DETROIT LIONS (10-7)WR Calvin Johnson and QB Matthew Stafford put up large, Madden-esque numbers that (some argue) masked a deficient defense, but if 5,000 yard seasons and dominant WRs who require sometimes triple coverage are the key to masking , then so be it. Detroit enjoyed it's run into the wild card sun, and the glimmer of hope on the silver and blue looks good.
CINCINNATI BENGALS (9-8)WR A.J Green was as good as expected and QB Andy Dalton better than expected. The young talent on both sides of the ball (and most importantly the solid O-line and D-line) will continue to blossom. Has the improbable happened? Have the Bengals stopped reaching and begun building with the draft?
PITTSBURGH STEELERS (12-5)QB Ben Rothlisberger truly hobbled the team into the playoffs. The aging Steelers D had a chance to step up, but were unable to stop Tebow from throwing 300 yards. Some say we are seeing the last industrial gasps of the Steeler machine, billowing ill black smoke, Still, the team looks promising aon the outside; WR Mike Wallace and WR Antonio Brown are game-changers.
ATLANTA FALCONS (10-7)The Falcons played one of the worst playoff games in recent memory. Scoring 2pts against the Giants and laying down flat. WR Julio Jones looks worth the draft day ransom they paid, and the Falcons continue to have one of the best teams of the regular season. They just can't seem to translate that into postseason success, 3 straight losses in the playoffs.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (13-5)Nobody can deny that QB Drew Brees is amazing, and TE Jimmy Graham and RB Darren Sproles frighteningly added game-breaking speed and superstar-making size to an already imposing offense. They broke all kinds of offensive records, including most passing yards in a season, but with a minimal run game and a suspect defense, it will only look impressive on paper.
DENVER BRONCOS (9-9)Tebow-mania was out of control. The media could not start a sentence without bringing it around to QB Tim Tebow and his improbable winning streak after replacing benched QB Kyle Orton. RB Willis McGahee deserves alot of the credit as does an impressive defense led by rookie LB Von Miller and CB Champ Bailey, but unorthodox quarterback play doesn't beat the Bradys, Rodgers and Brees' of this world.
HOUSTON TEXANS (11-7)If not for the injury to QB Matt Schaub, it's possible the Texans would have been one of the big stories of the season. Even with RB Arian Foster and WR Andre Johnson at the top of their positions and massive amounts of talent on D, the reliance on undrafted rookie QB T.J Yates couldn't take them too far, and everyone knew it.
GREEN BAY PACKERS (15-2)The last three 15-1 teams (99 Vikings, 04 Steelers and the 11 Packers here) have failed to make the Super Bowl. MVP QB Aaron Rodgers looked unstoppable all season long but in the playoffs it was drops, miscues and terrible defense. They were the favorite to repeat the Super Bowl, they went 15-1, and.. they didn't win a playoff game.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (14-4)Coach Jim Harbaugh turned a team of underachieving offensive playmakers , a stacked defense with elite size and speed at every level, into what it should have always been. This is a harder task than it sounds. The 49ers played some of the best football of the season and truly were undone by only a few muffed kicks. That is the curse and beauty of football.
BALTIMORE RAVENS (13-5)While RB Ray Rice becomes a superstar, the defense's waning veteran leaders spread their Raven culture to the youngsters. LB Terrell Suggs was defensive player of the year. This story has been on repeat for three years, playoff victories come but amazingly, the Ravens can't make that jump into the Super Bowl.
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