Updated NFL Playoff Picture: Who's In, Who's Out If Playoffs Started Today

The NFL playoffs are fast approaching, and the contenders are separating themselves from the pretenders. It's time to take a look at who's in and who's out if the playoffs started today. 

The reign of the North is at hand. Of the 12 teams that would make the playoffs, six come from the NFC and AFC North. Despite Dan Marino's passing record being threatened by three or four quarterbacks, it seems like a dominant defense is still what equates to wins in the NFL.

Of course, there is always an exception to every rule, and the Green Bay Packers are the exception. Their perfect record after 10 games has come by the golden arm of their fearless leader, Aaron Rodgers.

AFC East

The New England Patriots are winning despite fielding one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL. They have yet to play in Week 11, but win or lose they will still lead the AFC East. IN

The New York Jets won't live up to Rex Ryan's famous declaration that they'd win the Super Bowl this season. They have been atrocious on offense, and Jets fans will gladly tell you what they think about Brian Schottenheimer if you ask them. OUT

The Buffalo Bills surprised everyone with a hot start to the season, beating the Patriots and leading the division after four weeks. Things have been going downhill at a furious pace since then, and the Bills are looking like an average team, at best. OUT

The Miami Dolphins are riding a three-game hot streak, but that tremendous effort came too late to matter in this division. Next year, the franchise is likely to completely overhaul most of their main components, starting with head coach, Tony Sparano. OUT

AFC North

The Baltimore Ravens have baffled all the experts this season. They have lost games to inferior opponents, and Joe Flacco sometimes looks like the second coming of Rex Grossman. Still, they lead the division due to the way they handled their hated rivals, the Steelers, twice this season. IN

The Pittsburgh Steelers still have a lot to prove this season, even with a 7-3 record. Having lost both times to the Ravens and once to the Houston Texans, they still need to prove they can beat an elite opponent. The "Harbowl" will answer some of those questions. IN

The upstart Cincinnati Bengals are winning to the surprise of, well, everyone. Rookie quarterback, Andy Dalton, isn't far behind Cam Newton in my book for Offensive ROY honors. Their defense continues to keep them in just about every game. IN

The Cleveland Browns aren't far from being a really good team. The front office cleaned house this past offseason, and the team was highly effective with their draft picks. Unfortunately, this isn't the year that their plans will bear fruit. OUT

AFC South

The Houston Texans were in great shape for the playoff push, but a season-ending injury to quarterback Matt Schaub will test them to the limit. Thankfully, the Texans feature one of the best defenses in the NFL as well as the best duo of running backs. Arian Foster and Ben Tate will need to carry the load from here on out. IN

The Tennessee Titans had a great opportunity to make up some ground this week, but their efforts were insufficient. At 5-5 and two games back of the Texans, the Titans have shown that they are not ready for the playoff spotlight. OUT

The Jacksonville Jaguars aren't even close to fielding a team that is capable of winning many games. Rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert isn't as bad as many think. He simply needs receivers that can separate and get open. The Jaguars are one of the worst teams in the league at that position. OUT

The Indianapolis Colts...need I say more? OUT

AFC West

The Oakland Raiders are slowly recovering from Jason Campbell's injury. It looks like the Carson Palmer experience is going to be positive. The Raiders consistently run the ball down the throats of their opposition, and their defense is capable. IN 

The Denver Broncos are surging, and quarterback Tim Tebow is leading the charge. Since becoming the starter, the Broncos have a record of 4-1. This division is still wide open, but for now, the Broncos are OUT.

The Kansas City Chiefs are in a free fall. Their season began with a rash of devastating injuries to some of their star players, and now they will have to move forward without their quarterback, Matt Cassel. Todd Haley might be in danger of losing his job, but the Chiefs should give him one more chance next year. OUT

The San Diego Chargers have significantly regressed this season after starting out the year with a 4-1 record. The team has since lost all five of their games, and Phillip Rivers is just awful. The Chargers need to take a hard look at the structure of their organization after this season. OUT

NFC East

The Dallas Cowboys are the most enigmatic team in the NFL. They are like a box of chocolates; you never know what you're gonna get. Tony Romo is currently on a hot streak, and so are the Cowboys. IN

The New York Giants have lost two games in a row, and they seem to have taken a step backwards since running back Ahmad Bradshaw broke his foot. The Eagles' defensive line destroyed the big guys up front, and the Giants now are on the outside looking in. OUT

The Philadelphia Eagles decline this season isn't breaking news. There are many questions to be addressed when the season is over. OUT

The Washington Redskins have followed in the footsteps of the Buffalo Bills, only they took their decline to a whole other level. Head coach Mike Shanahan has been desperate for a modicum of quarterback competency, but he hasn't got the player he needs on the current roster. Matt Barkley, anyone? OUT

NFC North

The Green Bay Packers have yet to lose this season. Their high-powered, high-flying offense, led by Aaron Rodgers, is breathtaking as long as you aren't a fan of the team they destroyed. If the defense keeps creating timely turnovers, the Packers might not lose at all this year. IN

The Detroit Lions started out with an impressive record of 5-0 before losing at home to the 49ers in Week 6. Since then, they are a pedestrian 2-3. Still, they field a potent offensive attack, and they can come back in just about any situation. IN

The Chicago Bears are on a tear. The team has won five games in a row, and the defense, which has been feared as one of the best in the NFL for years, is rising to the occasion with strong outings during this impressive run. The Bears lost starting quarterback Jay Cutler with a broken thumb. It is now the Caleb Hanie show in Chicago. IN

The Minnesota Vikings' season has been an utter failure. The Donovan McNabb experiment was a disaster. Now, with Adrian Peterson's ankle injury, it is enough to simply make it to the end of the season so they can go back to the drawing board for next year. OUT

NFC South

The New Orleans Saints are going to put points on the scoreboard. Quarterback, Drew Brees is one of the few that has a legitimate shot to break Dan Marino's all-time passing record. IN

The Atlanta Falcons have got to be wishing they had a "do over" in last year's NFL draft. They mortgaged almost their entire draft to move up to the sixth spot to snag wide receiver, Julio Jones. Now, more than halfway through the season, he has been hampered by injuries and the team has discovered that they have holes to fill in their roster. OUT

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are another team that hasn't been the same since facing off against the 49ers. At 4-6, the team has been disappointed in the progress, or lack thereof, of their young team. The move to pick up Albert Haynesworth hasn't been the spark they needed. OUT

The Carolina Panthers hit a home run when they drafted quarterback Cam Newton with the first overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft. Unfortunately, the team still has deficiencies too great for one player to overcome. OUT

NFC West

The San Francisco 49ers are unquestionably the best team in the NFL not named the Packers. Head coach Jim Harbaugh has brought a mentality of confidence and toughness that has permeated the entire organization. IN

The Seattle Seahawks made some puzzling offseason moves. The team desperately needs a viable option at quarterback, and their overall level of talent is underwhelming. Pete Carrol and his staff have taken a step backwards in this, their sophomore season. OUT

The Arizona Cardinals are in danger of disappearing into the dark again after experiencing a couple seasons of thrilling light. Since Kurt Warner retired, the team has been riding the quarterback carousel. Kevin Kolb, who was purchased for a king's ransom, doesn't appear to be the answer. OUT

The St. Louis Rams were almost unanimously considered to be the favorites to win the NFC West. Epic fail. The team has been decimated by injuries, and the secondary unit is on the operating table, barely being kept alive by life support. OUT

AFC Playoff Picture

If the playoffs started today, the AFC playoff picture would look like this: 

• First round bye: No. 1 seed Baltimore Ravens, No. 2 seed Houston Texans
• Cincinnati Bengals @ New England Patriots.
• Pittsburgh Steelers @ Oakland Raiders  

The way I see this Conference playing out goes like this:

Wild Card Weekend:

• The Patriots win in Boston, knocking out the Bengals
• The Raiders shock the Steelers in the Black Hole in Oakland

Conference Semi-Finals

• The Patriots win in Houston
• Baltimore destroys Oakland

Conference Finals

• The New England Patriots win in a shootout in Baltimore to win the AFC Conference title.

NFC Playoff Picture

If the NFL playoffs started today, the NFC playoff picture would look like this:

• First round bye: No. 1 seed Green Bay Packers, No. 2 seed San Francisco 49ers
• Chicago Bears @ New Orleans Saints
• Detroit Lions @ Dallas Cowboys

The way I see this Conference playing out goes like this:

Wild Card Weekend

• The Chicago Bears go into New Orleans and upset the Saints
• The Detroit Lions also win on the road against the Dallas Cowboys

NFC Conference Semi-Finals

• The Green Bay Packers blow out their division rivals, the Chicago Bears.
• The San Francisco 49ers administer justice to the Detroit Lions with a win.

NFC Conference Final

• San Francisco does what nobody else has done and wins a close one in Green Bay, winning the NFC Championship title.