NFL Playoff Picture: Ranking the Likelihood of 16 Potential Super Bowl Matchups

With only one week remaining in the 2011 NFL season, the playoff picture is almost completely settled. It's time to take a look at the likelihood of each playoff team's ability to get to the Super Bowl and come up with the 16 most likely matchups for Super Bowl XLVI.

The playoffs are unpredictable, and most of the "experts" end up being wrong much of the time because the NFL is a game that often defies logic and reason. Nobody gave the Seattle Seahawks a chance last year in the first round against the New Orleans Saints, and we all know what happened in that game.

Still, it is a worthy endeavor to pursue, predicting these things. I hope you enjoy yourselves, and please remember that this isn't meant to stir up trouble; rather, we hope to give our best guess given the things we now know and put it out there for debate.

Playoff Predictions

Many of you may know that I cover the San Francisco 49ers. I do think the 49ers are a team with a good chance to make it to Super Bowl XLVI, but I still have the Green Bay Packers ahead of the 49ers until they actually beat the Packers.

That being said, here is how I see the playoffs going down from the beginning to the end. Let me know in the comments section if you agree or disagree with my predictions.

NFC Wild Card

• New Orleans Saints over the Atlanta Falcons eight times out of 10
• Detroit Lions over the New York Giants six times out of 10

AFC Wild Card

• Cincinnati Bengals over the Houston Texans six times out of 10
• Pittsburgh Steelers over the Denver Broncos eight times out of 10

NFC Divisional Round

• Green Bay Packers over the Detroit Lions nine times out of 10
• San Francisco 49ers over the New Orleans Saints six times out of 10

AFC Divisional Round

• New England Patriots over the Cincinnati Bengals seven times out of 10
• Baltimore Ravens over the Pittsburgh Steelers six times out of 10

NFC Championship

• Green Bay Packers over the San Francisco 49ers six times out of 10

AFC Championship

• Baltimore Ravens over the New England Patriots six times out of 10

Super Bowl

• Green Bay Packers vs. Baltimore Ravens

Using this information, I'll rank the likelihood of the top 16 scenarios for Super Bowl XLVI.

16. Detroit Lions vs. Denver Broncos

These two teams have already faced off once this season, and the Detroit Lions humbled Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos, winning 45-10.

The Lions would have to beat the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in January to get anywhere in this tournament, and I don't see that happening. They are the least likely of the eight teams I've chosen to represent my contenders to make it to Super Bowl XLVI.

This game would be a classic strength vs. strength matchup with the Lions' high-powered offense going up against the Broncos' stiff defense, and then there is always the possibility of Tebow coming up with some fourth-quarter magic to win the game.

Some might say this game would also be a classic "good vs. evil" contest between Ndamukong Suh's "dirty" Lions and Tebow's saintly Broncos.

15. Detroit Lions vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Detroit Lions have a long and storied history together. The first game between the two franchises was way back in 1934. The Detroit Lions beat the Steelers 40-7 in that game.

The two teams have faced off a total of 30 times in the regular season and postseason. The Steelers hold a slight edge: 15-14-1.

This would be a game full of big plays on both sides of the ball, and it would be a fun one to watch.

14. Detroit Lions vs. New England Patriots

The last time these two teams met, the New England Patriots dismantled the Detroit Lions in a 45-24 blowout in 2010. I would not be surprised to see a similar result if they ended up meeting in Super Bowl XLVI.

The one thing that could give the Lions the ability to win in this matchup is that they do have some fierce pass-rushers. The Patriots live and die on the arm of Tom Brady, and the Lions could win if they got Brady flustered with sacks and pressures.

13. Detroit Lions vs. Baltimore Ravens

There isn't a lot of history between these two teams. The last time they met was in December of 2009, and Daunte Culpepper was the quarterback for the Lions.

The Ravens thrashed the Lions in that game 48-3, and Ray Rice ran wild, rushing for 166 yards and one touchdown. Willis McGahee added two more, and Le'Ron McClain and Troy Smith both added another. Do you see where I'm going here?

The Ravens would run all over the Detroit Lions if the two teams were to meet in Super Bowl XLVI. Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson might have what it takes to score enough points to win, even against the Ravens.

12. New Orleans Saints vs. Denver Broncos

The New Orleans Saints vs. Denver Broncos matchup is a classic "Saints vs. saint" game.

This matchup is also a classic "beauty and the beast" game, with Drew Brees and the Saints putting on virtuoso performances every week while Tim Tebow and the Broncos throw together gut-wrenching displays of bravado on their way to improbable glory.

There would certainly be a ton of heartwarming stories for the media to cover between the players on both these squads.

The real story would be the Broncos defense facing the dynamic Saints offense. There are too many weapons on that Saints team for the Broncos to cover, and I see the Saints coming away with a decisive victory should this game come to pass.

11. San Francisco 49ers vs. Denver Broncos

If the San Francisco 49ers meet the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVI, Denver Broncos fans had better hope the outcome turns out differently than the last time these teams squared off in a Super Bowl, that being Super Bowl XXIV. 

Joe Montana led the 49ers to the biggest blowout in Super Bowl history, as the 49ers won that contest 55-10.

I doubt this year's contest would feature such prolific scoring, but this game would be a fun one to watch. I would love to see how the 49ers defense would handle the Tim Tebow-led offense. Another fun side story to follow would be the two best defensive rookies (Aldon Smith and Von Miller) playing in the same game.

10. Green Bay Packers vs. Denver Broncos

The Green Bay Packers and Denver Broncos have faced off once already in 2011, though it is a game the Broncos wish they could forget. The Packers laid the smack down hard in the Week 4 lopsided win.

That was BT, or before Tebow.

Things might end up much the same way if these two teams do face off in Super Bowl XLVI, though, Tebow or no Tebow. The New England Patriots proved that the Broncos can't keep up with a high-powered offense, and the Packers are the most explosive team in the NFL.

9. New Orleans Saints vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

What an explosive game this one could be! Imagine how many points might be scored if the New Orleans Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers met in Super Bowl XLVI. 

These two teams feature some of the best offensive weapons in the NFL and are led by some of the best leaders of their generation, Drew Brees and Ben Roethlisberger. 

Both teams have recently won a championship, and both teams have plenty of veterans that have been in big-game situations many times in their careers. It would be a blast to watch.

8. San Francisco 49ers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

The memory of the Week 15 Monday Night Football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and San Francisco 49ers is still fresh in our minds, so it would seem like we could guess at the outcome of a repeat in Super Bowl XLVI.

However, Ben Roethlisberger should be much healthier than he was in that game if the Steelers end up making it to the big dance. A healthy Roethlisberger changes the game significantly, and this contest would be tough to call.

I still think the 49ers would come away with a victory if these teams met once again in the finale to the 2011 NFL season.

7. Green Bay Packers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers are the two teams most synonymous with NFL championships. If these two historic teams were to meet in Super Bowl XLVI, it would be the second time in NFL history that two teams faced off in the Super Bowl for two straight years.

That fact alone should have made me put this contest lower on the list, but I like the chances of both of these storied franchises to make it to the championship game this year.

I do think the Packers would make mincemeat out of the Steelers' "old" defense and would win the game without too much trouble. I'm sure Steelers players and fans would disagree, and they are entitled to their opinion. I just don't happen to share it.

6. New Orleans Saints vs. New England Patriots

If the San Francisco 49ers fail to make it this year, this is the matchup I'd most like to see in Super Bowl XLVI. The New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints would make for one of the most exciting offensive matchups in the history of the Super Bowl.

The teams feature two of the best quarterbacks in league history and two of the best young tight ends the NFL has ever seen. 

The edge would have to go to the Patriots, in my mind, due to their overwhelming edge in playoff experience. Bill Belichick and Tom Brady will go down in history as one of the best quarterback/head coaching duos in league history, right next to Joe Montana and Bill Walsh.

5. New Orleans Saints vs. Baltimore Ravens

The New Orleans Saints vs. the Baltimore Ravens would be a game full of passion and fire, as both teams are led by bold head coaches and feature defenses led by former Miami alumni.

Jonathan Vilma and Ray Lewis, not Drew Brees and Joe Flacco, might dictate the outcome of this potential contest, as the defense that can force the most turnovers will belong to the winning team.

I would expect to see many big plays on both sides of the ball if these two teams met for Super Bowl XLVI.

4. San Francisco 49ers vs. New England Patriots

The New England Patriots have one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL. The San Francisco 49ers possess one of the fiercest defenses in the NFL. Something's gotta give.

If these two teams were to meet up in Super Bowl XLVI, I could see the 49ers winning the game based on their unique ability to cover tight ends one-on-one with linebackers and safeties.

Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman are the best middle linebacker tandem in the NFL, and Willis is known for bottling up tight ends. I'm not sure if he could pitch a shutout against Rob "Gronk" Gronkowski, but I'm confident he could keep him from having a big day.

The 49ers would be able to abuse the New England defense with their punishing power running game, and this contest would end in a sixth Lombardi Trophy for the 49ers.

3. San Francisco 49ers vs. Baltimore Ravens

The San Francisco 49ers have already faced off against the Baltimore Ravens once this year, and it didn't end well for the 49ers and younger Harbaugh brother Jim.

"Harbowl 2.0" would be epic. The media could spin stories for days, and the game would surely live up to any hype attributed to it, as these two teams are built on solid foundations and have the players to execute the vision of these two remarkable brothers, Jim and John Harbaugh.

I don't think we'd see an exact repeat of the epic beatdown the Ravens gave the 49ers if these teams do meet again. The 49ers have fixed their protection issues, to a large extent, and the defense continues to be one of the best in the NFL despite having lost both of its precious run defense streaks.

2. Green Bay Packers vs. New England Patriots

Nobody is cooler under pressure than New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady...except Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

In a game that would feature absolutely no defense at all, the Patriots and Packers would stand a good chance to set offensive records of all kinds if they met up for Super Bowl XLVI.

Both teams are no stranger to Super Bowls, and this is a matchup between the team of the 2000s and the potential team of the 2010s. Even though I would hate to see the 49ers miss this game, I'd stay glued to the screen to see what would happen between these teams.

1. Green Bay Packers vs. Baltimore Ravens

The Green Bay Packers and Baltimore Ravens are the two teams I think are most likely to get to Super Bowl XLVI.

This could be the last time Ray Lewis and Ed Reed ever make it back, and I think they would have a shot to beat Aaron Rodgers and his amazing crew of wide receivers with their experience and abilities.

The wild card in this matchup would be Ray Rice. If he can establish the Ravens running game, then Joe Flacco could work those play-action passes to his tight ends until he found rookie sensation Torrey Smith deep for a touchdown.

The Ravens would have to play the perfect game in order to beat the near-perfect Packers offense, and the likelihood of that happening is slim. They have the tools to do it, though, with Terrell Suggs and Haloti Ngata collapsing pockets like they were made out of newspaper.

Still, I think that after it's all said and done, the Packers have an excellent chance at a repeat, and I will be surprised if they don't pull it off.