NFL Playoff Picture: 5 Reasons This Postseason Is Must-Watch TV

Every year the NFL postseason is much-watch TV, because with football being the most popular sport, why not watch the NFL's best teams duke it out?

As for 2011, it's been a wild ride and if there's any indication that the playoffs will be insanely fun to watch, the regular season has done pretty well to say the least. That being said, here are five reasons January is must-watch TV for the NFL's second season.

Tim Tebow

As if you really need any other reason?

Arguably the most polarizing athlete in the world right now, Denver QB Tim Tebow has taken the NFL by storm in getting the Broncos atop the AFC West since their 1-4 start.

This season Tebow is 7-2 as the starter and despite having some of the worst numbers a QB can have throwing the football, Tebow has managed some of this season's most ridiculous late-game heroics.

Now, the Broncos have yet to clinch the division let alone a playoff spot, however their final two games are winnable so it shouldn't be out of the question to see Denver in January. As for Tebow, the NFL postseason will be the biggest stage he's yet to set foot on in his career.

Although he won two national titles as well as the Heisman Trophy in college, that pales in comparison to the NFL's toughest month.

Nonetheless, with all the crazy antics that have gone on in the Mile High City this season, you can bet the playoffs will only enhance the magnitude of how intense the atmosphere feels.

Packers' Shot at Repeating

It's only happened eight previous times in Super Bowl history and only seven different franchises have succeeded in doing so, and that's repeating as Super Bowl champions.

The Green Bay Packers were the first to do so after the 1967 NFL season when they won the first two Super Bowls, and the New England Patriots from 2003-2004 were the most recent to do so.

Many times there have been repeat conference champions, however none have had a shot to repeat in the playoffs with a 15-1 record. Of those who have repeated, the best record was never better than 14-2, so with Green Bay this season having a shot at 15-1, it will be the best team to repeat of all time.

And with the potential NFL MVP in QB Aaron Rodgers under center, Titletown has every reason to believe it will repeat.

The defense has the ability to cause turnovers every game and with rookie return man Randall Cobb, the field-position battle is always a cinch to win.

The Packers are an exciting bunch to watch and also, how could anyone not want to watch pro football's postseason when Lambeau Field will be favored? 

How Long Can Tom Brady Do This?

Next season will be Tom Brady's 13th NFL season.

Only one time when he's played a full season has New England missed the postseason (2002). Brady has led the Patriots to four Super Bowls, winning three of them, and he's been the game's MVP twice.

This season New England is fighting once again for the AFC's No. 1 seed with their current record of 11-3. Brady is having another spectacular year but how long can he do this for?

Sure we've seen Hall of Fame QBs like John Elway, Dan Marino and Brett Favre play awhile, but it's not like Brady is young either. He'll be 35 years old when the 2012 NFL season kicks off, so with that said, his time is on the back nine (so to speak).

Therefore, with Brady getting up there in age we have to appreciate watching a future Hall of Famer in the playoffs. There's only so many more times we will see him at the helm and when he's done, he's done.

Of the current QBs in the postseason, Brady is the most experienced and successful, so why not watch the modern-day Johnny Unitas/Joe Montana toward the end of his career?

Postseason Returns to Houston

See that photo of former Houston Oiler QB and pro football Hall of Famer Warren Moon?

It's from the 1993 NFL season, the last NFL season where the city of Houston had a pro football team make the playoffs.

Four years later the Oilers bounced to Nashville, TN and the Titans then made the Super Bowl in 1999.

In 2002, the Houston Texans were born, however the city has only seen one winning season (2009) until 2011 and the franchise's first playoff berth and AFC South crown.

Football is back in Houston and we're not talking about the disappointment we all watched when the Cougars lost the Conference USA title game and ultimately a bid to a BCS bowl game this year. The Texans have a menacing defense and despite having been plagued by injuries, continue to be in the race for a bye week in the AFC.

And regardless of how this season pans out, it's for certain that the Texans will see much success in the immediate future. This is only the beginning, so be sure to tune in to the Texans' first playoff game because it's going to be the first of many.

Let's watch this young team grow right before our eyes as it will be fun the watch.

The Detroit Lions

Wait, the Lions are in the playoffs?!

Well, not technically yet, however their odds are very good as they hold a two-game lead for the NFC's No. 6 seed at 9-5 above the 7-7 Seattle Seahawks.

That being said, Detroit has not made a postseason appearance since the 1999 NFL season and has not won a playoff game since 1991.

The Motor City has suffered much from watching the Lions play football. And 2008 was the worst of it, as Detroit went 0-16 to cap the most pathetic season in the history of pro football.

Well, three years later they're on the verge of a playoff berth and nothing could be more exciting. After everything Lions fans have been through, how relieving is it to watch them play in the postseason?

For anyone who's a fan of pro football in general, seeing Detroit play in January is unique. Of everything on this must-watch list, flipping the TV station to the Lions game may be the most exciting.

Much like Houston, they're a young franchise on the rise with a lot of success coming in the near future. So to that end, here's to watching the Motor City play football in January.

Follow John Rozum on Twitter @ Sportswriter27