NFL Playoff Picture: Ranking the Top 5 Title Contenders

While the Packers are certainly uncontested as the top team in football, how do the other four teams rank as we approach the postseason? 

The past few weeks have been very telling regarding which teams are the true contenders and which teams have been putting up smoke and mirrors all season. 

Without further ado, here are the top five teams and how they rank heading into the playoffs.

5. New England Patriots

There is a lot of talk about how bad the stats look, but the Patriots defense is not as bad people think—teams just don’t run a lot on these guys.

However, as good as their offense looks at times, it is going to be difficult to sustain that kind of play throughout the postseason.

If their offense stumbles, so does the rest of the team, which is unlike teams like Pittsburgh, who can win in more ways than one.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers

You could argue to put the Ravens here because they beat the Steelers twice, but I just trust the Steelers more than the Ravens.

The stats don’t say it, but to me, the Steelers have the better defense, better quarterback and better receiving corps, especially since the emergence of Antonio Brown.

However, the Steelers have let some bad teams play them very closely, which has to be somewhat concerning.  

3. New Orleans Saints

The Patriots, Saints and Packers are all just on another level than the rest of the league when it comes to offensive football.

They also have a couple things in common—great quarterbacks and the top receiving threats at the tight end position.

However, the Saints have incredible depth at tailback and will likely use a fresh Mark Ingram against worn-down defenses down the stretch. 

Still, the Saints need to get better at stopping the run if they want to challenge the Packers for NFC supremacy.

2. San Francisco 49ers

They don't win in any kind of spectacular fashion, but what the 49ers are doing on both sides of the ball is no fluke.

Offensively, their complex run schemes combined with precise shifts and motions on offense makes this unit very tough to play against. 

Defensively, they have the best front-seven in football.

How's this for a stat: the Niners have yet to yield a rushing touchdown all season. 

1. Green Bay Packers

Of course, the Pack are the top team in football, but can they repeat?

Can they survive an "average" game from Rodgers, especially as the weather turns for the worse?

Will the talk of being undefeated become too much of a burden? 

All of these questions have yet to be answered, but clearly, the Packers are favorites to repeat as Super Bowl champions.