NFL Playoff Projections: San Francisco 49ers and Teams to Be Wary of

The 2011 NFL regular season is coming down the home stretch. Thus, it's time to look at which teams will be making the NFL Playoffs, on the road to Super Bowl XLVI. 

Some teams, like the Green Bay Packers or New England Patriots, are obvious powerhouses and potential playoff threats. However, there are many great teams being overlooked.

Here are unlikely teams that can do damage in the 2012 NFL Playoffs.

San Francisco 49ers

Despite a 10-2 record, the San Francisco 49ers still haven't received the credit they deserve.

Sure, the Alex Smith-led passing game may not impress anybody. But future NFL Coach of the Year Jim Harbaugh's smash-mouth brand of football will be very dangerous come playoff time. 

The 49ers may be the only NFC team that can challenge the undefeated Green Bay Packers. Running back Frank Gore can help win the time-of-possession battle, keeping the Packers' mighty offense off the field. Not to mention that the Niners' defense is the NFC's best; if any team can slow down Aaron Rodgers and company, it's San Francisco.

Denver Broncos

Tim Tebow may be receiving all the credit for the Denver Broncos' miraculous turnaround, but he isn't the reason for Denver's ascension. 

Willis McGahee has done the impossible, having his best season as running back at age 30. Even more overlooked is the emergence of Denver's wildly talented defense led by Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil.

If the Broncos win the AFC West, they won't just be a great story. They'll be a legitimate threat to win playoff games. 

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Broncos will have less of a chance to win, of course, if they have to face the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Considering their status as defending AFC Champions, it's remarkable how under-the-radar the Steelers have been since their unsightly loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1. Meanwhile, the team has just gotten better and better as the season continued. 

The Steelers are notorious for their defense, but Ben Roethlisberger has led a high-powered passing attack in 2011. Most notable is the lethal connection between Big Ben and Mike Wallace. 

Speaking of the defense, it's excellent once again, ranking first in the NFL in total defense. 

All in all, the Steelers are seriously capable of making it to the Super Bowl for the fourth time in seven years.

Tennessee Titans

Don't look now, but rookie coach Mike Munchak has the Tennessee Titans in the thick of the wild-card hunt. 

The team is currently firing on all cylinders and should be a force to be reckoned with, should they make the postseason.

Chris Johnson is finally awakening from his season long hibernation, running for 343 yards in his last two starts. Quarterback Matt Hasselback is a proven postseason winner, having pulled off a stunner with the Seattle Seahawks just last season.

Don't be surprised if he pulls off another upset this year.

Atlanta Falcons

If the season ended today, the Atlanta Falcons would make the NFL playoffs—yet no one seems to be taking them seriously.

The offense is remarkably balanced, led by Matt Ryan's arm and Michael Turner's feet. It's also worth mentioning that Atlanta's underrated defense in ranked 10th in total offense.

If the Falcons face the New Orleans Saints in the first round, a team they know well, Atlanta has more than a decent chance of scoring an upset.