LogFAQs > #964698659

Okay, I post this every time the playoffs roll around, but I'm here to tell you who the SB contenders are this postseason based on historical data. I don't tell people ad nauseum that the best path to success is defense and the running game for nothing. Of the previous 30 teams to make the SB, 29 have finished in the top half of the league in running offense while 28/30 have finished in the Top 10 on defense. The exceptions were the inaugural season Dolphins (19th on D), S13's Pioneers (11th on D), S14's Pioneers (18th in rushing), and S15's Vikings (11th on D).

Without further ado, your SB representatives are likely to come from this pool:
Dolphins
Express
49ers

While fixtures in the Top 10 on D for most of the season, the Ravens and Patriots finished just outside. The Steelers also had the rushing but finished a little more outside on defense.

The Rams, Washington, and Orcas, thanks to injuries and inconsistency, ultimately finished in the bottom half in rushing, but the Orcas were close at 18th.

The Pioneers had issues running the ball (24th) and finished around league average on D (17th)

The Bears and Lions were deeply flawed in both categories (Bears 29th in rushing and 32nd on defense, Lions (20th in rushing, 26th on defense).