NFL Playoff Schedule 2012: Teams with Easiest Road to Conference Championship

Earning the No. 1 seed in the AFC and NFC should be a huge benefit and reward a team with an easy road to the conference championship game and Super Bowl.

In years' past, it hasn’t been that way, with the exception of Super Bowl XXVIII back in 1994 between the Cowboys and Bills, as well as Super Bowl XLIV in 2010 between the Saints and Colts.

While it’s too early to start talking about the big game, these two teams have an easy road to the conference championship game, and it would literally take a miracle not to see them there.

New England Patriots

The Patriots are going to be facing off against the Denver Broncos this weekend, and Tebow’s magic will run out.

It seems that, every year, a team from a bad division backs into the playoffs, like the Seahawks last year, and steals a game at home in front of a desperate crowd.

Now, the Broncos must travel to a frigid New England to try and beat a franchise that whooped on them, 41-23, a few weeks ago.

The odds of that happening are not very likely. Gillette will almost certainly be hosting the AFC championship game.

Green Bay Packers

Are the Packers about to have what amounts to two bye weeks in a row?

The Giants are easily the most overrated team still left in the postseason. They knocked out an awful Atlanta team that needs to blow up and rebuild because they have proven time and time again that they cannot win come playoff time.

It’s going to be a beatdown in Lambeau, and the Packers won’t even let this one get close again, like their 38-35 regular season meeting.

They are simply too talented and too well rested to let that happen.

Remember, the Giants limped into the postseason after losing to the terrible Redskins and getting wins over the awful Jets and pitiful Cowboys.

NFL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE

Saturday, Jan. 14

New Orleans Saints at San Francisco 49ers, 4:30 p.m. EST on FOX

Denver Broncos at New England Patriots, 8:00 p.m. EST on CBS

Sunday, Jan. 15

Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens, 1:00 p.m. EST on CBS

New York Giants at Green Bay Packers, 4:30 p.m. EST on FOX