50 Events That Could Alter the 2011 NFL Postseason Landscape

One thing NFL fans know is that the unexpected in commonplace. Rarely does what you think will happen actually occur.

So far in the 2011 season, this theme has continued.

The Philadelphia Eagles tank, the Cincinnati Bengals and San Francisco 49ers improve. Injuries to Jay Cutler, Jamaal Charles and Matt Schaub have affected how the playoff picture looks up to this point.

And there's no doubt that over the last five weeks, other surprising moments will take place. Here are 50 that could be significant in determining who will play in the postseason.

Tim Tebow's Drop-off

When will the Tebow magic run out? The most talked about player in the NFL in 2011 is 5-1 as a starting quarterback this season after having pulled out some borderline miracle victories for a Denver Broncos team that now sits in position to win the AFC West.

Sooner or later, the opposing defenses will come up with a scheme to limit the passing challenged QB.

Miami Dolphins as Spoilers

Over the last four weeks, Tony Sparano's club has shown a competitive fire for its embattled head coach. Three straight victories were followed with a narrow loss to the NFC East's first-place Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day.

What the Dolphins have proven in the past month is that they will not roll over for playoff contenders Oakland, New England and New York.

Lions at Saints (Week 13)

The good news for Jim Schwartz's team is that it will have more than a week to prepare for the potent Saints offense. It'd prefer to have more time.

New Orleans has been terrific in its home stadium and the Lions must not let a noisy Superdome crowd get to them.

Suh's Temper Hurts Detroit

The Lions' volatile and destructive defensive lineman may be doing damage to his own team. Ndamukong Suh's likely two-game suspension after stepping on a Packers' offensive lineman could play a major factor in Detroit's late-season push. 

Chiefs at Bears (Week 13)

The Kansas City offense looked downright anemic against the Pittsburgh D, and it may very well continue when the Chiefs go up against the likes of Julius Peppers and Brian Urlacher.

Expect a low-scoring affair with little effectiveness through the air considering the quality of both starting quarterbacks.

Andre Johnson's Return

The Texans' prized wide receiver returned from injury last week against the Jaguars.

And although it would have been a more celebrated return had his regular starting QB been healthy and on the field, it will still turn out to be a benefit for Houston.

Whoever takes snaps behind center can feel some comfort in knowing he has Andre Johnson to throw to.

Bengals at Steelers (Week 13)

The rookie QB from TCU was 15-of-30 for 170 yards and a pair of TD tosses in his first encounter with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The end result was a loss on his home turf of Paul Brown Stadium.

Things won't get much easier when he faces the Black and Gold (and its fans) at Heinz Field this coming Sunday.

Big Ben's Ailments

Ben Roethlisberger can't avoid injury. First, there was a bum foot. Now, there is a broken right thumb. There's a good chance a new injury will plague Big Ben in the near future.

However, no matter what may physically deter him, he has still performed at a high level, and he can overcome upcoming injuries as well.

Packers at Giants (Week 13)

The New York Giants were blown away by Drew Brees and the potent New Orleans Saints offense.

So, how are they supposed to stop Aaron Rodgers and the even more explosive Green Bay Packers attack?

A great question. Big Blue better find an answer or it'll fall further back from its competition in the playoff chase.

Buffalo Bills Fade Away

The Bills were a nice story at the start of the 2011 campaign, but that's transformed into a horror story in November. During the month, Buffalo went 0-of-4 and has sunk below the .500 mark.

Division-leading New England is getting further and further away from the Bills, and so are any hopes of a playoff berth.

Atlanta Falcons Come to Life

Don't look now, but the Atlanta Falcons are 7-4 and hot on the heels of the New Orleans Saints in the NFC South.

Matt Ryan hasn't played to the level he was at in 2010, but has found a way to bring his team back among the conference's elite. The rushing defense ranks second, holding opponents to less than 84 yards per game.

Carson Palmer's Improvement

When Carson Palmer joined the Silver and Black, he needed time to shake the rust off.

By December, he'll have taken care of that. It won't mean he'll be a Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback, but it'll mean the Oakland Raiders will have a capable guy running the offense and a player that has the skill to lead them into the postseason.

Darren McFadden's Return

Palmer has probably enjoyed the fact he has a good running game supporting him; Michael Bush has averaged 106 rushing yards per game in the past five weeks.

All expectations are that starter Darren McFadden will return from his foot injury by Week 14 and add even more star power to the Oakland run.

Texans at Bengals (Week 14)

Whoever is taking snaps for the Houston Texans is going to be encountering an underrated Bengals defense. That said, the emphasis will likely be placed on the likes of Arian Foster and Ben Tate. They've done just fine so far.

It'll be the second week in a row that the young Andy Dalton goes up against a unit that ranks high in the NFL. It'll be another true test of his ability and leadership.

Patriots' Easy Schedule

The Patriots will go into the postseason as the top seed, thanks mainly to a soft schedule down the stretch.

New England gets the winless (and hapless) Colts this coming Sunday, followed by a trip to beleaguered Washington. Tom Brady and company finish with the free-falling Bills.

Chris Johnson's Improvement

It took more than half the season, but Chris Johnson broke into his past form with a 190-yard rushing effort against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

C.J.'s stout game on the ground helped the Titans prevail and push themselves to a game over the .500 mark.

If Johnson can continue playing at the level we have expected all year, Tennessee can continue holding a winning record.

Giants at Cowboys (Week 14)

If the Giants should drop their next contest to the Packers and fall to a 6-6 mark, they can (somewhat) rest assured they have two meetings with the team that's ahead of them in the NFC East standings.

As for the Cowboys, a win can almost seal up the division before their end-of-season encounter at the Meadowlands.

Bills at Chargers (Week 14)

Call it the Desperation Bowl.

Although making the playoffs with a 4-7 record (which is what both these teams have presently) is a true long shot, losing this game would put the final nail on the coffin of any postseason hopes.

And if it were the Chargers that felt the stench of defeat at home against the Bills, they would be headed towards another year of unfulfilled promises.

Houston Texans' Competition

Even though the AFC South-leading Texans may be riding third-string QB T.J. Yates for the remainder of the season, they aren't looking down at any world-beaters chasing them.

The Titans are 6-5, yet they don't appear right now to be surging forward enough to catch Houston.

Jacksonville is 3-8 and without much talent, while everyone knows how lousy Indy is.

Saints at Titans (Week 14)

There's no denying the fact Matt Hasselbeck has experience in the playoffs, but can his veteran leadership be enough to squeeze out a few more victories for his Tennessee Titans?

When they host the New Orleans Saints, they can take a major step to proving they might be for real after all.

Caleb Hanie's Struggles

If Caleb Hanie continues to play like he did against Oakland, the Chicago Bears will go into hibernation when the regular season ends.

Jay Cutler's injury may prove to be the most significant of the year.

Chicago Bears' Capable Road

Having a struggling quarterback will be tough to overcome, but the schedule-makers may have made things a bit easier with a late-season slate.

Chicago encounters Kansas City, Seattle and Minnesota over the final five weeks. If it can pull out victories, it will have 10 victories, which could equal a wild card.

Jets at Eagles (Week 15)

There's a chance the Eagles will be in give-up mode at this time in the year. Heck, it seems as if this underachieving bunch has acted that way since the start.

That could be very good news for a New York Jets club that will certainly be in need of a 'W.'

Tony Romo's December Turnaround

Watch as Tony Romo turns the tables on his December demons. The Cowboys quarterback has been well known for collapses late in the season with just one playoff victory.

However, as his leadership has grown, his quality of play in key moments will emerge as well.

Emergence of A.J. Green

When discussing the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year, the candidates range from Cam Newton to Andy Dalton.

An overlooked contender may be Dalton's teammate A.J. Green. The first-year player out of Georgia, who has 44 catches and six touchdowns, can be a valuable asset for the Bengals late in the season.

Lions at Raiders (Week 15)

In the Lions' final five games, three of them (New Orleans, Oakland, Green Bay) come on the road at hostile environments.

If Detroit expects to make a surprise entry into the playoffs, it must win one of them. Beating the Raiders on the west coast seems like the best bet.

Houston Texans Defense Prevails

What has been the key to the Houston Texans' 8-3 record? Sure, you can credit a stellar one-two punch in the backfield or Matt Schaub's ability to manage the offense. 

The real star, however, has been Wade Phillips and his defense. Since coming over from his head coaching duties with the Dallas Cowboys, Phillips has simply improved this group into the second-best against the pass and fourth versus the run.

Patriots' Offense Emerges

While the Texans defense has bloomed only recently, the Patriots offense has been solid for several seasons.

In 2011, it has been relied on more heavily due to the secondary's inability to shut down the pass.

Tom Brady, though, is up to the challenge. He shredded the Philadelphia Eagles, and there's no doubt he'll do the same to upcoming opponents.

In addition, the running game of BenJarvus Green-Ellis is quietly effective.

Patriots at Broncos (Week 15)

Tebow Time will be put to the test against the preeminent team in the AFC, and it won't be due to the fact that he'll be facing a great defense. In fact, Tim Tebow may be able to complete some passes against the Pats' porous secondary. 

The question is, can he keep up with Tom Brady and the aforementioned New England offense that has been so good at racking up yardage (and points)?

Oakland Raiders' Special Teams

Rarely does a punt make you jump out of your seat, but that's what Shane Lechler did when he booted an 80-yarder that made Devin Hester retreat.

Kicker Sebastian Janikowski is no stranger to long kicks. He connected on a 63-yard field goal in the opener and has been true on five from 50-plus yards.

Backup Plan?

It's the dreaded F-word in the NFL: Favre.

With the Houston Texans now down two QBs, it seems plausible the club would venture an interest in the legendary signal caller.

Steelers at 49ers (Week 15)

In all fairness, San Francisco doesn't have many tests over the course of the second half of the regular season. However, this matchup with Pittsburgh by the bay will be intriguing.

If the Steelers are healthy, they can abuse a San Francisco offensive line that was handled by the Ravens on Thanksgiving night.

Alex Smith's Regression

Under the tutelage of new head coach (and former QB) Jim Harbaugh, Alex Smith has shredded his draft-bust status and has limited his mistakes.

In control of the 49ers offense, he has San Francisco at a 9-2 record.

It may be somewhat cynical to think this nice story turns bad, but Smith will be forced into more errors in the late-season contests.

New York Giants' Rough Road

It would seem tough enough to go through the month of November facing the likes of the Patriots, Niners, Eagles and Saints.

December's slate is no walk in the park, either. It starts with a major matchup against the visiting Green Bay Packers along with two games versus the Cowboys and an inter-city showdown with the Jets.

Detroit's Composure

Aside from Ndamukong Suh's lack of control, the entire Detroit Lions team must show maturity if it wants to play deep into January.

There have been instances of erratic behavior from both players and coaches. With Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson, the Lions have loads of talent, but a lack of focus from this young group will put the Lions out of contention.

Baltimore Ravens Defense Comes Through

The Baltimore Ravens have an offense that has occasional spurts of greatness and trouble. Quarterback Joe Flacco came through with a big game-winning drive at Pittsburgh but faltered against Jacksonville and Seattle.

One aspect of the Ravens that hasn't deflated has been the defense, a unit that annually ranks at the top of the NFL in terms of both rushing and passing prevention.

Terrell Suggs' Defensive MVP Talk

With Ray Lewis on the sidelines, Suggs has emerged as the leader of this superb Ravens defense.

It doesn't hurt that his play has been spectacular as well. The ninth-year player has 49 tackles, nine sacks and two interceptions.

Giants at Jets (Week 16)

New York, New York is the theme of this matchup between two potentially desperate clubs.

The Jets and Giants face each other annually in the preseason, but Week 16 with playoff lives on the line is a whole different story.

Philadelphia Eagles as Spoilers

The "Dream Team" has proven to be a colossal failure as it sits at 4-7 and out of the playoff picture.

One of two things can happen in December. Philly can either play up to its potential and finish the season strong, or it can continue to fall flat on its face.

Bears at Packers (Week 16)

Under every football fan's Christmas tree will be a showdown between the NFL's most storied rivals.

And an extra gift for all of us will be if the Packers continue their unbeaten streak.

Packers Go for Perfection

Green Bay, currently 11-0, has a few potential roadblocks on its road to an unbeaten season.

But if the Packers are fortunate enough to remain unblemished after clinching home-field advantage in the NFC, they will forgo resting the starters and take a shot at 16-0.

Falcons at Saints (Week 16)

Atlanta's emergence will be put to the test in the second-to-last week of the regular season at New Orleans.

If the Falcons are lucky and keep up their winning ways, this matchup could decide who claims the top spot in the NFC South.

Cincinnati Bengals' Drop-off

Little was expected of head coach Marvin Lewis and his Cincinnati Bengals once the 2011 season commenced. Winning four or five games seemed like an acceptable achievement.

Now, they're staring at 10 or 11 victories—provided they can get by Pittsburgh, Houston or Baltimore.

Rookie QB Andy Dalton may come back to earth against these heavyweights.

Chiefs at Broncos (Week 17)

The AFC West race is muddled right now. Who knows what it'll look like come Jan. 1.

In all likelihood, the division title will be up for grabs when we reach Week 17, and the Denver Broncos appear to be one of the teams that will be jumping at the chance to take it.

Chargers at Raiders (Week 17)

Denver's main competition will be probably be Oakland.

The Chargers, after starting 1-4, will be playing for pride. If they have only one accomplishment in this 2011 season, it can be ending their rival's season prematurely.

Mark Sanchez Emerges

Mark Sanchez's performance over the course of 2011 kind of resembles the stock market. His value has been up and down ever since September.

Jet fans hope it takes an uptick at the right moment. It's hard to predict how the third-year quarterback will do, but if you base it on his ability to lead New York to two consecutive conference championship, Sanchez can certainly do it again.

49ers' Stretch Run Fold

The 49ers are a lock to capture the NFC West. The only thing in question is if they can notch the No. 2 seed. With games against St. Louis and Arizona coming up, Jim Harbaugh's team may do that in short order as well.

If not, a loss to Pittsburgh in Week 15 could prove fatal. San Francisco didn't look all that great against Baltimore, so it'll be interesting to see if it learns from the defeat when facing another NFC North power.

Ravens at Bengals (Week 17)

This could be significant for both participants.

Cincinnati could be fighting for a spot in the AFC playoff tournament. If so, it'll have to do it against a club that has emerged as one of the conference's best.

Baltimore, meanwhile, may have a No. 1 seed on the line.

Cowboys at Giants (Week 17)

The second meeting between New York and Dallas could be the most important in years.

Depending how each team fares in December, this New Year's Day tussle could be for an NFC East crown. If not, it may mean a playoff spot for one.

Weather

It's an element no team can control late in the season (unless the team's under a roof).

Snow and cold weather can hinder an offense's passing attack and can place more emphasis on the ground game. It also can prove to have an effect on a player's psyche.

That said, the teams that can control the ball (and their focus) as well as play solid defense are more likely to bubble up in December and January.