NFL Power Rankings: NFL Playoff Participants from Top to Bottom

Well, the time is upon us.  Finally the playoffs have been set in stone and we are merely a month away from crowning the next Super Bowl Champion.  Out of the 12 teams who were able to put together the best 16 games this season, let's see who is a real threat to try and stop the Packers from clutching the Lombardi Trophy for a second straight year.

Cream of the Crop

No. 1: Green Bay Packers (15-1)

After putting together a magical run of 13 straight victories following their miraculous Super Bowl win from the Wild Card spot last year, the Packers will have a vastly different road to the NFL's center stage in Indianapolis.  The road for any Super Bowl hopeful from the NFC will go through Lambeau Field. 

The Packers had only one hiccup this season and that was in Kansas City.  They won't have to play a true road game the rest of the season since the Colts uncharacteristically missed a playoff birth for the first time in ten years—making Lucas Oil Stadium completely neutral.  Following the sloppy loss to the Chiefs, Green Bay bounced back as expected and look as dangerous as ever. 

In the divisional round, they will face either the Lions—who they just beat without Aaron Rodgers, Greg Jennings and many key defensive players en route to over 400 yards passing and six touchdowns from seldom-used backup Matt Flynn—or the Giants-Falcons winner, whom they already beat in New York and Atlanta this season.

No. 2: New Orleans Saints (13-3)

The Saints come marching into the playoffs having won their last eight contests, which matches the Patriots for the longest current winning streak in the league.  The difference for me is that since the Saints last lost to the Rams, they have won four games against potential playoff opponents including the Lions, Giants and Falcons twice. 

They will start out at home against the Lions who they beat in New Orleans—a place they haven't lost all season.  They are coming in with a head of steam, especially after Drew Brees' triumphantly passed of Dan Marino's yardage mark which stood since 1984. 

As always, they are loaded with weapons on the offensive side and Brees has been on point all year after throwing 22 interceptions a year ago.  All those issues seem to be fixed this season: Brees threw for 46 touchdowns to just 14 interceptions.  Having him playing the way he is right now should make the Saints feel pretty confident as they try to erase last season's playoff debacle in Seattle. 

Playing at home this time around will help get them to San Francisco. 

No. 3: New England Patriots (13-3)

The Patriots, also sporting an eight-game win streak, are known for beating opponents in so many different ways.  With veteran quarterback in Tom Brady playing some of the best football of his career and proving to the league he can hurt you with so many different weapons, the Patriots are in good hands. 

They have had trouble stopping opponents for most of the season, which could spell trouble against the upper echelon of the AFC, but after locking up the conferences top seed they have ensured they won't have to face the Steelers—who accounted for one of their three losses—until the AFC Title game.

A divisional round matchup with quarterback-less Houston, rookie-led Cincinnati or Denver—who they already beat handily—shouldn't be too big a problem for Brady and his slew of weapons starting with Rob Gronkowski and his season for the record-books.

No. 4:  Baltimore Ravens (12-4)

The Baltimore Ravens have finally sewn up a home playoff game after years of trying to reach the game's pinnacle from the road.  They will be dangerous in Baltimore where they went unbeaten this year, and will be confident even if they meet the Steelers for a third time. 

The Steelers are easily they best of the Wild Card teams in the AFC, but the Ravens were able to beat their bitter rival twice this season already. 

They also remember beating Bill Belichick's Patriots in the playoffs a couple years back and have to feel pretty good about where they are sitting right now.  They had a few slip-ups this season—including losses to Jacksonville, Seattle and a blow-out to San Diego, but are guaranteed that all-important home game to start their tournament. 

If they remember Ray Rice is a big part of them getting where they are and keep him involved they will be a tough, tough out this January.

Very Dangerous and Lurking

No. 5: Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)

You can never forget about the Steelers come playoff time.  Even with Mendenhall ailing and Roethlisberger on the mend for what seems like an eternity, the Steelers have been here before and know what it takes this time of year.

For the Steelers, it starts again with their defense—which has muddled opponents nearly all season long. They rank No. 1 in opponents passing yards and No. 9 in rushing.  They will see the Broncos in the first round, who appear to have lost their magic behind Tim Tebow, losing three straight contests.

With a savvy, veteran-driven ball club with some young, explosive playmakers such as Antonio Brown and Mike Wallace, you can expect the Steelers to make a splash and try to up-end the Ravens potential three-game sweep in the second week of the tournament.

No. 6:  San Francisco 49ers (13-3)

What a season it has been thus far for Jim Harbaugh's 49ers. 

They won their last three games—including a home win over Pittsburgh to lock up a first-round bye.  Alex Smith has done what most thought he could not: that is, lead a winning team.  There have to be questions in the playoffs though, as this will be his first go-round in this atmosphere. 

The 49ers run the ball well and stop the run extremely well.  They are middle of the run against the pass and saw their only home loss come to an above average passing attack from the Cowboys.  A nightmare scenario would be to catch the Saints in the Divisional round in San Francisco and have this great season be all for nought.

Of course, you cannot discredit what they have been able to do against opponents all season long, and there is the possibility the Lions pull the upset and the 49ers get the Falcons or Giants, who they matchup with much better.

No. 7: New York Giants (9-7)

The Giants make this tier because of what they have done in the past and what they are capable of doing. 

No doubt you could rank them at the very bottom of this playoff list, but after deciding not to show up for the Washington Redskins in Week 15, they have dashed the playoff dreams of two hated rivals: the Jets and Cowboys.

Eli Manning has made some mistakes, but not the 31 he made a season ago.  In fact, if it weren't for Rodgers, Brees and Brady's seasons, we'd be talking a lot more about Manning's 15 fourth-quarter touchdowns

That's a record he set over Johnny Unitas and his brother. 

They are dangerous on the ends on defense and can disrupt the best of quarterbacks behind Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora and the devastating play of second-year Jason Pierre Paul.  They are also dangerous on the outside on offense with Victor Cruz, Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham. 

Anything goes in the playoffs and if the Giants are right mentally, they are a tough out.

Looking to Make a Statement

No. 8: Detroit Lions (10-6)

The Lions really hurt themselves by not beating Packers backup Matt Flynn on Sunday.  Now they'll be facing the daunting task of beating the Saints in New Orleans and the Packers in Green Bay on consecutive weekends to even reach the NFC title game.

They did come through and make the playoffs as many predicted they might, and in doing so had the most comebacks of 13 points or more in NFL history—which makes them very dangerous. Still, the loses of Jahvid Best and Mikel Leshoure really slowed their running game down and their offensive balance has never been the same—despite decent play from previously retired Kevin Smith.

No. 9: Atlanta Falcons (10-6)

The Falcons took a step back this season, mostly due to poor offensive line play, and now will have to play away from the Georgia Dome where they are so good.  Matt Ryan and company certainly remember the brutal home loss they took at the hands of the eventual champion Green Bay Packers, and will look for redemption against the Giants who just snuck in.

Atlanta won all the games they should have down the stretch, but took a drubbing in New Orleans and lost to Houston's third-string quarterback.  They have an awfully talented team, but will need to put it all together to make a serious run at the Lombardi Trophy.  

No. 10: Cincinnati Bengals (9-7)

The Bengals lost to the Ravens on the last week of the season, but thanks to almost everyone else losing, they are in.  Yes, the Bengals behind rookie quarterback Andy Dalton and high-flying rookie receiver A.J. Green are in. 

They seem to have limped into the playoffs—losing five of their last eight as their schedule got tougher.  They do get the Houston Texans in the first round, who will be led by Jake Delhomme if T.J. Yates isn't ready.

In either case, the Texans haven't been the same since losing starter Matt Schuab. 

No. 11: Houston Texans (10-6)

As stated above, the Texans are hurting at the most important position in football, quarterback.  It's hard to count them out entirely with a defense that ranks in the Top Five in both passing and rushing, and a rushing attack that ranks No. 2 behind Arian Foster.

You do think of great quarterback play winning in the playoffs, which has to make Houston fans a little uneasy, but they have the components to win some games if they can put it all together.

No. 12: Denver Broncos (8-8)

Denver seemed to have hit its stride midseason and are now descending from the height of their run behind Tim Tebow. 

Tebow, who has been under a lot of scrutiny when its not praise, has come back down to Earth a tad.  He made the Buffalo Bills look like they were leading the AFC East again, and couldn't muster more than three points against the Chiefs.

It won't get any easier against the Steelers in the Wild Card round.  The Broncos will need the type of play at quarterback that got them six straight wins in November and early December: even if that means only for the fourth quarter. 

Right now they aren't getting good play out of Tebow for any quarters, and that is the recipe for an early dismissal from the dance.