NFL Power Rankings: Identifying the Clear Super Bowl Favorites

Well, with the NFL playoffs nearing each week, talk of the Super Bowl becomes quite a trending discussion. That said, Super Bowl favorites are obviously mentioned.

So, here are four Super Bowl favorites (two from each conference) and two teams who aren't the most widely recognized as favorites.

Green Bay Packers (12-0)

No question here to see Green Bay on the list. Their offense is unstoppable and although the defense has been vulnerable to the pass, they still know how to pick off passes and find the end zone.

Perhaps the most impressive thing about Green Bay, however, is their special teams. They continue to win with poor defense because they win the field-position battle. When getting a kickoff or punt, return specialist Randall Cobb has done an excellent job in helping the Packers win that aspect of the game.

Definitely takes pressure off the offense and even if they have a bad series, the punting game pins the opposition back deep enough to assist the defense. The Packers continue to win as they play the numbers game; the better the field position, the better your odds of scoring.

Baltimore Ravens (9-3)

The Ravens have two slip-up games against the Seahawks and Jaguars because the Titans' loss in Tennessee is now looking more and more legit.

That being said, this team goes as RB Ray Rice goes. He sets up the passing game beautifully; that way the defense is drawn up in the box and rookie speedster Torrey Smith is sent downfield to beat single coverage.

It also helps that their defense is arguably the best in the game. Ranking No. 5 against the pass and No. 2 against the rush, Baltimore is tough to move the ball on and tough to stop. They're quite possibly the most complete team right now and playing at a high level.

The final challenge, however, is to beat the Steelers in the postseason. Because you know they're planning on meeting Pittsburgh in January.

Houston Texans (9-3)

Yes, the Houston Texans who have T.J. Yates under center and are without LB Mario Williams. Thing is, Houston may be the most dangerous team in the playoffs because no one is believing they can make it past the divisional round.

However, thanks to having the No. 3- and No. 4-ranked pass and rush defense, respectively, the Texans know how to win old school. Additionally, they're rush offense ranks No. 3 and both RBs (Ben Tate, Arian Foster) are difficult to stop.

We could talk all we want about how injuries will and have affected them. But the Packers were in the same position just a year ago. Mauled by injuries and limped into the postseason. In a pass-happy league the Texans are going overlooked because they now lack a dominating passing presence.

But none of that matters as long as the defense keeps suffocating offenses and the ground game controls the game tempo. They're also a solid team when in comes to special teams (rank No. 6 in yards per kickoff return, No. 12 in yards per punt return).

San Francisco 49ers (10-2)

San Francisco may not have looked like it against the Ravens, but no one in the NFC will be able to slow down their ground game.

The Saints and Packers both allow an average of almost five rush yards per carry, and the 49ers pass offense is good enough to be effective against their susceptible pass defenses also.

And with return specialist Ted Ginn back deep, he's capable of taking any kick or punt back at anytime. Moving on to Frisco's defense and we see a tough front seven that is ranked No. 1 in stopping the run.

They may be vulnerable against the pass, however their respectable pass rush does make up for some of that vulnerability. QB Alex Smith is careful with the football and RB Frank Gore is as good as any RB in the game.

Frisco will control the clock and play to win the field-position game in the postseason. So, although the Packers and Saints are explosive, if the 49ers can slow the game down (which is very possible), they're a force to be reckoned with in January.

Week 14 NFL Power Rankings (LW = Last Week's Rank)

1. Green Bay Packers (12-0) (LW 1)	17. New York Giants (6-6) (LW 17)
2. Baltimore Ravens (9-3) (LW 6)	18. San Diego Chargers (5-7) (LW 20)
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3) (LW 2)	19. Miami Dolphins (4-8) (LW 21)
4. New Orleans Saints (9-3) (LW 5)	20. Arizona Cardinals (5-7) (LW 22)
5. Houston Texans (9-3) (LW 3)	21. Seattle Seahawks (5-7) (LW 25)
6. New England Patriots (9-3) (LW 4)	22. Buffalo Bills (5-7) (LW 19)
7. San Francisco 49ers (10-2) (LW 7)	23. Kansas City Chiefs (5-7) (LW 24)
8. Atlanta Falcons (7-5) (LW 9)	24. Philadelphia Eagles (4-8) (LW 18)
9. Denver Broncos (7-5) (LW 14)	25. Carolina Panthers (4-8) (LW 28)
10. Tennessee Titans (7-5) (LW 16)	26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-8) (LW 23)
11. New York Jets (7-5) (LW 15)	27. Washington Redskins (4-8) (LW 27)
12. Dallas Cowboys (7-5) (LW 8)	28. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-9) (LW 26)
13. Detroit Lions (7-5) (LW 13)	29. Cleveland Browns (4-8) (LW 30)
14. Oakland Raiders (7-5) (LW 11)	30. Minnesota Vikings (2-10) (LW 29)
15. Chicago Bears (7-5) (LW 10)	31. St. Louis Rams (2-10) (LW 31)
16. Cincinnati Bengals (7-5) (LW 12)	32. Indianapolis Colts (0-12) (LW 32)

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