Earlier I wrote which three NFC playoff teams I feel are the best entering the postseason. I also advised that the race in the AFC looks more wide open than does the one in the NFC. One team, from each conference, has to make it to Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA on Feb. 7, 2016, obviously. But which teams have the easiest path to Super Bowl 50?
NUMBER TWO SEEDS IN EACH CONFERENCE HAVE EASIEST PATHS TO SUPER BOWL 50
Based on having a bye in the first round, and home field advantage (for at least one game), the top two seeds in each conference should theoretically have the easiest paths to the Super Bowl. Let’s take a look at the possible roads of the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots, the top two seeds, respectively, in the AFC.
The Broncos could wind up hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers (six seed) if Ben Roethlisberger’s team takes care of their division rival, Cincinnati Bengals, and the Bengals probably won’t have quarterback Andy Dalton on the field due to injury. The Steelers have holes on defense, particularly in the secondary, but they are a good team, and none of the AFC playoff teams wanted them to make the postseason. If Denver has to face Mike Tomlin’s team in the Divisional Round, that will be a tough game. If the Bengals defeat the Steelers, the Broncos would host either the Kansas City Chiefs (winners of 10 in a row) or the Houston Texans. Denver would prefer to face the Texans, or even the Chiefs, over Pittsburgh. A road that could include taking on the Steelers and Patriots is not easy, even if both of those teams have some deficiencies they need to resolve.
The Patriots would face the Bengals if Marvin Lewis’ team defeats the Steelers, meaning Tom Brady and company can’t face the Steelers in the Divisional Round. Andy Dalton could be back for that potential game against the Patriots, but that’s a big if, and the Red Rifle is bound to have some rust if he is back under center. If Pittsburgh takes care of Cinci, then Bill Belichick’s team would host either the Chiefs or Texans. This means that New England would have to face a maximum of one team out of the Broncos and Steelers in the playoffs, and that matchup wouldn’t happen until the AFC Championship game.
Let’s take a look at the NFC teams.
If we take a quick look at the Carolina Panthers possible route to Super Bowl 50, we see that their road could be quite difficult. The Seattle Seahawks will play the Minnesota Vikings on the road this weekend. If Pete Carroll’s team is victorious, which I believe is highly probable, they would travel to Carolina as the lowest remaining seed. Yes, the Panthers have looked dominant for much of the 2015 season, but defeating the Seahawks would be a tough task. The Panthers, and their fans, should want the Vikings to take down the Seahawks so Carolina would face either the Green Bay Packers or Washington Redskins. But I still believe Ron Rivera’s team should get ready for Russell Wilson and the Seahawks. If everything plays out to form, the Panthers would face the Arizona Cardinals, with quarterback Carson Palmer this time, in the NFC Championship game. The Panthers have proven they are a really good team, but any road that potentially, and likely, has a team facing the Seahawks and Cardinals is difficult.
Sure, the Cardinals suffered an embarrassing loss at the hands of the Seahawks in Week 17. But at the end of the day, that loss didn’t really mean that much, and the Cardinals are much better than they showed in the final week of the regular season. Of course teams would love to have the number one seed, and the home field advantage that comes with it, but at the end of the day Bruce Arian’s team secured a first-round bye, which is hugely important. Arizona can’t face Seattle in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. The Cardinals will play the Vikings or, more likely, the winner of the Packers at Redskins in their first playoff game of this postseason. None of those teams look especially dangerous and the smart money would be on the Arizona to win and advance to the NFC Championship game. If they do, they will most likely face either Seattle or Carolina, which are tough teams, but unlike the Panthers, the Cardinals will only have to face one truly tough team (Panthers or Seahawks) while the Panthers and Seahawks could potentially face each other and then the Cardinals.
Yes, this is a lot of breaking down of what ifs, but when you factor in a first round bye, home field game and potential opponents, the number two seeds in each conference have the easiest road to Super Bowl 50. However, anything can happen on any given day, so all of this doesn’t necessarily mean that the Cardinals and Patriots will meet at Levi’s Stadium. But it does show that those two teams have the easiest potential road to wind up playing for the Lombardi Trophy.
GLENDALE, AZ – FEBRUARY 01: Rob Gronkowski #87 of the New England Patriots completes a pass against K.J. Wright #50 of the Seattle Seahawks during Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium on February 1, 2015 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
