NFL Playoff Predictions: Ranking Likelihood Each Remaining Team Makes It to Indy

The NFC and AFC Championship Games often make for the most intriguing games because they match top teams without the fanfare and hoopla surrounding the Super Bowl.

This year's playoffs produced two fantastic matchups that will determine two tickets to the biggest annual event in sports.

Storylines are numerous.

With another Super Bowl, Tom Brady makes a viable case for being the best quarterback ever.

Joe Flacco is eager to join the company of elite signal-callers.

Alex Smith is making up for lost time in San Francisco.

The streaky, healthy Giants are hot at the right time. 

Who will prevail? In what turns out to be a fancy way of making predictions for the games, here is a handicapping of the four teams heading into this weekend's big tilts. 

1. New England Patriots

The New England Patriots are scariest when they have a chip on their shoulder.

Hype surrounding other quarterbacks such as Tim Tebow and Aaron Rodgers certainly has elevated Tom Brady's game to new levels as of late.

For the first time in his career, he threw for over 5,000 yards in a single season. The Denver Broncos allowed 232 passing yards per game during the regular season. Brady threw for six scores to open the Patriots' playoff run with 363 yards. He could have thrown for eight.

More importantly, Brady wants to be known as the best ever at his position. After this season's performance, he is closer than you think. Add another Super Bowl, and he just might be there. 

Meanwhile, Bill Belichick is tired of hearing about his porous pass defense. He will have his men ready to confuse a shaky Joe Flacco this weekend.

The Patriots play a team in the Baltimore Ravens that seems to be imploding at a crucial juncture. In radio interview on Sirius XM Blitz, Reed said of his quarterback: "Joe was kind of rattled a little bit by that defense. They had a lot of guys in the box on him and they were giving it to him. I think a couple of times he needed to get rid of the ball. It just didn’t look like he had a hold on the offense.’’

According to The Boston Globe, the Ravens are "downplaying Reed's harsh words." 

Either way, the Ravens are in disarray. Conversely, the Patriots are talented and motivated, a recipe for success heading into the AFC Championship. 

2. New York Giants

Eli Manning set out to put his money where his mouth is during the 2011-12 NFL season.

Early in the campaign, Manning stated that he considered himself among the elite behind center in the National Football League.

After throwing for nearly 5,000 yards, winning the NFC East and leading the New York Giants to an NFC title game berth, I'd say he has done just that.

Oh, and he beat Aaron Rodgers to get there.

As a team, the Giants are simply peaking at the right time. A healthy, devastating pass rush and improved run game spearheads a group that is performing well above regular season statistics at this point.

Winning on the road at Lambeau Field is one thing. Holding the potent Green Bay Packers offense to three legitimate points is quite another feat. Without two bogus calls, the Packers would have not reached the end zone against the Giants.

Confidence is riding sky high for Tom Coughlin's squad. The Giants expect to travel cross-country and beat the 49ers.

With their talent and healthy roster, I expect them to do so as well. 

3. San Francisco 49ers

There you have it. My picks for the Super Bowl are the New England Patriots and the New York Giants.

However, the San Francisco 49ers have proven me wrong many times this season. The most recent occurrence being when quarterback Alex Smith drove the 49ers down the field to defeat the New Orleans Saints with 1:37 remaining on the game clock.

I did not think Smith had a game-winning drive like that in him. Don't lie, 49ers fans. Neither did you.

The strength of San Francisco is undoubtedly the defense. The second-best scoring defense during the regular season, the 49ers have a potent front seven led by linebacker Patrick Willis and defensive lineman Justin Smith.

That being said, the 49ers defense came up small in key moments against the Saints. Twice in the last seven minutes the defense came up scoring drives to the Saints offense.

Like the Saints, the Giants have multiple talents at wide receiver to stretch the secondary. The Giants will not be able to run the football effectively. Ultimately, however, their tandem of Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz and Mario Manningham will stretch the defensive secondary and help the Giants to a close win over the Niners. 

4. Baltimore Ravens

Why, Ed Reed...why?

What good can come out of questioning your quarterback's playoff performance a week prior? There is simply no way that Reed's comments bode well for Joe Flacco's mindset going into New England.

Meanwhile, there is no denying the fact that Baltimore's only offense versus the Houston Texans resulted from rookie mistakes made by third-string quarterback T.J. Yates.

If Matt Schaub had started that game, do the Ravens win? Not likely.

Now, the Ravens must face a future Hall of Famer in Tom Brady who has the hot hand. The Ravens will have to produce points, because the tight end duo of Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez will be unstoppable on Sunday.

Ultimately, the chances that the Ravens go into Foxboro and win this contest are slim and none. Given the turmoil surrounding Flacco and a lackluster offense, the Patriots should win this game by double digits.