2012 NFL Playoffs: Are the Detroit Lions This Year's Packers?

With two games remaining for this week in the NFL, I think it is time to not only predict the playoff field, but also predict how each team will fare once they reach the playoffs.

With wins by the Green Bay Packers and the New Orleans Saints closing out Week 16 in the NFL, the following is a step-by-step creation of how Week 17 through the playoffs to the Super Bowl will play out.

- Week 17 Picks, and Why

- Wild-Card Round

- Divisional Round

- Conference Championships

- Super Bowl

Don't be fooled by the headline....

Week 17

In order for tiebreakers and all that to work out in my scenario, I am forced to pick EVERY game whether or not a playoff team is involved.  So here we go (winning team in bold)...

Chicago Bears @ Minnesota Vikings:  I know that Adrian Peterson is out, but the Vikings won't just roll over.  They lost their chance at "winning" the No. 1 pick with the win over the Washington Redskins yesterday, and I am not quite sure they are confident in Christian Ponder.  

By losing that opportunity, I see the Vikings coming out with some fire.  Joe Webb, Percy Harvin and Toby Gerhart will be too much for the Bears, who have simply been a shell of themselves since Jay Cutler went down.  

Carolina Panthers @ Saints:  Newton and Co. bring a fight to every game they play.  With a win over the Falcons on Monday Night, the Saints will be in position to get a bye if the San Francisco 49ers lose (I have the 49ers winning).  

The 49ers vs. St. Louis Rams game is at 1:00 p.m. while the Saints' time has yet to be determined.  If they already know that the 49ers have won by the time they play, then they have locked up the No. 3 seed, so I can definitely see Cam Newton closing out his stellar rookie season with a win over the division champs in their house.  

Detroit Lions @ Green Bay:  After locking up the No. 1 seed and home field advantage throughout the playoffs, the banged-up Packers will more than likely rest.  The Lions on the other hand are still playing for a seed.  A win and they are the No. 5 seed, but a loss plus an Atlanta win and they are the No. 6 seed.  I like what the Lions are playing for.
 

49ers @ St. Louis:  A win by the 49ers and they get a first-round bye as the No. 2 seed.  Plus, it's St. Louis...
 

New York Jets @ Miami Dolphins:  For some reason, after the letdown last week against the New York Giants, I see the Jets rebounding, almost entirely for the drama. They'll be resting all their hopes on Kansas City to beat the Broncos or the Chargers to beat the Raiders, while hoping the Houston Texans (who have locked up the No. 3 seed) show up against a Tennessee Titans team that needs a win.
 

Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots:  A Patriots win, and they are the No. 1 seed.  Oh yeah, and they have No. 12 back there, and no deficit is out of his grasp.  He is The Surgeon.

Redskins @ Philadelphia Eagles:  Eagles...Eagles...Eagles.  Comin' around just in time to save Andy Reid's job but not in time for the playoffs.  This team is scary when it doesn't matter...

Indianapolis Colts @ Jacksonville Jaguars:  Hmmm...  What do the Colts do?  How can they sell losing to the players?  If Caldwell isn't returning, do you think he cares about next year's draft pick?  I am picking the Jags.

Titans @ Texans:  This is a big one, and I think the Texans will take a foot off of the gas for at least two quarters. And I think the Titans will capitalize on it, but all for naught as I still see both AFC West leaders winning.  This would eliminate the Jets however.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Falcons:  With the loss on Monday Night Football, this is Atlanta's shot to get things rolling for the playoffs, all the while still competing with the Lions for that No. 5 seed so they don't have to go back into the Superdome for the second time in two weeks.

Baltimore Ravens @ Cincinnati Bengals:  The Bengals have playoff hope, while the Ravens are playing for a bye.  This should be runner-up for game of the week.  Since it isn't winner take all, give me the Bengals in an upset!

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cleveland Browns:  The Steelers have a much better draw than the Ravens in Week 17, and I think that makes all the difference.  The boys in black and gold will get the bye.

Kansas City Chiefs @ Denver Broncos:  Tim Tebow playing for all the marbles. Yes please!

San Diego Chargers @ Oakland Raiders:  The Chargers were playing as good as anyone coming into Week 16, but that display was ugly.  The Chargers have nothing to play for, because I think Norv Turner has already lost his job.  Raiders win, but due to the Bengals upset it is all for naught.

Seattle Seahawks @ Arizona Cardinals:  Ho hum.  Give me the Cardinals since both were eliminated last week and Arizona is playing at home...

Dallas Cowboys @ Giants: The winner-take-all game of the week—enough said.  I like the Giants at home.

Wild-Card Weekend

NFC

Detroit Lions @ New Orleans Saints:  Two dome teams with excellent offenses.  The Saints are coming into the game as one of the most dangerous teams in the league, with Drew Brees playing at a record-breaking level.  On the other hand, the Detroit Lions are limping into the game after suffering their 20th consecutive loss to Green Bay at Lambeau, when they had a number 5 seed there for the taking.  Instead they let, not Aaron Rodgers, but Matt Flynn put up a record breaking performance with 480 yards and 6 touchdowns!  Be afraid Lions, be very afraid.  

Atlanta Falcons @ New York Giants:  I know the Giants are the home team, and they have a quarterback who has actually won a playoff game and a Super Bowl.  This should be one of the more evenly matched games of the entire playoffs.  I think the Falcons are letting out a huge sigh of relief after not having to return to the Superdome for the second time in three weeks.  I see the Falcons running game controlling the clock, and the Falcons give Matt Ryan his first playoff victory.

AFC

Bengals @ Texans:  Two rookie quarterbacks playing in the playoffs—great story.  I have to lean to the home team in this one.  The Bengals may be prone to just feeling lucky.  After getting defeated by the Ravens the prior week.  The Texans fans have been waiting for this since 2002, and I think the home field will be the difference in this one.  Everything points to an early Texans exit, but I am sucker for a good story, so I like the Texans at home.

Ravens @ Broncos: I don't care if God himself is out there directing the offense for the Broncos, the Ravens could be the best No. 5 seed of all time.  They are better than the Broncos in every facet of the game.  The fans may start off chanting "Te-Bow," but I can see that quickly turning into "No-Mo'" as a plea for leniency from the relentless Raven defense and running game.

Divisional Round

NFC

Lions @ Packers:  If this game were indoors like on Thanksgiving, I would give the Lions a shot.  I know that I have them winning at Lambeau in Week 17, but this is a different monster.  The Lions dominated the first half of the Thanksgiving Day game and were still losing—then the "stomp," and then the Packers "stomping."  I think the Packers are zoomed in on the prize, and this should be fun.  You've got to like the Packers.

Saints @ 49ers:  As good of a job as Harbaugh and the 49ers have done this year, and as strong of a defense as they sport, I just don't see them stopping the Saints enough and scoring enough to win the ballgame.  

AFC

Ravens @ Patriots:  As much as I love Tom Brady and his ability to overcome a porous defense, I just don't think he can do it all by himself against a team that is as well-rounded as the Ravens.  They can deal with the weather and with a strong running game, but unless Bill Belichick (and I am not putting it completely past him) pulls out some magic on defense and makes Joe Flacco force some throws, just don't see it.  Think 2010.

Texans @ Steelers:  Depending on Big Ben's health, this could be one of the biggest mismatches in divisional round history.  Yates has done a commendable job after the injury to Schaub, but I think Ben Roethlisberger on one foot will beat a team that lost to the Colts.

Conference Championships

NFC

Saints @ Packers:  I know I could sit and write about this game, and I probably will when it comes to fruition, but the only thing that can slow down the Saints is the cold.  The Packers are used to it—it gives them the edge.  Although I am a sucker for outdoor playoff games, this one would be much more fun to watch if it were indoors.

AFC

Ravens @ Steelers:  It started in Week 1, and here we are again with a trip to the Super Bowl at stake.  Beating a team three times in a row is the hardest thing to do, but I think the tone was set in the "Week 1 Massacre," and the Ravens will be in their first Super Bowl since 2001.

Super Bowl XVI

SUPER BOWL XLVI

Ravens vs. Packers:  Since these are simply predictions, I think we are going to see the first repeat winner since the Patriots.  

Of Course, these picks could be shot all to hell, but it sure was fun.......