Playoff Power Rankings - Divisional Round

The divisional round is here in the NFL! That means we are down to the best 8 teams left playing football. OK, 7 teams. Sorry Seattle, one win does not a make a good team. Here are our rankings of the last eight playing - which is to write - here are the teams in between New England at the top and Seattle at the bottom.

1. New England - Is there any question? You know how people are saying that the Jets and the Patriots split there games this season (both winning on their home field)? I don't buy it. If there is one team that is a 180 degrees different from what it was in September, it's New England.
2. Pittsburgh - I thought the Steelers were a lock for the AFC tile game a week ago. But after watching Baltimore play and Pittsburgh not, I'm actually starting to doubt the Steelers. Can Troy (Polamalu) and Ben (Roethlisberger) (first name basis with both) play to their fullest extent? If either are limited Pittsburgh playoff run will also be limited.
3. Baltimore - I never thought I would be one of those 'Ravens Guys' all high on the aging defense and Joe Flacco. All season I complained that Baltimore didn't do enough offensively to win games and I complained their defense was aging in key spots. Those complaints are still there, and quite valid thank you, but after BMore's beat down of KC, this team could be that hot wildcard team that sprouts every year.
4. Atlanta - The happiest fans in the NFL were not Seattle's after the Seahawks took down New Orleans. Nope. The happiest group of football lovers resided in Atlanta. The Falcons now will face an overrated Green Bay team - and potential home games against either Seattle or Chicago. Not exactly the toughest draw ever, eh?
5. Chicago - I honestly forgot to rank the Bears last week in our Wildcard rankings. Whoops. The Bears too should be happy that Seattle took out the defending champs, but, Chicago did lose to the Seahawks earlier in the year! Well, that game was in Seattle....oh? It was in Chicago? Could Seattle be four quarters away from an NFC title game?
6. Green Bay - I was probably the only person in America who was thinking that Aaron Rodgers played a pedestrian game on Sunday in Philadelphia. Of course the Packers receivers didn't help him out either. Still, to me it's the Green Bay defense that will keep them in games, or keep them from winning games. Against Atlanta we'll know within the first quarter if the Pack have enough to stop Matt Ryan or not.
7. New York Jets - The Jets may have put aside some Peyton Manning demons on Saturday night in Indianapolis, but I'm guessing they're still recovering from that 45-3 beat down to the Patriots from earlier this season. Tom Brady owns a lot of teams, so you're in good company Jets fans. Also, lost in the win over Indy was the fact that QB Mark Sanchez was missing receivers by about 5 feet for most of that game. His injured shoulder is probably going to be a bigger deal than Rex Ryan would ever let on about.
8. Seattle - Congrats, you won a playoff game. You're still below .500 and you robbed the world of New Orleans taking on Atlanta for the NFC. Thanks.

Playoff Power Rankings

It's our second annual MMSF NFL Playoff Power Poll. We'll rank every team still playing throughout the playoffs right here on the Blog and then talk about it on the show later. Obviously, New England reigns supreme here, but the rest of the order is a complete toss up. You think Pittsburgh's the second best team? I believe it. You like New Orleans to get hot and win their second straight Super Bowl? Sounds good to me. You think Seattle can....just stop right there. Seattle stinks.

1. New England - I think I've thrown more NFL interceptions than Tom Brady over the last two months. Can you believe he threw one touchdown pass in every game this season? This team, with all the nobodies that Brady makes look good, is elite. Well, as elite as the NFL gets now a days.
2. Pittsburgh - The Steelers more than any other team not named Philadelphia needed to get a bye week (Indianapolis doesn't count because so many of their guys are on IR - a bye would be worthless). If the OLine protects Ben Roethlisberger and if Troy Polamula can move Pittsburgh will be a tough out.
3. Philadelphia - We're around a month away from an all Pennsylvania Super Bowl! Crap, did I just jinx that? Anyway, if healthy the Eagles are the best NFC team. A defense coming around and an offense that is as explosive as any unit since the '99 Rams. The issues obviously are is Mike Vick's leg, DeSean Jackson's everything, and MLB Stewart Bradley's elbow. The Packers could easily win on Sunday, but the Eagles, just as easily, could run to Dallas.
4. New Orleans - You know who's not complaining about a 7-9 team making the playoffs? The Saints! New Orleans has a chance to pound the Seahawks for the second time this season (34-19 week 11) which would give the Saints confidence and momentum.
5. Atlanta - The last time the Falcons were the one seed in the NFC playoffs was 1980! The last championship for the city of Atlanta came with the Braves in baseball back in 1995. This is a title drought that no one talks about because, honestly, no one cares.
6. Green Bay - The Packers are scary with Aaron Rodgers at QB throwing to wideouts Greg Jennings and Donald Driver on offense and Clay Matthews Jr. running around busting people on defense. The caveat here is that Green Bay has zero running attack and they are prone to giving up big plays.
   
7. Kansas City - Isn't it weird that one week, one game, can change everyone's opinion on a team? All of a sudden Vegas sharps are hating and fans expect a loss. That's what happened with the Chiefs week 17 egg laying at home against Oakland. The thing is, one bad game does not a season make. Matt Cassel is actually good at QB and the Chiefs run the ball better than any other team in the NFL. Arrowhead is still tough and, in fact, KC's only home loss this year was in week 17 to those Raiders.
8. Baltimore - Disagree with this? I've said all year I'm not on the Ravens bandwagon. They rarely give RB Ray Rice the ball and their pass defense is atrocious (21st in the NFL). Baltimore is a player or two away (mostly on defense) from being elite, but they're not at all there yet. Could they win a game or two here? Sure. The Super Bowl? No way.
9. New York Jets - The Jets, Ravens, Packers, Saints, and Falcons are all the same to me. Major issues on one side of the ball, in the Jets case it's the offense, with an experienced and talented other side (the defense). Coming in as the 6 spot in the AFC is a death sentence. Win at Indianapolis and you win a trip to Foxborough. Heesh.
10. Indianapolis - This resurgence, if you want to call it that, has come against weak competition. The thing everyone seems to forget is that as long as Peyton Manning is alive the Colts will make the playoffs. I wasn't surprised when Indy caught Jacksonville and won the AFC South after everyone thought the season was over, and I won't be surprised when Manning throws a pick (either against New York or in Pittsburgh) to cost his team the game.