NFL Playoff Predictions: Looking at Each Wild-Card Contender's Chances

With Week 13 of the 2011 NFL season drawing to a close, two teams have already clinched a playoff berth—the 12-0 Green Bay Packers and 10-2 San Francisco 49erss—but there's still plenty of jockeying for playoff positioning to go, including the scramble for the four wild-card playoff spots.

Here's a look at the nine teams presently in the running for those spots and what the chances are that when the regular season ends, their season won't.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers improved to 9-3 by throttling the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, and even if they can't overtake the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North, the defending AFC champions will return to the playoffs barring an absolute collapse.

PLAYOFF CHANCES: 90 percent

2. Detroit Lions

Since getting off to a hot start, the Detroit Lions have lost four of their past six games and still have to travel to Green Bay to face the Packers again.

Given the state of the other NFC wild-card contenders, the Lions should still be able to squeak into the playoffs for the first time since 1999.

PLAYOFF CHANCES: 65 percent

3. New York Jets

The New York Jets improved to 7-5 with a victory over the Washington Redskins on Sunday. While they may well be set for another playoff road odyssey, they're also likely the team with the best shot of locking up the AFC's sixth spot in the postseason.

PLAYOFF CHANCES: 65 percent

4. Atlanta Falcons

Week 13 was an excellent example of the Atlanta Falcons' 2011 season. They were sluggish in a loss to the T.J. Yates-led Houston Texans, and Falcons' only saving grace may be that they're relatively healthy and have a pretty favorable schedule from here on out.

PLAYOFF CHANCES: 60 percent

5. Oakland Raiders

Just about all the momentum the Oakland Raiders had built up heading into Week 13 went up in a puff of smoke. The Silver and Black were left black and blue by the Miami Dolphins, and with upcoming games against the Packers and Lions, it's not getting any easier from here.

PLAYOFF CHANCES: 45 percent

6. Chicago Bears

As if the Chicago Bears needed to be reminded that their playoff hopes might have taken a hit with the loss of quarterback Jay Cutler. They dropped a home game to a team led by Tyler Palko and the knee injury suffered by running back Matt Forte may have been the last nail in Chicago's coffin.

PLAYOFF CHANCES: 35 percent

7. Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals' hot start was one of the early surprises of the 2011 season, but as their schedule toughened, the team has slid back, and their 2011 playoff hopes may well rest on the Baltimore Ravens having nothing to play for when the teams meet in Week 17.

PLAYOFF CHANCES: 30 percent

8. New York Giants

The New York Giants have dropped four in a row and seem well into their apparently annual late-season fade. Should they make it five losses in a row after they face the Cowboys next week, that husky gal with the big voice will have to start warming up.

PLAYOFF CHANCES: 20 percent

9. Tennessee Titans

The Tennessee Titans have won three of their past four games to get back into the wild-card race in the AFC, but remaining games with the Houston Texans and New Orleans Saints may prove too much to overcome, as 9-7 just ain't gonna cut it.

PLAYOFF CHANCES: 20 percent