Here is a rundown of the six NFC playoff teams. I also compiled a similar report for the NFC playoff teams. Check it out by Clicking Here.

Team: Tennessee Titans

Seed: AFC #1 Seed

Quick Stats:

1) W/L Record: 13-3
2) Points Scored: 23.4 / game (14th)
3) Points Allowed: 14.6 / game (2nd)
4) Yards Gained: 313.6 / game (21st)
5) Yards Allowed: 293.6 / game (7th)

Strengths: The Titans have one of the best defenses in the NFL.  They allowed the second fewest points in the NFL this season.  They get after the quarterback with 44 sacks, tied for 5th in the NFL.  Quarterbacks were only able to tally an average QB rating of 69.2.  The Titans were also monsters against the run.  They were 6th in rushing yards allowed.   Their front four of Haynesworth, Vanden Bosch, Kearse, and Brown is among the best in the NFL.  Furthermore, they run the ball very well.  The Titans ranked 7th in the NFL in rushing yards gained and ranked 2nd in rushing touchdowns with 24.  White and Johnson are a great duo that gives them a great combination of blinding speed and strength.   Finally, Jeff Fisher is the longest tenured coach in the NFL.  He is arguably the best NFL coach without a Super Bowl ring.

Weaknesses:  If the Titans have to comeback and pass the ball they really are not suited for that type of game.  The Titans rank 27th in the NFL in passing yards gained.  Kerry Collins had only 12 passing touchdowns on the season.  The good thing is that he had only 7 picks, so he doesn't hurt them with senseless turnovers.  If the Titans get into a situation where they need points in bunches they could struggle to do that.  

Why this team will win the Super Bowl: Defense and running the ball are a recipe for postseason success and the Titans do that as well as any team in the NFL.  They only lost 3 games in the regular season and were the last team to lose in 2008, starting 10-0.  They don't have a great passing game, but they haven't needed one all year.  Kerry Collins has been to a Super Bowl and gives them the veteran experience they need.  

Why this team will not make the Super Bowl: Most teams need a good quarterback to make it to the Super Bowl.  Collins had only 12 touchdown passes in the regular season.  Usually a team will have adversity at some point in the postseason.  While Collins has shown at times he can move the ball through the air it hasn't been consistent enough to think he is a guarantee to step up in a big spot.

What would be considered a successful Postseason:  The Titans were a wildcard team last year that benefited from a playoff run.  They have the pieces to get to a Super Bowl and have home field.  Anything short of making the Super Bowl is going to be a major dissapointment.

Percent Chance of playing football on 02/01/2009: 35%

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Team: Pittsburgh Steelers

Seed: AFC #2 Seed

Quick Stats:

1) W/L Record: 12-4
2) Points Scored: 21.7 / game (20th)
3) Points Allowed: 13.9 / game (1st)
4) Yards Gained: 311.9 / game (22nd)
5) Yards Allowed: 237.2 / game (1st)

Strengths: This was arguably one of the best defenses in recent NFL history.  They finished first in points allowed, yards allowed, and passing yards allowed.  They finished second in rushing yards allowed.  Quarterbacks threw only 12 touchdowns and 20 picks on the Steelers this season, which produced an average rating of 63.4.  Only the Ravens were better in that department.  The Steelers were 2nd in sacks with 51.  They were tied for 2nd in fewest rushing touchdowns allowed with just 7.  They also have a Super Bowl tested quarterback in Big Ben Roethlisberger.  They know he can win tough playoff games.

Weaknesses: This just wasn't a very good offense this year.  They had a lot of injuries at running back.  Ben Roethlisberger had an off year.  In 2007 he had the second highest QB rating in the NFL at 104.1 and was 3rd in touchdown passes with 32.  In 2008 he was 24th in QB rating at 80.1.  Willie Parker is their leading rusher with 791 yards rushing.  Hines Ward recorded another 1,000-yard season with 1,043 yards and 7 touchdowns.  There just wasn't a lot of firepower on offense.  If they can regain their 2007 form they will probably win the franchise's 6th Super Bowl.  If they don't they could be bounced in their first playoff game.  

Why this team will win the Super Bowl: There are still a lot of players from the 2005 Super Bowl team and this defense is as nasty as any defense the NFL has seen.  The AFC doesn't have a lot of high-powered offenses.  Tennessee, Pittsburgh, Miami, and Baltimore win with defense first.  Indianapolis is still strong on offense, but they are a shadow of their 2003-2007 offense.  San Diego has the only high-powered offense in the AFC playoffs and the Steelers won't have to play them until the title game.  They held San Diego to just 10 points in their previous meeting.  

Why this team will not make the Super Bowl:  Big Ben has been turning the ball over a lot more.  He had 2 fumbles and 2 interceptions against Tennessee.  He gets sacked quite a bit and is entering the playoffs with a concussion.  It's going to be hard for the Steelers to win playoff games if he isn't at 100%.

What would be considered a successful Postseason:  This is another team that made the playoffs last year and won the Super Bowl in 2005.  This team is looking for one thing, a 6th Lombardi Trophy.

Percent Chance of playing football on 02/01/2009: 25%
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Team: Miami Dolphins

Seed: AFC #3 Seed

Quick Stats:

1) W/L Record: 11-5
2) Points Scored: 21.6 / game (21st)
3) Points Allowed: 19.8 / game (9th)
4) Yards Gained: 345.6 / game (12th)
5) Yards Allowed: 329.0 / game (15th)

Strengths: The Dolphins are a team that doesn't kill themselves.  They lead the league in turnover differential at plus 17.  They aren't flashy moving the ball down the field.  However, they use Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams to control the clock.  Pennington doesn't make a lot of big plays, but he completes a lot of passes and doesn't make crucial mistakes.  Joey Porter leads a defense that is great at stopping opponents.  He has 17.5 sacks.  

Weaknesses: The Dolphins always seem to be in close games.  9 of their 11 wins are by less than 10 points.  Even though the Dolphins win games with a stingy defense and good running game the Ravens, Steelers, and Titans all play a very similar style and are probably better at that type of game than Miami.  Those teams won't become impatient and make critical mistakes like the Jets did in their season finale.  The Dolphins benefited from a 7-1 record against the AFC & NFC West.  It remains to be seen if they can win games in the playoffs.

Why this team will win the Super Bowl: Who would have thought they would even be in the playoffs.  This is the most unlikely story you could have in the playoffs.  Why not think big?  

Why this team will not make the Super Bowl: This team was 1-15 just a year ago and while they are much better than that 2007 team they are still a work in progress.  Their quarterback has never been to a conference championship game and they have a rookie head coach.  It is going to be tough for them to win against Baltimore and Pittsburgh in back to back weeks.  

What would be considered a successful Postseason:  Being here is a success.  They hope to show well and possibly win a playoff game.  That gives them a lot to build on in 2009.

Percent Chance of playing football on 02/01/2009: 5%
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Team: San Diego

Seed: AFC #4 Seed

Quick Stats:

1) W/L Record: 8-8
2) Points Scored: 27.4 / game (2nd)
3) Points Allowed: 21.7 / game (15th)
4) Yards Gained: 349.0 / game (11th)
5) Yards Allowed: 349.9 / game (25th)

Strengths: This is the most explosive offense in the AFC playoffs.  The team is experienced having made the playoffs in 2004, 2006, and 2007.  They went to the AFC Championship a year ago.  This was a team that was expected to compete for the Super Bowl was written off at 4-8 and rose from the dead winning their last 4 games.  Rivers led the NFL in QB rating and is the only QB rated over 100.00.  He tied for the NFL lead in touchdown passes with 34 and has 11 touchdowns and 1 pick in his last 4 games.  LT gives them a chance to establish a ground game.  

Weaknesses: This team is hot, but they still have a very bad defense.  They were 15th in points allowed and 25th in yards allowed.  San Diego has the 31st ranked pass defense in the NFL.  They gave up 25 touchdowns and 15 picks for an average rating of 90.3.  They don't put enough pressure on the QB ranking 22nd in sacks with just 28.  The Chargers are decent at stopping the run ranking 11th in the NFL.  However, this defense has much to be desired.  

Why this team will win the Super Bowl: They don't need a great defense to win in the AFC Playoffs.  If they can beat Indy at home, a team they lost to by only 3 points earlier in the year the rest of the offenses don't pass the ball well.  There isn't a 07 Brady or 04 Manning waiting for them in the playoffs.  Any defense will struggle to stop their pass offense.

Why this team will not make the Super Bowl: This is a 8-8 team.  5 of their 8 wins were against the AFC West.  Their best wins were against the Jets, Patriots, and Bucs.  This team is so inconsistent and until the Tampa Bay game plays terrible traveling east.  It's too hard to ignore their first 12 games.  

What would be considered a successful Postseason: This team expected to compete for a Super Bowl.  Their window is closing.  Even though they were 8-8 this team needs to win a couple playoff games to make people forget about their 8-8 season.

Percent Chance of playing football on 02/01/2009: 10%
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Team: Indianapolis Colts

Seed: AFC #5 Seed

Quick Stats:

1) W/L Record: 12-4
2) Points Scored: 23.6 / game (13th)
3) Points Allowed: 18.6 / game (7th)
4) Yards Gained: 335.5 / game (15th)
5) Yards Allowed: 310.9 / game (11th)

Strengths: The best part of this team in 2008 was their pass defense.  While they didn't get a lot of sacks with only 30, they were great at not allowing touchdown passes.  The Colts allowed only 6 touchdown passes, which led the league.  The Steelers and Titans were second with 12.  The Colts also allowed only a 78.0 rating to quarterbacks.  On offense Peyton Manning had another Pro Bowl season.  While he started slow he ended up with a 95.0 QB rating and 27 touchdown passes.  That's not bad for a season that started 3-4 and had him in the low 80s.  Other than Philip Rivers he was probably the best quarterback in the NFL the second half of the season.  Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark are always threats.  Marvin Harrison and Joseph Addai had off years, but are experienced players that could regain their form in the playoffs.

Weaknesses: Indy never stops the run well and 2008 was no different.  They ranked 24th in the NFL in rushing defense.  When you got teams like the Titans, Steelers, Ravens, and Dolphins its important that you stop the run.  They also played a lot of close games this year.  6 of their 9 wins were by 7 points or less.  Their blowouts were against Cincy, Detroit, and Tennessee (both teams rested their starters last week of the season).  The offense is down this year, ranking only 13th in points scored and 15th in yards gained.  The Colts couldn't run the ball at all.  They ranked 31st in the NFL.  It's hard to imagine this team winning it all if their offense isn't playing in top form.  

Why this team will win the Super Bowl: They won the Super Bowl in 2006.  It's a veteran team.  They have the best quarterback in the NFL.  Peyton Manning always gives the team a chance to win.  Bob Sanders is coming back healthy and he is big to what they do on defense.  The Colts were 4-1 in the regular season against Baltimore, Pittsburgh, San Diego, and Tennessee.  That bodes well for them in a playoff run.  

Why this team will not make the Super Bowl: They are probably going to have to play 3 road games in a row.  In 2006 when they won the Super Bowl their rushing offense was clicking.  This team can't run the ball.  It's hard to win January football games on the road when you can't run the ball and can't stop the run.  Peyton Manning can't win the Super Bowl by himself.     

What would be considered a successful Postseason: This is a veteran team that expects to compete for Super Bowls every year.  Anything less is not a success.

Percent Chance of playing football on 02/01/2009: 15%
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Team: Baltimore Ravens

Seed: AFC #6 Seed

Quick Stats:

1) W/L Record: 9-6-1
2) Points Scored: 24.1 / game (11th)
3) Points Allowed: 15.2 / game (3rd)
4) Yards Gained: 324.0 / game (18th)
5) Yards Allowed: 261.1 / game (2nd)

Strengths: I can basically write the same bio for the Ravens that I did for the Steelers.  This is a defense that does everything well.  They stop the run and the pass.  They put pressure on the quarterback.  Opposing quarterbacks have a terrible QB rating against the Ravens.  Ray Lewis is a phenomenal middle linebacker and Ed Reed is arguably the best safety in football.  Teams will find it hard to score on Baltimore.  The only thing that Baltimore does not have is a Super Bowl proven QB.  Joe Flacco is in his rookie season.

Weaknesses: It's the offense again.  The Ravens were very good scoring points ranking 11th in the NFL.  That is an improvement over past years.  However, they are 18th in yards gained.  This is an offense that likes to run the ball and keep things easy for its defense.  Joe Flacco is a rookie.  Rookie quarterbacks don't win Super Bowls in their rookie seasons.  The Ravens rank 28th in passing yards and Flacco has a QB rating of 80.3 and has only 14 touchdown passes on the year.  

Why this team will win the Super Bowl: Ray Lewis led the 2000 Ravens to the Super Bowl from the wild card spot.  This is probably the best QB he has had in Baltimore since then other than McNair in 2006.  You can never count this defense out.

Why this team will not make the Super Bowl:  They lost to the Steelers twice.  They were blown out by the Colts.  They lost to the Titans.  While they played the Titans and Steelers tough, it's still a 0-4 record against the playoff teams.  Joe Flacco will probably look like a rookie at some point in the playoffs and the Ravens will not be able to overcome that.

What would be considered a successful Postseason:  This team was expected to be the 3rd team in the AFC North.  A return to the playoffs was a pleasant surprise.  Their defense has a lot of veterans that want to win now.  I think if the Ravens beat Miami and play well in Tennessee that will be considered a successful season.

Percent Chance of playing football on 02/01/2009: 10%
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Here's how I see the AFC playoffs.  I think the Titans were the best team all season.  The team that scares me the most with them is the Chargers, because of their offensive firepower.  I think the Ravens win in Miami, so the Titans wouldn't probably see them until the AFC Championship Game, which is probably unlikely.  

I think the Steelers will benefit from the week off as well and will beat the winner of the Colts and the Chargers.  I like the Chargers to win that game.  That sets up a rematch with the Titans.   I like the Titans to win that game to advance to the Super Bowl, where I have them losing to the Carolina Panthers.  

What do you think about the AFC Playoff Picture? Who are you predicting and whom are you hoping for? Let me know your thoughts.