The Patriots, Eagles and Colts have defenses that: get bent but don't break, giving opposing offenses the chance to implode

RELATED ARTICLE: Surveying the playoff field.

Teams listed in order of conference seeding.

AFC

1. Steelers: They are the first AFC team to win 15 regular-season games, but they lost AFC championship games at home after the 1997 and 2001 seasons.

2. Patriots: They are better offensively than last year's Super Bowl champs but not quite as sharp defensively.

3. Colts: Peyton Manning never has had more help.

4. Chargers: They've proved they can play with top teams, and they can win in cold weather.

5. Jets: They've lost three of their last four games and are in an offensive funk of sorts.

6. Broncos: Now let's see if they can beat the Colts when the Colts are trying.

NFC

1. Eagles: Without Terrell Owens, this might be the same team that lost three straight conference championship games.

2. Falcons: If Michael Vick plays like he's paid, Atlanta can surprise some people.

3. Packers: The Vikings were the last team the Pack wanted to play in the wild-card round--and they can't be too crazy about playing the Eagles again, either.

4. Seahawks: The talent is there. Can they put it together at the right time?

5. Rams: The wild card among wild cards. Nobody knows what to expect.

6. Vikings: Even though they lost four of their last five, their offense is frightening.--D.P.

RELATED ARTICLE: Red zone gives offenses that shrinking feeling.

If a defense can stop an offense cold in the red zone, why can't it stop it before it gets to the red zone?

This is why: The goal line is like a 12th defensive man in the red zone; giving defenders fewer responsibilities. A smaller field to defend means there are fewer cracks in the zones, and it's more difficult to shake a defender in man coverage. The cornerbacks often line up closer to receivers because they need not worry about getting beat deep. Safeties can creep closer to the line, so there are fewer running lanes, and the potential is greater for gang-tackling running backs.--D.P

RELATED ARTICLE: Colts' explosive offense fuels defensive takeaways.

One of the most valuable players to the Colts' defense is ... Colts quarterback Peyton Manning.

The Colts, Patriots and Eagles are complemented by offenses that have quick-strike capabilities--perfect for defenses that give up yards but not points. Without the right offense, a bend-but-don't-break defense can become a bend-and-break defense. So, using a ball-control offense with a bend-but-don't-break defense can be antagonistic to your system, kind of like Red Bull with vodka.

The Colts' explosive offense deserves some of the credit for the Colts' defensive takeaways because 64 percent of the takeaways have come when the Colts were leading by four or more points.

Big leads by Indianapolis have made opposing offenses one-dimensional, which has been an invitation for quarterback abuse to end Dwight Freeney, the NFI's most exceptional pass rusher this season.

"When you play zone with a 10-point lead, you get quarterbacks to force balls they normally wouldn't," Colts coach Tony Dungy says. "Then you get interceptions, or if the quarterback is holding the ball waiting for something to happen, you get the sack or fumble."--D.P.

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