NFL Playoff Schedule 2012: Teams with Toughest Roads to Super Bowl

The road to the NFL Super Bowl is going to be a tough one for any team in the league, no matter what the circumstances.

Just ask last year's Green Bay Packers.

Even now that only eight teams remain and only two games stand before glory, things don't come close to getting any easier.

And for some teams, it's much harder.

Green Bay Packers

The Packers are staring down two games (assuming they win tomorrow against the Giants) in which most fans will love the upset pick. 

First, the New York Giants are playing terrific football right now. They have been impressive on both sides of the ball and possess a pass-rush that could really give Aaron Rodgers fits. This is not going to be a walk in the park for Green Bay, a team that barely knocked off New York in Week 11.

If they manage to get past the Giants, the Packers likely have the New Orleans Saints (according to the oddsmakers) waiting for them. The Saints rival Green Bay for having the best offense in the league, and that was apparent even in Week 1 as these two teams put forth an entertaining shootout.

But as of late, the Saints have been even better. Despite overall records, the Saints looked like the better team in the last few weeks of the regular season.

The Packers may be the No. 1 seed and have home-field advantage, but they will have to be perfect to get to Indianapolis. 

Houston Texans

The Texans have the unfortunate task of going to Baltimore to play a football game. 

The Ravens are 8-0 at home this year, and while they've been inconsistent at times, they are clearly at their best when they are at M&T Bank Stadium.

Texans fans should probably be nervous about tomorrow's battle.

If they do manage to pull off an upset, the Texans have either the always-dangerous-in-the-playoffs Tom Brady and the No. 1 New England Patriots or the Denver Broncos.

You may scuff at the Broncos being dangerous, but they would be coming off wins against Pittsburgh and New England. 

In Tebow we trust. In Houston we trust less. 

San Francisco 49ers

The Niners have put forth a terrific season and easily have the best defense of any team in the league.

That much is certain.

What isn't certain, however, is what happens when this defense goes up against an elite quarterback and an elite offense. Unfortunately for San Francisco, that's all that's left in the NFC.

They get the white-hot Saints in the Divisional Round, and a win there gets them either Aaron Rodgers or Eli Manning. 

Good luck, San Francisco.

This Week's Playoff Schedule:

New Orleans at San Francisco, Saturday, 4:30 ET, FOX

Denver at New England, Saturday, 8:00 ET, CBS

Houston at Baltimore, Sunday, 1:00 ET, CBS

New York at Green Bay, Sunday, 4:30 ET, FOX