NFL Power Rankings: Playoff Teams That Will Be Brought to Earth in Postseason

Getting to the playoffs is nice. However, once you're there, luck doesn't win for you. You're not facing bad opponents.

No, you're facing teams that will generally have no problem exploiting your greatest weaknesses.

That's the case with every one of these teams. They will find their way to the playoffs, but a long stay does not await them.

Houston Texans

A tip of the hat goes to the Texans for showing off unmatched resiliency. But the fact of the matter is that when this team gets a playoff-caliber opponent, its injuries will catch up to it. 

Most of the top talent this team has has been banged up all year (Andre Johnson), or is on injured reserve (Matt Schaub, Mario Williams). That's going to be too much to overcome. 

The AFC playoff picture is an incredible cluster right now, with four teams sitting at 10-3. In the NFC, things are much clearer. But the team that faces the Texans will get a depleted lineup. As a result, Houston will have to wait another year to achieve playoff success.

Detroit Lions

This team is really only getting to the playoffs because the NFC East's top teams are sliding too hard to contend for a wild-card berth. Also, the injuries to Jay Cutler and Matt Forte have ruined the Bears' chances. 

But when the playoffs roll around, they are looking right at a matchup with either the 49ers or Saints. Both teams have beaten the Lions this season. The 49ers won in Detroit, while the Saints won convincingly. 

This team has a lot of talent, but it plays stupid football too often. It needs a year of maturity before competing in the playoffs. 

Dallas Cowboys

For the record, just about everything I am going to say about the Cowboys applies to the Giants as well, but because I still think the Cowboys will pull the division out, I will talk about them.

While the first round of playoffs will be in Dallas, they will be facing a hot Atlanta Falcons' team with a strong offense all around. Matt Ryan has Julio Jones, Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez to throw to. They have Michael Turner coming out of the backfield.

More importantly, they have an overall competent defense, which neither the Giants or Cowboys possess. But again, we're going with the Cowboys to win the division, only to face another postseason disappointment. 

Michael Dixon's Week 15 NFL Power Rankings

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

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