NFL Playoff Bracket 2012: Teams with Best Shots of Landing in Super Bowl XLVI

After a thrilling Wild Card weekend, there are only eight teams left in the NFL with a shot at making it to Super Bowl XLVI.

The teams playing in the Divisional Round should be proud of their achievement, but this is really where the contenders separate from the pretenders.

Here is a look at the three teams most likely to make it to the promised land, in descending order.

3. New Orleans Saints

The Saints have a tough road to Super Bowl XLVI.  If they make it, though, chances are they will win the whole thing.

The Saints go on the road to play the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round on Saturday, January 14.  If the Saints win that game, they will play the winner of the New York Giants vs. the Green Bay Packers.

I currently love this team. 

Drew Brees just set the NFL record for passing yards in a season, and he threw 46 touchdowns during the 2011-2012 campaign. 

The Saints also headed into Wild Card weekend ranked sixth in rushing yards, due in large part to the offseason acquisition of Darren Sproles, who had 603 yards on 87 carries this season. 

This is a team that truly doesn't need much defense.  In their Wild Card game, the Saints may have given up 28 points to Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions, but they scored 45 points...for the third straight week.

2. Green Bay Packers

The Packers may have given up the third-most passing yards per game this season, but they are still the defending champions, led by quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Like the Saints, the Packers can give up a plethora of points and still win the game.  They gave up 41 points to the Lions in Week 17, but they scored 45 points—and that was with backup quarterback Matt Flynn playing while Rodgers rested.

On top of that, while the Packers' pass defense has given up a lot of yards this season, it has also been very opportunistic, recording a league-leading 31 interceptions (the 49ers and the Patriots ranked second with 23 each).

1. New England Patriots

Keep in mind, I'm not guaranteeing the Patriots will win Super Bowl XLVI. 

But their path to the Super Bowl is the easiest.

While anything is possible at this point for the Denver Broncos, I still think the Patriots will beat them at home behind Tom Brady in the Divisional Round on Saturday, January 14.  The Patriots already beat the Broncos, 41-23, during the regular season.

If the Patriots win on Saturday, they would either face the Houston Texans or the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship Game.  I like their chances against either team: The Texans still have a rookie quarterback under center and the Ravens have been too inconsistent this season. 

Whether they play the Texans or the Ravens, the Patriots have the best shot at reaching Super Bowl XLVI.