder injury. 

However, the Texans do have an elite defense and arguably the NFL's top running back tandem in Arian Foster and Ben Tate. 

If the Texans have to play from behind and overcome a large lead, they're all but done. 

10. Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals definitely took positive strides in 2011 with rookie quarterback Andy Dalton, but they're unlikely to make too much noise in the playoffs.

The Bengals do have a top-tier defense, but the inexperience quarterback and a young offensive attack could be the death of Cincy in the playoffs. 

9. Atlanta Falcons

At times, the 10-6 Atlanta Falcons play like an elite football team, but then there's other times when they're absolutely pathetic.

The Falcons are probably the most inconsistent team in the 2011 playoffs.

However, if Matt Ryan, Michael Turner and the team's offense can score some points, they'll be a very difficult team to beat. 

8. Pittsburgh Steelers

Without Rashard Mendenhall, as he reportedly tore his ACL, I have zero faith in the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Steelers are built around running the ball and then playing off the run with Ben Roethlisberger. I'm sorry, but I don't see Isaac Redman or Mewelde Moore producing at the same level that Mendenhall would.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are definitely in a lot of trouble heading into Wild Card Weekend. 

7. Detroit Lions

If the Detroit Lions face a team that can run the ball effectively, they could be in big trouble as they're No. 23 in the NFL for run defense. 

However, with Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson on offense, they have a dangerous offense that can score a lot of points in a hurry. 

6. New York Giants

Watch out for the New York Giants—they're white hot right now.

The Giants are coming off a huge 31-14 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, which won them the NFC East and ultimately the last playoff spot for the 2011 playoffs.

If Eli Manning can play at his best, the Giants offense could be unstoppable while their pass rush does its job at terrorizing the opposing quarterback. 

The Giants are definitely a force to be reckoned with. 

5. Baltimore Ravens

If Joe Flacco isn't perfect the Baltimore Ravens could lose—that's how much of a liability Flacco is.

Flacco is playing like a rookie right now as he completed a pitiful 57.6 percent of his passes this season while throwing 20 touchdowns compared to 12 interceptions.

Baltimore's defense is pretty damn good, but not good enough to make up for the erratic play of Flacco. 

4. San Francisco 49ers

Jim Harbaugh and the San Francisco 49ers are a team on the rise, but they may not make that much noise in this year's playoffs.

The 49ers may have the NFL's top-rated defense, but their offense is too inconsistent. 

If Alex Smith and San Francisco offense can score some points, they should be able to make a deep playoff run this season. 

3. New England Patriots

The top seed in the AFC will be winning the conference this season—I guarantee it.

Tom Brady is currently playing out of his mind right now as he just finished 2011 with an incredible 5,235 passing yards to go along with 39 touchdowns and an amazing 105.6 quarterback rating.

The only downfall with the New England Patriots is their defense, which is the worst in the NFL. 

2. Green Bay Packers

You may think this is a little bit of the a shocker, but I do not believe the Green Bay Packers are the best team in the NFC anymore. Their defense is just too inconsistent.

However, they can make a lot of noise and reach the Super Bowl if Aaron Rodgers can continue his success into the postseason.

Rodgers finished 2011 with an incredible 122.5 quarterback rating while throwing 45 touchdowns and completing 68.3 percent of his passes. 

1. New Orleans Saints

That's right, the title of "best team in the NFL" goes to the team with the hottest quarterback right now, the New Orleans Saints.

The Saints offense and defense are currently playing a bit better than the Green Bay Packers, so I can only believe they'll win the NFC. 

How will they win the conference? On the back of Drew Brees. 

Brees had a record-breaking 2011 season as he set the record for most passing yards in a single season with a whopping 5,476 yards to go along with 46 touchdowns while completing an unbelievable 71.2 percent of his passes.