The NFL playoffs have finally approached and the Super Bowl is in near reach for the 12 remaining teams. It was another extremely competitive year, with some teams like the Steelers not even knowing if they would make the playoffs until the last game of the regular season was over. So now it's time to take a look at the remaining teams and decide who has the best shot of winning that Lombardi Trophy in a few weeks. Here is how the remaining teams stack up in order starting with the team most likely to win the Super Bowl in 2016:

1. The Carolina Panthers (15-1)

Many people are saying the Panthers are the most overrated team in football this year. But is it really an overstatement if the team only lost ONE game the whole year? The main reason why this team has to be the favorite to win the Super Bowl this year is because of a (super)man named Cam Newton. It would be an absolute shock if Newton didn't win MVP this year, putting up ridiculous numbers in almost every statistical category. Not only has he been clutch for the Panthers in the fourth quarter when it matters most, but he's kept his team (and won) in games where he didn't have his best stuff. The Panthers defense has been a huge pleasant surprise this year led by middle linebacker Luke Kuechly, and Jonathan Stewart has had a very solid year running the ball for the Panthers along with Newton himself. The last time the Panthers started a season with five wins in a row, they made it to the Super Bowl against the Patriots. And while that could be a total coincidence, it wouldn't be the biggest long shot if we saw that situation play out again this year.

2. The Arizona Cardinals (13-3)

Carson Palmer has been huge for the Cardinals this season, and been one of the most consistent long-ball threats in the NFL. He led the league in average yards per pass this year and had the most completions over 40 yards with 15 (via Fox Sports). Dwight Freeney and Patrick Peterson have revamped this defense into arguably the best in the NFL this year. Bruce Arians has once again put himself in a strong position to be the NFL Coach Of The Year, and David Johnson has been an absolute beast in the backfield for the Cardinals. I would argue the Cardinals have the most complete team of any heading into the playoffs.

3. The New England Patriots (12-4)

Look, I realize the Pats lost to the Dolphins last week but we can't deny the fact that this team has been an unstoppable force for most of the year. And while they have struggled late, a lot of it can be attributed to injuries all over the depth chart - most of which should not have an implication come playoffs. Tom Brady is the most successful quarterback ever to play in the postseason with an outstanding 21-8 record. Brady probably would have won MVP over Newton this year if Gronk and Edelman didn't go down with injuries midseason. Bill Belichick is the smartest coach in the NFL hands down, even if he totally butchered the overtime coin toss a few weeks back to the Jets. And he knows how to win postseason games (check those four Super Bowl wins). The Pats defense has also been overlooked this year, recording the most sacks (49) since Belichick became head coach in 2000. This team won the Super Bowl last year, and they've got a solid shot at going back-to-back with a future hall-of-fame lock in Brady leading the way.

4. The Seattle Seahawks (10-6)

I realize that this is not the Seahawks team we are used to seeing. They started off the year looking like the playoffs were not an option. But here they are. After reaching the Super Bowl two years in a row. Quarterback Russell Wilson took his game to an even higher level in 2015, becoming the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for at least 4,000 yards, run for 500 yards and toss over 30 touchdown passes (via Fox Sports). Wilson threw for 24 touchdowns with just one interception in the final seven games without injured tight end Jimmy Graham who never really fit into Seattle's offensive plans despite being a highly praised offseason acquisition. A key for the Seahawks success is "Beast Mode" Marshawn Lynch returning for the playoffs. Lynch has averaged 98 rushing yards in his past eight playoff games along with eight touchdowns dating back to 2012 (via Fox Sports). And while Seattle's defense wasn't as consistent as the past two years, they still led the NFL in scoring defense (17.3-point average) for a fourth consecutive year and allowed 20-or-fewer points in five of their final six games (via Fox Sports). This team is once again a force to be reckoned with.

5. The Kansas City Chiefs (11-5)

I know. I have the Chiefs ranked fifth. It's crazy, right? But it's not. This team has unquestionably been the hottest as of late. They've won 10 games in a row. 10! Why? Because they don't make mistakes. They play smart football. Quarterback Alex Smith has been a prime example of that this year. He only threw seven interceptions this year. And Kansas City's 15 turnovers this season ranked as the second-fewest in the NFL behind New England with 14. The Chiefs also ranked second in turnover differential at plus-14 behind Carolina (via Fox Sports). Football is a sport of getting hot at the right time, which is why the Chiefs winning the Super Bowl this year could actually be a thing ya'll.

6. The Denver Broncos (12-4)

To be honest, I really don't care what quarterback drama has been going on this year. I don't care that Manning has been benched for the first time in his career. The Broncos made a move that Manning is going to be their guy in the playoffs and that is the RIGHT move. He's one of the best quarterbacks the game has ever seen and even if this hasn't been his best year, he is always good at keeping his team in games. The Broncos will be playing at home a lot after locking up the top seed in the AFC and the team has a very solid 15-5 all-time mark in home postseason games and went 6-2 this season at home. The Broncos have improved their running game these past few weeks, and their defense is as good as always. With Manning leading the way, I wouldn't be shocked to see this team pull an upset.

Honorable Mentions That Could Still Win It All: The Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6) and The Minnesota Vikings (11-5)

Super Bowl Prediction: Panthers 24, Patriots 20