NFL Playoff Predictions: Wild Card Teams Destined for Playoff Glory

The term "Wild Card" shouldn't even apply to the Pittsburgh Steelers. They obviously go into every season hoping to win the AFC North, but just making the postseason is the ultimate goal. With a quarterback who has been to three Super Bowls in his career—and winning two of them—the Steelers just need to be in the postseason to have a chance.

Pittsburgh, 12-4 in the regular season, is the five seed in the AFC traveling to an 8-8 Denver Broncos team.

The rest of the Wild Cards fit the bill well.

The Atlanta Falcons, the five seed in the NFC, will travel to New York to take on the NFC East-winning Giants.

They've had success during Matt Ryan's three-year career, but they've not fared well outside of the Georgia Dome. Ryan and the Falcons were only 4-4 on the road this season with two of those wins coming against other dome teams.

The Falcons could certainly upend the Giants if they can handle their pass rush, but they'll struggle going any further against Green Bay or San Francisco.

The two six seeds—the Cincinnati Bengals and Detroit Lions—feature young teams and quarterbacks making their first ever postseason starts.

The Bengals will take their show to Houston against a banged-up Texans and could come out with a win. Their defense and hard-nosed style of football could give Baltimore or New England a test in the Divisional Round, but those teams won't be beat by a rookie quarterback in his first postseason.

As for Detroit, it'll be miracle if they come out of New Orleans alive. Matt Stafford and the Lions can score points, but their secondary is going to be decimated by Drew Brees' nearly flawless arm.

If not for Aaron Rodgers' ridiculous season, Brees would be the runaway MVP.

The Falcons and Bengals could get out of the Wild Card Round, but they're not going any farther than that.

The Steelers, on the other hand, are capable of going to their fourth Super Bowl in seven years.

Their defense will smother Tim Tebow and the Broncos run game and Ben Roethlisberger is a different quarterback in the postseason.

As for playing the Ravens, they've beaten them each of the last three times they've met in the postseason. Every trend must come to an end, but the Steelers certainly like their chances going up against their divisional rivals.

They've already manhandled the Patriots once this year as well. Playing in Foxborough is certainly different, but the Steelers have too much veteran leadership to be fazed by a road game in late January.

Ultimately, only one Wild Card has a chance at postseason glory this year and they happen to be the one familiar face we know all too well.