NFL Power Rankings: Who Has the Inside Track To Win the Super Bowl?
Power ranking who has the inside track to the Super Bowl is a great exercise in speculation.
Anything can and does happen in the NFL from week to week. Teams that seem like they only have an outside chance of making the playoffs end up in the Super Bowl, like the 2008 Arizona Cardinals.
Then there's the almost "sure thing," like the New England Patriots or Indianapolis Colts for the last decade.
Remember, we're not saying any of these teams will win the Super Bowl, we're just speculating on how they could win the Super Bowl.
So, click on and join in the fun.
20. Seattle Seahawks
1 of 20
The Seahawks play in the NFC West, therefore they can win the division with a 9-7 record and make the playoffs.
This is about as long of a longshot as you're going to see, but everyone knows anything can happen in the playoffs. If the Seahawks can recover from too many injuries over the last few weeks and get on a hot streak, well, stranger things have happened.
19. Jacksonville Jaguars
2 of 20
The Jaguars find themselves sitting at .500 at the halfway point of the season, so predicting they make the playoffs isn't that far outside the realm of possibility.
David Garrard has flashes of brilliance, and is just good enough to keep the Jaguars in the playoff race and keep the Jaguars from drafting a quarterback high next year.
This team definitely can earn a Wild Card if the Texans falter down the stretch and injuries catch up with the Colts. There's still the Titans to think about, but we're only talking about earning a Wild Card berth.
Once in the playoffs, teams like the Ravens have proved they will have bad days, and the Steelers offense still is looking too much like last year's unit that couldn't sustain itself in December.
Then, it's just a matter of winning the big game.
18. St. Louis Rams
3 of 20
Once again, the NFC West is anybody's division to take, and with the way the Rams are improving, there's no reason to think the Rams won't have a Miami Dolphins "Worst to First" kind of season.
Bradford can handle the pressure of the playoffs, there's no question about that. It's just a question of whether the Rams can handle teams like the Giants when it's win or go home.
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17. San Diego Chargers
4 of 20
The Chargers have done this before. They've been horrible the first half of the season and then stormed through the second half of the campaign to make the playoffs.
The offense is almost unstoppable, and their defensive stats are much better than their record would otherwise indicate.
If the Chargers correct the mistakes that have led to too many losses, making and winning the Super Bowl becomes a relatively easy task for a team with this many weapons.
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
5 of 20
The Buccaneers are one of the bigger surprises of the season, as Josh Freeman really is maturing into a legitimate threat behind center.
Then there's LeGarrette Blount, who proved character issues don't always get in the way of talent, although his career still is very young and he still has a whole lot to prove.
The Buccaneers could very well take charge of the NFC South and ride the wave of fourth quarter comebacks deep into the playoffs.
The Buccaneers only losses were to the Steelers and the Saints, so they win the games they're supposed to win. They are a better team now, though, so if they face either of those teams in the Big Dance, the outcome may not be the same.
15. Oakland Raiders
6 of 20
Who would've thought we'd even be discussing the Raiders and the playoffs at this point in the year?
The Raiders have emerged in the last few weeks with a real offense, a big defense and no clear answer as to where any of this came from.
The good news is the Raiders can use that mystery to their advantage, because the Broncos are out of the playoff race, and there's no telling where the Chiefs or the Chargers will be at the end of the season.
The biggest worry for the Raiders in the playoffs would be running into the New England Patriots because Bill Belichick is the master of taking a team that storms out of nowhere and cutting them off at the knees.
If the Raiders can get past the Patriots, they can outlast anything the NFC has to throw at them.
14. Houston Texans
7 of 20
The Texans have been a very hard team to beat this year, but the Colts got some revenge Monday night for the Week 1 beating they took.
That out of the way, the Texans still have Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson and Arian Foster on offense. This spreads defenses out because they can't shorten the field or leave the running lanes open.
The Texans have proven they can beat the Colts, so they can do it in a third contest, if necessary. The Texans then most likely would have to face an AFC North opponent in the Steelers or Ravens or either the AFC West or East champion.
The Patriots always are a concern, but their defense isn't the unbreakable wall it used to be, and a Super Bowl win would go through there.
13. Philadelphia Eagles
8 of 20
With Michael Vick behind center, anything is possible.
The NFC East most likely will come down to a two-way race between the Eagles and the Giants, and admittedly, the Giants have the edge as we sit here in early November.
But two months from now, things could look very different, and Michael Vick will have a healthy DeSean Jackson to throw to in addition to LeSean McCoy running the ball.
Another Eagles run at the Super Bowl can happen, and Vick is the guy who will lead the way.
12. Green Bay Packers
9 of 20
The Packers have a lot going for them right now. Despite the injuries, they are getting healthier. Clay Matthews already has developed into an elite defender, and the Packers secondary is better than they were a few weeks ago just by virtue of committing fewer penalties.
Aaron Rodgers is the kind of quarterback perfect for a town like Green Bay. He's efficient, doesn't turn the ball over like Favre used to do (and still does in Minnesota) and goes about his business with little regard to his own ego.
The Packers running game isn't what they were hoping it was going to be at the beginning of the season, but Rodgers is the driver of this train, and the Packers match up well against teams like the Falcons and the Giants.
The Super Bowl always is the big question, but Rodgers can go toe-to-toe with Tom Brady, Peyton Manning or Ben Roethlisberger.
11. Miami Dolphins
10 of 20
The Miami Dolphins are the biggest enigma of the 2010 season. This team is so hard to predict, it's maddening.
Right now, the only thing you can lay a bet on is that the Dolphins will lose at home and win on the road, but really, how much longer do you think that trend is going to continue?
Predicting the Dolphins are going to win the Super Bowl is perfectly plausible because they'll get into the postseason, play all the games on the road and keep that perfect road record going.
See, it's just that frustrating.
Still, the Dolphins have real threats in Brandon Marshall, Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown.
The defense ranks in the upper half of the league in most categories, and the Dolphins are constructed to beat the Jets and the Patriots.
If the Dolphins can do that, they can beat the Giants, Packers or Saints.
10. New York Jets
11 of 20
The Jets are slightly less maddening than the Dolphins in that you can predict Mark Sanchez will throw the ball a lot. The question then becomes whether or not anyone catches it.
Head coach Rex Ryan is about as bombastic a coach as the league has ever seen, but he's got this team believing they are a real threat to win it all.
Darrelle Revis, simply, is one of the best in the game right now at what he does, shutting down the pass. With that threat, the Jets can take on any quarterback in the playoff hunt with confidence they'll come out on top.
The Jets already beat the Patriots once this year, so they can do it again. The Steelers probably present the biggest challenge for the Jets in the playoffs because the Steelers can shut down both Sanchez and LaDainian Tomlinson.
If the Jets can get past a team like the Steelers, they can face the Giants or Saints with real confidence of getting a Super Bowl win.
Then there's the Packers, but let's not confuse the issue with facts here. It's safe to say a 9-0 shutout won't happen should these two teams meet again in the Super Bowl.
9. New Orleans Saints
12 of 20
The Saints have the toughest road to the Super Bowl because they're trying to be repeat champions.
Every team they face this year is giving them their best game, and they got upset by the Cleveland Browns a few weeks ago.
However, the Saints have learned from that loss and beat the Steelers last week. Going into the playoffs, the Saints will be at the top of their game and should be able to reach the NFC Championship game through teams like the Seahawks or Falcons to face the Packers or Giants for the Super Bowl.
Once in the Super Bowl, they'll know what to expect, and it's not difficult to see the Saints repeating.
8. Indianapolis Colts
13 of 20
The Colts always are in the Super Bowl discussion because they have Peyton Manning.
The Colts have struggled, relatively speaking, through the first half of the season, losing two divisional games and then losing almost all their offensive weapons to injuries.
However, by the time the postseason rolls around, Dallas Clark and Joseph Addai should be back and healthy again.
Then, it's the Colts/Patriots AFC Championship Game again, and the drama really cranks up.
This year, the Colts have the Patriots number again and Manning doesn't crumble under Bill Belichick's assault.
If they face the Saints for a complete repeat of last year's Super Bowl, they don't make the same mistakes they made last year and pull out the victory, evening the score at one apiece.
7. Atlanta Falcons
14 of 20
Like the Texans, the Falcons have a good quarterback, wide receiver and running back to keep defenses honest and on their toes.
The Falcons have a real chance this weekend to have a statement game versus the Buccaneers, and if they win that, it could be lights out for the rest of the season, as they'll be in control of the division for the next divisional matchup.
Once in the playoffs, the Falcons already have beaten the Saints, and the only real obstacle will be stopping Aaron Rodgers or Eli Manning, as the Falcons pass defense is weak.
But, Matt Ryan can put points on the board, and the Falcons are very capable at shutting down the run.
If the Falcons can fix their secondary and improve the pass defense, they become a threat to the AFC powerhouse offenses like the Chargers, Colts and Texans.
6. Baltimore Ravens
15 of 20
Never count out the ability of Ray Lewis and the Baltimore defense to just shut down an offense and make them wish they never took the field.
The Ravens and Steelers are going to slug it out for the top spot in the AFC again, and the Ravens have a much more potent offense with Anquan Boldin catching passes from Joe Flacco now.
This scenario really all comes down to the Steelers and the Patriots. If the Ravens are able to get through those two teams, nothing the NFC can throw at them is going to make them shake.
If the Ravens make it to the Super Bowl, you can mark it up as another Super Bowl victory.
5. Kansas City Chiefs
16 of 20
The Kansas City Chiefs are one of the big surprises of the 2010 season, so putting them in the Super Bowl just continues that trend.
The Chiefs have one of the best running games in the league, if not arguably the best overall. Between Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones, how do opposing defenses adjust?
Both backs have their own style and their own way of getting through the lanes, so you have to prepare for both. And if you shut down one, the other gets 100 yards.
The ground game can get you to the Super Bowl, especially in some of those cold January fields where passes become toss ups in the wind.
In the Super Bowl, though, Matt Cassel will be expected to step up, as the quarterbacks rule the league right now.
Cassel can do that, and anyone counting the Chiefs out at this point because of last season is being very short-sighted.
4. Tennessee Titans
17 of 20
Let's count the Tennessee Titans offensive weapons: Vince Young, Kerry Collins, Chris Johnson, Kenny Britt (when he comes back), Nate Washington and now Randy Moss.
The Titans defense isn't where it needs to be, but if the Titans win by outscoring all their opponents, do you think any of the Titans fans will care?
The Titans, like the Chargers, win by scoring a lot of points, and the defense's only job is to make sure the team has a chance to win.
The Saints and Giants are the two big threats to the Titans in the Super Bowl with the Packers coming in a close third. All of them have big, strong quarterbacks.
The Titans already have beaten the Giants, so that matchup will be in the air should it come to pass, and don't think the Titans won't do it again.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
18 of 20
The Steelers already have won one Super Bowl with Ben Roethlisberger behind a ticky-tack offensive line, so predicting they'll do it again is no great leap of faith.
The Steelers defense is as good as you're going to find in the league, and Roethlisberger is capable of beating any team in any stadium on any given Sunday.
The Steelers will have to take out the Ravens first, and that won't be easy, but it can be done. Then, there's probably the Colts or the Patriots to deal with and possibly the Chargers or the Titans.
The Steelers already have beaten the Titans and can beat any of the other teams.
The Steelers lost to the Saints last week, but now that they've played the Saints, that works to their advantage. They won't make the same mistakes twice and can get a Super Bowl victory there.
If it's the Giants or Packers, the Steelers match up well and it would be a very good game.
But with Rashard Mendenhall and Hines Ward, the Steelers offensive options are wide, it's just up to the coaches to properly utilize them.
2. New England Patriots
19 of 20
I'll make this one brief.
With the exception of last year, when the Patriots clearly weren't as good as they usually were, and 2008 when Tom Brady went down in Week 1, the Patriots can win the Super Bowl no matter who they have to face on the way there, or whoever they face in the big game.
Bill Belichick wins Super Bowls, and even if it's the Giants, who beat the Patriots the last time the two teams were in the Super Bowl a few years ago, never count the Patriots out.
This is the easiest prediction anyone will make all year.
1. New York Giants
20 of 20
The Giants have come on strong the last few weeks and now look like one of the most dominant forces in the NFL.
Eli Manning is at the top of his game, Ahmad Bradshaw is a powerful runner and Hakeem Knicks already has eight touchdown grabs.
The Giants defense ranks near the top of the league in almost every category, and they tend to destroy opposing teams quarterbacks. (See: Cutler, Jay; Romo, Tony.)
The Giants are quite capable of manhandling the Saints, Buccaneers, Falcons, Packers and any other team thrown their way.
Once in the Super Bowl, they've already beat the Bill Belichick Patriots, and they've already seen and been beaten by the Colts this year, though the advantage would go to New York, who will have plenty of motivation to make sure it doesn't happen again.
The Giants are ranked No. 1 right now for a reason, and their chances of winning the Super Bowl have never been better.
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