Breaking down the NFL playoffs

Finally, the real season begins. For 12 teams, all the hard work put in during offseason workouts, meetings, mini-camps and the regular season has come to fruition. They say once you get in, anything can happen ...just get in and see what you can do. This year there are teams that are riding the wave in and teams that are limping in. With the weekend wild card games slated to start off on Saturday with the Jets and Bengals, here is a quick breakdown of how I would rank all teams.

1. San Diego Chargers - winners of their last 11 games, no team is hotter than the Chargers. They are the most complete team in the playoffs. Philip Rivers has made huge strides this year and has again demonstrated he is amongst the elite quarterbacks. Did you know LT scored 12 TD's this year? The biggest question mark with San Diego is at head coach. Can enbattled Norv Turner make the jump from retread to Super Bowl winner?

2. Indianapolis Colts - the Colts will go as far as Peyton Manning takes them. He's the league MVP and key to everything they do. However, questions remain after Jim Caldwell took over the starters half way through their eventual loss to the New York Jets. Even with history staring him in the face, Caldwell pulled back. Now heading into the playoffs, the Colts will not played a real meaningful, competitive game of football in 3 weeks. Past history suggests that's not so good. However, need we all not forget, they do have the best player in the NFL - Peyton Manning.

3. Minnesota Vikings - For the first 11 weeks of the season, the Vikes appeared on the fast track for greatness this season. Then the Favre/Childress feud came into our living rooms and they lost 3 of 4. They appeared to right the ship a bit with the blowout win over the Giants to end the season. However, there are questions heading into the playoffs. How will the offensive line hold up? Will Brett Favre continue his magical season? What will the health of Percy Harvin be?

4. Dallas Cowboys - heading into December, I never would have picked the Cowboys as a favorite to win the Super Bowl. Their annual December swoom appeared on track with back to back tough losses where they scored a combined 14 points. But a huge win in New Orleans spearheaded their revival and have them playing outstanding football at the right time. Their defense is stout and the offense is finding their groove. Can Tony Romo take that next step and become the leader Jerry Jones wants?

5. New Orleans Saints - for all the talk about a perfect 16-0, record breaking season, the Saints sure did fizzle the past 3 weeks. Going as far back as their thrashing of the New England Patriots, they have not played up to their previously set capabilities. In losing 3 games to end the season, they may have caused irreperable damage to their confidence. 2 of the losses came to at home, to the Cowboys (a team they may see again) and the lowly Tampa Bucs. Did they peak too soon? I find it hard to believe with Drew Brees and all of the weapons on offense, along with their opportunistic defense that they won't make a deep run.

6. Green Bay Packers - Brett Favre who? Aaron Rodgers has made everyone forget the debate. He's a star and has a plethera of weapons at his disposal. Combined with their defense, the Packers are a dangerous team. They have a tough first-round matchup, having to travel to the Arizona to play the defending NFC champion Cardinals. Both teams can sling the ball around the field. The question will be who's defense will make the play in the end to win and move on?

7. New England Patriots - in Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, you can never count them out. However, one must wonder how they will overcome the huge loss of Wes Welker. He was their team MVP and sparkplug. The burden of filling his shoes lies on Julian Edelman. Remind you, he's a 7th round draft pick who was playing quarterback at Kent State last year. As much as he may mimic Welker, he is not the man. More pressure falls onto Brady and also Randy Moss. Can Moss shed his past playoff struggles and provide the big play capability the Pats need? Can the Pats defense step up and come of age a bit? More importantly, can they generate a pass rush?

8. Philadelphia Eagles - the Eagles come into the post-season as one of the hotter teams. Despite losing to Dallas 24-0 to end the year, falling from the #2 seed, and NFC East champs, down to the #6 seed and a wild card birth. The key will be Donovan McNabb. On paper he has one of the better offensive teams in football with young, fast, talented playmakers all around him - Desean Jackson, Jeremy Macklin, Brent Celek et al. Andy Reid, the Eagles head coach, has never lost a playoff opener - he is 7-0. Will the trend continue in Dallas? The Eagles have the tools to make a run.

9. Arizona Cardinals - the defending NFC champions are back in the playoffs for another run. Last season they were in the same position, #4 seed, and came within a few minutes of winning the Super Bowl. They are dangerous. Their offense can put up points in minutes and their defense can put pressure on opposing offenses. Will the injury to Anquin Boldin hurt their chances or will we see other wide receivers such as Steve Breasten and Earl Doucet step up? Pride is a big thing in football and the Cardinals may be in position to defend their NFC crown with another run.

10. New York Jets - of all the teams in the playoffs, the Jets may be the most dangerous for 2 reasons. They have the #1 rated defense and the #1 rated rush offense. Those are the 2 main ingredients for a successful playoff run. Rex Ryan has the Jets believing in themselves again. After falling to 4-6 in late November, the Jets have won 5 of 6 to get into the playoffs. However, they were benefited by the Colts and Bengals both resting players, clearing the path for the Jets. The biggest question mark lies at quarterback. Can rookie Mark Sanchez make the plays when needed and avoid the big mistakes that have littered his rookie season thus far?

11. Baltimore Ravens - the Ravens appear to have the formula for winning playoff football. They have two beast running backs in Ray Rice and Willis McGahee and they play solid defense. However, they have a lack of wide receiver star power and are wildly undisciplined. Costly penalties were abound all season, that in the end may kill their chances. But you can never count out the Ravens. They have proud, successful players such as Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. The Patriots will have their hands full in round 1.

12. Cincinnati Bengals - statistically speaking, the Bengals have the biggest hill to climb should they want to make it to Miami. They are the least proficient in terms of scoring points. They do feature 1,200 yard rusher Cedric Bensen and pro-bowl caliber quarterback Caron Palmer. However, the Bengals have faced quite a few road blocks this season that would do in most every team in the NFL. Early in the season, defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer lost his wife and a few weeks back they lost wide receiver Chris Henry, 26. Will the Bengals be able to overcome all the obsticles or will their season end quickly and sadly?