NFL Playoff Predictions: Stock Watch for Defense of Every Surefire Playoff Team

As the weather turns when playoff time approaches, teams with the better defenses tend to last much longer in the postseason. We have seen a large body of work from every team, but how a team is playing at this point in the season is usually a strong indicator of how they will fare in January (and hopefully February).

Without further adieu, here are how the defenses of six playoff-locks are trending right now. 

Green Bay Packers: Down

This defense has improved slightly with each week, but most teams have no problem scoring on the Packers. Losing Nick Collins has really hurt them in the back end, and players like Tramon Williams are not having quite the same season they had a year ago. Also, losing Cullen Jenkins has had an effect on their interior pass rush. 

Should they run into a prolific offense like the Saints, unless this defense improves, the Packers' perfect season is still a long way from being realized. 

San Francisco 49ers: Up

The Niners may have been playing with the leauge's best defense all year, and it's only getting more dominant with each week after shutting out the Cardinals last week. 

The difference for the Niners defense this season has been the play of the lesser know guys, such as Carlos Rogers and Navorro Bowman. When you combine the play of those guys with the stars, Patrick Willis and Justin Smith, this defense is tough to play against every week. 

New Orleans Saints: Down

The biggest issue for the Saints on defense has been their ability to stop the run, which has slowed their pass rush and forced them to play with extra players in the box. It was a long time ago, but watching Steven Jackson run through the Saints' loaded boxes has had me weary of this defense since. 

They usually play well enough to win, but they are going to need better play from their interior tackles, notably Shaun Rogers, if they are going to beat a team like the 49ers in the playoffs. 

New England Patriots: Up

The Patriots defense, especially against the pass, has taken a lot of heat for their horrible statistics. The reality is, however, that this defense really is not as bad as they are perceived to be; it's just that teams do not run on the Patriots because they are always behind. As a result, you have a lot of game with inflated passing statistics for the other team, because they are playing "catch-up" all game long. 

I still don't trust them to carry their team, but they have improved a little each week, despite their mounting injuries in the secondary. Once they start to get some players back, this defense is going to look nothing like the unit we saw earlier in the season. 

Pittsburgh Steelers: Even

I have a hard time getting a good read on the Steeler defense. They are dominant against poor offensive teams like the Chiefs and Browns, but when facing quality offenses, they can be scored on. 

They are aging a bit and have had a few injuries, but they have been pretty up and down all season long for me to get too excited about their recent performances against bad teams. 

Baltimore Ravens: Down

This may be the most overrated unit in football. After beating up on bad offenses at the start of the season, they have been anointed as the best defense in football, mostly for their brand name. 

However, they have had some inexplicably bad games, especially as of late. The Bengals were able to score at will, and even the Seahawks had success against this unit. 

This defense isn't necessarily bad, but they are not the dominant unit everyone claims them to be.