NFL Playoff Predictions: 5 Defenses Built To Play in January

Defense wins championships. 

This is the mantra we have been hearing for years on how to be successful in the NFL playoffs. The 2011 NFL season is no different. 

Even though we have a slew of elite offenses entering the playoffs this year including the Green Bay Packers and New England Patriots, defense is what will win games in the playoffs. 

When January rolls around and only the best of the best are left in the NFL postseason, games come down to a few big plays. Often these plays can be big defensive stops or turnovers that swing the momentum of a game. 

Not all of the defenses heading in to the postseason this year will be able to come up with these plays. Not all of the defenses are really built to play postseason football. 

Here are five defenses that are. 

San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers have completely turned their fortunes around this season.

They were once one of the worst teams in the worst division in the NFL. Now, they're already division champions and battling for playoff seeds with the best of the best of the NFC. 

Even though their new head coach Jim Harbaugh is an offensive-minded coach, he has turned the defense in to one of the best in the league. The 49ers have become a hard-nosed, physical squad that relies on ball control and limiting opposing offenses. 

Led by the incredibly talented and amazingly athletic Patrick Willis, the San Francisco 49ers have allowed the least amount of points in the NFL. They are top five in rushing yards allowed this season on top of that. 

The 49ers are the kind of team that can slow those high-powered offenses like Green Bay and New Orleans in the postseason. Their offense can control the ball while the defense limits the scoring. They have the unique knack to turn games in to dog fights rather than technical offensive battles. 

This is one defense I would not want to line up against come January. 

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers are the classic postseason team. 

They have some great offensive weapons and have become much more than just a ground-and-pound rushing team. However, the real meat of the Steelers team comes on the defensive side of the ball. 

The Steelers currently have the best pass defense in the league as well as a top-10 rush defense. Even after a slow start for their defense, Pittsburgh got back to what they do best. 

We know that they are a lock to enter the postseason at this point. They're still battling with the Baltimore Ravens for control of the AFC North and a potential first-round bye. Regardless of where they're seeded, they will be a defense that no one wants to play.

On top of limiting opposing offenses to minimal yardage, the Steelers are second in points allowed this season. They're simply one of the toughest defenses to move the ball on in the NFL.

One of the worst nightmares for any AFC team is having to go to Heinz Field in January. That field is famous for being torn up, and the weather will make it brutal on offenses.

It's hard enough to move the ball on Pittsburgh in perfect weather, but the last place you want to be is facing that defense in their natural element come January.  

Baltimore Ravens

The Pittsburgh Steelers' AFC North rival also makes this short list. 

The Baltimore Ravens have been one of the few teams that can match the Steelers physicality and toughness game in and game out. Which means that they would of course be built to make some serious noise come January. 

The Ravens are ranked right behind the Steelers in yards allowed this season, but they also have a devastating pass rush. Baltimore currently leads the NFL in sacks led by linebacker Terrell Suggs.

This Ravens defense has played incredibly well even while missing their on and off-the-field leader in Ray Lewis who has been battling a foot injury. Many criticized this defense, suggesting that they were simply getting too old, and their age would eventually catch up with them.

Well, the Ravens certainly haven't bought in to any of that and are ready to terrorize offenses come January once again. 

Houston Texans

The Houston Texans have taken advantage of an AFC South division missing Peyton Manning. 

They're currently sitting atop the division comfortably and will be looking to finish their 2011 campaign strong. Even though they lost their quarterback Matt Schaub for the season, their new-look defense has been the story of their year. 

The arrival of Wade Phillips was the big change for Houston this year. The former Cowboys' head coach came in and implemented a 3-4 defense that took the Texans from the bottom of the defensive rankings in 2010 to the top in 2011. 

Phillips will be out on medical leave for the majority of the playoffs after kidney and gall bladder surgery. However, what he has instilled in his defense will remain for the playoffs. 

While Texans star defensive player Mario Williams has been less of a factor this season, his slack has been picked up by players like rookie J.J. Watt. The Texans have established a very talented and young front seven that will be a force in the playoffs.

Houston may be the newest defensive force on the block, but they're certainly not to be taken lightly.

New York Jets

How could I leave Rex Ryan's New York Jets off this list?

The Jets had a rough start to their season going 2-3 in their first five games. That included three straight AFC losses where they allowed more than 30 points per game. Many were questioning whether or not this was the same Jets defense that we had grown to know since Rex Ryan took the helm as head coach.

Well, they may not be the same defense that we have seen over the past few years. However, they're still one of the best defenses in the league and one of the best prepared to win games come January. 

New York has their fair share of offensive issues both passing and rushing the ball. However, they still have one of the best pass defenses in the league. Darrelle Revis is still a lockdown corner that no wide receiver in the league wants to line up against. 

It's appearing that the Jets will sneak into the postseason as a wild-card team. They will have plenty of obstacles to overcome if they plan on making some serious noise in the postseason this year. 

All that aside, they're one defense that I would not want my favorite team to have to face in January.