NFL Playoff Picture 2012: Teams That Must Step It Up to Make a Postseason Run

The last couple of weeks have really put a wrench in a lot of playoff predictions.

Some of the teams considered to be top contenders have fallen, then skyrocketed, then fallen again. Some of them have been riding a steady downward trajectory. Other former underdogs suddenly look like the best teams in the league.

And only the teams that are able to keep up the good work—or, in other cases, turn it up a few notches—have a shot at deep postseason runs. Here's a look at the teams that really need to step it up.

Baltimore Ravens (9-5)
 

Current Projection: 4th seed, AFC

Baltimore is the team that has undergone perhaps the most drastic transformation over the last several weeks. Up until about Week 12, it looked like one of the top two teams in the AFC, and by a lot. Now, suddenly, its in the midst of a three-game skid that has come at the worst possible time.

Will the Ravens be the 2012 version of the 2011 Jets? Or will Joe Flacco pull his troops together? Unfortunately for Baltimore, it doesn't have any gimmes coming up over the next two weeks. It welcomes the Giants to town for a battle with another team desperate for a W (we'll get to them in a second), and then it travels to face in-the-hunt Cincinnati in Week 17.

The Ravens' defense—usually a source of immense pride—has fallen apart over the last three weeks, allowing 30-plus points in two of them. Last week against Denver, Flacco's offense couldn't get anything going at all until it was already too late. Perhaps the Ravens just looked good for so long because they hadn't been tested. Or perhaps there's still time for them to pull it together.

New York Giants (8-6)
 

Current Projection: 9th seed, NFC

It's hard to criticize the Giants for faltering down the stretch because when it comes to them—and, really, only them—it doesn't seem to matter once the postseason begins. Once January hits, the Giants become a different team.

But if they don't shape up, they're not even going to have a chance to surprise anyone in January.

As it stands, there is a three-way tie atop the NFC East between the Giants, the Redskins and the Cowboys. If all three win out, the Redskins hold the tiebreaker. New York, then, has no choice but to win and hope for a little bit of luck. But coming off an embarrassing 34-0 shutout loss at the hands of Atlanta, winning—especially at Baltimore—isn't going to be easy.

The good news (if you can look at it that way) is that the Giants have been incredibly inconsistent all season. That's good news because one week, they can get blown out, and the next week, they can come back and hang 40 points on their opponent. All hope is not lost—yet—but in order to keep it alive, this offense is going to have to find some way to look alive.

New England Patriots (10-4)
 

Current Projection: 3rd seed, AFC

Yikes, is really all you can say about the Patriots' performance on Sunday night against the San Francisco 49ers.

To the 49ers' credit, no one really gave them a chance in that matchup, despite the fact that they came into it 9-3-1 and in the mix for a first-round bye in the playoffs. Most thought that New England was too dangerous for a visiting team in December, and that the Niners were too soft.

Apparently, not so. That designation, it seems, falls to the Patriots.

One week ago, New England seemed to be the consensus Super Bowl favorite. Now, the Broncos have usurped that role, and the Patriots just look like a defensively-weak team that's been battered by injuries.

New England's D had a tough job on Sunday night—it seemed like it was on the field for the entire first half—but no team is going anywhere in the playoffs if it gives up 425—yes, 425—passing yards to the league's 26th-ranked passing offense.

This is supposed to be the time of year when the Patriots play their best football, but instead, they looked their very worst on Sunday. Their saving grace? They have ample opportunity for tuneups with games against Jacksonville and Miami remaining.

NFC PLAYOFF PICTURE

DIVISION LEADERS
No. 1 Seed Atlanta Falcons (12-2) Clinched NFC South
No. 2 Seed San Francisco 49ers (10-3-1) Lead NFC West; Clinched Playoff Berth
No. 3 Seed Green Bay Packers (9-4) Clinched NFC North
No. 4 Seed Washington Redskins (8-6) Lead NFC East

WILD CARD LEADERS
No. 5 Seed Seattle Seahawks (9-5)
No. 6 Seed Minnesota Vikings (8-6)

IN THE HUNT
Chicago Bears (8-6)
Dallas Cowboys (8-6)
New York Giants (8-6)
St. Louis Rams (6-7-1)
New Orleans Saints (6-8)

AFC PLAYOFF PICTURE

DIVISION LEADERS
No. 1 Seed Houston Texans (12-2) Clinched AFC South
No. 2 Seed Denver Broncos (11-3) Clinched AFC West
No. 3 Seed New England Patriots (10-4) Clinched AFC East
No. 4 Seed Baltimore Ravens (9-5) Lead AFC North; Clinched Playoff Berth

WILD CARD LEADERS
No. 5 Seed Indianapolis Colts (9-5)
No. 6 Seed Cincinnati Bengals (8-6)

IN THE HUNT
Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7)
Miami Dolphins (6-8)

REMAINING SCHEDULE

NFC

Atlanta: vs. Detroit, vs. Chicago

San Francisco: at Seattle, vs. Arizona

Green Bay: vs. Tennessee, at Minnesota

Washington: at Philadelphia, vs. Dallas

Seattle: vs. San Francisco, vs. St. Louis

Minnesota: at Houston, vs. Green Bay

Chicago: at Arizona, vs. Detroit

Dallas: vs. New Orleans, at Washington

New York: at Baltimore, vs. Philadelphia

St. Louis: at Tampa Bay, at Seattle

New Orleans: at Dallas, vs. Carolina

AFC

Houston: vs. Minnesota, at Indianapolis

Denver: vs. Cleveland, vs. Kansas City

New England: at Jacksonville, vs. Miami

Baltimore: vs. New York Giants, at Cincinnati

Indianapolis: at Kansas City, vs. Houston

Cincinnati: at Pittsburgh, vs. Baltimore

Pittsburgh: vs. Cincinnati, vs. Cleveland

Miami: vs. Buffalo, at New England