NFL Playoff Power Rankings – Ranking The 12 Teams Remaining

NFL Playoff Power Rankings Position #1: New England Patriots

Tom Brady is playing and operating at the height of his powers. New England faces a depleted AFC, whose teams are either inherently deficient or – in the case of the Indianapolis Colts – lacking the bodies and front-line players who can make a difference in a key showdown. Pittsburgh, the No. 2 seed in the AFC betting, hasn’t inspired much of any confidence all year on offense. The Patriots would be very hard to beat under any circumstance over the next month.

[Off topic: by the way, do you want to get a 55% bonus on your first deposit here at BetOnline? Find out more exciting details HERE.]

NFL Playoff Power Rankings Position #2: Atlanta Falcons

If one team could perhaps stare down and beat New England, it’s Atlanta in the Super Bowl. The Falcons’ defense is gritty and underrated; it has contained New Orleans and Drew Brees in two regular-season meetings. The Falcons were also drilled by New England in an August preseason game. That contest, in many ways, sharpened up Atlanta for the regular season. In the Super Bowl, the Falcons – who have a great shot of getting to the big game – would be highly motivated to beat the Pats, more so than other NFC clubs.

NFL Playoff Power Rankings Position #3: Pittsburgh Steelers

The team with two Super Bowl championships over the past five seasons is looking to add to its trophy case. Pittsburgh will be a clear underdog at New England if the two teams meet in the AFC Championship Game, but the Steelers have something that the rest of the Patriots’ competitors lack: The simple ability to figure out ways to win. The Steelers are almost as good as the Patriots in terms of stealing wins on days when they’re not playing at their best. This can’t be taught; Pittsburgh just knows how to pull through.

NFL Playoff Power Rankings Position #4:Philadelphia Eagles

In the NFC betting Divisional Playoffs, it would be a surprise if the third-seeded Eagles (assuming they beat Green Bay in round one) did not beat the second-seeded Chicago Bears. It’s very hard to imagine Jay Cutler outdueling Michael Vick in a one-game playoff deathmatch. The Eagles lost at Chicago earlier in the season, which should only make their resolve burn that much more deeply in a potential rematch on Jan. 16.

NFL Playoff Power Rankings Position #5: New Orleans Saints

If there’s a team that can make it to the Super Bowl from a low seeding slot, it’s the defending champion from the Big Easy. New Orleans is every bit as good as Atlanta. A meeting between the Saints and the Falcons on Jan. 15 would be a very hard-fought and evenly-matched contest. The Falcons, playing at home, would deserve a slight edge, but no one would be stunned if Drew Brees advanced to the NFC title game for the third time in the past five seasons.

NFL Playoff Power Rankings Position #6: Baltimore Ravens

The AFC’s best low seed is from Baltimore. The Ravens should be thrilled about getting Kansas City, and not Indianapolis, in the wild card round. If the New York Jets beat Indianapolis this weekend, the Ravens would get to go to Pittsburgh and play their foremost AFC North rival in the divisional round. That would be a godsend for Baltimore, who would be entirely capable of winning in the Steel City.

NFL Playoff Power Rankings Position #7: New York Jets

After all the controversies and tabloid frenzies in New York, the Jets are in the playoffs. If they play their best and most physical defense and get just enough offense from Mark Sanchez, they can beat anyone.

NFL Playoff Power Rankings Position #8: Chicago Bears

If the NFC’s No. 2 seed can somehow bottle up a little magic in two games, the Super Bowl will have yet another surprising entrant. Nobody picked New Orleans to make Super Bowl XLIV at the start of last season.

NFL Playoff Power Rankings Position #9: Indianapolis Colts

The defending AFC champions are getting some players back, but an offense that has lacked a lot of bodies has not functioned at peak level all season long. Peyton Manning has clearly struggled with the reshufflings on an injury-decimated roster. This is just not the year for the Colts, who did well to make the playoffs after falling to 6-6 through 12 games.

NFL Playoff Power Rankings Position #10: Green Bay Packers

Aaron Rodgers played incredibly well in his first playoff game one season ago. If he can step up, the Packers might somehow be able to beat Philadelphia and turn into a pest for other NFC playoff teams.

NFL Playoff Power Rankings Position #11: Kansas City Chiefs

If Matt Cassel can do anything beyond what is expected of him, perhaps the Chiefs can beat Baltimore at home. It would be hard to expect Kansas City to do anything beyond that in the playoffs.

NFL Playoff Power Rankings Position #12: Seattle Seahawks

A 7-9 record. Need we say more?

Check out the latest football game lines in the sportsbook, click here.