dinustef

1. New England - We are playing like real contenders!
2. New Orleans - On my book, the best NFC team. Had a bit of a letdown during the season, but they will be ready for the PO.
3. Baltimore - only team in AFC, that i can see to beat us (with some lucky alignment of stars ). I would love to avoid them.
4. Pittsburgh - Elite defense but it is too much dependable of Polamalu, with solid offence, can be dangerous at times.
5. Green Bay - Very unpredictable team. Can win anybody, but they also can lose to Detroit. They can be a surprise.
6. Indianapolis -Manning is a choker, but he is also a great QB. Can lead them, but the defense is not so good.
7. Philadelphia - I don't know what to expect from them. They can put points on the board, Vick had a great year, but with all that scramble he will take some serious hits. Difficult task on the very first game.
8. Atlanta - NFC first seed, but i don't like their chances I just don't. They are too mediocore team, without any true leader.
9. NY Jets - Good, very good defense, but terrible QB, he sucks big time. Not this time Jets.
10. Chicago - Could say almost the same, like for the Jets. I don't get it how they managed to get this 1st round bye.
11. Kansas City - I don't think that even they believe that SB is possibility. They are not bad overall, but also, they are not good enough.
12. Seattle - Just can't take them serious. One and done.

Metaphors

1: Patriots - The goal is to get into the end zone and keep your opponent out of the end zone. The difference between the #1 Pats (65 TDs) and #2 Colts (51) is the same as between the #2 Colts and the #21 Bears (37). The Pats TD differential (29) blows away the #2 Packers (22). This despite the Pats playing 7 games against current playoff teams, 3 on the road.

2. Packers - Tough, aggressive defense should keep them in every game and an accurate QB that can get into the end zone in the 4th quarter. Losing Grant and Finley hurts them but they look like a team that could get on a run. If they can avoid the Saints, they have already played well at Philly, at Chicago and at Atlanta...so their road to the SB will be familiar.

3. Steelers - They will go as far as Roethlisberger takes them. He was able to string together 2 postseason runs where he didn't flake out and so he is capable to doing it again. They just need to pray that the Pats get knocked off since it is hard to see the Steelers winning the AFCC game in Foxboro.

4. Saints - Had an erratic year but that team knows what it takes to win the SB. If they can get fully healthy on offense, they have a lot of diverse weapons that will force their opponents to win a shootout.

5. Eagles - Vick is the X factor for them. It is difficult to cover their speed and still keep appropriate focus on containing Vick. If the Eagles can keep a game close, they are a dangerous team late.

6. Ravens - Fundamentally flawed at CB and QB. They just can't cover if the QB is given even a little time to throw and Flacco just isn't productive enough to win a high scoring game. However, their road to the SB will be outdoors and bad weather will play to their strengths and mitigate their flaws.

7. Falcons - Should be higher but there just seems to be something missing with them. A lot of ugly wins and that doesn't bode well for the playoffs when efficiency is key. They do win the turnover battle and are explosive in the return game, so they may need to find inventive ways to win.

8. Jets - The only reason they are this high is that they match up well against the Colts and have familiarity with the Pats. Their QB is erratic, their running game isn't overly effective, they struggle to generate pressure without heavy blitzing and their non-Revis secondary is a mess. Big plays on ST will be their key to making a deep run.

9. Bears - They should be higher considering they have a bye, but their offense just doesn't match their environment. They are a big play, speed team playing on a slow track with nasty weather. They look like a one-n-done.

10. Colts - Their "resurgence" is a myth considering the only thing separating them from a .500 season was the Titans (x2), the Jags and the Raiders...and they really couldn't put away any of those teams even though they were effectively playoff games. They should lose to the Jets next week but you can never underestimate the desire of the league to keep Manning in the playoffs.

11. Chiefs - Not as bad as they looked this week but the Ravens are a horrific matchup for them. Their best hope is that Weis pulls an amazing gameplan out of his ample behind.

12. Seahawks - The only thing they have going for them is a great home environment. Even that likely won't be enough to get by the Saints.

upstater1

1. New England
2. Pittsburgh
3. New Orleans
4. Green Bay
5. Atlanta
6. Indianapolis

No one else has a chance. Obviously my big omission is Baltimore but I am NOT a believer in Flacco in a tight spot.

Pittsburgh has so much experience and grit that I think they are the biggest threat. I think Pitt tends to have an overinflated ego problem. They tend to overlook teams, and they show up unprepared too often, but they have as much talent as any other team.

40yrpatsfan

+1, my feelings exactly. Steelers are our biggest AFC threat, with Indy and Baltimore a close 2nd.

Saints and Packers are the class of the NFC, I have a hard time seeing Atlanta beating either one. Either one would give us a great SB opponent and story lines galore.

aluminum seats

How many times do Brady & Belichick have to beat the Steelers before people stop saying what a "threat" they are? A thousand? The Pats dominated the Steelers, in Pittsburgh, this year, and the Pats defense has only grown & matured since then.

The Colts are the only AFC team capable of giving the Pats a game in the playoffs, let along winning.

__________________
"So I'm going to throw myself against the wall...
'Cause I'd rather feel bad than not feel anything at all."

ayjackson

TealSox

1. Patriots - I hate to set my expectations this high, but with a BYE week and home field advantage, they should get the top nod. Belichick is always a threat from the sidelines when given time to scheme and the right weapons to work with. And speaking of weapons, the team is operating like a finely tuned machine and Spikes is coming back from his 4 game suspension.

2. Falcons - Matt Ryan has been heralded for his unbeaten record at home and (fittingly) they have home field advantage through out the playoffs.

3. Ravens - Unless the Chiefs can play better, then the Ravens practically have a first round bye as well and will then make there way to New England (unless the Jets can beat the Colts). Defensively, they are play to the caliber of a playoff caliber team and they have a ton of weapons offensively.

4. Saints - Considering their match ups, I figure they should be able to destroy the Seahawks and (given my prediction that the Packers will beat the Eagles) put up a decent fight against the Bears.

5. Packers - What they lack in a running game, they make up in their passing game. Rodgers carries this team he has the weapons, including the ageless Driver and Jennings. Most importantly, I think the defensive will match up well against the Vicks... err... Eagles. Clay Matthews will need to be on the top of his game to ensure the Pack makes it to Atlanta.

6. Eagles - Vick... Vick... Vick.... On some days, the media builds him up to be Superman, but he is vulnerable and if ever there was a time for him to be exposed, it will be in the playoffs. Doesn't help that they will be facing the Packers, who can pressure the QB with the best of them. If they can win, they go on to Chicago, who I feel are very vunerable.

7. Steelers - Stacked with playoff experience, a top five defense, and home field advantage, they are easily the 3rd highest rated AFC team (if not higher). If they get the Colts, Manning will have a tough match up that he is capable of winning... but on the road, it may favor the Steel.

The rest.....

8. Colts

9. Jets

10. Bears

11. Chiefs

12. Seahawks

__________________
"It's not whether you get knocked down; it's whether you get up."Vince Lombardi


Pats fan since 1993

Disco Volante

If their defense is "championship caliber" then the Patriots are the '85 Bears.

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sbpatfan

Tier 1: Patriots, Steelers, Saints
Tier 2: Packers, Falcons
Tier 3: Ravens, Bears, Eagles
Tier 4: Chiefs, Colts, Jets
Tier 5: Seahawks

T_Brady12

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