The playoff clock is starting to tick.Eight weeks in, the 2014 NFL campaign is taking shape -- and teams hoping to be in the mix to qualify for postseason play should be feeling a sense of urgency. If the season ended today, a number of high-profile teams, including the , , and , would . As we cro s the season's midpoint, I thought I'd look at 10 teams that are currently and figure out which squads have the most favorable second-half setups -- considering remaining schedules and players returning from injury and/or suspension, among other factors -- as that will go a long way in determining who can make a serious run at the promised land. Here is my take on each team, ordered from best second-half setup to worst:1) New Orleans Saints (3-4)The are below .500 for now, but I think they Daniel Robertson Jersey 'll a sume first place in the NFC South , after they beat (and thus leapfrog) the 3-4-1 . They seem to be running the ball better than they have at any point this season. Young left tackle , meanwhile, has really come on in both pa s protection and run blocking. New Orleans likely will be the favorite in and has a chance to take three of its last four on the road. I expect the to win their division and make the playoffs.2) Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3)The have many things working in their favor: They can run (the -led ground attack is ranked ), they have a good field-goal kicker in and, of course, they have a quarterback in who is having an outstanding year. Then there's . Pittsburgh will play four at home and four on the road -- and I think the have Brad Miller Jersey a chance to win at least three of those four away contests (, , and ). I know they've been inconsistent this season, but they always seem to tighten up down the stretch; just think of last year, when they started 0-4 and came back to win six of their last eight before narrowly mi sing the playoffs.3) Baltimore Ravens (5-3)The were riding high until last week. Despite that setback, Baltimore should be able to control its own destiny, with late-season home matchups providing a good opportunity to take care of busine s if nece sary. Between their -led offense and a stingy defense, the have been handily outscoring their opponents -- Baltimore's point differential (86) is , even better than the ' mark.4) Miami Dolphins (4-3)The are about where they were at this point last season (3-4 through Week 8). Of course, they ultimately fell short of the playoffs, thanks to a year-ending two-game skid in which they scored seven total points. I don't see Miami collapsing as easily this time around. is ascending; with the exception of the first half , he's played much better in the past four games (3-1 record, 68 percent completion rate, 8 yards per attempt, touchdown-to-interception ratio of 7:4) than he did in the first three. I'd expect Miami's offense to continue improving under first-year coordinator Bill Lazor. 's return from suspension, meanwhile, should help the pa s rush. Looking at , I think the have a shot at nine or 10 wins.5) San Francisco 49ers (4-3)I like the Niners to finish ahead of Seattle, though I think both C. J. Cron Jersey squads are facing a very real danger of mi sing out on the playoffs. San Francisco has in its new stadium, where it has played well. Plus, , and are on their way back. The ' fate might come down to a pair of home dates at the end of the season: and the -- to whom they've already lost this year -- .6) Kansas City Chiefs (4-3)Kansas City's got a huge feather in its cap heading into the second half: The have , and in San Diego, to boot. Their defense has been on a roll. No opponent this season has scored more than 26 points, and Kansas City has yielded just 15.6 points per game over the past five weeks. Also, 's on a tear -- the fourth-year pro is on pace to challenge Michael Strahan's single-season sack record (22.5). Still, the ' home slate includes some imposing opponents in , , and they have to go .7) Seattle Seahawks (4-3)A daunting looms, Wade Boggs Jersey including four road dates with very good teams: , , and . is a boon for Seattle's offense, but the must revive the ground game that powered last season's championship run. They also have to get a pa s rush going. I don't think they mi s , however, as they weren't really utilizing him before he was traded away.8) Houston Texans (4-4)The can knock out on the road -- their ground-based attack, led by and , makes them particularly well-equipped to compete in the cold weather that almost certainly awaits in Cleveland. And , of course, just completely dominates everything. Still, they won't get anywhere if quarterback doesn't start making more plays downfield -- and I don't see that happening. Houston does have five home games left, though its opponents in three of those games -- , -- figure to be tough outs. 9) Cleveland Browns (4-3)The are having a better season than they did in 2013, but they're facing an uphill battle in the AFC North. Yes, , but they still have and close out the regular season . This division could wind up with three teams in the playoffs, leaving Cleveland as the odd team out. Still, next month should help.10) New York Giants (3-4)New York would seem to be in a good position coming out of its Week 8 bye. has been surpa sing almost everyone's expectations with his performance of late. If can , the offense could get something going, especially with rookie receiver coming on strong. But at least four of the ' five home games (, , ) will be a challenge -- and they have to visit Seattle in Week 10. I see them finishing with about eight wins, though Tommy Pham Jersey they could reach 10 if things break the right way.Follow Gil Brandt on Twitter __.