NFL Playoff Picture: Pretenders Sure to Be Exposed in Postseason

With four weeks still remaining in the NFL season, plenty can still change in regard to the playoff picture.

There are certainly some teams that are in a better position than others. Just because a team is high in the standings, however, doesn't ensure postseason success.

Due to an easy schedule or peaking early in the season, there are quite a few teams whose place in the standings is little more than a falsity. Here are three teams currently in the playoff mix that will be exposed big time should they make it into the postseason.

Denver Broncos

Despite the unorthodox play of quarterback Tim Tebow, it's extremely difficult to not be impressed with the Denver Broncos.

The Broncos are 6-1 since Tebow took over as the starting quarterback in place of the ineffective Kyle Orton. While Tebow is far from a traditional signal-caller, his rapport with running back Willis McGahee in the option game is undeniable.

On top of that, Denver's defense is playing much better than expected, thanks mostly to the excellent pass-rush being provided by Elvis Dumervil and rookie Von Miller. With a strong defense and great running game, Denver has a very portable style of play, but it simply won't work come playoff time.

You might think that the Broncos have the tools to play good playoff football, but in all likelihood, the Broncos will secure the fourth seed by winning the AFC West if they are to make the playoffs.

This means that they will have to face the top Wild Card team, which will be either the Baltimore Ravens or Pittsburgh Steelers. Both teams will be able to stop the run and bring Denver's season to a screeching halt.

Houston Texans

At 9-3 with a two-game lead in the AFC South, it looks like the Houston Texans may finally earn their first-ever playoff berth. Houston scored an extremely impressive victory on Sunday over the Atlanta Falcons, but I don't think the Texans have the tools to get the job done in the long run.

Most of that stems from the fact that Houston is going to rely on rookie fifth-round pick T.J. Yates at quarterback for the duration of the season.

Yates played good, mistake-free football against the Falcons, but in order to succeed in the postseason, a team needs a quarterback who can make big plays. Matt Schaub could have been that guy prior to getting injured, but that is a lot to put on Yates' plate.

Houston certainly has a much-improved defense this season, and running back Arian Foster can carry much of the offensive load, but this team isn't comparable to the Baltimore Ravens, who were able to survive with Trent Dilfer under center.

In this day and age, an elite quarterback is essentially a prerequisite to make noise in the playoffs, and the Texans simply don't have that right now.

San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers are 10-2, have already clinched the NFC West and are in great position to receive a first-round bye in the playoffs, but their record doesn't tell the entire story.

The Niners are playing in what looks to be a historically bad division as Seattle, Arizona and St. Louis are all either mediocre at best and awful at worst.

On top of that, the Niners have had an especially easy out-of-division schedule as well, thanks to their last-place finish in 2010. Make no mistake, though, that San Francisco has an excellent defense, particularly when it comes to stopping the run, and offensively the Niners have a nice duo in the backfield with Frank Gore and Kendall Hunter.

My true concern comes with quarterback Alex Smith.

While Smith has played consistent, mistake-free football this season, he isn't the type of quarterback who can help bring your team back from a deficit. The 49ers defense can be beaten through the air, and with pass-heavy teams like the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints to go through in the NFC, I don't think the Niners are explosive enough to get the job done.