NFL Playoff Prediction: Ray Lewis Injury Was Best Thing That Happened to Ravens

Ray Lewis is the greatest middle linebacker in history, and that is exactly why the Ravens' play during his absence has made them the favorites in the AFC.

At 36, Lewis is not the player he once was, but he is still the heart and soul of the defense. As he missed two games due to a bad toe, I watched Joe Flacco and Terrell Suggs take over as leaders in his absence

The Ravens offense found a balance with the long ball to Torrey Smith, and this only augmented the talents of Ray Rice. The worst thing that could ever happen to the NFL is for the Ravens to find a consistent offense. Well, guess what, it has happened. 

The Ravens have won four in a row, they have swept the Steelers in the season series and they've done it on both sides of the ball. They have surrendered 12.5 points per game, while scoring 24 points during the win streak.

Flacco hasn't had to go for big games, the deep threat is there, and the Ravens use that to balance the run game with Ray Rice.

The other AFC playoff seeds will go as follows:

2. New England Patriots

If Brady and the Pats can escape Tim Tebow, they should be fine for the second bye. Losing that game makes things a little bit tight. They will only hold a one-game lead over Denver, with Denver then holding the tiebreaker.

I think they will defeat the Broncos, but I almost feel nervous picking against Tebow at this point.

3. Houston Texans

The Texans have been beyond resilient as they have clinched their first ever playoff spot. Also, T.J. Yates is starting to look a little more comfortable as well. He is 3-0, with three TDs and only one INT, while he threw for 300 yards against a tough Cincinnati Bengals defense last week.

He's good for a 2-1 finish.

4. Denver Broncos

The loss to the Pats will kill any chance the Broncos have in catching the pack to steal the second first round bye. But, with the way that defense is playing, and the Tebow factor, nobody wants to draw Denver in the postseason.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers are the second-best team in the AFC, unfortunately for them, the best team is also in their division. Being swept by the Ravens just about kills their shot at the first-round bye.

Still, the Steelers are a well-balanced team, that is capable of knocking off any team. They have also won four in a row, but they have a tough matchup coming this week against the 49ers. 

6. New York Jets

The Jets will skate in ahead of the Raiders, Chargers, Titans and Bengals. The Jets are starting to come around with the rushing attack, Shonn Greene followed up his three-TD performance against the Redskins, with a 129-yard, TD performance against the Chiefs Sunday.

The defense is starting to play better as well, but the erratic play of Mark Sanchez will hold them back in the postseason, even though a matchup with the Texans would be their best draw.