2011 NFL Playoffs: Every Team’s Easiest, Toughest Path to the Super Bowl
It is finally that time of year again.
It’s time to start 0-0 because the NFL Playoffs have arrived.
There’s no waiting til next week—it is win or go home, baby.
The caliber of the NFL teams this year in the playoffs is truly remarkable.
There are four to five teams in each conference that have a realistic chance and think that they can go to the Super Bowl in Dallas this February.
What I did here is list every playoff team’s easiest, toughest, and realistic road to the Super Bowl.
No one said it’s going to be easy, but some roads are just easier than others.
Your path could consist of hosting the fifth and sixth seed, or it could be as hard as playing on the road against the top three seeds.
One thing is for sure—and this statement can be made every year—the teams that will play in Dallas will truly have earned the right to play there.
For a ranking of all possible Super Bowl match-ups, click here.
Note: The “Realistic Road to the Super Bowl takes into account my predictions on who they would play based on who I think will win the other games. I assume in this instance that they win every game that they play in.
NFC Playoff Schedule
Wild Card Round: January 8th and 9th
No. 6 Green Bay Packers at No. 3 Philadelphia Eagles—Sunday, 4:30; FOX
No. 5 New Orleans Saints at No. 4 Seattle Seahawks—Saturday, 4:30; NBC
Divisional Round: January 15th and 16th
Higher rated seed at No. 1 Atlanta Falcons—Saturday, 8:00; FOX
Lower rated seed at No. 2 Chicago Bears—Sunday, 1:00; CBS
NFC Championship Game: January 23rd; 3:00 p.m. FOX
Higher rated seed at lower rated seed
_______________________
1. Atlanta Falcons (13-3)
Easiest Road to the Super Bowl
Divisional Round: vs. No. 4 Seattle Seahawks
- Other possible opponents: No. 5 Saints, No. 6 Packers
Championship Round: vs. No. 2 Chicago Bears
- Other possible opponents: No. 3 Eagles, No. 4 Seattle Seahawks , No. 5 Saints
Toughest Road to the Super Bowl
Divisional Round: vs. No. 5 New Orleans Saints
Championship Round: vs. No. 3 Philadelphia Eagles
Realistic Road to the Super Bowl
Divisional Round: vs. No. 5 New Orleans Saints
Championship Round: vs. No. 3 Philadelphia Eagles
_______________________
2. Chicago Bears (11-5)
Easiest Road to the Super Bowl
Divisional Round: vs. No. 4 Seattle Seahawks
- Other possible opponents: No. 3 Eagles, No. 5 Saints
Championship Round: vs. No. 6 Green Bay Packers
- Other possible opponents: No.1 Falcons, No. 4 Seahawks, No. 5 Saints
Toughest Road to the Super Bowl
Divisional Round: vs. No. 3 Philadelphia Eagles
Championship Round: at No. 1 Atlanta Falcons
Realistic Road to the Super Bowl
Divisional Round: vs. No. 3 Philadelphia Eagles
Championship Round: at No. 1 Atlanta Falcons
_______________________
3. Philadelphia Eagles (10-6)
Easiest Road to the Super Bowl
Wild Card Round: vs. No. 6 Green Bay Packers
Divisional Round: at No. 2 Chicago Bears
- Other possible opponents: None
Championship Round: vs. No. 4 Seattle Seahawks
- Other possible opponents: No. 1 Falcons, No. 5 Saints
Toughest Road to the Super Bowl
Wild Card Round: vs. No. 6 Green Bay Packers
Divisional Round: at No. 2 Chicago Bears
Championship Round: at No. 1 Atlanta Falcons
Realistic Road to the Super Bowl
Wild Card Round: vs. No. 6 Green Bay Packers
Divisional Round: at No. 2 Chicago Bears
Championship Round: at No. 1 Atlanta Falcons
_______________________
4. Seattle Seahawks (7-9)
Easiest Road to the Super Bowl
Wild Card Round: vs. No. 5 New Orleans Saints
Divisional Round: at No. 2 Chicago Bears
- Other possible opponents: No. 1 Falcons
Championship Round: vs. No. 6 Green Bay Packers
- Other possible opponents: No. 1 Falcons, No. 2 Bears, No. 3 Eagles
Toughest Road to the Super Bowl
Wild Card Round: vs. No. 5 New Orleans Saints
Divisional Round: at No. 1 Atlanta Falcons
Championship Round: at No. 3 Philadelphia Eagles
Realistic Road to the Super Bowl
Wild Card Round: vs. No. 5 New Orleans Saints
Divisional Round: at No. 1 Atlanta Falcons
Championship Round: at No. 3 Philadelphia Eagles
_______________________
5. New Orleans Saints (11-5)
Easiest Road to the Super Bowl
Wild Card Round: at No. 4 Seattle Seahawks
Divisional Round: at No. 2 Chicago Bears
- Other possible opponents: No. 1 Falcons
Championship Round: vs. No. 6 Green Bay Packers
- Other possible opponents: No. 1 Falcons, No. 2 Bears, No. 3 Eagles
Toughest Road to the Super Bowl
Wild Card Round: at No. 4 Seattle Seahawks
Divisional Round: at No. 1 Atlanta Falcons
Championship Round: at No. 3 Philadelphia Eagles
Realistic Road to the Super Bowl
Wild Card Round: at No. 4 Seattle Seahawks
Divisional Round: at No. 1 Atlanta Falcons
Championship Round: at No. 3 Philadelphia Eagles
_______________________
6. Green Bay Packers (10-6)
Easiest Road to the Super Bowl
Wild Card Round: at No. 3 Philadelphia Eagles
Divisional Round: at No. 1 Atlanta Falcons
- Other possible opponents: None
Championship Round: at No. 4 Seattle Seahawks
- Other possible opponents: No. 2 Bears, No. 5 Saints
Toughest Road to the Super Bowl
Wild Card Round: at No. 3 Philadelphia Eagles
Divisional Round: at No. 1 Atlanta Falcons
Championship Round: at No. 5 New Orleans Saints
Realistic Road to the Super Bowl
Wild Card Round: at No. 3 Philadelphia Eagles
Divisional Round: at No. 1 Atlanta Falcons
Championship Round: at No. 2 Chicago Bears
_______________________
AFC Playoff Schedule
Wild Card Round: January 8th and 9th
No. 6 New York Jets at No. 3 Indianapolis Colts—Saturday, 8:00; NBC
No. 5 Baltimore Ravens at No. 4 Kansas City Chiefs—Sunday, 1:00; CBS
Divisional Round: January 15th and 16th
Higher rated seed at No. 1 New England Patriots—Sunday, 4:30; CBS
Lower rated seed at No. 2 Pittsburgh Steelers—Saturday, 4:30; CBS
AFC Championship Game: January 23rd; 6:30 p.m. CBS
Higher rated seed at lower rated seed
_______________________
1. New England Patriots (14-2)
Easiest Road to the Super Bowl
Divisional Round: vs. No. 6 New York Jets
- Other possible opponents: No. 4 Chiefs, No. 5 Ravens
Championship Round: vs No. 4 Kansas City Chiefs
- Other possible opponents: No. 2 Steelers, No. 3 Colts, No. 5 Ravens
Toughest Road to the Super Bowl
Divisional Round: vs. No. 5 Baltimore Ravens
Championship Round: vs. No. 2 Pittsburgh Steelers
Realistic Road to the Super Bowl
Divisional Round: vs. No. 5 Baltimore Ravens
Championship Round: vs. No. 2 Pittsburgh Steelers
_______________________
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)
Easiest Road to the Super Bowl
Divisional Round: vs. No. 4 Kansas City Chiefs
- Other possible opponents: No. 3 Colts, No. 5 Ravens
Championship Round: vs. No. 6 New York Jets
- Other possible opponents: No. 1 Patriots, No. 4 Chiefs, No. 5 Ravens
Toughest Road to the Super Bowl
Divisional Round: vs. No. 5 Baltimore Ravens
Championship Round: at No. 1 New England Patriots
Realistic Road to the Super Bowl
Divisional Round: vs No. 3 Indianapolis Colts
Championship Round: at No. 1 New England Patriots
_______________________
3. Indianapolis Colts (10-6)
Easiest Road to the Super Bowl
Wild Card Round: vs. No. 6 New York Jets
Divisional Round: at No. 2 Pittsburgh Steelers
- Other possible opponents: None
Championship Round: vs. No. 4 Kansas City Chiefs
- Other possible opponents: No. 1 Patriots, No. 5 Ravens
Toughest Road to the Super Bowl
Wild Card Round: vs. No. 6 New York Jets
Divisional Round: at No. 2 Pittsburgh Steelers
Championship Round: at No. 1 New England Patriots
Realistic Road to the Super Bowl
Wild Card Round: vs. No. 6 New York Jets
Divisional Round: at No. 2 Pittsburgh Steelers
Championship Round: at No. 1 New England Patriots
_______________________
4. Kansas City Chiefs (10-6)
Easiest Road to the Super Bowl
Wild Card Round: vs. No. 5 Baltimore Ravens
Divisional Round: at No. 2 Pittsburgh Steelers
- Other possible opponents: No. 1 Patriots
Championship Round: vs. No. 6 New York Jets
- Other possible opponents: No. 1 Patriots, No. 3 Colts
Toughest Road to the Super Bowl
Wild Card Round: vs. No. 5 Baltimore Ravens
Divisional Round: at No. 1 New England Patriots
Championship Round: at No. 2 Pittsburgh Steelers
Realistic Road to the Super Bowl
Wild Card Round: vs. No. 5 Baltimore Ravens
Divisional Round: at No. 1 New England Patriots
Championship Round: at No. 2 Pittsburgh Steelers
_______________________
5. Baltimore Ravens (12-4)
Easiest Road to the Super Bowl
Wild Card Round: at No. 4 Kansas City Chiefs
Divisional Round: at No. 2 Pittsburgh Steelers
- Other possible opponents: No. 1 Patriots
Championship Round: vs. No. 6 New York Jets
- Other possible opponents: No. 1 Patriots, No. 2 Steelers, No. 3 Colts
Toughest Road to the Super Bowl
Wild Card Round: at No. 4 Kansas City Chiefs
Divisional Round: at No. 1 New England Patriots
Championship Round: at No. 2 Pittsburgh Steelers
Realistic Road to the Super Bowl
Wild Card Round: at No. 4 Kansas City Chiefs
Divisional Round: at No. 1 New England Patriots
Championship Round: at No. 2 Pittsburgh Steelers
_______________________
6. New York Jets (11-5)
Easiest Road to the Super Bowl
Wild Card Round: at No. 3 Indianapolis Colts
Divisional Round: at No. 1 New England Patriots
- Other possible opponents: None
Championship Round: at No. 5 Baltimore Ravens
- Other possible opponents: No. 2 Steelers, No. 4 Chiefs
Toughest Road to the Super Bowl
Wild Card Round: at No. 3 Indianapolis Colts
Divisional Round: at No. 1 New England Patriots
Championship Round: at No. 2 Pittsburgh Steelers
Realistic Road to the Super Bowl
Wild Card Round: at No. 3 Indianapolis Colts
Divisional Round: at No. 1 New England Patriots
Championship Round: at No. 2 Pittsburgh Steelers
_______________________
What Will Happen?
Wild Card Round: January 8th and 9th
AFC: No. 3 Indianapolis Colts at No. 6 New York Jets
AFC: No. 5 Baltimore Ravens over No. 4 Kansas City Chiefs
NFC: No. 3 Philadelphia Eagles over No. 6 Green Bay Packers
NFC: No. 5 New Orleans Saints over No. 4 Seattle Seahawks
Divisional Round: January 15th and 16th
AFC: No. 1 New England Patriots over No. 5 Ravens
AFC: No. 2 Pittsburgh Steelers over No. 3 Colts
NFC: No. 1 Atlanta Falcons over No. 5 Saints
NFC: No. 3 Eagles over No. 2 Chicago Bears
AFC Championship Game: January 23rd
AFC: No. 2 Steelers over No. 1 Patriots
NFC: No. 1 Falcons over No. 3 Eagles
Super Bowl: February 6th
Atlanta Falcons over Pittsburgh Steelers
For a ranking of all possible Super Bowl match-ups, click here.