Robert Griffin III and Andrew Luck stole headlines over the past six months, but it’s Russell Wilson who is now the only rookie QB with a chance to win a Super Bowl this winter. Along with Russell and the Seahawks, Baltimore, Green Bay and Houston also advanced to the divisional round of the 2013 NFL postseason. Two of those teams managed to crack into the top four of these power rankings, and both could be seen as favorites to make it all the way to that February showdown.
2013 NFL Playoffs power rankings: Divisional Round
The eliminated
12. Cincinnati Bengals (10-7): The 2012-13 season was all about “taking the next step” for Cincy. Finishing the regular season as the second-best team in the AFC North is fine and all, but I think it’d be easy to argue that the Bengals really are no better off than they were a year ago at this time. The Bengals are Atlanta-light in that they’re not as good as are the Falcons, and both still need to win a playoff game in order to earn anybody’s belief.
11. Minnesota Vikings (10-7): What I and many others said heading into Wild Card Weekend proved to be true: Adrian Peterson is undeniably great, but you’re not winning a championship in this league without having at least a pretty good quarterback. I’m not saying Christian Ponder isn’t the guy, but Joe Webb did himself no favors in the loss to Green Bay. The Vikes have some very important discussions ahead of them once free agency begins.
10. Washington Redskins (10-7): The answer to the “Will Robert Griffin III finish the season without picking up a serious injury” seems to be a very big “NO.” Reports as of Monday evening were that RG3 suffered partial ACL and LCL tears in Washington’s final game of the campaign, and the dynamic QB will be further evaluated on Tuesday. Say what you will about the offense of the ‘Skins. RG3 dealing with multiple knee problems in his first pro season is not good.
9. Indianapolis Colts (11-6): The future is bright for a Colts team that, in all reality, had little chance of winning in Baltimore considering all of the circumstances (Ray Lewis playing in the last home game of his career, Indianapolis O-coordinator Bruce Arians being taken to the hospital gameday morning). Rookie QB Andrew Luck proved to be Indy’s most reliable offensive weapon against the Ravens, but a series of drops was at least partially responsible for the visitors making an exit from the postseason after just four quarters of action.
The remaining
8. Houston Texans (13-4): Houston did little, if anything at all, to silence their critics during what was an extremely lackluster win over Cincy. The Texans now have to travel back to Gillette Stadium where they were thumped by the Patriots back on December 10.
7. Baltimore Ravens (11-6): Good on the Ravens for earning an emotional win at home last weekend, but they will not survive fumbling the ball away or dropping interceptions against the Broncos. I can’t help but wonder if their Super Bowl was winning Ray’s final ever home game. If that’s the case, their last contest of these playoffs could be an ugly one.
6. Atlanta Falcons (13-3): Ranking the Falcons this low in these power rankings is simple to explain. Seattle is arguably the most dangerous opponent left in the postseason tournament, and Matty Ice and company have to show that they can win in January before I can have too much belief in them. With that said, they could catapult all the way up into the top two of next week’s list with an impressive display against the Seahawks.
5. San Francisco 49ers (11-4-1): It would be unfair to suggest that the Niners completely backed their way into a divisional title and home game. They did, after all, win in New England on December 16. I still find it awfully hard to pick against Aaron Rodgers in a game that the Packers must win, and that’s why I can’t place San Fran any higher in these power rankings.
4. Seattle Seahawks (12-5): Pick up a truly impressive road win? Check. Rally back from behind and show the fight, toughness and heart of a champion in the process? Check. It’s getting harder and harder to doubt this team as the weeks go on.
3. Green Bay Packers (12-5): Remember back in January ’08 when the Giants beat a “meh” Tampa Bay team and everybody said that the win didn’t matter all that much? That’s where my mind goes when I reflect on Green Bay’s win over Minnesota last weekend. Such a victory is the type of a result that sets a championship side off and running.
2. New England Patriots (12-4): The Pats ended the season as No. 2 in the final power rankings of the regular season, and I don’t think anything has changed since that day to bump them from that spot this week. They may not win by four touchdowns, but I still think they’ll handle their business at home against Houston.
1. Denver Broncos (13-3):Ric Flair has taught us that one must beat the man to be the man. Denver is “the man” in NFL power rankings until they’re downed.
