Full NFL Playoff Picture Predictions, Midseason Edition

With the calendar having now turned to the month of November, it seems appropriate to start discussing the playoffs.

(insert Jim Mora rant here)

Some have fallen from the wayside and out of contention, while other clubs have hopes to play beyond January 1. In fact, with just one unbeaten, one team with a single loss and 16 that have either two or three losses, this is shaping up to be a free-for-all playoff chase.

The NFL postseason has room for only 12 participants, so here is a look at which teams will have a shot at the Super Bowl in Indianapolis.

NFC No. 1 Seed: Green Bay Packers

The biggest question for defending Super Bowl champions is not whether or not they'll make the playoffs, but will they lose a game during the regular season?

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has established himself as the best at his position, and he has talented pass catchers to thank for it. Greg Jennings (No. 85) leads the team with 42 receptions and five touchdowns, while seven different Packers have reached the end zone by way of Rodgers' right arm.

Stopping the pass is the only negative on this club. Green Bay has home -ield advantage in its sights, which could pose a tremendous challenge for other NFC contenders.

NFC No. 2 Seed: San Francisco 49ers

Of all the playoff projections on this list, the 49ers are the biggest lock.

That's not primarily because Alex Smith has transformed into a quarterback that has decreased his mistakes, or that Frank Gore has regained his stout rushing ability or that first-year head coach Jim Harbaugh has injected life into a once-moribund franchise.

No, the reason why the Niners are on cruise control to the postseason is due to three words: Rams, Seahawks, Cardinals. All three are teams "competing" against San Francisco in the NFC West race...and all three are miles behind.

NFC No. 3 Seed: New Orleans Saints

There was no more shocking result in the first half of the 2011 NFL season than that of the New Orleans Saints, a team that rattled off 62 points against the Colts seven days prior, being beaten handily by the previously-winless St. Louis Rams.

However, that loss shouldn't create thoughts that this team in on a downhill slide. It was simply a major letdown that they'll eventually recover from.

And they hope that "eventually" means right away. That's because the next two games are against Tampa Bay and Atlanta. But a good quarterback and a good coach is a good predictor of success, and the Saints will scratch out a 10-win season and finish as the first-place team in the NFC South.

NFC No. 4 Seed: Philadelphia Eagles

Were the Eagles that impressive or were the Cowboys that lousy this past Sunday night in Philly?

Even if you are a believer of the ladder, one can't deny that Andy Reid's team looked like the club that all had expected to see at the start of the season.

Michael Vick was on target, LeSean McCoy ran wild and the Eagles defense was stifling. If Philadelphia is anything like they were against Dallas, they should be able to turn around their season from 1-4 to a playoff berth.

Opponents over the final two months include Arizona, Seattle and Miami.

NFC No. 5 Seed: New York Giants

While the Eagles' schedule is manageable the rest of the way, the New York Giants have many land mines on their path to a division title.

There next five contests reads as such: at New England, at San Francisco, vs. Philadelphia, at New Orleans, vs. Green Bay.

If they're fortunate, Eli Manning and company will come away with two wins during that run.

Granted, New York is overachieving and Manning is turning in an MVP-worthy season, but they don't have the look of a club that's impressive enough to hold up with the elite in the NFC.

The Giants hold a two-game lead in the East. However, the tough slate (including a rematch with a hungry Eagles squad) will result in a fall to second place.

NFC No. 6 Seed: Detroit Lions

With apologies to the Bears, Falcons and Buccaneers, it's the once-lowly Lions that will roar into the postseason competition for the first time in over a decade.

Last week's beatdown was against a weak Denver Broncos team, but it still was a much-needed wake-up call. 

It'll become clear that the quality of play we saw from Detroit in the first five weeks is what we'll see more of over the course of the season's final nine weeks.

Even with two games against Green Bay and a key matchup with the Bears at Soldier Field in their future, Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson can lead the Lions to nine victories.

AFC No. 1 Seed: Pittsburgh Steelers

About a month ago, most football pundits were talking about how old and slow the Steelers were.

Well, they're all silent now.

Pittsburgh is ranked first in passing defense and eighth in stopping the run.

That was showcased last Sunday at Heinz Field. The Steelers put a clamp on the New England Patriots' vaunted offense, while quarterback Ben Roethlisberger exposed their weak secondary in a 25-17 victory.

Beating New England, the supposed class of the AFC, gives them a leg up if they remained tied when 16 regular season games have been finished.

AFC No. 2 Seed: New England Patriots

Tom Brady and the Patriots offense, one that seemed to gain yardage with ease against all its other opponents, were mortal against Pittsburgh. In fact, it was well after halftime before New England had gained more than 100 yards.

The defense, especially the secondary, continues to struggle. And that's what could prove to be a fatal flaw down the road.

But there's no denying that having Brady and Bill Belichick will go a long way to keeping the Pats among the best teams in the game.

It'll be a close race for home-field advantage in the AFC, but the fact that the Steelers now have the tie-breaker will give them the edge over New England.

AFC No. 3 Seed: Houston Texans

At long last, the Texans appear to be getting past their albatross.

It took a Peyton Manning neck injury to do it, but Houston is on the inside track to an AFC South crown.

Matt Schaub and the offense have done just fine without wideout Andre Johnson, while Arian Foster is continuing to prove that last year was no fluke.

The Texans' schedule down the road is extremely generous, with contests still left against Cleveland, Indianapolis and Carolina.

AFC No. 4 Seed: San Diego Chargers

The AFC West race is a tough one to call. And in a battle when one slip-up could mean the difference between a playoff spot and watching the postseason on television, last night has the possibility to be very telling.

San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers' untimely fumble deep in Kansas City territory near the end of regulation allowed their Monday Night tussle to head into overtime. There, the Chiefs won with a field goal and are part of a three-way tie with the Chargers and Oakland Raiders atop the division.

Kansas City appears to have mended the damages from their early season breakdowns, while San Diego appears to be stuck in neutral. Oakland is a complete unknown with Carson Palmer taking over at quarterback.

But the Chargers underachieve in the early going each year, then seem to turn it on come November. Rivers and the receivers are simply too good not to win this division, and an easier schedule (compared to the Chiefs) will get them a playoff spot.

AFC No. 5 Seed: Baltimore Ravens

As usual, the Ravens have a defense that gets a team deep into the postseason.

Unfortunately, the offense is too inconsistent to win a division title. That's especially true when you have a veteran Pittsburgh Steelers team to go up against each year. 

Baltimore's ugly showing against Jacksonville may come back to haunt them in terms of seeding. At least they woke up for the second half of last week's meeting with Arizona.

If we see more of what Joe Flacco, Ray Rice and Anquan Boldin did in the final two quarters versus the Cardinals, then the Ravens have the capability of notching the No. 2 seed. If they continue to have offensive droughts, it'll be (at best) a road Wild Card game staring them in the face.

AFC No. 6 Seed: Buffalo Bills

We'll get a much clearer sense of who has the best shot to take a Wild Card spot in the next month. The Bills, who are the surprise team of the AFC with a 5-2 record, take on the boisterous New York Jets.

The Bills will edge out the Jets due to their presence of a running back that has the ability to run and receive. And in the cold weather months, possessing a quality ball carrier is key. Buffalo has it, New York does not. 

Also included in the just-missed list for the final entry into the AFC race for the Super Bowl are the Cincinnati Bengals, Kansas City Chiefs and Tennessee Titans.