6 NFL Teams Heading into the Postseason with the Least Positive Momentum

If history has taught us anything, it's that momentum is a key ingredient for teams headed to the NFL postseason.

The lack of momentum can kill a top seed, following their first round bye, and the presence of it can carry a bottom seed through to a Super Bowl.

This year's playoffs feature a few teams that either backed their way into the postseason or simply appear to have peaked too early.

Here goes 2011-12's six teams with the least positive momentum.

6. Baltimore Ravens

Yes, I know the Ravens won their last two games but they have not looked like an elite football club.

Three weeks ago, the Ravens were completely blown out by the San Diego Chargers and struggled to victory over the lowly Cleveland Browns the following week.

A Browns defensive lineman jumped offside late in the fourth quarter, in an obvious hard count situation, to give Baltimore the first down and end the game.

Joe Flacco has been awful the last two weeks, completing just seven passes to wide receivers and throwing for a combined total of 262 yards.

On the positive side, this team finished with a perfect record at home and are guaranteed at least one home game this postseason.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers

It seems like every time the Steelers appear to be OK, another player is struck down by injury. This past week, it was workhorse running back Rashard Mendenhall.

With Mendenhall out and a severely hobbled Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers' offense appears likely to sputter.

Several players on the team's vaunted defensive side of the ball have been limited in practice this week as well.

With their last game against top-level competition (San Francisco 49ers) ending in a lopsided loss, the only positive they have going for them is the team they play in the Wild Card Round.

4. Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions have shown the uncanny ability to create comeback victories, except when it comes against elite competition.

The Lions are 1-5 against teams who made it into the postseason, with their one win coming against the Denver Broncos.

They have looked strong over the last quarter of the season, but ultimately a loss to the Green Bay Packers' JV squad proves once again that the Lions can't compete with the best.

3. Cincinnati Bengals

Like the Lions before them, the Bengals have been terrible against playoff teams this season, going a not so surprising 0-7.

Fans can't be happy that the team failed to show up in a Week 17 game that could have cost them their trip to the playoffs, but they can be happy to have found their quarterback-receiver tandem of the future.

2. Houston Texans

As bad as it is for the Texans to have to rely on their third-string, fifth-round draft pick rookie quarterback for their playoff success, fans are terrified of having Jake Delhomme being the next best option after T.J Yates.

The lingering injury to usual stalwart receiver, Andre Johnson, doesn't bode well for the team's offense either.

Houston's defense has been one of the league's best this season, being ranked first for the majority of the season and finishing second overall.

However, heading into the postseason on a three-game losing streak is by no means a recipe for success.

1. Denver Broncos

Some might say Tim Tebow has regressed over the last few weeks, and perhaps he has, but the defense has fallen apart in a couple of those games as well.

A key factor into why the defense has slackened a bit is that the Broncos have turned the ball over a whopping nine times in their last three games.

Ball security has been key to the team's low-scoring style of play and unless they can get that fixed against the mighty Pittsburgh defense, this postseason trip will be over very soon.