Why Your Team Won't Win Super Bowl

Arizona

The defense is sneaky good and the Cardinals appear to have a new running back in Andre Ellington, but they're far too mistake-prone. Thanks to Carson Palmer, they've turned the ball over 18 times this season. <italics>All stats through Nov. 5</italics>

Baltimore

Last year's Super Bowl champions are below .500 at the midway point and their most impressive win came against a Miami team that was missing two of its best defensive players. They're a classic good bad team. That's not the kind of team that wins the Super Bowl. <italics>All stats through Nov. 5</italics>

Carolina

The Panthers defense looks legit, allowing just 13.2 points per game. Cam Newton is playing like Cam Newton again. However, their second-half schedule is brutal, featuring two games with the Saints and single matchups at the 49ers, home vs. the Patriots and at the Dolphins. They've already lost twice on the road: at Buffalo and Arizona, not exactly an impressive resume for a team that would likely have to win at least one road playoff game to keep its dream alive. <italics>All stats through Nov. 5</italics>

Chicago

The once-vaunted defense is decimated by injury, and is now without Lance Briggs for the balance of the regular season. The Bears have surrendered 28.2 points and 381 yards per game, undermining a new-look offense that has thrived with both Jay Cutler and Josh McCown at the controls. <italics>All stats through Nov. 5</italics>

Cincinnati

At this point, it would be a shock if the Bengals did not win the AFC North. Once they get in the playoffs, though, will they be able to score with the Broncos or on the Chiefs? All stats through Nov. 5

Cleveland

The Browns have been one of the season's nice stories, thanks to a stalwart defense and surprising quarterback play from Brian Hoyer and Jason Campbell. However, they'll need to go 5-2, at worst, to just have a chance to make the playoffs, and still have road games with the Bengals, Patriots and Jets, and a home game with the Bears. All stats through Nov. 5

Dallas

Teams that lose games after having a 99% win expectancy are not the type with the fortitude to win all the way through January and into February. Don't the Week 9 comeback win over Minnesota fool you. The Cowboys always seem to find a way to lose. All stats through Nov. 5

Denver

The offense that looked so flawless in September and the beginning of October has shown a few cracks as of late. If teams press the Denver receivers at the line of scrimmage, does Peyton Manning have enough arm strength to beat them deep consistently? <italics>All stats through Nov. 5</italics>

Detroit

The Lions may have an offense capable of hoisting the Lombardi Trophy, but they've allowed over 380 yards per game this season. Not even Calvin Johnson will be able to make up for that in the playoffs. <italics>All stats through Nov. 5</italics>

Green Bay

All the injuries will catch up with this team sooner or later, and the broken collarbone suffered by Aaron Rodgers is the biggest one yet. Even if they can stay in the playoff hunt while he's out, can he return and will them to a victory in Seattle or New Orleans in January? <italics>All stats through Nov. 5</italics>

Indianapolis

The Colts feature the most impressive resume this season, thanks to wins over the 49ers, Seahawks and Broncos, and Andrew Luck is on the shortlist for MVP. However, Trent Richardson has been a huge bust and they lost Reggie Wayne for the year. They might not have enough offense to get through January. <italics>All stats through Nov. 5</italics>

Kansas City

While the Chiefs feature the league's best defense by pretty much every statistic out there, that won't be enough to reign supreme in February. At some point, Alex Smith is going to have to do more than hand off to Jamaal Charles and admire the running back's handiwork. <italics>All stats through Nov. 5</italics>

Miami

The Dolphins have enough friskiness to sneak into the playoffs, but it's hard to make any noise when you lead the league in sacks allowed. Despite already having a bye, opposing defenses have sacked Ryan Tannehill 35 times. That's not part of the formula for postseason success. Losing bullying guard Richie Incognito won't help on that front either. <italics>All stats through Nov. 5</italics>

New England

They're the frontrunners again in the AFC East, but until that 55-point outburst against the Steelers in Week 9, they were 17th in the league in points per game, and Brady was getting fewer than six yards per attempt. Perhaps more important, the defense has been plagued by injuries and allowed the Steelers to score 31 points. <italics>All stats through Nov. 5</italics>

New Orleans

The Saints are one of the favorites to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, but will they be able to win a big game away from the comforts of the Superdome? Heck, they couldn't even beat the Jets on the road in Week 9. Chances are strong the road to the Meadowlands runs through Seattle. <italics>All stats through Nov. 5</italics>

New York Jets

Geno Smith has been sacked 30 times and the Jets have the fourth-worst turnover differential in the league at -10. Negative players are absolute killers in the NFL, and the Jets churn those out with machine-like efficiency, much to the chagrin of a often formidable New York defense. <italics>All stats through Nov. 5</italics>

Philadelphia

Even though there's a remote chance the Eagles can win the NFC East, the Chip Kelly Revolution isn't exactly making anyone forget 1776, and that's even taking into account the NFL-record seven touchdown passes Nick Foles threw in Week 9. The Eagles will more likely finish the season under .500 than in the playoffs. <italics>All stats through Nov. 5</italics>

San Diego

The Philip Rivers resurgence has been fun, if for no other reason than he has always been a great villain. The Chargers have serious playoff mojo, but they've managed a pathetic five takeaways this season, tied for the least in the NFL. <italics>All stats through Nov. 5</italics>

San Francisco

The 49ers are on an impressive streak, winning five straight after getting back to their power run game dominated by Frank Gore and, to a lesser extent, Colin Kaepernick. If they can't overtake the Seahawks in the NFC West, though, they'll likely have to win three road games in January just to get to the Super Bowl. All stats through Nov. 5

Seattle

No doubt, the Seahawks are the prohibitive favorites in the NFC at the halfway point. However, they are just 1½ games ahead of the 49ers in the standings, and they still have a return date in San Francisco. Their playoff stock takes a huge hit if they lose home-field advantage. The biggest question at this point is do they have the receiving corps with which to win a Super Bowl? <italics>All stats through Nov. 5</italics>

Tennessee

While the Titans remaining schedule isn't that challenging, can Chris Johnson and Jake Locker (pictured) lead a team to a Super Bowl? In his first season as the primary starting quarterback, Locker had 10 touchdown passes, 11 interceptions and a 74.0 passer rating in 2012. He has shown improvement this season, but as he goes, so do the Titans. All stats through Nov. 5

Washington

Robert Griffin and the Redskins will have to finish atop the winnable NFL East to reach the playoffs, but a defense that is allowing nearly 400 yards per game is its biggest detriment. <italics>All stats through Nov. 5</italics>