NFL Playoff Predictions: Who Will Be the Winners?

The NFL playoff picture is nearly set.

The Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants face off in what is sure to be an epic battle for the right to be smashed on in the Wild Card round, and the Denver Broncos and Oakland Raiders may well be playing for the same right in the AFC.

We know the Green Bay Packers will be the NFC's No. 1 seed and that Jay Cutler really did matter to the Chicago Bears.

With those troubling issues out of the way, here is my best guess at what will go down in the playoffs this season.

Final Seeds

Humor me.

I realize there are still some seeds that aren't set in stone.

I'm writing this article under the assumption that it will shake out as follows.

NFC

1. Green Bay Packers

2. San Francisco 49ers

3. New Orleans Saints

4. New York Giants

5. Atlanta Falcons

6. Detroit Lions

AFC

1. New England Patriots

2. Baltimore Ravens

3. Houston Texans

4. Denver Broncos

5. Pittsburgh Steelers

6. Cincinnati Bengals

NFC Wild Card Round

(3) New Orleans Saints def. (6) Detroit Lions

The Lions are going to roll into the playoffs with a head of steam after clinching the first berth for the franchise in just under a million years.

Not to mention the dirty things they did to the San Diego Chargers last week, coupled with what is sure to be a big-time effort against the Packers in the final week of the season. 

But a steamy head clouds the vision—the Saints are the best overall team in the NFC right now.

They and the Packers are so much better than everyone else in football right now that it's not even funny. Unless you root for the Saints or the Packers.

Drew Brees is an all-world quarterback and has more weapons at his disposal than a mercenary. The running game is good, the defense is good enough, and the home-field advantage is ridiculous. 

Don't get me wrong—Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson are no slouches. But the Lions will be celebrating the fact that they made the playoffs this year and watching the rest of the postseason from home after losing to New Orleans 41-30.

(5) Atlanta Falcons def. (4) New York Giants

And I really don't think it will be close.

The Giants have been up and down all year, and the offense's inconsistent play will be their undoing. I think the first half of this game will entertain, but a good show a win does not make.

Regardless of home field, I think the Falcons are just a much better team. They had a slow start, but I'd rather stumble at the beginning, figure it out, and come on strong at the end. The G-Men have really just kind of been walking zig-zags since the preseason. 

They are going to win the division on pure talent alone, but no team that loses twice to the Washington Redskins are going anywhere in the playoffs.

Expect Eli Manning to have another good game but not get enough help to pull out a win. The over-under on popped veins in Tom Coughlin's forehead is six.

I'm taking Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, Roddy White and the dirty birds in a 28-12 win.

AFC Wild Card Round

(3) Houston Texans def. (6) Cincinnati Bengals

I didn't know which way to go with this one.

Yes, I realize Matt Schaub is out.

But what you don't realize is T.J. Yates, drum roll please—Isn't. That. Bad.

He beat the Falcons. And that's extremely impressive.

This should be the best game of the Wild Card round. Two teams that have just been begging for a playoff berth for years finally get their shots.

And while the Bengals have gotten tons of attention for their talented rookie duo of QB Andy Dalton and WR A.J. Green, they are still overshadowed by the Steelers and the Ravens.

But if that shadow is shrouding Cincy in anonymity, Houston is completely invisible.

They have been the best team nobody's talking about the entire season. All they did was bully the rest of their division en route to the franchise's first-ever title. 

A bruising running game and one of the best defenses in all of the NFL should do enough to interrupt the Bengals. It's going to be a hell of a game—I just hope I'm not the only person watching.

I'll take the Texans, 23-20.

(5) Pittsburgh Steelers def. (4) Denver Broncos

Look, I'm just going to go here now.

To everyone outside of Colorado who actually thinks the Broncos are a legit contender—you are certifiably insane. Like, Leo DiCaprio on Shutter Island-style insanity. 

Tim Tebow is God, we know. And that's cool. But obviously, God wasn't a good quarterback.

Let me break this down. In case you didn't hear (get it?), during the Broncos' six-game winning streak, the only playoff team they beat was, oh—nobody.

In fact, when Tebow did line up against playoff-caliber teams, he lost to the Lions and Patriots by a combined 53 points. Ouch.

And then he laid a big ol' turd against the Bills. The guy is all out of miracles.

Props to them for winning the division and making the playoffs in a season that seemed so lost, but the Steelers are who we thought they were. A smart, experienced, ridiculously talented team that is going to make even the most ardent Tebow believer (that would be everyone at ESPN, by the way) convert to atheism. 

I'll make a deal with the devil—if Denver wins, I'll eat my own head. Steelers in a laugher, 36-12.

NFC Divisional Round

(1) Green Bay Packers def. (5) Atlanta Falcons

This is going to be a surprisingly close game.

I'm obviously a closet Falcons fan, but these guys are good.

Aaron Rodgers and company won't lose this game, I'm sure of that much.

But they also won't flatten Atlanta like they have so many other teams.

I think the Falcons have the offensive firepower to match Green Bay score for score. It will really come down to playing at Lambeau, and the fact that the Pack will make fewer mistakes. 

Rodgers is going to win MVP for a reason. The defending champs will get a scare in their first playoff game, but it won't prove fatal.

I'll take the Packers at home, 36-30.

(3) New Orleans Saints def. (2) San Francisco 49ers

Give me a second. I'm letting the pain pass.

I have been a diehard 49ers fan my entire life, and it's just bad luck to run into such a juggernaut in our first playoff game since 2002.

But journalism requires a pretty good amount of honesty and a small amount of bias.

So despite the tears cascading onto my keyboard right now, I must be realistic. And though the 49ers have the best defense of any team in the NFC, I'm fairly convinced that an anti-aircraft missile couldn't slow Drew Brees this season.

The Niners' main problem on defense all season has cropped up rarely, but when it does, it's devastating. And that is the secondary.

Dashon Goldson and Carlos Rogers have emerged as playmakers, but they are susceptible to the big play, as Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys proved in Week 2.

And let me tell you, Brees is a hell of a lot better than Romo. It will be a good game, but the 49ers' magical bounceback season is short-lived.

The Saints win, 27-23.

AFC Divisional Round

(1) New England Patriots def. (5) Pittsburgh Steelers

Calm down, Steeler Nation.

I know they already beat the Patriots this season.

I know Tom Brady isn't quite what he used to be.

But that's like saying Usain Bolt has lost a step. He's still Tom Brady.

This will be a great game. Mostly because these have been the two AFC juggernauts of the last decade, going head-to-head for the right to play for the conference title.

The Steelers unquestionably will have the lead in toughness and defense and badassness of QB.

Unfortunately for Pittsburgh, the Pats have a sizable edge on offense and in coaching and all those mysterious intangibles that allow teams like the San Francisco Giants or the Dallas Mavericks to somehow will their ways to postseason success.

I foresee Brady going all 2002 on the Steelers and having a big game through the air. Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez are the deadliest one-two punch since Otto Rocket and Twister, and Stephen Gostkowski is a clutch kicker.

It'll come down to the wire, but I'm picking New England to advance, 26-24.

(2) Baltimore Ravens def. (3) Houston Texans

If Matt Schaub was playing, this might be a different story. But T.J. Yates is no Tim Tebow—he can't walk on water.

What I'm saying is beating the Falcons and the Bengals is a lot different than this experienced, spine-breaking Baltimore team.

There is no better linebacker duo in the NFL than Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs, and Joe Flacco seems to finally have figured this whole quarterbacking gig out. He's got plenty of weapons to throw to and a dynamic running back in Ray Rice. 

But we all know the reason the Ravens are so scary is that bruising defense. I think the purple and black will bruise Yates beyond recognition with blitz after blitz after sack after concussion. 

It's going to be the end of the road for an inspiring Texans team, who lose 24-13 in Baltimore.

NFC Championship

(1) Green Bay Packers def. (2) New Orleans Saints

Call me old fashioned, but I'm not buying into the hype of picking the "dark horse" to upset the Packers.

If anyone's going to do it, it's the Saints. But I'm still taking the Pack.

I just think Rodgers is too good right now to lose.

Don't get me wrong—this is going to basically be the Super Bowl. This may very well be the best game in recent NFL memory.

I'm thinking at least 10 passing touchdowns and nearly 100 points combined. 

These two defenses aren't nearly as bad as people think, but again, the offenses are so good that it really doesn't matter.

I'm looking for a Boise State vs. Houston-esque score in this game, where both teams just score fast and score in bunches. 

I'd be extremely disappointed if both teams weren't creeping up on 25 points by halftime. I have to expect with Brees and Rodgers, that it won't just be a shoot-out. It will be a very well-managed game by both offenses.

But in the end, it's the MVP and the better quarterback, by a hair, in Rodgers.

I'm taking the Packers to return to the Super Bowl with a 45-41 win.

AFC Championship

(2) Baltimore Ravens def. (1) New England Patriots

The Ravens have been building up to this point ever since they drafted Flacco in 2008.

They've always had the dominant defense and a pretty good running game.

But Flacco has finally developed to the point that he's a great, not just good, QB. 

Flacco is no Brady, but he's on his way. The kid's got a smart style of play and definitely has a desire burning deep.

Really, his biggest shortcoming this season is that his filthy Fu Manchu 'stache makes him look like Nicolas Cage. Which is a terrible insult to Flacco.

But back to football—the Patriots will do their thing and make it a good game. But in the end, the Ravens are a much more complete football team. This is the 2000 Ravens defense, except they aren't relying on Trent Dilfer at quarterback. 

I don't think the Pats' secondary will be able to keep up with Torrey Smith, and they will get burned by him at least once.

This will be one of those games where we sadly watch a modern sports dynasty flame out in favor of a younger, better team. It will be close until Baltimore pulls away mid-way through the third quarter.

I'll take them to go to the Super Bowl with a 30-17 win.

Super Bowl

Green Bay Packers def. Baltimore Ravens

I'm not a fan of repeats. I don't like sequels.

In fact, I think Legally Blonde 2 ruined film.

But I'm not going to pretend the Packers aren't the best team in football just because they had one bad game in Kansas City.

Actually, I don't even like the Packers. As a 49er fan, there's that whole rivalry thing, and I still have nightmares of Brett Favre destroying my Niners every season, then sending me a dirty picture message.

So the only justification I have for this pick is that they really are just that insanely good.

The Ravens are, in my opinion, the best team in the AFC. But this year, the NFC trumps the AFC by a mile.

Baltimore's defense will be one of the stiffest tests Rodgers and his teammates have faced, but that doesn't mean they won't still drop 30. 

Far too many times this season, the Ravens played down to their competition. Losing in Seattle. Almost losing to Cleveland. But when faced with a challenge, they step up and play a complete game. 

The only problem is, as good as that defense is, the Packers offense will slowly but surely, systematically destroy them. Rodgers will pick them apart and find a way to throw a few touchdowns.

Honestly, I'm making this sound like it's going to be a rout.

I think it's going to be a fantastic Super Bowl. I am even okay with saying the Packers will need a two-minute drive at the end of the fourth quarter to win. 

And I do think that's how it will go down. My crystal ball says the score will be tied with just over two minutes left, before Rodgers marches Green Bay 80 yards to put in the winning touchdown at 31-24.

The trophy stays in Green Bay, and the rest of us go home happy that at least it wasn't Favre or Tebow.