NFL Wild Card Picks: Which Direction Is Each Team Headed?

The 2011-2012 NFL playoffs are about to begin. While teams such as the Green Bay Packers and New England Patriots were able to secure both division titles and home-field advantage, others scrambled throughout the year to secure one of four wild-card spots in the league's second season.

Wild cards winning Super Bowls has gone from rarity with parity—the reigning world champions were the NFC's sixth seed a year ago.

Let's take a look at not only where the National Football League's four Cinderellas are headed this year, but what 2012 may hold for them as well.

Atlanta Falcons

THIS YEAR: At 10-6 the Falcons are a balanced team more than capable of taking care of an erratic New York Giants team on the road, depending on the weather both on the field and inside the G-Men's heads. After that...Lambeau, and done.

NEXT YEAR: Tight end Tony Gonzalez can't play forever and running back Michael Turner is racking up wear, so the window for the Falcons current group may be closing as they play second fiddle to the Saints once again.

Damn you, Drew Brees.

Cincinnati Bengals

THIS YEAR: The Cincinnati Bengals have been one of the most surprising teams in the NFL this season, and it's ironically fitting that rookie quarterback Andy Dalton will get his first playoff win on the road this week, since it's the only way anyone will actually see it.

NEXT YEAR: As badly as I want to say the Bengals have built a foundation for success next year, Bengals fans know just as well how little Mike Brown really cares about winning, especially given the stadium extortion/deal he got.

Detroit Lions

THIS YEAR: The good news is that for the first time in two decades, the Lions are in the playoffs. The bad news is that they have to go to New Orleans and try to stop Drew Brees from throwing for 700 yards.

Might hold him to 350, but the Lions are gonna lose.

NEXT YEAR: There will be holes to fill, and the Packers are still the class of the division, but the Detroit Lions have built a quality football team.

Bask in it, Lions fans. Been a while.

Pittsburgh Steelers

THIS YEAR: Tell Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos about the Pittsburgh Steelers being a wild-card team in May, which should be about how long it takes them to scrub the cleat marks off Timmy's forehead.

Next up...Steelers/Ravens III, which feels like it should be a pay-per-view UFC fight instead of a football game.

NEXT YEAR: They're the Pittsburgh Steelers. I hate them. And yet they are probably the best-run franchise in the NFL. I'm guessing they'll be fine.