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

Wild Card Weekend lessons include the following:

1) Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos will continue the most incredible season in NFL history.

2) Drew Brees is virtually unstoppable

3) The Falcons' short yardage offense is putrid

And here's another one:

For all the recent Super Bowl champions who spent the entire season on the road (the 2005 Steelers, 2007 Giants, and 2010 Packers), having a home playoff game still means something: All four home teams won this weekend. 

Next week, a major change up, however. All four of those home winners go on the road to play teams rested and backed by their home crowd. 

So where does everyone rank? 

No. 8: Denver Broncos

Wild Card Result: 29-23 (OT) win over Pittsburgh Steelers

Divisional Opponent: at New England Patriots 

If this were a power ranking for the remaining quarterbacks in the 2011 NFL playoffs, I'd probably take Tim Tebow over the Texans' T.J. Yates: Tebow completed a handful of huge passes against the NFL's top defense. And he has much more experience racked up over the past two years than Yates. 

But in just about every other facet the Broncos lag behind Houston.

Denver's running game--minus Tebow--struggled against Pittsburgh and Willis McGahee nearly fumbled away the game. And although they were facing the Steelers, Denver's defense came up with a little bit of pressure on the last drive of regulation. A second-string running back (Isaac Redman) racked up 121 yards against the Broncos while Ben Roethlisberger hobbled his way to 11 passing first downs. 

Tebow's Broncos found their magic again on Sunday, but they're still the postseason's biggest underdog. 

No. 7: Houston Texans

Wild Card Result: 31-10 win over Cincinnati Bengals

Divisional Opponent: at Baltimore Ravens

I think it's fair to say that the Texans defeated an opponent that was inferior to the opponent that the Broncos defeated. And, as stated in the previous slide, T.J. Yates doesn't have the same command of his offense that Tim Tebow does....or the touched-by-an-angel feel.

But the Texans' awesome, two-headed rushing attack as well as a very impressive defense tip the scale in their favor. 

If nothing else, the Texans do several things well--run, stop the run, pressure the passer, throw the ball to Andre Johnson--while the Broncos have Tim Tebow, a good pass rush, and......?

No. 6: San Francisco 49ers

Wild Card Result: Bye

Divisional Opponent: Home vs. New Orleans Saints

I know this seeding is peculiar for a second-seed and is going to enrage their fans, but I am not convinced about the 49ers just yet. 

Part of that is because they are the only remaining NFC team without a stud under center. Another part of that is because they play in arguably the NFL's worst division. The final part is plain history: it seems that every year one of the top seeds absolutely tanks at home in the divisional round.

But moreso than anything else, it's the makeup of the 49ers. Their modus operandi is to run the ball and play defense, believing that a great defense always beats a great offense. This was a proven, winning NFL formulas for 91 years. But in 2011, that's just not the case. 

In today's NFL, the Packers, Saints, and Giants--with their awesome passing attacks--have a sizable advantage. 

No. 5: Baltimore Ravens

Wild Card Result: Bye

Divisional Opponent: Home vs. Houston Texans

I suppose it's no coincidence that I have the Ravens side-by-side with the 49ers. And not just because they both have head coaches named Harbaugh.

No, it's because they too subscribe to the suddenly archaic NFL strategy: Ray Rice + Defense = Wins. 

But I do think--if absolutely necessary--Baltimore's passing game can step up to make plays consistently. Joe Flacco has far more big-game, playoff experience than Alex Smith and Torrey Smith gives them a deep threat that they sorely need. 

Besides, to win the AFC North--which produced three playoff teams this year--is a huge achievement. 

No. 4: New York Giants

Wild Card Result: 24-2 win over Atlanta Falcons

Divisional Opponent: at Green Bay Packers

I absolutely refuse to buy into the premise that the 2011 Giants are the spitting image of the 2007 Giants team that stunned the world to win Super Bowl XLII. That secondary isn't nearly as strong, and starting with this week's game, the road to the Super Bowl will be much harder. That 2007 Packers team couldn't hold a candle to this year's version. 

Having said that, the Giants do have an truly explosive passing game and they've finally started to run the ball with some consistency. 

And although the comparisons to the entire 2007 team are still far-fetched, comparisons between that year's tremendous front-four and this year's are most certainly apt. Like they did to Tom Brady's undefeated Patriots that evening in Glendale, they are capable of frustrating any monstrous passing game. 

No. 3: New Orleans Saints

Wild Card Result: 45-28 win over Detroit Lions 

Divisional Opponent: at San Francisco 49ers

These are not power rankings of the easiest paths to the Super Bowl: I'm talking simply the best teams here.

If I were discussing difficulty or odds against reaching the Super Bowl, the Saints would probably be lower. They're going on the road this week, and in two weeks they might have to face a team that's playing just its second playoff game, while the Saints are playing their third. 

But because Drew Brees has been so incredible the last two months, and the defense is keeping its head above water--moreso than the Patriots or Packers--they have a shot against anyone they play. 

And if Pierre Thomas and Darren Sproles contribute even half as much as they did in Saturday's win over Detroit, they'll be virtually unstoppable. 

No. 2: New England Patriots

Wild Card Result: Bye

Divisional Opponent: Home vs. Denver Broncos

No team in this year's NFL playoffs is anywhere near flawless. And the Patriots certainly qualify. 

Their pass defense is as bad as any in recent NFL history. And at times that umpteenth-headed rushing attack of BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Danny Woodhead, Stevan Ridley, Kevin Faulk, and whoever else, has been pretty inconsistent: solid one week, very unproductive the next.

But--even more so than the Packers or Saints--they are so balanced in the passing game that I cannot envision them scoring less than 35 points in each playoff game. They have the conference's premier passer, a pair of awesome tight ends, the NFL's leading wide receiver, and a great screen game. 

As the only powerhouse offense in the AFC playoffs, their defensive issues are slightly muted. 

No. 1: Green Bay Packers

Wild Card Result: Bye

Divisional Opponent: Home vs. New York Giants

The matchups or potential mathups ahead--the Giants next week, possibly the Saints the following week, and possibly the Patriots in the Super Bowl--are all a problem for the Packers and their awful pass defense. Each of those teams has the quarterback and pass catchers to ruin Green Bay's dreams of a repeat.

But despite the raw statistics, it's just so hard to count out a defense that has superstars in Charles Woodson and Clay Matthews and just a year ago shone so bright during the NFL playoffs. Something tells me the Packers' defense will step up starting next week. 

Even if it doesn't, however, that offense is so dangerous that they can outscore any team they play.

And the clincher? Aaron Rodgers' mobility, something that Drew Brees, Eli Manning, Tom Brady and the rest of the remaining passers don't have.

No matter how much pressure he sees from the Giants' great front four, the 49ers' great front-seven, or a team in the AFC like Baltimore or Houston, he has an innate ability to avoid it and throw on the run, something he does better than perhaps any quarterback ever.