LogFAQs > #930987924

Playoff Power Rankings

Cowboys - They have by far the easiest road to Super Bowl by virtue of playing in the easier conference and not having to play themselves. Also, they are statistically the best team in the league with the #1 offense, #1 defense, #1 in points per game, #12 in points allowed per game, #2 in point differential, #8 in giveaways, T-7 in takeaways, and T-2 in turnover differential. A sixth-straight SB appearance seems eminent.

Raiders - The Raiders, the S11 playoff team that B8 deemed to have the most work to do to make the playoffs this season, destroyed their opponents this season. They own the #5 offense, #3 defense, are #3 in points per game, #2 in points allowed per game, are T-3 in fewest giveaways, and are T-2 in turnover differential. The Raiders have an argument over the Hawks and Dolphins as to who owns the most balanced offense. They are the team in the league that is the closest to being called flawless, and it would be a travesty if they were to be eliminated in their first game.

Hawks - The Hawks are not far off from the Raiders. They are #2 on offense, #5 on defense, #4 in points per game, #1 in points allowed per game, #7 in fewest giveaways, and #4 in turnover differential. They have had arguably the league's best QB and HB this season, but they will have to play one extra game and on the road if they wish to make the Super Bowl over the likes of the Raiders and Dolphins.

Vikings - Yes, the season-ending injuries to two MVP candidates (at the time) were crushing, but this is a deep roster, and while they will skip a beat, it won't be enough to where they are doomed from the start. They are still the #2 team in the NFC with the #3 offense, #8 defense, #10 points per game, and T-13 points allowed. They cut back on their turnover issues that plagued them in the first half, but it will still likely be their undoing if they fall to anyone that isn't the Cowboys in the playoffs. They do have a tough test in their first game against the Rams, but unless the Pumpkins beat the Bucs, I think the Vikings have great odds to make their first NFC Championship Game and possibly do what the likes of the Falcons, Buccaneers, Rams, and Seahawks have failed to do and defeat the Cowboys in the decisive conference matchup.

Dolphins - The Dolphins are statistically a better team than the Vikings, have finally have returned most of their injured OL, and have the luxury of a first round bye, but I can't place them higher than the Vikings. What the Vikings have in disadvantages from having to be a Wild Card team is offset by the fact they are the clear second-best team in the NFC. The Dolphins are not only third, but a Jaguars team that is so sack heavy might have a field day with such a young and injury-prone OL. If all things break right, the Dolphins might be the best team in the AFC based on talent alone, and it isn't as if they didn't perform up to it (#4 offense, #2 defense, #2 points per game, #4 points allowed per game, #6 turnover differential), but the 54th straight season of Dolphins retooling their roster might be their most-flawed product in many seasons.

Packers - The Dolphins ended the line of elite teams, but the Packers do not begin the line of the next tier of teams. Both their offense and defense sit outside the Top 10 (13th and 11th respectively), and the offense is still just as flawed and exploitable as usual, but they cut back significantly on turnovers while still generating turnovers at a decent clip. The Packers also have a prime opportunity to not just win their first playoff game but make the Super Bowl. They need to win two games at home, and they're there! The worst-case scenario is those games being against the Vikings and Cowboys, but it sure as hell looks better than what the Patriots will have to deal with!

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