2011 NFL Playoff Predictions: Who Is Destined for Dallas?

The playoff schedule is officially set. Now begins the fun part. Below, you will see a game-by-game prediction, along with a brief explanation of the selection. Some years, you get two favorites in the Super Bowl, like last year's battle between the Saints and Colts.

Other years, an underdog catches fire in January and shocks everyone, like the 2008 Cardinals did when they made it all the way to the Super Bowl. The beauty of January is that everything you have done to this point means absolutely nothing if you have even one off game.

Survive and advance, is a mentality that serves teams well in the post season. That being said, let's take a look at the playoff picture, starting with the AFC.

AFC

Wild Card

6) New York Jets at 3) Indianapolis Colts

The Colts aren't accustomed to taking all 17 weeks of the regular season to clinch. They get home field advantage, as they earned the AFC South title. The Colts have won four in a row and Peyton Manning is back on track. The healthier they get on offense, the more dangerous they become.

The Jets have lost three of their last five games. The offense clicked against Buffalo, but there is a lack of offensive cohesion that is evident. The Jets have been involved in close games against bad teams ever since they hit the bye week. It is doubtful they will make it past this round, but if they do, it won't take long for them to have a set back. The Jets aren't consistent enough to survive in the post season.

Winner: 3) Indianapolis Colts

5) Baltimore Ravens at 4) Kansas City Chiefs

Up until this week, the Chiefs were undefeated at home. Kansas City has the best rushing attack in the entire NFL. Having a solid ground game is one of the easiest ways to make it through the post season. Chiefs fans have missed the playoffs dearly and it is nice to see them get a home game in the first round.

The Ravens have been through the ringer. The Ravens have been involved in close games all season long. When you look at the Chiefs, it is hard to get past the fact that they haven't really beaten anybody worth mentioning. The only team the Chiefs beat this season that is still alive is the winner of the worst division in football, the NFC West. The Ravens have been here before and playoff experience will come into play here.

Winner: 5) Baltimore Ravens

AFC Divisional Playoff

3) Indianapolis Colts at 2) Pittsburgh Steelers

The Colts actually match up well against the Steelers. Nobody can run on the Steelers, but the Colts center their entire offense around the passing game. The Steelers are a solid defense all the way around, but are most vulnerable in their secondary, outside of Troy Polamalu. 

The Steelers have a ferocious defense, but the difference in this one is going to be the run game. The Colts can't stop the run to save their lives and the Steelers have a great young back in Rashard Mendenhall. This has been an off year for Manning and the Colts. Fittingly, their season is going to end prematurely.

Winner: 2) Pittsburgh Steelers

5) Baltimore Ravens at 1) New England Patriots

This is a rematch of a battle that went into overtime in Week 6. Tom Brady threw two interceptions in the game and the Patriots squeaked to a victory. They are now playing their best football and have won eight straight. They have made a habit of blowing teams out, which is somewhat surprising because they do not have many household names on their roster.

The Ravens have to get pressure on Brady. The last time they faced him, they were aggressive and Brady made mistakes that nearly cost him the game. The Patriots have a week to rest, but that is not necessarily going to work in their favor, as Brady may have been shaken from one of the best stretches by a quarterback in NFL history. I just can't pick the Patriots to lose in their first playoff game of the season. They are playing far too well to get bounced out by the Ravens in Foxboro, where they have yet to lose a game this season.

Winner: 1) New England Patriots

Conference Championship

2) Pittsburgh Steelers at 1) New England Patriots  

Should this be the matchup, these teams would have made it here in completely different ways. The Patriots are a pass happy offense who relies on the run game as a change of pace. The Steelers lead a balanced offense, but a solid run game is the horse that drives the carriage in Pittsburgh.

The Steelers lost by 13 to the Patriots in Pittsburgh earlier this season. Tom Brady exploited their pass defense and they registered no sacks in the entire game. This time around, they will need to be more aggressive. The Steelers got into a hole early and were trying to play catch up the entire game. That isn't the Steelers game and if they get into that situation again, it will likely produce the same result.

I like the Steelers in this one. Dick Lebeau is going to figure out exactly why the Steelers failed to pressure Tom Brady. It is scary to take the Patriots all the way through the AFC, because when they are finally involved in a close game again, it is unclear how the team will react. What happens when Brady throws a pick? This is a team that nearly self destructed and lost to a Packers team that didn't even have Aaron Rodgers on the field.

Winner: 2) Pittsburgh Steelers

NFC

Wild Card

6) Green Bay Packers at 3) Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles are the most explosive team in the NFL. They have a number of home run threats, including Michael Vick, who has become one of the best dual threat quarterbacks in the history of the NFL. All season long, teams have had the stay home and stay disciplined approach when taking on Vick. Last week, the Vikings went right at him and ended up injuring him.

The Packers should take a similar approach. They have one of the best defensive players in the NFL in Clay Matthews. They need to be aggressive and attack Vick, rather than waiting on Vick to to come to them. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers have faced the most challenging season in the NFL when it comes to injuries. They rose up against all odds and made it to the playoffs. This is an upset waiting to happen.

Winner: 6) Green Bay Packers

5) New Orleans Saints at 4) Seattle Seahawks

We knew the NFC West was going to produce something. Not many people expected it to be a team with a losing record. The Seattle Seahawks have no business being in the playoffs. This is a team that lost nine games this season by a double digit margin.

The New Orleans Saints are defending champs. They have been there and done that and while their road to the Super Bowl is going to be difficult to repeat, they could not have asked for a better opponent. This is the worst team to ever be produced by any division in the history of the league. The 12th man is not going to be enough to bail out the Seahawks when Drew Brees come into town.

Winner: 5) New Orleans Saints

NFC Divisional Playoff

6) Green Bay Packers at 1) Atlanta Falcons

Matt Ryan is outstanding at home. The Atlanta Falcons have one of the most complete offenses in the entire NFL and a quarterback who has been dubbed 'Matty Ice' for his unshakable demeanor. The last time the Packers faced the Falcons, they lost in Atlanta by a field goal.

This game features two of the best quarterbacks in football. The Falcons have a great pass rusher in John Abraham and the Packers have an even better one in Clay Matthews. The Packers are more one dimensional, but they also have a secondary and front seven that force mistakes. I like the Packers in a big upset.

Winner: 6) Green Bay Packers

5) New Orleans Saints at  2) Chicago Bears

The New Orleans Saints are going to see a much bigger challenge in the second round of the playoffs. The Chicago Bears lead a relentless defense, led by Brian Urlacher and Julius Peppers. The question becomes, how big of an impact will Julius Peppers have on Drew Brees?

The Saints have struggled on the ground, and couldn't seem to get Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas involved in the offense like they would have liked to after they came back from injury. The Saints are a pass first team, but they relied heavily on their running backs on the road to the Super Bowl last season. Their one dimensional offense won't be enough to overcome the Bears, who are one of those teams that could slip under the radar in this post season.

Winner: 2) Chicago Bears

Conference Championship

6) Green Bay Packers at 2) Chicago Bears

This would be a great matchup to decide the victor of the NFC. A battle between two NFC North teams who have both encountered serious lows this season, but have risen from the ashes stronger than ever. This game would be decided by offense, as the defenses are somewhat of a wash.

The Bears have the more complete offense, but a lack of receivers could prove costly down the stretch. To add insult to injury, Jay Cutler is the second best quarterback in this game. This will be a hard fought battle, but Aaron Rodgers is one of the best quarterbacks in the league and Jay Cutler is prone to making mistakes in bunches.

Winner: 6) Green Bay Packers

Super Bowl

6) Green Bay Packers Vs. 2) Pittsburgh Steelers

This isn't really David vs. Goliath. The Packers have undergone a series of injuries, but remain a talented football team. They have the defense, the quarterback, and the mindset to make a serious run in the playoffs.

The Steelers know exactly what it takes to get to the Super Bowl. Most of them have been there and the Steelers went into this season with one goal, bring home number seven. It appears as though they are going to do just that. They have a better defense and the playoff experience.Rodgers and Ben Roethlisberger are a wash and the Steelers have the more complete roster, along with a coach that already has a ring on his finger.

Winner: Pittsburgh Steelers