NFL Playoff Scenarios: Broncos vs. Steelers and More Intriguing Possibilities

The playoffs are right around the corner. So, it's never too early to look forward and forecast some of the better matchups that we could see in the early rounds.

There's plenty of drama with the teams that are headed towards the playoffs. The championship games and Super Bowls will provide plenty of drama on their own. But these meetings could all easily happen in the first two rounds. If they do, they won't be games you want to miss.

Jets vs. Patriots

Whenever these two teams square off, it's fun. When they meet in the playoffs, it's all the better. Remember that it was the Jets who went into New England and embarrassed New England last season. Tom Brady and Bill Belichick can downplay it all they want, but you know they'll be eager for postseason revenge. 

And as always, we know that at least one member of the Jets is looking forward to this one. 

49ers vs. Lions

Forget about the game. Forget who wins and loses. This one is all about the postgame handshake between the two head coaches. 

That was one of the more talked about events of the NFL season and in a playoff week, there are only so many games and storylines to hype. Both Jim Schwartz and Jim Harbaugh will be asked plenty of questions about what happened when the two teams met early in the season. 

Lost in some of what happened after the game is that when these two teams played, it was one of the more exciting games of the NFL season. The playoff game would follow a different track. 

If nothing else, it would give fans everywhere a chance to see Patrick Willis and Calvin Johnson in the postseason. They have been two of the better players in the league since getting drafted, but have been hidden on bad teams. Seeing them on the same field in the playoffs will be fun for fans.

Broncos vs. Steelers

What makes this game amazing is that the Broncos could actually win it. For one, it would likely be in Denver, where they are very tough. Two, Ben Roethlisberger will not be 100 percent by the time the playoffs roll around. He might be better than he is now, but that injury won't be healed until the offseason.

These teams have given us memorable playoff games in the past, but what makes this one work is Tim Tebow. How will he do against Pittsburgh's vaunted defense? Is it possible that a complete wild card in Tebow could step in and beat an established power like Pittsburgh?

Look at the quarterback matchup. Roethlisberger's past is not exactly squeaky clean, while Tebow is nothing if hes not clean. 

The hype would be more than enough in this one, even if the game was one sided.

Steelers vs. Ravens

This season has been a little different for the Ravens. They swept the Steelers, which will likely give them the home-field advantage in the playoffs. Remember that in the playoffs after the 2001, 2008 and 2010 seasons, the Ravens lost a playoff game in Pittsburgh. 

Will this be the year that they get that monkey off of their backs?

Beyond that, this rivalry is fun for fans of the game everywhere. You don't need to be a fan of either team to enjoy the hard-hitting, talking, and close games that these teams always bring us.

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