NFL Playoff Predictions: 4 Teams Nobody Wants to Face This Postseason

Sometimes, a record or seed don't tell the whole story about a team. In the NFL, champions come form teams that peak at just the right time, not necessarily the team that has been the best all season. 

Last year was a perfect example, as the fifth-seed Packers caught fire and rode it to a Super Bowl title. When they clinched the playoffs as a wild-card team, they were widely regarded as one of the most dangerous teams in the postseason, even though they did not even win their division. 

Here are the teams that no one wants to face in the postseason. 

Green Bay Packers

This is a bit obvious, but this is the last team anyone wants to face at any point in the season.

Rodgers is playing at a level never achieved by a quarterback before. The defense—while still a shadow of last year's unit—is showing signs of improvement. 

The Greg Jennings injury hurts, but they have a ton of depth at receiver and will probably get him back in time for their first postseason game especially since (in all likelihood), they will have a first-round bye. 

New Orleans Saints

The Saints can be either a dominant, unbeatable juggernaut or a vulnerable, flawed team. It just depends on where they play. 

Going into New Orleans and beating the Saints may be even more difficult than beating the Packers. When the Saints are at home, they are almost unstoppable, and they will probably host at least one playoff game.  

Whoever is given the task of beating the Saints on their own turf probably won't last long in the NFC playoffs. 

New York Jets

Have I seen this movie before?

It seems as if every year, the Jets under Rex Ryan always make a late-season run to squeeze into the postseason. When they do get in, they are 4-2 under Ryan with two AFC title game appearances. 

This team is playing better with each week: They have an improved running game, defense and a more efficient Mark Sanchez. They'll have to do it the hard way—on the road for all three games—but they have done it before. 

If you are looking for a team with playoff experience, look no further than New York: No team in the NFL has played more playoff games over the past two seasons than the Jets.

New England Patriots

Yes, they have a lousy defense. But, the Patriots are nothing short of a well-oiled machine on offense, no matter where they play. 

Rob Gronkowski is not only the best tight end in football and a match-up nightmare: He has the tools to be one of the best tight ends of all time. 

As bad as this defense has looked at times, they have shown signs of being at least competent. As they start to get healthier on that side of the ball, they are going to be tough to beat.