NFL Playoff Picture: Teams in Danger of a First-Round Upset

With the NFL playoffs getting closer, we are starting to get a picture of what teams are likely going to be playing in the postseason. Some teams that are able to pull it off in the regular season don't always fare as well in the postseason.

While teams like the Green Bay Packers look to be making a trip to repeat-city, the rest of the NFL hasn't been convincing enough to call them shoo-ins. Any team could be upset, no matter how good they look now.

In the playoffs, their regular season record doesn't matter. It all depends on how they perform on the bigger stage.

These teams have been looking good thus far, but they should be on upset alert in the first round of the NFL playoffs.

*Based off of current standings

Chicago Bears

With star quarterback Jay Cutler going down in Week 12, who knows if the Chicago Bears will even be able to make it to the playoffs now?

The Bears' record stands at 7-3, and at this point they would likely be matched up against the New Orleans Saints.

The Bears have been looking very solid this season, but one would have to question how they would play when it comes down to playoff time without perhaps their starting quarterback.

While Caleb Hanie may turn out to be a fine option, no one can be sure of that right now.

The Bears will also be on the road, and even if they do have the same record as their opponent, the road is never an easy place to win. The Seattle Seahawks proved that last season home field means everything, as they defeated the Saints while having a worse record.

If Cutler recovers just fine, he could be back in time for the playoffs. That could perhaps hurt the Bears, as it was his constant play that was making this offense produce.

It remains to be seen where the Bears' season will end up, but after this streak, they may not be as much as a lock in the first round as some would think.

Oakland Raiders

The Oakland Raiders have not looked the same since starting quarterback Jason Campbell went down, but they are still holding onto the top spot in the AFC West.

With Tim Tebow and the relentless Denver Broncos breathing down their necks, they may be out of this spot soon.

Still, the Raiders hold the top spot in the AFC West, but that just spells trouble for them.

That would likely pair them up with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are looking like a Wild Card team, considering the way the Baltimore Ravens are running the AFC North.

If Carson Palmer and the Raiders have to play the Pittsburgh Steelers—or even the Cincinnati Bengals—it is hard to imagine them coming out of that game alive.

The Raiders have been tough this season, but without a doubt they have not been the same team offensively since Campbell went down. Running back Darren McFadden has also been slowed by injuries, so he may be limited as well.

The Raiders will have their hands full, as whatever team gets the Wild Card slot will likely have a great defense.

Perhaps Palmer and the boys can get it together by then, but at this point in time, it doesn't look pretty.

Houston Texans

Well, the Houston Texans are standing at 7-3, but with Matt Schaub going down, this thing can go either way.

The Texans will be inserting the thus-far "ehhh" career of quarterback Matt Leinart.

While Leinart may finally bloom in this Texans offense, it remains to be seen.

Luckily for the Texans, they play in the AFC South. That division is usually dominated by Peyton Manning, but due to his injury the Texans have finally been able to claim the top spot easily.

Even with Leinart, it is hard to imagine them sinking low enough to fall out of the lead of this division.

They will need to play tough though to continue to hold that No. 2 spot in the AFC. The New England Patriots are right behind them, so it will be seen where they end up. One could imagine though that the Patriots will jump them as the Texans transition into the Leinart experiment of the 2011 season.

Still, a Schaub-less Texans squad is hard to give the vote of confidence to, and this franchise that was on the right track just may have to wait one more year.

Dallas Cowboys

When it comes to playoffs and upsets, one cannot eliminate Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys.

Unfortunately for Cowboys fans, Romo has consistently thrown away the game, and there is absolutely no way one can guarantee this team a playoff win when he is under center.

The Cowboys have come from nowhere to join the NFC playoff picture, but considering how fluid this division is, who knows how long they will be here to stay?

For now, though, they are here. 

The Cowboys at this point will be playing the Detroit Lions in the first round, and while the Lions are extremely inexperienced when it comes to the playoffs, they are just a much better team overall.

The Lions also stand to have a better record, but since this game will be hosted at Cowboys stadium, that gives the Cowboys home-field advantage and puts them on upset alert.

Perhaps this will be the year Tony Romo gets the Cowboys on the right track in the playoffs, but for now history will continue to prove this theory wrong.

San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco 49ers fans yell at this all you want—the fact of the matter is your team is young and raw.

Don't get me wrong, the 49ers are playing fantastic football, and their 9-1 record proves that.

Still, they may not be ready for this level.

The 49ers will have a first-round bye, so whoever they are playing would have already played one game.

Although this could be a disadvantage for that team, it also is an advantage because they have been given a taste of the NFL playoffs.

If the New Orleans Saints defeat the Chicago Bears or whoever takes that last Wild Card spot, the 49ers could be in an extremely tough matchup with Drew Brees and the Saints.

With the experience that the Saints have, they could perhaps upset the 49ers at home home in the second round. Quarterback Alex Smith still has a lot to prove, and no one knows how he will perform in a playoff atmosphere.

The 49ers are going to be a playoff team for years to come, but just remember that this year has been a major change for the NFC West leaders, and they may not be ready to handle a playoff atmosphere just yet.