The Ideal Postseason Path for Each Team in the NFL Playoff Hunt

Following the Seattle Seahawks' 42-13 thrashing of the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night, Week 16 in the NFL is in the books. With only one week remaining, the postseason is really starting to take shape.

The AFC playoff teams are set, with only seeding now up for grabs. The NFC, however, could see a lot of movement in Week 17.

While teams are still in a one-game-at-a-time mode right now, there are obviously certain scenarios or opponents that each would rather see in the playoffs.

Aside from the desire to play at home—which is preferred for every playoff team—let's take a look at each team's ideal path through their conference's postseason tournament.

This article is based on current playoff standings as of Week 16.

Atlanta Falcons

Fresh off their 31-18 victory over the Detroit Lions on Saturday night, the Atlanta Falcons locked up the top seed in the NFC and will not play another game outdoors this season as they have a guaranteed home-field advantage throughout the 2012 postseason.

The Falcons have only played two current playoff teams—both wins over the Denver Broncos and Washington Redskins—so their regular season resume might not be as stout as some of their other potential opponents.

While they can only play the schedule in front of them, the lack of being challenged by other elite teams this season could lend itself to the Falcons wanting to draw less experienced teams in the playoffs.

Single-elimination tournaments are not the time to try to become battle-tested. Atlanta should look for the Minnesota Vikings to knock off the San Francisco 49ers in the opening round.

While the Vikings might feel comfortable playing inside in the Georgia Dome, facing a rookie quarterback in his first playoff appearance on the road would do well for the Falcons.

That would leave either the Green Bay Packers, Washington Redskins or Seattle Seahawks as potential NFC Championship opponents.

All three would enter the postseason on hot streaks and would pose problems for the Falcons. But based on the matchup, it would seem Atlanta would have the best chance against the Redskins—rookie quarterback and much softer defense.

Green Bay Packers

By virtue of the second seed, the Green Bay Packers receive the other first-round bye in the NFC. Their opponent in the divisional round would either be the San Francisco 49ers, Washington Redskins or Seattle Seahawks.

The Packers have four losses on the season, two of which came to the 49ers and Seahawks in the first three weeks.

While the loss to Seattle can be debated—we all remember possibly the worst officiating in the league this season that led to a 14-12 outcome—the Seahawks are a much different team right now.

Though the Redskins defense would be a great matchup for Aaron Rodgers and Co., Robert Griffin III would create problems for the Packers defense all game long. That leaves a rematch with the 49ers as the ideal second-round opponent.

The 49ers are reeling right now, after their 42-13 loss to the Seahawks and almost letting the New England Patriots back into the game the previous week. Second-year quarterback Colin Kaepernick could be the answer long-term for San Francisco, but it might take another season for that to take hold.

Avoiding a road game with the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship would be best for the Packers, so they would be hoping the Minnesota Vikings can somehow make a deep run as the playoff standings currently sit.

San Francisco 49ers

Assuming the San Francisco 49ers take care business against the Minnesota Vikings in the opening round, they would have to travel to Green Bay to take on the Packers in the divisional round.

Although they beat Green Bay in Week 1 by the score of 30-22, it is not an ideal matchup. But San Francisco could be in good position against a Packers offensive line that has allowed 46 sacks on the season.

If Justin Smith is healthy for the playoffs, second-year linebacker Aldon Smith will have plenty of opportunities to get to Rodgers.

This would leave the Atlanta Falcons, Washington Redskins or Seattle Seahawks as potential conference titles foes.

With the Falcons having home-field advantage throughout the playoffs and the Seahawks fresh off their 42-13 win over San Francisco, the Redskins are the 49ers' preference by default it seems. However, Robert Griffin III is matchup nightmare no matter who the opponent is.

Washington Redskins

The Washington Redskins would draw the Seattle Seahawks at home in the opening round if the playoffs started today—a game that could end up being the best matchup that weekend.

Assuming the Redskins get past Russell Wilson and Co., they would draw either the Atlanta Falcons or Green Bay Packers in the divisional round.

While both teams would pose difficult matchups defensively, Washington might be better suited to play a less-experienced—in terms of the postseason—Falcons team. Though things seem different in Atlanta this season, Matt Ryan is still winless in the playoffs.

To get the NFC Championship game at home, the Redskins would need to face the Minnesota Vikings. However, this is actually their best matchup of any other team in the NFC postseason picture.

Washington handled the Vikings back in Week 6 by the score of 38-26. While it may be difficult to beat the same team twice, the Redskins defense should be able to contain Adrian Peterson again, who had just 79 rushing yards in the loss.

Seattle Seahawks

Assuming the Seattle Seahawks beat the Washington Redskins in the opening round, they would have to face either the Atlanta Falcons or the Green Bay Packers.

While the Seahawks were victorious over the Packers in Week 3, their 14-12 win came with much controversy relating to the replacement refs and actually helped expedite the return of the regular NFL referees to the field.

Though the Seahawks are a much different team now, a rematch might not be the best way for this team to advance in the postseason. For that reason, a game against the Falcons is ideal.

The Seahawks are feeling good after their 42-13 over the San Francisco 49ers Sunday night, but would much rather snag a home game with the Minnesota Vikings in a potential NFC title game.

Seattle beat the Vikings by the score of 30-20 back in Week 9 and are 7-0 at home on the season, winning those games by a combined 223-82.

Minnesota Vikings

For the Minnesota Vikings to make a deep playoff run, they will have to do so on the road where they are just 3-5 on the season. However, they have back-to-back road victories over the St. Louis Rams and Houston Texans to close out the season.

Assuming the Vikings beat the San Francisco 49ers in the opening round, they would then take on the Atlanta Falcons—one of the more balanced teams in the NFL.

The remaining opponents that Minnesota could face in a potential NFC championship game would be either the Green Bay Packers, Washington Redskins or Seattle Seahawks. With neither team playing their home games in a dome, the Vikings are at a disadvantage.

The Packers would come in as the most experienced playoff team and the Seahawks are arguably the team that no body wants to play right now, leaving the Redskins as their ideal opponent at this point.

Though Washington was able to beat the Vikings back in Week 6 by the score of 38-26—holding Adrian Peterson to just 79 rushing yards—Minnesota would certainly fair much better in a potential rematch.

Houston Texans

Though still holding on to the AFC's top spot, the Houston Texans are losers of two of their last three games to two playoff-caliber teams (New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings).

Home-field advantage throughout the postseason should help, but this team needs to regain its early-season form if it looks to finally live up to the hype that has accompanied the Texans over the past few seasons.

The Texans would certainly prefer the Cincinnati Bengals to knock out Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in the opening round. While Andy Dalton and A.J. Green pose major matchup issues for Houston, sending the most experienced team packing is ideal in this spot.

As for a potential AFC title game, the Texans will have faced each of the Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens and Indianapolis Colts at some point this season. While they are 3-0 in those games—with one more on the road with the Colts—Houston might lean towards familiarity in this spot.

The Texans throttled the Ravens back in Week 7 by the score of 43-13, but no one expects that to happen again. And the Broncos would enter this game on a potential 13-game winning streak.

Regardless of Week 17's result with Indianapolis, Houston would rather draw the rookie quarterback in a tough road environment here.

Denver Broncos

After their first-round bye, the Denver Broncos would face either the New England Patriots, Baltimore Ravens or Indianapolis Colts in the divisional round.

Who doesn't want a Peyton Manning vs. Andrew Luck playoff matchup? The Broncos would prefer to play the rookie over the two most experienced playoff teams in the AFC field.

Assuming the Broncos beat the Colts, they would much rather have had the Houston Texans knocked out by now to ensure an AFC title game be played in Denver—obviously leaving the Cincinnati Bengals as the opponent.

However, Manning and Co. would enter this game on a 13-game winning streak and probably the favorite over any opponent.

Cornerback Champ Bailey should be able to mitigate A.J. Green's ability to take over the game at the wide receiver position. And with little familiarity in this spot, Andy Dalton might need more experience before it all comes together in Cincinnati.

New England Patriots

As the third seed in the AFC—and assuming they take care of business against the Cincinnati Bengals in the opening round—the New England Patriots would have to travel to Denver to take on the Broncos.

These two teams faced off in Week 5 to a 31-21 result, with the Patriots victorious—which was coincidentally Denver's last loss.

Though this is not the ideal matchup in this spot, Tom Brady and Co. have no choice here.

As for potential AFC title game opponents, the Patriots would draw either the Houston Texans, Baltimore Ravens or Indianapolis Colts.

While Brady would love a second crack at the Ravens—who beat the Patriots 31-30 in Week 3—Baltimore represents the second-most experienced team in the AFC field.

And though New England beat the Texans by the score of 42-14 in Week 14, it is hard to imagine head coach Bill Belichick not wanting to welcome Andrew Luck into the NFL by beating him in the playoffs—especially after stomping his Colts 59-24 earlier in the season.

Baltimore Ravens

Assuming the Baltimore Ravens handle the Indianapolis Colts in the opening round, they would take on either the Houston Texans or Denver Broncos in the divisional round of the AFC playoffs—two teams they lost to earlier in the season.

Based on recent performance—even though the Texans beat them rather handily by the score of 43-13 in Week 7—the Ravens would probably rather draw the least-hot team. With the Broncos possibly having won 11-straight games in this spot, Baltimore should look for a rematch with Houston here.

To get the AFC Championship game at home, the Ravens would have to face the Cincinnati Bengals—a team they would be familiar with by now.

Baltimore beat the Bengals by the score of 44-13 way back in Week 1 and face them on the road in Week 17.

Next week's matchup does not hold too much meaning for either team, so look for a very vanilla game plan from both sides.

Indianapolis Colts

If the Indianapolis Colts beat the Baltimore Ravens they would face either the Houston Texans or Denver Broncos in the divisional round. And though they will have faced—and possibly lost to Houston twice by this time—no body wants to face the Broncos at this point.

While there may be no decent matchup for Indianapolis in the AFC field, that has not mattered much at all this season with Andrew Luck proving that he was indeed worthy of the top pick in the draft.

The Colts' only chance at a home game this postseason is to have the Cincinnati Bengals make a deep playoff run and face them in a potential AFC title game.

Though the Bengals reached the postseason last year, this is the only team that Indy is even close to as it relates to playoff experience.

Cincinnati Bengals

If the Cincinnati Bengals are able to beat the New England Patriots in the opening round of the AFC playoffs, they will have no choice but to face the Houston Texans.

With the Texans reeling recently—and Cincinnati playing well—the Bengals could actually find themselves in a decent spot here.

For a potential AFC title game, Cincinnati would draw either the Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens or the Indianapolis Colts. Not to beat up on the rookie here, but the Bengals would much draw Andrew Luck and the Colts in this spot.

No body wants to face the Peyton Manning-led Broncos right now and the Ravens might be too familiar with the Bengals at this point.

Follow Jeremy on Twitter @KCPopFlyBoy.