NFL Playoffs Predictions: Looking at the Entire Playoff Picture After Week 13

Through 13 weeks of the NFL season we finally have a clear picture of how the playoffs will look come January.

We've seen the best of teams and the worst. Records from teams vary from 12-0 to 0-12 and everywhere in between.

The 2011-12 NFL season has been absolutely incredible post-lockout, and this may be the best season we've seen in years. Hopefully the playoffs will bring more great football, and these teams will be the ones giving us the opportunity to see such great football.

AFC No. 1 Seed: New England Patriots

At 13-3, the New England Patriots will be the best team in the AFC. They will win out to grab the No. 1 overall seed, and home-field advantage ill play a huge factor this season.

The Pats have four relatively easy games coming up against the Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills. They should definitely win all four games, which will put them ahead of the other three teams in the AFC who are 9-3.

The other top teams in the AFC all have one or two more extremely difficult games on their schedules, while the Pats have a cake-walk with the possible exception coming at Denver.

Behind Tom Brady and their offense the Pats will overcome the worst pass-defense in the league to be the No. 1 seed in the AFC...again.

AFC No. 2 Seed: Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens will finish the season 12-4 after losing one more game this season. At 6-0 at home the Ravens dominate in front of their home fans but struggle on the road, going 3-3.

The Ravens will lose their game in Cincinnati against the Bengals but win their other three games against the 5-7 San Diego Chargers, the 4-8 Cleveland Browns and the 0-12 Indianapolis Colts.

While their divisional opponents the Pittsburgh Steelers will give them the most trouble in taking a first-round bye, the Steelers will lose against the San Francisco 49ers on the road. Because the Ravens have the tie-breaker over the Steelers, they will take the No. 2 seed in the AFC.

AFC No. 3 Seed: Houston Texans

After losing Matt Schaub and Matt Leinart to injury, the Houston Texans are relying on rookie T.J. Yates to carry them through the postseason.

This situation might kill other teams but the Texans are the complete team. They could have gone 13-3 before Schaub went down, but they still appear ready to go 12-4 or 11-5.

The Texans defense has stepped up this year. While they struggled last year, they are among the best in the NFL this season.

They also have the third-best rushing attack led by running backs Arian Foster and Ben Tate. They have the best ground game with only running backs as the Denver Broncos and Philadelphia Eagles (the top two teams in rushing yards per game) rely on their quarterbacks to scramble for yards much more than the Texans do.

The Texans will take the No. 3 seed in the AFC.

AFC No. 4 Seed: Denver Broncos

Speaking of the Denver Broncos, they have the most rushing yards in the NFL and will win their division to take the No. 4 seed in the AFC.

The Broncos have two tough games remaining against New England and Chicago. However, losing to the Bears and Patriots won't eliminate them as long as they win their other two games.

The AFC West is very weak and the Broncos can win it with only nine or 10 wins. They will certainly reach nine with their two easy games or 10 if Tim Tebow can shock the world yet against by beating either the Bears or Pats.

Under Tebow the Broncos are 6-1 and will make the playoffs, yet I still wouldn't put them among the best teams in the NFL. However, because of their weak division they will take the No. 4 seed in the AFC.

AFC No. 5 Seed: Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers will finish the season 12-4 after losing to San Francisco on the road yet will fall to No. 5 in the conference.

The Steelers are one of the best teams in the league behind their stingy defense and surprisingly effective offense. They have blown out good teams like the Cincinnati Bengals and will be ready for the playoffs.

The Steelers are essentially guaranteed a playoff spot as they are tied for the best record in the AFC, but they will have to settle for a wild-card berth.

AFC No. 6 Seed: Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals have an easy schedule ahead of them. While they have the Houston Texans who will run all over them they will still go 3-1.

The Bengals also play the Cardinals and Rams before playing the Baltimore Ravens at home. The Ravens will have a bye locked up and the Bengals will defeat them.

The Ravens are 3-3 on the road and have struggled against mediocre teams. There's no way they beat the Bengals in Cincy, giving the Bengals a playoff berth.

NFC No. 1 Seed: Green Bay Packers

After beating the New York Giants on the road, the Green Bay Packers are 12-0 and very well could go 16-0.

While I won't talk much about their chances, I will say they are essentially guaranteed the No. 1 seed in the NFC come playoff time.

NFC No. 2 Seed: San Francisco 49ers

Under Jim Harbaugh the San Francisco 49ers have already clinched the NFC West at 10-2.

The 49ers have a great defense and three easy games left (all against divisional opponents). They also have a home game against the Pittsburgh Steelers that I expect them to win and that would make them 14-2. Not bad for a new coach.

The 49ers are having one of their best seasons in history and are legit. No matter what you hear about them, this team can go all the way despite playing in arguably the worst division in the NFL.

NFC No. 3 Seed: New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints are fighting for a first-round bye and as many home games as possible because they are potentially the best team in the NFL at home.

At 6-0 the Saints are deadly in the Superdome and will show the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers that in the final two weeks of the season.

Before that, the Saints must play the Minnesota Vikings and Tennessee Titans, and I see this team winning out to go 13-3.

The Saints' prolific passing attack will lead them to the No. 3 seed in the NFC.

NFC No. 4 Seed: Dallas Cowboys

The NFC East is the least clear division in the NFL. With the Cowboys and Giants at the top and still having to play each other twice, the division will come down to the final week when they play each other.

The Cowboys currently lead the Giants by one game, and I think they win the division because of it. The Cowboys are very talented and should win two or three games, essentially eliminating the Giants.

The Cowboys should be in the playoffs yet not because of quarterback Tony Romo. The unsung hero is rookie running back DeMarco Murray. Murray is one of the best running backs in the league in my mind, and he will carry this team to the playoffs.

The Cowboys should beat the Giants in one of their two head-to-head meetings, clinching the division title.

NFC No. 5 Seed: Atlanta Falcons

At 7-5, the Atlanta Falcons should go 3-1 to end the season with their only loss coming against the New Orleans Saints at home. At 10-6 the Falcons will be tied with the next team yet will take the No. 5 seed because they hold the tie-breaker.

The Falcons have three easy games against the Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Falcons will make the playoffs behind their excellent run defense and very solid offense. I don't expect them to make a deep run, but they will have their chance in January.

NFC No. 6 Seed: Detroit Lions

Despite losing back-to-back games against the Saints and Packers, the Detroit Lions will make the playoffs this season.

They will easily beat the Minnesota Vikings, Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers and will clinch a wild-card spot before their final game against the Green Bay Packers.

The Lions are going to be ending their long playoff drought this season. Led by Matthew Stafford and a great offense, the Lions will surely be in the playoffs.

Josh Schoch is an aspiring sportswriter dedicated to bringing you everything related to the NFL, NBA, MLB, college basketball, college football and much more. Follow him on Twitter.