NFL Playoff Picture: Top 10 Questions Heading into the Playoffs

With the NFL playoffs just three weeks away, anticipation is mounting among football fans. There is still movement to be made within the playoff standings, but that isn't stopping observers from speculating on possible matchups and how they will ultimately play out.

As good as every prospective playoff team is, none of them, not even the Green Bay Packers, will enter the postseason without a few question marks. Little by little, those questions will be answered in the coming weeks, but for now, we are left to play the "what if" game in our heads.

It's never too early to start thinking about the playoffs, and with just a handful of games remaining in the regular season, playoff talk will continue to ramp up. Here are 10 big questions that most NFL fans are likely pondering as we close in on the start of the postseason.

Will Injuries Catch Up with Pittsburgh Steelers?

Alongside the New England Patriots, the Pittsburgh Steelers have probably been the most dominant team in football over the past decade or so. The biggest reasons for that are both the defense and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Those particular entities nearly led the Steelers to their third Super Bowl win in six years, but they fell just short against the Green Bay Packers.

There has been no hangover from the Super Bowl loss, however, as the Steelers hold a 10-3 record and trail the Baltimore Ravens by a tiebreaker in the AFC North. Both the defense and Roethlisberger have been fantastic again this season, but there is reason for concern, as injuries have begun to ravage some key players.

On defense, safety Troy Polamalu is dealing with a concussion, linebacker LaMarr Woodley is working his way back from a hamstring injury and linebacker James Harrison is having disciplinary issues due to illegal hits. On offense, Roethlisberger is nursing an ankle injury as well, so most of the team's top players are affected. There is still time to heal up, but you have to wonder if this is the year that the Steelers can't overcome their injury problems.

Can the New England Patriots Overcome a Terrible Defense?

The New England Patriots have one of the best offenses in football thanks to quarterback Tom Brady, wide receiver Wes Welker and tight end Rob Gronkowski. They also have what many consider to be the best head coach in the league in Bill Belichick. With all of that, there's no way the Patriots can lose, right? Well, maybe not.

As good as New England is in those aspects, the Patriots may very well have the worst defense in the league. Not only are the Pats just middle of the pack when it comes to stopping the run, they also have the worst pass defense in the league by a wide margin, as they allow about 309 yards per game.

With the high-quality offenses they are sure to run into at some point in the playoffs, it calls into question whether the Pats can honestly be considered contenders. New England can score with anyone, but when push comes to shove, its defense may wilt. The Patriots haven't had much playoff success in recent years in the first place, and an awful defense won't help things.

Are the San Francisco 49ers Merely Pretenders in Disguise?

With a 10-3 record and an NFC West Division crown in tow, you can't take anything away from the San Francisco 49ers and what they have accomplished this season. At the same time, the Niners don't have the explosive offense that most of the other top contenders have, and they have begun to show some vulnerability over their past few games.

That was especially apparent on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, as the Niners blew a good-sized lead and eventually lost to an inferior Arizona team. The 49ers are very good defensively, especially against the run, as they allow just 70 yards per game on the ground and have yet to give up a rushing touchdown.

At the same time, it has been proven that the Niners can be passed on, and that could be a major issue in the playoffs, as every potential NFC postseason team has an excellent quarterback. Also, if San Fran can't get Frank Gore and the running game going, can quarterback Alex Smith put the team on his back? I don't think he can, and I believe the Niners are prime candidates to get knocked out early, but time will tell.

Can Houston Texans Win With T.J. Yates at QB?

With the Indianapolis Colts felled by the injury to quarterback Peyton Manning, this looked to be the year that the Houston Texans would finally win the AFC South and make the playoffs. After season-ending injuries to starting quarterback Matt Schaub and backup Matt Leinart, however, it seemed like the Texans' run might be over.

Houston has managed to rally behind rookie quarterback T.J. Yates, though, winning each of his starts and clinching the division title in the process. While the foundation of the team is built upon a great defense and explosive running game behind running back Arian Foster, the team has been winning because of Yates, not in spite of him.

When Foster couldn't get it in gear against the Cincinnati Bengals last week, Yates took control by throwing for 300 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner with two seconds left. Conventional wisdom says that rookie signal-callers can't thrive in the playoffs, especially fifth-round rookies, but Yates may have the supporting cast to buck trends and succeed.

Which Team Will Come Out of Top-Heavy AFC?

When looking at the AFC playoff picture, most would come to the conclusion that either the New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers or Baltimore Ravens will be the conference's Super Bowl representative. Houston Texans, New York Jets and Denver Broncos fans may disagree, but I have to agree with the consensus in this case.

The true question is, though, which team will it be? Unlike the NFC where the Green Bay Packers are unequivocally the team to beat, the AFC is very volatile. The title of "team to beat" has been passed around like a hot potato. But right now, I think it resides with the Ravens, as they are the most complete team among the triumvirate of top contenders.

Not only does Baltimore have an elite defense, but it also has perhaps the best running back in football in Ray Rice. Some may consider quarterback Joe Flacco to be a liability, but he certainly has the ability to do big things and he has come through in some clutch moments. Baltimore's three losses have essentially been lapses in concentration against inferior teams this season, and that is something that won't come into play in the playoffs.

Which Team Might Be This Year’s Green Bay Packers?

Last season, despite their obvious talent, the Green Bay Packers had to sneak into the playoffs as the NFC's No. 6 seed. Most of that had to do with a myriad of injuries that marred the team throughout the season, but it was very apparent that the Packers weren't your average No. 6 seed. With that said, which team could do something similar this year.

I think the most obvious candidates reside in the NFC in the form of the Detroit Lions, Atlanta Falcons and New York Giants. All of those teams have the talent to do damage in the playoffs should they make it, but they're under the radar at the moment. Of those three teams, my pick would be the Lions, as they are the most similar to the Packers.

Like Green Bay, Detroit has a very impressive passing attack led by quarterback Matthew Stafford. While Stafford hasn't entered the conversation of elite quarterbacks yet, he is certainly on the verge, just like Rodgers last season. Also, although the Lions have an inconsistent defense, it can cause some trouble when the pass rush is on. You can draw a lot of parallels between this year's Detroit team and last year's Green Bay team, so the Lions have a chance to surprise some people.

Will New York Jets Continue Playoff Success Under Rex Ryan?

Two years, two appearances in the AFC Championship Game. That is how Rex Ryan's very-impressive resume as head coach of the New York Jets reads. The Jets have fallen short in each of their attempts to make it to the Super Bowl, but they have been successful nonetheless. The Jets have been very inconsistent this season, however, so it remains to be seen if they can reach that level again this season.

Under Ryan, the Jets have always hung their hats on defense. That continues to be true, as New York has one of the best secondaries in football, although that was compromised a bit by a season-ending injury to safety Jim Leonhard last week. Also, the Jets have proven to be a bit vulnerable when it comes to stopping the run, so that could be an issue.

On offense it is normally a roller coaster ride for Ryan's squad. Quarterback Mark Sanchez looks like an amateur at times, but he is also capable of looking great like he did last week against the Kansas City Chiefs. The true key will be to get the running game going with Shonn Greene. Although he was dormant for most of the season, Greene has run well as of late, so things may be coming together at the right time for the Jets.

Will History Repeat Itself for New York Giants?

In 2007, the New York Giants played the undefeated New England Patriots in the final game of the regular season. Although the Giants were already locked into their playoff spot, head coach Tom Coughlin decided to start his regulars and make a run at unseating the Pats. It didn't work, as they lost 38-35, but the teams met a month later in the Super Bowl, and the Giants ended the Patriots' perfect season.

A very similar thing happened a couple weeks ago as the Giants hosted the undefeated Green Bay Packers. The Giants didn't have a playoff spot clinched, but they did give the Packers a run for their money before losing by the very same score, 38-35. It may just be a coincidence, but it's amazing how similar the instances are.

The Giants took back the lead in the NFC East this past week by nipping the Dallas Cowboys by three points, and they essentially control their own destiny. Should the Giants get to the playoffs, they have all the tools to win with a great quarterback in Eli Manning and four big-time pass rushers. To do it, the Giants will likely have to deal with the Packers once again, but if 2007 is any indication, then the G-Men will be ready.

Can Tim Tebow Continue His Magical Run?

After five games, the Denver Broncos were 1-4 and seemed destined for a high draft pick. What has happened since is nothing short of remarkable, however, as quarterback Tim Tebow was inserted into the lineup and has since led the Broncos to seven wins in eight games. Almost all of the wins have been in dramatic fashion as well, making Tebow perhaps the biggest story in football.

All of the credit can't be given to Tebow, of course, as head coach John Fox has coached up a vastly-improved defense and running back Willis McGahee has provided an offensive spark. There is no denying that Tebow has been a factor, though, as his running ability has allowed the Broncos to switch to a very effective option offense.

As impressive as Tebow has been, he hasn't been the most proficient passer, and most of the teams he has beaten aren't of a high caliber. With that said, it will be incredibly interesting to see how he and the young Broncos respond on the big stage. If Tebow can find a way to win a playoff game or two with the supporting cast he has, it will be hard to chalk it up as beginner's luck any longer.

Can Anybody Beat the Green Bay Packers?

With just three games left in the regular season, the Green Bay Packers are undefeated and on the brink of making history. The Packers have taken on all comers, and while some have come close, the vast majority have been vanquished with relative ease. The main reason for that is the fact that the Packers have the best quarterback in the planet in Aaron Rodgers.

Green Bay's defense is opportunistic when it comes to forcing turnovers, but it has certainly proven to be susceptible to opposing passing games. Because of that, it certainly isn't impossible to put up points against the Packers. The issue, however, is that Green Bay can light up the scoreboard against any defense in the league, good or bad.

Based on what I've seen this season, I think the team with the best shot at giving Green Bay a run is the New Orleans Saints. Quarterback Drew Brees may be the only person playing close to Rodgers' level right now, and he proved that he could match Rodgers blow for blow in an eight-point loss on opening night. Ultimately, I believe Rodgers and the Packers will be too much for any opponent, but if any team can possibly do it, I think it's the Saints.