NFL Playoff Scenarios, Predictions: Who Are the Favorites To Make the Playoffs?

As Week 12 of the NFL regular season comes to a close, speculation, predictions and analysis of which teams will be playing in the postseason are sure to begin soon.

While teams like the New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, Atlanta Falcons and Chicago Bears seem to be in the proverbial driver's seat to the playoffs, there is still plenty of work left for each and every team over the final five weeks of the regular season.

What will the playoff picture look like and what do teams need to do in order to reach the NFL's second season? Find out with this breakdown:

AFC

New England Patriots (9-2)

• Projected record: 13-3
• How they get there: AFC East Champions
• Projected seed: 1
• Projected opponent: 1st-Round Bye
• What they need to do: With wins over Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis and San Diego, it's a pretty easy road for the Patriots. If New England can topple the Jets this week, the AFC East and the No. 1 seed is as good as gold. If the AFC East ends up in the hands of Rex Ryan's Jets, New England is still prime to land in one of the remaining Wild Card spots. Be certain, though, the Bill Belichick and Co. will be just fine with the top seed.

Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3)

• Projected record: 13-3
• How they get there: AFC North Champions
• Projected seed: 2
• Projected opponent: 1st-Round Bye
• What they need to do: As in most sports, success in the NFL postseason depends very much on peaking at the right time. Losses to New Orleans and New England, aside, the Steelers have been flat out dominant since Ben Roethlisberger's return. If not for a 17-14 loss to Baltimore, the Steelers would already have their No. 2 seed locked up. There's still a bit of work to do, but providing Pittsburgh splits the season series with the Ravens, it can easily run the rest the schedule.

San Diego Chargers (6-5)

• Projected record: 11-5
• How they get there: AFC West Champions
• Projected seed: 3
• Projected opponent: No. 6 New York Jets
• What they need to do: Talk about peaking at the right time. It should go as no surprise that the Chargers started slow and are heating up for the playoffs. Yet, there's something mightily impressive about San Diego's current four-game winning streak with wins over Houston, Denver and Indianapolis. With just one team on the Chargers' remaining schedule above. 500, it's smooth sailing for San Diego and it's well-rounded attack.

Jacksonville Jaguars (6-5)

• Projected record: 11-5
• How they get there: AFC South Champions
• Projected seed: 4
• Projected opponent: No. 5 Baltimore
• What they need to do: If the Colts had won their Sunday night game against San Diego, the Jaguars' chances to win the AFC South would have certainly been a bit skinnier. With the Indianapolis loss, however, Jacksonville is in the driver's seat. The Jaguars have what appear to be two tough games remaining --- at Indianapolis and at Houston. That said, they've already beaten both division rivals this season. With the AFC's Wild Card spots all-but locked up by the powerful East and North runners-up, Jacksonville's only realistic shot at the postseason lies in winning the South ---- and the odds are good.

Baltimore Ravens (8-3)

• Projected record: 11-5
• How they get there: No. 1 Wild Card
• Projected seed: 5
• Projected opponent: No. 4 Jacksonville
• What they need to do: For the Ravens, not making the playoffs is truly unlikely. At 8-3 and Cleveland and Cincinnati still on their schedule, the worst they'll finish would be 10-6, which would all but land them them the final Wild Card spot. Winning the AFC's North Division, however, is a task that may not be doable given Pittsburgh's consistent play. All that said, the Ravens simply need to stay out of trouble over the course of the next five weeks. In addition to Cleveland and Cincinnati, the Ravens will face Pittsburgh, Houston and New Orleans.

New York Jets (9-2)

• Projected record: 11-5
• How they get there: No. 2 Wild Card
• Projected seed: 6
• Projected opponent: No. 3 San Diego
• What they need to do: The Jets could likely lose three of their final five games and still make the playoffs. And with New England, Pittsburgh and Chicago still on the slate, they very well may do that. New York needs to avoid the trap games against Miami and Buffalo --- both of which are no walkover. If the Jets can pull off the season sweep of New England, the AFC East is all theirs. Otherwise, the second wild card spot is all but secured.

On the Bubble:

Kansas City Chiefs (7-4)

• Projected record: 10-6
• How they would get there: Wild Card No. 2
• What they need to do: With AFC West rival San Diego peaking at the right time --- again --- the Chiefs' playoff chances are slimming week to week. Given the strong play in the AFC's North and East Divisions, a Wild Card seems unlikely for the runners up in the West. That said, all Kansas City needs to do is beat the Chargers one more time. In Week 1, the Chiefs topped San Diego 21-14.

Indianapolis Colts (6-5)

• Projected record: 10-6
• How they would get there: Wild Card No. 2
• Projected seed: 6
• What they need to do: When you take a step back from their embarrassing Week 12 loss, you realize just how impressive it is that Peyton Manning and the Colts are even in the mix at this late point in the season. Given injuries to nearly every skill position, including Dallas Clark and Joseph Addai, it's a wonder how we're even talking about Indianapolis. Still, two straight losses to sure-fire playoff teams New England and San Diego put the Colts in a tough situation. The solution --- however hard --- is clear: win out. If Indianapolis were to run the table the final five weeks of the season, it would finish 11-5 with a shot at the AFC South crown. Otherwise, the Wild Card will sure be tough to come by given the strength of the Patriots, Steelers, Jets and Ravens.

NFC

Atlanta Falcons (9-2)

• Projected record: 13-3
• How they get there: NFC South Champions
• Projected seed: 1
• Projected opponent: 1st-Round Bye
• What they need to do: Perhaps even more impressive than Matt Ryan's 60-second, game-winning drive in Sunday's win over Green Bay is the Falcons' dominant play over the last month. Winners of five straight, the Falcons haven't lost since mid-October and have defeated worthy opponents. Week 16's bout New Orleans is perhaps the only unknown in what's shaping up to be a spectacular finish for Atlanta. Expect the Falcons to handle their business against Tampa Bay, Carolina, Seattle and Carolina. That Dec. 27 game with the Saints is in Atlanta, where the Falcons rarely lose, so don't be surprised when Atlanta enters the postseason with the best record in all of the land.

Chicago Bears (8-3)

• Projected record: 11-5
• How they get there: NFC North Champions
• Projected seed: 2
• Projected opponent: 1st-Round Bye
• What they need to do: With a tough remaining schedule, the Bears simply need to handle the teams that they should. Games at New England and at the Jets will certainly be tough for the Bears, but Detroit, Minnesota and Green Bay remain on the slate. With one win against Green Bay already, the Bears just need to handle Detroit and Minnesota --- which should come easy. Green Bay's tough road the rest of the way may have already knocked the Packers out of contention.

Philadelphia Eagles (7-4)

• Projected record: 11-5
• How they get there: NFC East Champions
• Projected seed: 3
• Projected opponent: New York Giants
• What they need to do: Despite its loss in Week 12, the Eagles are a legit playoff contender and should win the NFC East. With one win already recorded against its primary divisional contender (New York Giants), the Eagles have a rather easy remainder of the schedule. They'll host Houston, Minnesota and Dallas and play at the Giants and Cowboys. Four wins are not out of the question for Michael Vick and Co.

Seattle Seahawks (5-6)

• Projected record: 8-8
• How they get there: NFC West Champions
• Projected seed: 6
• Projected opponent: No. 5 New Orleans Saints
• What they need to do: We shouldn't be surprised that a team hovering around the .500 mark is likely to win its division as this scenario has happened before and will surely come up again. Still, there is something odd about the potentially 8-8 Seahawks hosting the defending Super Bowl champion Saints on Wild Card Weekend. If Seattle can simply take care of business against Carolina, San Francisco and St. Louis, though, that's the exact situation it will find itself in.

New Orleans Saints (8-3)

• Projected record: 12-4
• How they get there: Wild Card No. 1
• Projected seed: 5
• Projected opponent: No. 4 Seattle Seahawks
• What they need to do: If the Saints were to run the table, I would not be surprised, given their talent and experience in such situations. It will sure be tough, though. Especially with Atlanta and Baltimore left on the schedule. It's a safe bet to chock up wins over Cincinnati, St. Louis and Tampa Bay. But the other two games left on the regular season slate sure do pose a problem if the Saints have eyes on the division. Either way, look for New Orleans to take hold of one of the wild card positions.

New York Giants (7-4)

• Projected record: 11-5
• How they get there: Wild Card No. 2
• Projected seed: 6
• Projected opponent: No. 3 Philadelphia Eagles
• What they need to do: The Giants have two tough matchups left on their schedule: Home vs. Philadelphia and at Green Bay. Having lost already to the Eagles and needing to win at Lambeau Field to finish with more than 10 wins, the Wild Card slot should suit Eli Manning and Co. just fine.

Green Bay Packers (7-4)

• Projected record: 10-6
• How they would get there: Wild Card No. 2
• Projected seed: 6
• What they need to do: The last three weeks of the season are tough for Green Bay. While they may enter the home stretch at 9-4, the Packers must go to New England and face the Giants and Bears. Already with one loss to Chicago, the Wild Card remains the Packers' only viable postseason option given their rugged closing schedule. Wins over San Francisco and Detroit are a must. At that point, one win over the aforementioned powers would keep Green Bay relevant, depending on the outcomes of other Wild Card contenders' schedules.