1. Green Bay Packers
Pretty obvious choice here, Aaron Rodgers and Co. have been on cruise control for the passed month and a half.
2. New Orleans Saints
As of right now the Saints are playing the best football in the NFL and are the biggest threat to the Packers in the NFC. Can this team play away from the Superdome though? The offense led by Drew Brees has has been much different when it is outside in the elements.
3. New England Patriots
Blah, Blah, Blah their defense is bad and gives up a ton of yards. But the fact of the matter is this team has scored 30 or more points in 12 games this year tied for the most times in a season (07 Pats, 99 Rams). They are the odds on favorite to win the AFC. Oh and they have Tom Brady.
4. San Francisco 49ers
Can't really say much more about what has already been said about 1st year Head Coach Jim Harbaugh, he took a dysfunctional underachieving team to a 13 win season with a 1st round bye. He also is doing this with QB Alex Smith mind you.
5. Baltimore Ravens
Being able to sweep Pittsburgh this year was a huge deal for Baltimore and were able to secure a first round bye because of it. Running Back Ray Rice will most likely be his normal beastly self in the playoffs but the question is what kind of Quarterback play will the Ravens get out of Joe Flacco?
6. Detroit Lions
The opening round game between the Lions and Saints should be a great high scoring game. QB Matthew Stafford has really come into his own this year throwing for 5,000 yards and 41 touchdowns. On the defensive side of the ball , the D line featuring Ndamukong Suh and Cliff Avril has to play big in the playoffs for the Lions to succeed.
7. Pittsburgh Steelers
With Big Ben already nursing a ankle injury, losing Rashard Mendenhall for the entire playoffs was a huge blow for Pittsburgh. To go on top of that leading tackler and Safety Ryan Clark will not play agianst Denver because of his Sickle Cell Anemia disease and can't handle the altitude.
8. Atlanta Falcons
Matt Ryan and the Falcons have made the playoffs 2 out of the last 3 years and have yet to get win. A big difference maker for them this January if they want to change their recent drought is rookie WR Julio Jones. The reason they gave up so much for him in the draft was to get them over the hump and he needs to come through with some big catches.
9.New York Giants
The Giants barley sneaked into the playoffs after starting the season 6-2 but have rallied with huge wins against the New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys to win the division. Jason Pierre-Paul has really been a dominant force on the defensive line this year for the GMEN who have been without Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck for some parts of the year and have needed JPP to step up.
10. Houston Texans
Considering this team lost QB's Matt Schaub, Matt Leinart, DE/OLB Mario Williams, and WR Andre Johnson for most of the year and still get to host a playoff game is pretty amazing and shows you what a great job Wade Phillips has done with this defense this year.
11. Cincinnati Bengals
Before the season started nobody thought the Bengals were even going to win 3 games let alone 9 and get the final wild card spot. They have rallied behind rookie QB Andy Dalton and WR A.J. Green to pull off a amazing turn around and have a great shot to upset the Houston Texans.
12. Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos will have home field against the Pittsburgh Steelers and thats about all they have going for them in this game. Tim Tebow who has answered a lot of critics this year will get a steady rush from Pittsburgh Defensive Coordinator Dick Lebeau all game and will most likely be running around for dear life.
1. Green Bay Packers
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