When it comes to the NFL playoffs and the Super Bowl, it's easy to look at which teams are the favorites. Obviously, franchises such as the New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers and Green Bay Packers are near the top, but it's the cellar-dwellers that are just as interesting.

Regardless of the postseason odds and Super Bowl chances, every team begins the season 0-0. To that end, the odds are even up, and the underdogs are still alive. Even more notable, though, are the teams that finished 2011 near the bottom but have a weak schedule in 2012.

In turn, this means a better opportunity to make the postseason, despite 2011 being a season to forget.

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Before we get to Tampa's schedule, the Buccaneers have already significantly increased their playoff chances by addressing team needs. With receiver Vincent Jackson out wide and Carl Nick creating better running lanes, the Buccaneers' offense will be nice and balanced.

Now look at the draft. Doug Martin has potential to start right away, and the defense got a big boost with Mark Barron, Lavonte David and Keith Tandy. As for the schedule, the Bucs play the entire NFC East and AFC West, as well as the Rams and Vikings outside of the division.

Denver and Kansas City will give Tampa the most problems from the AFC, but the Bucs' improved offense and defense can compete, provided they remain multidimensional. Oakland and San Diego have much to prove defensively, so expect Tampa to outscore those teams early and coast to wins.

The NFC East is an evenly-keeled division, and Dallas and Philadelphia are Tampa's toughest opponents. Washington has improved, but the Buccaneers' defense has more potential. The Giants' defense is vulnerable to play-action, so Doug Martin will get a hefty load to upset Big Blue.

The NFC South may be a tough division at first glance, but Tampa did beat New Orleans and Atlanta in 2011. The Falcons will be the toughest, as Atlanta is the division's most complete team. Carolina's defense remains skeptical, as does the Saints', and Tampa's defense has improved enough to slow each offense down.

 

Washington Redskins

Although Washington plays in arguably the most competitive of divisions, the Redskins are in a good position since they always play well against Dallas and currently have the Giants' number.

Philadelphia is Washington's toughest divisional threat, as the Eagles' defense has improved to the point that it will apply even more pressure on the quarterback, which brings us to why drafting Robert Griffin III was so clutch.

The NFC East is loaded with stud pass-rushing defenses, but RG3's mobility will benefit Washington to a great extent. Include underrated running back Alfred Morris from the draft and Washington's spruced up receiving corps, and the Redskins' offense will have explosive moments in 2012.

Outside of the division, Washington sees the entire AFC North and NFC South, along with the Rams and Vikings. The AFC North won't be as much of a burden as anticipated, because the Redskins get Baltimore and Cincinnati at home. Pittsburgh will have a rebuilding year after a disappointing 2011 season, and the Browns remain a few years back.

Now much like for the Bucs, the NFC South isn't going to be as rough as expected for Washington. The entire division lacks a legit pass-rush and is unproven defensively. Atlanta will be the toughest opponent as it's the most formally balanced team.

Elsewhere, we see the Rams and Vikings in the NFC. Chalk both of those up as wins, because the Redskins field a better defense, possess a more mobile quarterback and present more than one stud pass-rusher in the trenches.

Miami Dolphins

Miami may have taken a big risk with Ryan Tannehill at No. 8 overall, but the man does provide the offense with mobility, a strong arm and great size to elude blitzers and make all the NFL throws.

The Dolphins also helped Tannehill by getting Stanford's Jonathan Martin in Round 2 of the draft, as well as receivers B.J. Cunningham and Rishard Matthews.

The schedule is only tough from New England and Buffalo in the division because the Jets didn't make any drastic improvements to make up ground from last season. As long as Reggie Bush keeps improving on the ground and the offensive line protects better, the Dolphins could go 3-3 in the AFC East.

Other opponents the Dolphins see are the entire NFC West and AFC South, in addition to the Raiders and Bengals. San Francisco and Houston are the two threats here as both present dominating defenses and balanced offenses to control the game tempo.

Jacksonville and Cincinnati are the next toughest, but if Miami blitzes Blaine Gabbert relentlessly, upsetting the hopeful Jaguars is possible. The Bengals are too complete of a team for the Dolphins to contend with.

Indianapolis and Tennessee are two winnable games, though. Neither can stop the run, and both lack explosiveness on offense. The Raiders don't present much either, as Oakland is vulnerable defensively against the run and pass and doesn't present a high-powered passing game to work off play-action.

 

John Rozum on Twitter.