A good year for the Steelers?

So, the 2011 National Football League playoffs are finally here.

The question now becomes, who will win Super Bowl XLV, scheduled for Feb. 6?

The odds-on favorite has to be the New England Patriots.

But these playoffs could get interesting.

The games officially begin this weekend, with the New York Jets facing the Indianapolis Colts, the Baltimore Ravens playing the Kansas City Chiefs, the New Orleans Saints facing the Seattle Seahawks and the Green Bay Packers taking on the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, Chicago Bears and Atlanta Falcons all received first-round byes.

My belief is the Saints, Packers, Colts and Ravens will all win the first-round games.

If this is accurate, as far as the AFC goes, the Colts will travel to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers and the Ravens will face New England in Foxboro.

In the NFC, the Saints would face the Bears while the Packers would travel to take on the Falcons.

With these scenarios in mind, I believe the Steelers will knock off the Colts and Patriots will defeat the Ravens in the AFC. In the NFC, I think the Saints beat the Bears and the Falcons beat the Packers.

This would set up an AFC Championship game featuring the Steelers and Patriots while the NFC Championship would pit the Saints at the Falcons.

I believe the Steelers will knock off the Patriots and the Falcons will be the Saints, putting Pittsburgh and Atlanta in the Super Bowl.

With this in mind, I think Pittsburgh racks up another trophy and will be the Super Bowl XLV champion, knocking off the Falcons, 20-17.

I've been wrong plenty of times when it comes to this predicting thing. But it's always fun to look at the scenarios.

At least there are a few more weeks of quality football.