15 NFL Teams with the Easiest Paths to the Playoffs

Just past the halfway point, the cream is starting to rise to the top in the 2011 NFL season.

Teams like Green Bay and San Francisco seem all but guaranteed a spot in the postseason while clubs like the Rams, Colts and Dolphins seem all but guaranteed a spot at the top of the NFL Draft order. 

But what about those teams somewhere in the middle? There are plenty of clubs out there who might contend for a playoff spot or even a division title, then again could be on the outside looking in come January 1.

By way of some heavy prognostication, I've picked the 12 playoff teams and three that will just barely miss out on a postseason berth (also included is how these teams will finish in  the overall standings). 

No. 15: Cincinnati Bengals (6-2)

Remaining Schedule: at BAL, at PIT, at STL, PIT, CLE, HOU, ARI, BAL

Toughest Challenge: at Baltimore

Fate: No playoffs

It's great that the Bengals are 6-2 and technically atop the AFC North. Kudos to Marvin Lewis, Mike Brown and Andy Dalton for resurrecting the club from the  depths of despair to a legitimate playoff contender in the span of about six  months.  

But knowing their limitations on offense, I can't look  at that schedule and see them winning enough games to qualify in an extremely deep AFC.

More specifically, I don't see them winning any one of their critical four showdowns against the Ravens and Steelers. Couple that with an extremely difficult game against the Texans and the likely 9-7 record just won't be enough to qualify...

But it will be enough to save Marvin Lewis' job.

No. 14: Buffalo Bills (5-3)

Remaining Schedule: at DAL, at  MIA, at NYJ, at SDG, at NEP, TEN, MIA, DEN

Toughest Challenge: at New England

Fate: No playoffs

Much like the Bengals, the Bills are a great story: there's no denying that. But from what we've seen the last three weeks, and the fact that they have five road games (all but one of which is against a potential playoff team) they too are going to have to have to put off their postseason hopes until 2012.

They've lost two of their last three and the only win came against the increasingly pathetic Washington Redskins. More to the point, they were just battered at home by the Jets. 

And the schedule is not terribly kind the rest of the way. They'll take care of so-called "bad" teams like Miami, Denver, Tennessee and maybe even Dallas, but they won't win in the Meadowlands, San Diego or Foxboro. An 8-8 record isn't going to earn them a wild card. 

No. 13: Chicago Bears (5-3)

Remaining Schedule: DET, SDG, at OAK, KCC, at DEN, SEA, at GBP, at MIN

Toughest Challenge: at Green Bay

Fate: No playoffs

As impressive as the Bears were on Monday Night, I'm not convinced their schedule is pretty difficult to handle the rest of the way. The Lions have a shot at pushing them out of the race for the North and even though they have a few potential cupcakes in Denver, Seattle and the Vikings, those trips to Oakland and Green Bay will knock them down the playoff food chain.

Still, they do have a good shot at finishing 9-7 or 10-6, but because they were beaten by the Saints in Week 2, they would lose out on the head-to-head with New Orleans for that last playoff spot. 

No. 12: New York Jets (5-3)

Remaining Schedule: NEW ENG, at DEN, BUF,  at WAS, KCC, at PHI, NYG, at MIA

Toughest Challenge: Home vs.  New England

Fate: Wild Card, sixth seed

Yes, a third straight wild card for Rex Ryan.....all those changes and all that hype produce the same result each regular season.

The win in Buffalo last week put them in the driver's seat for at least the runner-up spot in the AFC East (they should beat the Bills at home in Met Life Stadium) and perhaps the division crown.

Their schedule is fairly kind: Denver, Washington and Miami figure to be wins, and based on the Chiefs play last week and the Eagles prolonged spiral, they could finish 11-5, losing only to the Pats and Giants the rest of the way. Still, that's not going to be enough to side step New England. 

No. 11: New Orleans Saints (5-3)

Remaining Schedule: at ATL, NYG,  DET, at TEN, at MIN, ATL, CAR

Toughest Challenge: at Atlanta

Fate: Wild Card, sixth seed

Given the potent offenses, the marginal defense and the familiar settings for both clubs, I look for the Falcons and Saints to split their two games this year; I think it's going to be road wins for both clubs. That being the case, the division crown will probably come down to the rest of the games on their schedule. 

The Saints have a really brutal stretch over the next month. After what should be a very emotionally charged game in Atlanta, they are at home for two in a row, but against two very good teams with defenses capable of slowing down Drew Brees. 

Those two potential losses, coupled with the split against Atlanta will leave them at 10-6, one game behind the Falcons, but ahead of Chicago because of the tie-breaker.  

No. 10: Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3)

Remaining Schedule: at CIN, at KCC, CIN, CLE, at SFO, STL, at CLE

Toughest Challenge: at San Francisco

Fate: Wild Card, fifth seed

As stated in the slide on the Bengals' fate, I expect the Steelers defense to completely overwhelm rookie Andy Dalton, a main reason why they'll be able to twice topple Cincinnati.

But the most recent loss to Baltimore means they will have to finish with a better record than the Ravens in order to win the North and because the Ravens schedule is very favorable down the stretch, that's not going to happen.

They'll take care of business in the games they absolutely have to win, the Rams and the Browns, and I like their chances of splitting one of those tough road challenges, Kansas City and San Francisco. 

So although it seemed like the sky was falling for Steelers fans Sunday night, they'll at least be playing after New Years Day. 

No. 9: Detroit Lions (6-2)

Remaining Schedule: at CHI, CAR, GBP, at NO, MIN, at OAK, SDC, at GBP

Toughest Challenge: Home vs. Green Bay

Fate: Wild  Card, fifth seed

Woe-is-me. Lions fans have to feel that way despite this fine season. The Curse of Bobby Layne still carries some weight: A division title seems out of the question and given Green Bay's dominance, there's a very real chance of the Packers knocking them out of a wild-card berth. 

Still, they should be more concerned with a fairly brutal schedule than anything else. 

The rematch with Chicago is going to be really difficult as will the Thanksgiving game against Green Bay. Trips to New Orleans and Oakland will be major tests as well. But they do catch a break of sorts in Week 17.

Sure they have to play the Packers and will likely be in a must-win situation just to make the playoffs, but the Packers should have the first-seed and homefield wrapped up by then.

This opens the door just enough for them to win a game that's meaningless to Green Bay. They will edge out both the Bears and Saints by the margin of that one game. 

No. 8: Oakland Raiders (4-4)

Remaining Schedule: at SDG, at MIN, CHI, at MIA, at GBP, DET, at KCC, SDG

Toughest Challenge: Home vs. Green Bay

Fate: Win AFC West, fourth seed

As bad as things have been for Oakland in the last two games, at least they can take comfort in the fact that they are still in a position to win the division.

Clearly, the AFC West could go to the Chiefs or Chargers just as easily as the Raiders. And it's very likely that the winner will be sporting a .500 record at best. 

But Kansas City has a brutal schedule the rest of the way, namely Pittsburgh, New England and the Jets; the only games they really should win are against Denver. And as for the Chargers, because they have a series of tough games left on their schedule (at Detroit, at Chicago, Baltimore, Buffalo) they are going to have a hard time just getting to 8-8.  

Much like their counterparts over in the NFC last year, the Raiders will win the division by being the least mediocre team.  As long as they split with San Diego and make amends in Arrowhead for that shutout, they'll get to the playoffs with an 8-8 or 9-7 mark. 

No. 7: Atlanta Falcons (5-3)

Remaining Schedule: NO, TEN, MIN, at HOU, at CAR, JAX, at NO, TBB

Toughest Challenge: at New Orleans

Fate: Win NFC South, fourth seed

Again, the Saints and Falcons just seem so evenly matched and both games last season were so close—regardless of the venue—that a split just seems so logical. 

Since they are even in the loss column right now, the rest of the schedule will determine who gets the home playoff and who has to travel for that second week of January. 

Ultimately because the Falcons really only have one major challenge the rest of the season, the trip to Houston, while the Saints have two—back-to-back games against the Giants and the Lions....the second of which comes on a short week—Atlanta's path to the postseason is a tad bit easier than their NFC South rival's. 

No. 6: New England Patriots (5-3)

Remaining Schedule: at NYJ, KCC, at PHI, IND, at WAS, at DEN, MIA, BUF

Toughest Challenge: at New York Jets

Fate: Win AFC East, third seed

Yes, losses the past two weeks—both of which only reaffirmed belief that their pass defense is atrocious—have taken a great deal of luster off of New England. And it does seem to be the case that even with their outstanding offensive talent, they can't outscore teams every week.

But when you look at the remainder of their schedule, they do catch some good fortune. They should absolutely mop the floor with the Colts, Redskins, Broncos and Dolphins for four wins. And even if they were to lose to the Jets, it would only mean a split in the division.

As long as they can take two out of three from the Chiefs, Eagles and Bills, they'll probably edge out the Jets for the AFC East title. And let's be honest: do you really see them losing a third straight game Sunday? I don't. 

No. 5: New York Giants (6-2)

Remaining Schedule: at SFO, PHI, at NO, GBP, at DAL, WAS, "at" NYJ, DAL

Toughest Challenge: at Green Bay

Fate: Win NFC East, third seed

It's with extreme caution that I make this pick. Not only do the Giants have a history of December swoons, but their remaining schedule is probably more diabolical than any other team. 

But because I think they are capable of running the table within the division, they should win just enough ball games to earn the third seed. 

Dallas has been too inconsistent this season on both sides of the ball, the Eagles are obviously a mess and the Redskins exceed that. Four wins there would allow them a slip-up in those tough challenges with the Jets, Packers, Saints and 49ers. 

A two-game lead in the NFC East, this early in the season, means very little, but the win in New England proved they can play on the road in big games. 

No. 4: Houston Texans (6-3)

Remaining Schedule: at TBB, at JAX, ATL, at CIN, CAR, at IND, TEN

Toughest Challenge: Home vs. Atlanta

Fate: Win AFC South, third seed

I don't believe that the Texans are a better team than the Jets, Patriots or Steelers and should either of those teams arrive at Reliant Stadium for a playoff game, I think the Houston crowd will leave unhappy. But the rest of the AFC South is just so mediocre and/or bad, that it would be a real embarrassment if they don't easily snap their playoff drought. 

The way they annihilated host Tennessee in Week 7 suggests the Titans won't pose much of a threat and despite the Jags mini-resurgence, they won't have an answer for the Texans' running game. Plus the Colts will be hot on Andrew Luck by the time they have a Week 15 rematch. 

Granted there will tough challenges from the Bengals and Bucs, but both of those teams will be hard pressed to keep pace with Houston's offense. 

No. 3: San Francisco 49ers (7-1)

Remaining Schedule: NYG, ARI, at BAL, STL, at ARI, PIT, at SEA, at STL

Toughest Challenge: at Baltimore

Fate: Win NFC West, second seed

I don't really believe that the 49ers are the third best team in the NFL or the second best team in the NFC. But I do think they will earn the second seed so by playoff definition, especially since they'll probably finish with a 13-3 record. 

Sure Alex Smith is playing efficiently, that defense looks fantastic and if it weren't for all those record-setting quarterbacks out there, Frank Gore might be the league's MVP. 

But they have yet to defeat an "elite" team so I'll hold out on calling them a legitimate Super Bowl contender. Having said that, given their great start and the slim picking in the rest of the NFC West, it probably won't matter if they are pounded by the three good teams—the Giants, Steelers and Ravens—remaining on their schedule. 

Now once they get to the playoffs, that's an entirely different matter. 

No. 2: Baltimore Ravens (6-2)

Remaining Schedule: at SEA, CIN, SFO, at CLE, IND, at SDG, CLE, at CIN

Toughest Challenge: at San Diego

Fate: Win AFC North, first seed

Sweeping the Steelers was a huge step forward for the Ravens in their quest to finally put John Harbaugh and Joe Flacco in a home playoff game setting. And since they too should put the type of rookie-rattling pressure on Andy Dalton, I like their chances of sweeping the entire AFC North.

That alone would put them in great shape of not just clinching the North—remember, the Raiders swept their division last year and didn't even make the playoffs—but to earn a playoff bye. 

And since they have Seattle and Indy on the schedule as well, getting to 12 wins seems very likely, and enough to keep the Steelers from stealing back control of the North. 

Having said that, their chances at the top seed in the AFC hinge on winning the "Harbaugh Bowl" and heading west and beating a Charger team that should be fighting for their playoff lives.

But even if they were to drop both of those games, the fact that they already defeated the Texans would give them a tiebreaker in the bid for home-field advantage throughout the postseason. 

No. 1: Green Bay Packers (8-0)

Remaining Schedule: MIN, TBB, at DET, at NYG, OAK, at KCC, CHI, DET

Toughest Challenge: at New York Giants

Fate: Win NFC North, first seed

As much as I want to argue against the sentiment that the Packers are so much better than the other 31 teams--where did the famous NFL parity go?—I just can't. Through this half season the Packers have looked so dominant it's unfathomable that they would wind up 4-4 or worse down the stretch. 

Now it might seem contrary to NFL norms, but I think it's actually to their benefit that the Lions and Bears are playing so well right now: Green Bay won't clinch the North until Week 15 or 16 and they won't have to worry about playing meaningless games throughout most of December. 

And although everyone is pointing to those two games with the Lions as the pivotal point of their season, it's that three week stretch—at the Giants, hosting Oakland, at the Chiefs—that will be the greatest test. 

Still, given their start, even a split with the Lions, a loss in that powerhouse matchup with the Giants and a loss in their rematch with the Bears, won't be enough to knock them from the top spot in the NFC.