NFL Playoff Scenarios Week 13: Who Makes Playoffs And Who Wins Super Bowl?
Tom Kinslow@@TomKinslowFeatured ColumnistNovember 29, 2010NFL Playoff Scenarios Week 13: Who Makes Playoffs And Who Wins Super Bowl?

NFL playoff scenarios Week 13 edition are here.
After yet another Sunday of NFL action, it's time to take a good look at the playoff picture and see who has the inside track to the playoffs.
There's a lot of teams in contention in both leagues. There's going to be some good teams that are left out on the cold when it comes to the playoffs.
It's going to be a wild finish to the season, and I can't wait to see it.
Inside are your division winners, your wild cards and breakdowns of every playoff matchup through the Super Bowl.
Any thoughts? Leave them below, as always.
AFC East: New York Jets

I think the New York Jets are going to win the big battle with the New England Patriots on Monday night next week and go on to win the AFC East.
You can say whatever you want about the Jets barely winning games that they should have won handily.
But a win is a win, and the Jets are one of the top teams in the AFC. It doesn't matter if you win by one or 100.
Mark Sanchez is playing much better than last year. And Rex Ryan will always have that defense ready to go.
AFC West: San Diego Chargers

The San Diego Chargers just keep on rolling as we get deeper into the year.
Philip Rivers and company just demolished Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts and handed them the worst home loss since Peyton Manning joined the Colts. That's quite the number to do to a Manning-led team.
Now we're getting into December, which is Norv Turner's wheelhouse.
Look out for San Diego. I know I wouldn't want to play them down the stretch.
AFC North: Baltimore Ravens

I think that Baltimore will win the big repeat matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers and go on to win the AFC North.
I'm a big fan of this Ravens team. As much as I dislike them from being a Titans fan and going through those AFC Central wars, you have to respect this team.
The Ravens have a good offense. That defense, while not as dominant, will still shut teams down.
The Ravens have the potential to go a long, long way.
AFC South: Indianapolis Colts

It's almost by default at this point, something I never thought I'd say about a Peyton Manning team.
The Colts looked awful last night.
Jacksonville still leads the AFC South despite losing to the Giants. But I think Manning will find a way to will this team into the playoffs, even if it means a first-round exit in the playoffs.
He's just too good not to.
The Titans are hanging around. But they're falling apart, and the same with Houston.
No team with that defense can make the playoffs.
AFC Wild Card: New England Patriots

The Patriots could be the top seed in the AFC, but it's going to come down to next week's game against the Jets.
New England is good, but that defense isn't very good.
It is very young and inexperienced. It will cause a lot of issues for the Patriots not only against the Jets, but down the stretch as New England gets into the final weeks of the year and the playoffs.
New England will be the third seed in the AFC, though.
AFC Wild Card: Pittsburgh Steelers

If you're a Pittsburgh Steelers fan, there's reason for concern.
There have been injuries to an offensive line that was already mediocre, at best. It's had Ben Roethlisberger running for his life.
The Steelers have had some near escapes, especially yesterday when Steve Johnson dropped the game-winning touchdown pass.
The Steelers keep winning. But I'm not so sure this current team is built for success in the postseason.
NFC East: Philadelphia Eagles

Despite the loss to Chicago yesterday, I think the Philadelphia Eagles will go deep into the playoffs this year.
The Eagles beat the Giants and have New York's number. I don't think the Giants are going to catch the Eagles in the NFC East.
Michael Vick has this team playing some of the best football in recent Eagles history.
The defense has struggled, and that's a concern going forward.
NFC West: St. Louis Rams

Someone's going to win the NFC West.
So why not the St. Louis Rams?
Sam Bradford is getting better and better and has the team always playing tough in each and every game they take the field. He's going to be the Rookie of the Year.
Even though Steven Jackson is struggling, he's still a player you have to watch for.
Seattle just gets pummeled so often it's hard for me to bet on the Seahawks.
NFC North: Green Bay Packers

Even though Green Bay lost yesterday to Atlanta, hurting the Packers' playoff hopes, I still think Green Bay finds a way in.
The Packers have to win the final matchup against Chicago to have any hope of winning the division and getting the playoff spot. With teams like Tampa Bay circling in the Wild Card picture, you don't want to rely on a Wild Card spot.
Despite the injuries, I think Green Bay wins the division behind Aaron Rodgers' arm.
NFC South: Atlanta Falcons

Right now, the Atlanta Falcons have the inside track to home-field advantage in the NFC.
That should scare the life out of the rest of the NFC. Matt Ryan is almost unbeatable at home, and he found ways to pull wins out against Baltimore and Green Bay.
The Falcons seem like they just find ways to win, no matter the circumstances.
That 49ers game where Roddy White ripped the ball out of the defense's grasp says it all.
Miracle wins. Don't bet against momentum.
NFC Wild Card: New Orleans Saints

All of this talk about contenders, and there's no love for the New Orleans Saints.
The defending champs barely get any talk. After that slow start, people seem to have written Drew Brees and company off, and they're paying for it.
New Orleans is getting healthy again, and every team in the NFC should take notice.
The Saints will have to battle to get in, but I see it happening.
NFC Wild Card: Chicago Bears

OK, I'm done writing off the Bears after this Sunday's performance.
Jay Cutler played a magnificent game, and the Bears beat an Eagles team that people thought was the best in the NFC. It was a statement game from a team that's been looked over and dismissed for most of the season.
I apologize to all of the Bears fans out there who I offended by calling Chicago frauds.
AFC Wild Card Matchup: San Diego Chargers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

It'll be interesting to see who comes out of this matchup with their Super Bowl hopes intact.
The Chargers will be red hot coming into the game, and the Steelers will be on the road traveling out to San Diego.
Ben Roethlisberger and company are a tough bunch to play late in the season. Despite injuries to key positions, Pittsburgh will be keeping it close.
I think the Steelers pull this one out in the end. I just don't trust Norv Turner.
Prediction
Pittsburgh 24, San Diego 17
AFC Wild Card Matchup: Indianapolis Colts vs. New England Patriots

It's a rematch of a little over a week ago, when Tom Brady and company played host to the Colts and sent them home with a loss.
The Patriots flustered Peyton Manning and picked him off a couple of times, with a late pick deep in their own territory sealing the win for the Patriots.
This game will be at home for the Colts. But the result will be the same.
Indianapolis is just too banged up to hang with the Patriots.
Prediction
New England 31, Indianapolis 27
NFC Wild Card Matchup: Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears

It will be the third meeting of the year between these two teams, and it'll be in Lambeau Field in the winter.
Good luck to Chicago trying to pull it off in that atmosphere. But it should be a classic NFC North showdown between two rivals and two strong-armed quarterbacks in Aaron Rodgers and Jay Cutler.
In the end though, I think the Packers win out.
It will be an impressive rally and a sobering finish to the year for the Bears to go from having the division within reach to being bounced in the playoffs.
Prediction
Green Bay 23, Chicago 17
NFC Wild Card Matchup: St. Louis Rams vs. New Orleans Saints

The St. Louis Rams will have had a great season, going from one of the worst football teams in the league to a division winner.
Sam Bradford will keep this game interesting for a little while. But expect Drew Brees and company to eventually take over and put the game in a chokehold and move on to the next round in some impressive fashion.
The champs will get a chance to play for a spot in the NFC Championship Game.
Prediction
New Orleans 34, St. Louis 13
AFC Divisional Matchup: New York Jets vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

This will be a matchup between two of the top defenses in football.
It won't be for the weak of heart. It's one of those tie your shoes real tight and make sure that chin strap is locked in games.
The hard hits will be coming from the opening kickoff until the final whistle and the game is over.
Look for Mark Sanchez and Rex Ryan to find a way to make plays and get points on the board for a big win and back-to-back trips to the AFC Championship Game.
Prediction
New York 23, Pittsburgh 20
AFC Divisional Matchup: Baltimore Ravens vs. New England Patriots

I feel like we saw this game somewhere before.
Oh we did, last year, when the Ravens pounded the Patriots into the dirt and sent Tom Brady and company packing a little bit earlier than Patriots fans are used to. The Ravens have all of the tools to make it happen, and are even deadlier on offense.
Look for Baltimore to give New England's defense fits.
Prediction
Baltimore 34, New England 23
NFC Divisonal Matchup: Atlanta Falcons vs. New Orleans Saints

It will be the third matchup for the the Falcons and the Saints.
Boy, would it be a dandy to watch.
However, it's hard to bet against Matt Ryan in that dome against anyone. Even the defending Super Bowl champions.
He just always finds ways to win games. Even though Atlanta's defense has been flawed at times, I just believe in Ryan.
It will be a thriller, though, and a game that has the potential to turn into an instant classic.
Prediction
Atlanta 34, New Orleans 31
NFC Divisional Matchup: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Green Bay Packers

A rematch of the first game of the season, I don't think we see the same result.
The Green Bay Packers have fought all year long despite major injuries all over the roster. I think this is the point where it finally becomes too much for Aaron Rodgers and company to handle.
Michael Vick leads the Eagles back to the NFC Championship Game.
Look for Vick to have a monster game like he did in that second half against Green Bay in the first matchup.
Prediction
Philadelphia 24, Green Bay 19
AFC Championship Game: New York Jets vs. Baltimore Ravens

Another Week 1 rematch will feature the Ravens traveling to New York to take on Jets one more time.
Rex Ryan's squad struggled against this former team in the first matchup. While these are two totally different teams, I don't see the results being much different for the Jets this time around.
New York is living on the edge. Sometimes, you just can't pull yourself back from the brink of defeat.
I could be wrong, but I think the Jets have their luck run out here.
Prediction
Baltimore 19, New York 16
NFC Championship Game: Atlanta Falcons vs. Philadelphia Eagles

We've got yet another rematch on our hands.
This time around, I think there is a different result.
Atlanta got worked over by the Eagles and Kevin Kolb the first time the two squads met. I think this time, in that dome, despite Michael Vick's return to the stadium where he made his name, Matt Ryan and company find a way to get the job done.
I think it's going to be a great atmosphere. But that the Falcons head back to the Super Bowl for the first time since their defeat at the hands of the Denver Broncos.
Prediction
Atlanta 34, Philadelphia 28
Super Bowl: Baltimore Ravens vs. Atlanta Falcons

Now this would be a great matchup between two of the best young quarterbacks in the game today.
Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan go toe-to-toe one more time after the controversial end to the first matchup in the Georgia Dome, where Roddy White got away with what looked like offensive pass interference leading to the game-winning touchdown.
However, this time, I think Flacco gets the win for the Ravens and brings a second Super Bowl to Baltimore.
Prediction
Baltimore 29, Atlanta 23