Complete Predictions for the NFL Playoffs

I love the NFL playoffs.  There's something about the one-and-done, lose and go home format that makes it much more appealing than the NBA or NHL, at least for me. 

Here is a look at how I see the entire playoffs unfolding.             

Wildcard Round: Bengals at Texans

The Texans have to be the unluckiest team in the NFL.  Here they are, making the playoffs for the first time in their history, and last week their third string quarterback went down with an injury.  T.J. Yates is expected to start, but I don't think they get it done against a fired up Bengals squad.

Pick: Cincinnati 27, Houston 19

Lions at Saints

This game should be a shootout.  Matthew Stafford is coming off a game where he got out-dueled by Matt Flynn, but still put up a ridiculous 520 yards and five touchdowns to give him over 5,000 yards on the season.  Drew Brees is having one of the best ever seasons by a quarterback, and it's very hard to beat the Saints at home.  Should be a fun game.

Pick: Detroit 38, New Orleans 49

Falcons at Giants

Don't look now, but the Giants are on a roll.  After a convincing beatdown of the Dallas Cowboys on national television, the Giants come rolling into the playoffs with a head of steam.  Something tells me, though, that it's too good to be true.  This Giants team has been plagued with inconsistency, and unfortunately for New York, the Falcons come to town and take care of business behind a huge day from Michael Turner.

Pick: Falcons 20, Giants 17

Pittsburgh at Denver

Just a few weeks ago, the Broncos were winners of six straight and had many people wondering if Tim Tebow could lead this team to the Super Bowl.  A lot of that talk has died down lately, though.  Losing three games by a combined 88-40 to the likes of the Bills, and Chiefs (okay, also the Patriots) will do that to you.  For the Steelers, however, there isn't much chatter or fanfare surrounding them, and that's how they like it.  The don't have a game breaking running back like Ray Rice, and don't have an offense that can score 49 unanswered points.  They just win with efficient quarterback play, a grind-it-out rushing attack, and lockdown defense.  And that's the formula for winning in January.  Tebow has an abysmal day, leading to questions about his job security and an interesting offseason in Denver.

Pick: Steelers 24, Broncos 6

Divisional Round: Saints at 49ers

Drew Brees and the Saints have been on a dominant run, prompting many to believe they will run right through the playoffs and challenge the packers.  Not so fast.  Call me crazy, but I think that great defense will prevail against great offense.  Plus, Drew Brees isn't as good outdoors.  The 49ers shock everyone and prove that they are for real.

Pick: Saints 12, 49ers 17

Cincinnati at New England

The Bengals have had a great season in what many thought would be a rebuilding year.  They have a solid core and can be a contender for years to come.  But this is not their year.  Tom Brady takes care of business against a young Bengals team.

Pick: Patriots 34, Bengals 21

Pittsburgh at Baltimore

We knew it would come down to this eventually, didn't we?  The NFL's greatest rivalry will be renewed again in the divisional round in what should be one of the best games of this postseason.  The Ravens embarrassed the Steelers in week one, and then edged them in a close game later in the season.  This game will be a slugfest and come right down to the final minutes, but in the end, it's hard to beat a team three times.  The Steelers will be fired up and come away with a close victory.

Pick: Steelers 16, Ravens 14

Falcons at Packers

This will be the year of upsets in the NFC playoffs.  I think that the Packers will underestimate the Falcons, who are still stinging from last year's playoff loss at the hands of Aaron Rodgers.  The Packers secondary will have difficulty matching up against the great Falcons wide receivers, and when he's hot, Matt Ryan can go toe to toe with Aaron Rodgers in a shootout, which is what this will be.  The Packers are still a young team with all the makings of a dynasty, but I don't think they have the mental toughness to repeat. 

Pick: Falcons 37, Packers 34

AFC Championship: Pittsburgh at New England

The two best teams in the AFC in recent memory meet again in the AFC championship game.  The last time these two teams met was earlier in the season, when Ike Taylor and the Steelers defense clamped down Wes Welker and the Patriots offense, and Big Ben and Heath Miller gashed the Patriots defense.  I think the Steelers can do it again.  Defense wins championships.  Roethlisberger vs. the Patriots defense is a better matchup than Brady vs. the Steelers defenses.  Dick LeBeau comes up with a new wrinkle to stop the Patriots, and the Steelers repeat as AFC champions.

Pick: Steelers 28, Patriots 24

NFC Championship: Atlanta at San Fransisco

It seems like a forgone conclusion to most people that the Saints and Packers are the best teams in the NFC.  But shockingly, I don't think either of them advances, meaning the 49ers and Falcons will duel it out for the right to go to the Super Bowl.  This will be a hard fought game between two teams getting their first sniff at the Super Bowl in quite some time.  Matt Ryan, though, will be on a roll, and tough for San Fransisco to stop, especially with San Fransisco coming off a hard fought, emotional game against the Saints.  Matty Ice gets it done, and carries his team to his first Super Bowl.

Pick: Falcons 28, 49ers 16

Pro Bowl

Who cares?

Super Bowl XLVI: Pittsburgh Steelers vs Atlanta Falcons

This year's Super Bowl will feature both number five seeds: The Steelers, who always seem to be around in February, and the Falcons, making an improbable run to represent the NFC in Indianapolis. 

The Falcons put up a great fight and represent the NFC well, but in the end, Ben Roethlisberger leads the Steelers to victory and solidifies their status as a dynasty with their third Lombardi Trophy in seven years.

Pick: Steelers 27, Falcons 24

MVP: Ben Roethlisberger