1. Green Bay Packers (15-1)
The Packers were able to beat the Lions despite not playing Aaron Rodgers, Clay Matthews, Charles Woodson, and others. Green Bay locks up the #1 seed in the NFC and home field advantage. However despite all of that, they are far from any lock to get back to the playoffs.
2. Baltimore Ravens (12-4)
Baltimore heads into the playoffs on a little bit of a roll. Beating fellow playoff (and division rival) Cincinnati. Now the Ravens get a first round bye and a chance to rest up before they face (more than likely) Pittsburgh or Houston. Both seem to be good match ups because Baltimore is much better than Houston and they've already beaten the Steelers twice.
3. New Orleans Saints (13-3)
This might be the hottest team in the NFL right now. The Saints might not have the same record as the Packers, but the Saints offense is rolling and the defense is generating turnovers like they did when they won the Super Bowl a couple of years ago.
4. New England Patriots (13-3)
Despite being the #1 seed in the AFC and having home field advantage throughout the playoffs, the Patriots are the team that all the wildcard round teams want to face. Mainly because of their Swiss cheese defense. Don't be surprised if the Pats get knocked out right away.
5. San Francisco 49ers (13-3)
Here is another team with a first round bye that you don't have a lot of confidence in. The 49ers are a great story winning 13 games after the way they have played the last couple of years. However the 49ers are going to have to score points to win games in the playoffs and the offense just isn't that great.
6. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)
If it wasn't for the loss of Rashad Mendenhall (torn ACL) the Steelers might be one of the favorites to win the AFC. They'll get Big Ben back closer to 100%, but the lack of a running game could really hurt their chances.
7. New York Giants (9-7)
Even though they needed a win over the Cowboys to get into the playoffs, they are a hot team going into the playoffs and face an Atlanta team that they could easily beat and move on. You have to give the advantage to the Giants whose pass rush should give Matt Ryan fits behind their shaky offensive line.
8. Atlanta Falcons (10-6)
After some early season struggles the Falcons have righted the ship and make it back to the playoffs for a 2nd straight season. However this year they aren't the #1 seed. However they face off against the hot New York Giants in what should be a high scoring game. However it will be a dog fight.
9. Detroit Lions (10-6)
Lions fans have to be ecstatic that the Lions have made it to the playoffs for the first time in YEARS. But they can't be too confident seeing that the Lions lost to a Packers team who didn't play their star players and didn't really have anything to play for. If the Lions can find any running game they can make some news in the playoffs, but I don't see that happening.
10. Cincinnati Bengals (9-7)
What a season it has been for the Bengals. Going in not very many people gave them a shot with a rookie QB and a very young receiving core. However Andy Dalton to AJ Green has become one of the best QB to WR tandems and helped propel them into the playoffs. Add in that they get an additional 1st round pick (Carson Palmer trade) and they could be set up for a while to come.
11. Tennessee Titans (9-7)
Here is another team that if they didn't have a couple of injuries they could be in the playoffs. However if you are a Titans fan you have to be optimistic about the future and with the Colts more than likely down for a couple of years could make a nice run.
12. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8)
Nobody will probably believe me, but I thought that the Eagles would struggle this year because they added so many new pieces that it took some time for them to gel. However the biggest blunder for the Eagles was moving Offensive Line coach Juan Castillo to be the Defensive Coordinator. Look for them to make a big run at Steve Spagnolo to take over.
13. San Diego Chargers (8-8)
Here is another team that was a little too late to the party. Normally they start slow and end strong, but this year they started strong, sucked in the middle, and then played well at the very end of the season. It will be interesting to see where they go with the changes.
14. Houston Texans (10-6)
When TJ Yates left the game in the 1st quarter, Texans fans have to had a sick feeling. Would they seriously lose their 3rd QB this season and have to go into their first playoff appearance in their history with Jake Delhomme as their QB? Luckily Yates only hurt his non throwing shoulder and will be back. But due to all the injuries the Texans magical season that could have been much better could end in the wildcard round.
15. Arizona Cardinals (8-8)
There was a lot of talk about the Cardinals winning the NFC West with the acquisition of Kevin Kolb. However it didn't look to pretty for the most part. Kevin Kolb didn't play too well at the beginning of the season and then got hurt. However it was John Skelton (who they already had on their roster) that helped the Cardinals right the ship and help the Cardinals avoid a below .500 season. If they make some good decisions in the off season they should be able to challenge the 49ers for the West.
16. Dallas Cowboys (8-8)*
I've never understood why the Cowboys get all the hype, but this year looked like the year that they could surprise me and make it to the playoffs. However they always seemed to shoot themselves in the foot. Whether it was their HC icing their own kicker, or missing FGs to win. But the Cowboys need to get some more playmakers on defense (secondary) if they want to be a playoff team again.
17. Kansas City Chiefs (7-9)
Oh the Chiefs. Injuries took away their best offensive player (Jamaal Charles) and defensive player (Eric Berry) and eventually their QB. But unlike other teams the Chiefs have a lot of young talent on this roster and with the right HC they could be back to the playoffs again soon.
18. Seattle Seahawks (7-9)
The biggest reason that the Seahawks struggled this year in my opinion is (obviously) the poor play of the QB position. But when you go into the season with Tavarrius Jackson and Charlie Whitehurst as your options you have to know that is is going to happen. Look for the Seahawks to target a QB and go out and get them because this team does have the talent to be a playoff team. I have a hunch they'll win the Matt Flynn sweepstakes.
19. Miami Dolphins (6-10)
For a team that had a lot of reasons to quit and loss a ton of games, the Dolphins really surprised a lot of people and played very well for 2nd half of the season. Matt Moore played well and will more than likely get a chance to start next year, Reggie Bush showed that he can be a #1 RB, and the defense didn't play too bad either. Depending on what they do at QB and at HC, they should only get better next year.
20. Oakland Raiders (8-8)
You have to wonder how the Raiders would have done if Jason Campbell would have stayed healthy. The Raiders at the time were clearly the best team in the AFC West and might have run away with the division. However couple that with another injury to Darren McFadden and it isn't a surprise that they are on the outside looking into the playoffs. At least they gave up a 1st and 2nd round picks to Cincinnati for Carson Palmer.
21. Denver Broncos (8-8)
Here are your AFC West Champions!!!! But it's unfortunate Tebow time ran out of time right before the playoffs are to start. But don't forget about them, remember last year with the
Seahawks anybody can win. But it looks like the Broncos are going to commit to Tebow for next year (probably because they don't have any other option) and are going to look to build around him. We'll see.
22. Chicago Bears (8-8)
Chicago was 7-3 and looking like the 2nd best team in the NFC. But Cutler and Forte go down and the wheels fall off. Da Bears need to get healthy and address some holes at WR, OL, and DB and they could come back next year just like they did this year. With a lot of questions marks, but a lot of potential.
23. New York Jets (8-8)
If you take a look at my preseason power rankings (http://tinyurl.com/6w6335y ) and you'll see that I didn't think the Jets would make the playoffs this year. I'm proud to say that I'm right. They lost a lot of important pieces to their already not so great offense, and were pretty full of themselves. Now they'll face a tough off season and probably do some house cleaning.
24. Carolina Panthers (6-10)
After bragging about picking correctly against the Jets, I'll admit that I didn't think that Cam Newton was going to be worth anything. But I don't think I was the only one. Newton surprised a lot of people and looks to be the future on the Panthers. Now Carolina has to do everything in their power to build around him. But fixing the defense might be the best option to go.
25. Buffalo Bills (6-10)
Buffalo was one of the surprise teams at the beginning of the season, but came back down to earth quickly. However some of that was due to injuries. But they have a good foundation and with another solid draft (get some weapons at WR) and they could become more consistent.
26. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11)
A new owner and a new HC will bring a lot of change to a team that has it's issues. But finding out if Blaine Gabbert is an NFL QB (I don't think he is) is top priority. Also getting a reliable WR wouldn't help either.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12)
It's unfortunate that Raheem Morris is going to get the ax, because this team has a lot of talent, but for whatever reason they underachieved. Fixing the secondary and finding some weapons on offense would really help out.
28. Washington Redskins (5-11)
When you go into the season with John Beck/Rex Grossman you have to expect that they were tanking the season to try and get one of the top QBs in the draft. So there really isn't much to say here. They have some talent, so getting a quality QB could make this team better.
29. Cleveland Browns (4-12)
You have to wonder how good of a coach Eric Mangini is. With this same team (practically) he has them at 6 wins and a lot of momentum. Now the Browns have only two less wins, but have a ton of issues and no certainty at QB.
30. Minnesota Vikings (3-13)
Just think, two years ago the Vikings were a Brett Farve interception away from the Super Bowl. Now they are picking with the #3 pick in the NFL Draft. Oh how they have fallen. But any objective person looking at this roster would have seen the glaring holes and old age they have. Now they go into the off season with holes at every single position on the roster.
31. Indianapolis Colts (2-14)
I know that losing Peyton Manning really hurt (pun intended) but for a team that was a playoff contender to fall this much shows a general lack of talent on the roster. The Colts could be another team looking to clean house and you can't blame them either. The defense is awful and the offense besides Manning doesn't have much playmaking ability.
32. St. Louis Rams (2-14)
I tend to believe that if the Rams played the Colts, the Colts would probably win. St. Louis is just a flat out awful team this year. And now they have to find yet another new HC since Spags was fired this morning. Getting some protection for Sam Bradford and some playmakers on defense would really help too.
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