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4. New Orleans Saints (11-5)

First game: vs. Panthers in wild-card round on Sunday (4:40 p.m. ET on Fox) | Tickets

Path to Super Bowl LII: The Saints will host the division-rival Panthers, against whom they went 2-0 this season, in their playoff opener. If they win that, they'll travel to either Philadelphia or Minnesota for the divisional round. (If the Falcons beat the Rams, a victorious Saints team would go to Minnesota. If the Rams beat the Falcons, the Saints would go to Philadelphia). Win that game, and the Saints would find themselves in an NFC Championship Game against either the Falcons, Eagles or Vikings. The only way the Saints can play the NFC Championship Game at home is if their opponent is the Falcons.

Reason for hope: They have the best quarterback in the NFC field. Drew Brees might not have had his usual, eye-popping statistical season, but his efficiency was off the charts. And just because the Saints were able to win by running the ball and making a few big plays on defense doesn't mean they can't count on Brees to put them on his back and win them a game when they need him to. He's the only quarterback in the field who has won a Super Bowl.

Reason for concern: There's really not much not to like here, but if you're looking for reason to worry, four of their losses were on the road and four were to playoff teams. However, two of those were in Weeks 1 and 2 to Minnesota and New England, and the Saints obviously didn't have their feet under them yet. They will be more formidable in the Superdome.

X factor: The defense. It's still a young group, and until you see young players under playoff pressure you can't know what to expect. New Orleans' offense is so good and so versatile and so balanced that you feel certain they can score with any team. But can that young Saints defense make a big play to win a playoff game when it needs to?

2017 NFL playoffs preview - Schedule, bracket, paths to Super Bowl LII, matchup possibilities

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