AFC Playoff Picture: New England Patriots and Favorites Who Will Cruise

The AFC has seen a number of great teams come from their side of the bracket to win six of the last 10 Super Bowls. This year, the AFC is loaded with some dangerous teams that could end the two-year winning streak of the NFC in the Super Bowl. 

New England Patriots

The Patriots have steamrolled their opponents to a No. 1 seed with an 11-3 record. They have done it behind a passing attack that ranks second overall in the NFL, led by Tom Brady, who is destroying the opposition this year to the tune of 4,593 yards and 35 touchdowns. 

While Brady and the offense are putting up gigantic numbers, their defense has been the Achilles' heel of this team. 

The defense has been improving during their six-game winning streak. They have only given up more than 20 points three times, while the offense was scoring more than 30 points in every game. 

With how good this offense is, it will be hard for any team in the AFC to keep pace with them. 

Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore will gut out their final two games to lock up the No. 2 seed in the playoffs and earn that first-round bye. They need to play their playoff game, or games, at home this year, since they are 7-0 at M&T Bank Stadium. 

Baltimore will bring into the playoffs a rushing game that may rank 16th in the NFL, but has one of the best running backs in the game, Ray Rice. Rice had another great year, rushing for over 1,000 yards with a career high 10 touchdowns. 

When the Ravens go to Rice as their main option in their offense, they become almost impossible to beat. Rice can rip defenses apart with his running game, or when he comes out of the backfield as a receiver. 

Denver Broncos 

Denver has found the winning formula this year behind second-year quarterback Tim Tebow. Since Tebow took over for Kyle Orton, this team has gone from last place of the AFC West to first. 

Along with the emergence of Tebow, this defense has played lights out. Over their stretch of games where they went 7-2, the defense held opponents to 15 points or less in five of those games. 

Denver will play host to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round, and will be able to crush the Steelers’ passing game due to their relentless blitzing. Denver has 39 sacks on the season, which is good enough to place them at sixth in the NFL. 

These three teams will all cruise in their first playoff matchup. It will be interesting when these three teams all meet during these playoffs, because one of these three teams will lead the AFC into Super Bowl XLVI. 

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