Super Bowl Predictions: Who Are the NFC, AFC Favorites?

The NFL playoffs are what every team prepares for, from minicamps to training camp. It’s the goal by which a team’s success is measured.

For the teams that have made it to the playoffs, showing up isn’t success enough. Everyone wants their shot at the Lombardi Trophy, and anything less is officially a failure.

For some teams the road through the playoffs will be easier, and for others it will be an uphill battle from start to finish. Here are a list of the postseason teams and who’s looking like the favorite, and who’s looking like they don’t stand a chance.

12. Seattle Seahawks

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SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 02: Quarterback Charlie Whitehurst #6 of the Seattle Seahawks looks to pass during their game against the St. Louis Rams at Qwest Field on January 2, 2011 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

Their Chances: Not good. Look, if the division winner didn’t get an automatic bid into the playoffs, the Seahawks wouldn’t be here. Seattle doesn’t have any stability at the quarterback spot, and it isn't good defensively.

Pete Carroll has done better than expected, but with New Orleans coming in for the Wild Card game, it’s more than he can handle.

Prediction: The Seahawks get put out of their misery in the first round.

11. Kansas City Chiefs

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KANSAS CITY, MO - JANUARY 02: Running back Jamaal Charles #25 of the Kansas City Chiefs is tackled by linebacker Rolando McClain #55 of the Oakland Raiders in a game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 2, 2011 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Tim Umphrey

Their Chances: Not really. Next to New Orleans and Seattle going at it, this is the biggest mismatch in the first round.

The issue is that while Matt Cassel has played well for the Chiefs this year, he’s never sniffed the playoffs. The Chiefs' strength is their running game, and the Ravens have been great at stopping the run for years.

Prediction: The Chiefs could be scary for the next couple of years, but not this year. Playoff time is where players step up, and Cassel isn’t ready.

10. Indianapolis Colts

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OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 26: Dwight Freeney #93 of the Indianapolis Colts celebrates after a sack against the Oakland Raiders during an NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on December 26, 2010 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty

Their Chances: It might not be wise to bet against Peyton Manning. It’s especially not wise to bet against Manning when his first round opponent is Rex Ryan, a guy he knows how to carve up.

Still, it’s too much for Manning to do to get these guys back to a Super Bowl. They were 29th in the league in yards rushing, and they were the near the bottom in rushing yards allowed.

To win a Super Bowl you have to be able to run the ball, at least a little.

Prediction: Don’t rule out a first-round upset, but don’t expect anything more than that.

9. New York Jets

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - JANUARY 02: Head coach Rex Ryan of the New York Jets looks on against the Buffalo Bills during their game at New Meadowlands Stadium on January 2, 2011 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Their Chances: At the beginning of the season they looked better than they have looked lately. Their defense has been good all season, but New England and Chicago carved them up.

It’s not impossible to think that Peyton Manning can beat them. The fact is, if they have to rely on Mark Sanchez to win them games, it’s tough to think they can beat anyone.

Prediction: They would need to be able to trust Sanchez more if they want to win, and they can’t. Maybe next year.

8. Chicago Bears

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GREEN BAY, WI - JANUARY 02: Matt Forte #22 of the Chicago Bears carries the ball after making a catch against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on January 2, 2011 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Their Chances: The Bears have had a nice, and surprising, season. But there are too many problems on their offensive line, and Jay Cutler is still too error-prone to compete in big games with polished teams.

The Bears could get lucky and face Seattle and Green Bay in consecutive rounds (Green Bay they have beaten before), but even still they’d need a top-notch effort from a line that isn’t that good.

Prediction: The Bears could make it to the NFC title game, but that would be their ceiling.

7. Baltimore Ravens

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CHARLOTTE, NC - NOVEMBER 21: Terrell Suggs #55 of the Baltimore Ravens reacts after a defensive play against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on November 21, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Their Chances: They should be able to dispose of Kansas City, but after that it would be difficult to think they could get past Pittsburgh and then New England in consecutive weeks. If they were playing in the NFC, they would have a legit shot at getting there, but as it stands now, things look dim.

Prediction: The Ravens' ceiling is the AFC Championship. They won’t have enough left in the tank to finish the job.

6. Philadelphia Eagles

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 28: LeSean McCoy #25 of the Philadelphia Eagles in action against the Minnesota Vikings at Lincoln Financial Field on December 28, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Their Chances: This much is certain: No one wants to have to play Michael Vick in a big spot. He’s dangerous and is surrounded by more weapons than he has ever had in his career. At the same time, teams have shown they can contain him.

To get to the Super Bowl he’d have to face the Packers, Bears and Falcons (only one of which they beat before). That’s certainly asking a lot.

Prediction: The Eagles have to go through too many teams that know how to game-plan for him. They could make it to the NFC championship, but that’s where it ends.

5. New Orleans Saints

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CINCINNATI, OH - DECEMBER 05: Tracy Porter #22 of the New Orleans Saints runs with the ball during the NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on December 5, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Saints won 34-30. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Get

Their Chances: It’s a wide-open NFC, and if chips fall their way they could be looking at Chicago and Green Bay as their final two games.

They can get there. It’s possible, but once they get there they’d have to face a tough AFC team and do it without their leading rusher, Chris Ivory. That’s a tall order, even for the defending champs.

Prediction: They could get back to the big game, but they will just fall short.

4. Atlanta Falcons

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ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 02: Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons looks upfield to pass during the second half of the game against the New Orleans Saints at the Georgia Dome on December 27, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

Their Chances: The Falcons have everything working for them. They have home field advantage and the NFC’s best record. Matt Ryan is one of the best young quarterbacks in the league, and Michael Turner is among the top backs in football.

Their worst-case scenario would involve them facing the Packers or the Saints in their first game. While the Packers didn’t beat them, they came close. The Saints know what it takes too.

Prediction: The Falcons are primed and ready to go to the Super Bowl, but they won’t. Look for a tough Green Bay team to upset them in the second round.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers

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PITTSBURGH - DECEMBER 12: Troy Polamalu #43 of the Pittsburgh Steelers intercepts a pass from Carson Palmer #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals during the game on December 12, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Ima

Their Chances: If Troy Polamalu is healthy, the Steelers defense is as nasty as it comes. Their passing game is getting better and will be better with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger having a week to rest.

They are a playoff-tested team, and know what it takes to win a Super Bowl. However, they can only go as far as the Patriots will let them.

Prediction: The Steelers face the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game, and the Steelers are haunted by Tom Brady again.

2. Green Bay Packers

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GREEN BAY, WI - JANUARY 02: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers celebrates a touchdown against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field on January 2, 2011 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Their Chances: This is a team that is playing right at the right time. They are battle-tested and have faced the top three seeds in the NFC. The Packers can take down Philadelphia and Atlanta. If they have to face Chicago in the NFC Championship Game, they can handle the Bears.

The Super Bowl could see them face the Patriots, and they almost beat them with unproven quarterback Matt Flynn. What’s to say they couldn’t do it again?

Prediction: The Packers will represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. It will be a tough fight with New England, and while Aaron Rodgers will fare better than Flynn did, it’s hard to beat Bill Belichick if he has two weeks of prep time.

1. New England Patriots

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FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 02: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots celebrates a touchdown by teammate BenJarvis Green-Ellis in the first quarter against the Miami Dolphins on January 2, 2011 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa

Their Chances: There may be no better combination in the history of pro football than Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. Brady is playing at an MVP level, and the loss of Randy Moss has made the Patriots that much better (if you can believe that).

They finally have a running game, and the defense is young, athletic and molded in Belichick’s defensive image.

Prediction: The Patriots face off against the Packers in the Super Bowl. It’s close, but in the end it's too much Tom Brady. He’s been there and lost before, and he won’t let it happen again.