NFL Playoff Predictions 2011: 10 Big Matchups We'll See in the Playoffs

Week 17 is here and the NFL playoffs are just around the corner. Tom Brady versus Big Ben, Eli Manning versus Aaron Rodgers, Jim Harbaugh versus Jon Harbaugh and several other big matchups could take place during the playoffs.

As the playoff rollercoaster prepares for takeoff, we look ahead to see some of the big matchups in the AFC and NFC that could take place. Will we see a rematch between Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger? Will the Green Bay Packers return to the Super Bowl?

Those questions and other will be answered in the coming weeks, but it sure doesn't hurt to preview what could be.

Wild Card Weekend: Detroit Lions at New York Giants

Preview:

The Detroit Lions will enter the playoffs for the first time in over a decade; a drought that has kept the Lions out of the postseason since the days of Barry Sanders.

The New York Giants will enter the playoffs having defeated their crosstown rivals the New York Jets and divisional foes the Dallas Cowboys in succession. Eli Manning has enjoyed one of the better regular seasons of his career and will be hoping that translates into playoff success.

Led by Matthew Stafford, Detroit's high-powered offense will travel to the Meadowlands looking to knock off the Giants. The Lions' passing attack will look to exploit New York's secondary and turn the game into a shootout.

New York will look to control the ball with their balanced run-pass attack. Brandon Jacobs will play a big role in keeping Detroit's offense off the field. His performance will help the Giants establish their run game and open up play action.

Key Matchup: Calvin Johnson vs. Corey Webster

"Megatron" will be the focal point of the Giants' defensive game plan. The New York secondary only has one player over 6'0" and that is safety Kenny Phillips, who is 6'2".

Johnson is 6'5" and can leap over half the Manhattan skyline. Webster will most likely be the man assigned to Johnson and should receive help over the top for the majority of the game.

If the Giants can keep Calvin Johnson in check, their chances of winning improve dramatically. 

Winner: New York Giants

Wild Card Weekend: Cincinnati Bengals at Houston Texans

Preview:

The Houston Texans have made it to the postseason for the first time in franchise history and will be playing their first game at home. Reliant Stadium will be rocking and most likely deafening as they get behind their league's best defense.

The Cincinnati Bengals will roll into Houston behind their star rookies Andy Dalton and A.J. Green. Cincinnati is the third representative from the AFC North to make the playoffs this season.

Houston will be looking to run the ball early and often. Keeping T.J. Yates' responsibilities to a minimum would be Houston's best option. Their run game led by Arian Foster, is ranked No. 2 in the league (only behind the option offense in Denver).

Cincinnati's attack will be a bit more balanced against the Texans. Cincinnati will look to silence the crowd with an early score and keep the No.1 defense off balance.

Key Matchup: Cincinnati linebackers vs. Houston running backs

The key to this game is how well Houston runs the ball. They're averaging 153.1 yards per game and will look to continue their running ways.

Cincinnati's linebackers play a huge role in stopping the rushing attack of the Texans. Their front seven cannot let Foster and Co. break big runs into their secondary. The linebackers must stop any bleeding at the second level and quell any breakout runs.

Winner: Houston Texans

Wild Card Weekend: Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints

Preview:

The New Orleans Saints enter the playoffs with their record-setting quarterback on fire. They will have won either seven of eight or eight in a row heading into the playoffs. This streak includes a 29-point blowout of the Falcons two games before the playoffs began.

The Atlanta Falcons enter the playoffs at best with a 10-6 record and the No. 6 seed. Their preseason Super Bowl favorites status has since withered away but Matt Ryan and Co. will try to prove they were worthy of the preseason hype.

New Orleans will not exactly be ecstatic about seeing Atlanta for a second time in three weeks. In the playoffs, facing a divisional opponent never makes it easier. It's quite the opposite.

The Saints have beaten the Falcons twice already this year and it is very, very difficult for teams to beat their divisional foe three times in one season.

Key Matchup: Atlanta D-line vs. New Orleans O-line

Putting pressure on Drew Brees and forcing him out of the pocket is Atlanta's best chance of limiting the high-octane offense of New Orleans. Atlanta's defensive line must put pressure on Brees in order for the Falcons to stand a chance.

New Orleans has the league's top offense averaging 457.1 yards per game with 329.2 yards passing yards. If Atlanta can't slow down New Orleans in the air, it will be a swift exit for the Falcons.

Winner: New Orleans Saints

Divisional Round: Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots

Preview:

The New England Patriots will enter the playoffs as the AFC's top seed. Tom Brady and the Patriots will be looking to win their first playoff game since their 18-1 season in 2008.

The Pittsburgh Steelers enter the playoffs as an extremely dangerous wild-card seed. Although Ben Roethlisberger will enter the playoffs on a banged up ankle, the Steelers are confident they can return to the Super Bowl in 2012.

Tom Brady has carried the league's second best offense on his shoulders all season. His two new favorite toys (Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez) have kept the Patriots alive despite their woeful defense.

Pittsburgh will be looking to exploit the New England defense with their talented wide receiving corp. when they head to Foxboro. The biggest task will be trying to limit the offensive production of the Patriots.

Key Matchup: New England Tight Ends vs. Pittsburgh Secondary

Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski. That's what will be drilled into the heads of the Pittsburgh defense.

It's pretty simple. Shut down the two tight ends for New England and your chances of winning increase exponentially.

Winner: New England Patriots

Divisional Round: New York Giants at Green Bay Packers

Preview:

The Green Bay Packers have been the class of the NFL all season long. Now, they will turn their attention from the regular season to win or stay home.

The New York Giants will travel to Green Bay looking to keep their momentum rolling. The Giants were victorious at Lambeau Field in the playoffs in 2008 with largely the same team.

The difference this go around is that the Packers are a completely different team from their defeat in arctic temperatures in 2008 with Aaron Rodgers now at the helm.

Eli Manning and Aaron Rodgers should provide a sensational duel as both teams vie for an opportunity to play in the NFC Championship game.

Key Matchup: Eli Manning vs. Packers Secondary

Manning has had a sensational year for the Giants and will need to be the one who leads them to victory. Green Bay's weakness all season has been their defense, and more specifically their secondary.

If Manning can get Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks involved early and often, the Giants could upend the Packers once again at Lambeau.

Winner: Green Bay Packers

Divisional Round: Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens

Preview:

The Houston Texans will travel to Baltimore fresh off their first postseason victory in franchise history. Despite not having Matt Schaub under center, the Texans will look to avenge their loss earlier in the season to the Baltimore Ravens.

The Ravens will enter their first playoff game rested up and ready to roll. Joe Flacco and the Baltimore defense should be ready to begin a run through the playoffs.

Houston's defense and running game will once again be the key for the Texans. T.J. Yates and the Ravens defense do not make for a great combination if you're Houston.

Baltimore will be looking to shut down the running game and force Yates to beat them through the air. Flacco will also try to get Ray Rice rolling to keep the Houston defense in check.

Key Matchup: Ray Lewis vs. Arian Foster

The window for Ray Lewis and several other players on the Baltimore Ravens defense is quickly coming to a close and they know it. Lewis knows that Foster will be the driving force for the Texans and his personal vendetta will be to stop him.

Stop Arian Foster and the running game and you will stop the Texans.

Winner: Baltimore Ravens

Divisional Round: New Orleans Saints at San Francisco 49ers

Preview:

The New Orleans Saints travel across the country to face the San Francisco 49ers for what we can all hope is a day game. Drew Brees and the Saints have just discarded their divisional rivals and will be looking to extend their winning streak to double digits.

The San Francisco 49ers will be coming off a week of rest and preparation as they host New Orleans. The surprise team of 2011 will be looking to show that they are for real this postseason.

New Orleans in recent years have endured a tough time winning away from the Superdome. Traveling to Candlestick Park to face a team far more physical and less finesse than they are will be a huge challenge.

San Francisco will be looking to get after Brees and flex their muscles on defense. Alex Smith won't be asked to be a world beater but Jim Harbaugh will have a game plan ready for the Saints defense.

Key Matchup: Frank Gore vs. New Orleans' front seven

Frank Gore has been reinvigorated in 2011. A big part of the 49ers' success has been due to the reemergence of their running back as one of the league's best.

San Francisco will look to ride Gore throughout the game to keep New Orleans' offense off the field. If he gets shut down, it could be a long day for the 49ers.

Winner: San Francisco

AFC Championship: Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots

Preview:

The New England Patriots will host the AFC Championship once again this season. Fresh off of beating one AFC North team, they will face another for the right to go to Indianapolis.

The Baltimore Ravens travel up the east coast to face the Patriots in Foxboro. Defeating the Houston Texans at home will seem like a distant memory as they face Tom Brady and the Patriots' high-flying offense.

New England will look to score early and force the Ravens offense to produce. Tom Brady would be wise to avoid throwing deep versus Ed Reed and the Baltimore secondary. Look for Brady to throw short to intermediate routes early and often.

Baltimore's offense will try to keep pace with the Patriots. The Baltimore defense will look to slow down the passing attack of the Patriots in order to prevent their offense from being forced into a shootout.

Key Matchup: Tom Brady vs. Baltimore D-line

If Tom Brady is able to sit in the pocket and go through his reads then the Ravens will be golfing in late January. Brady can be thrown off his game and rattled with constant pressure forcing him to move out of the pocket.

If Baltimore can force him into throwing an interception or simply keeping him from getting into a rhythm, they could come out victorious.

Winner: Baltimore Ravens

NFC Championship: San Francisco 49ers at Green Bay Packers

Preview:

The Green Bay Packers will host the NFC Championship in what should be bone-chilling weather at Lambeau Field. Fresh off beating an average team that struggled all year in the New York Giants, the Packers face the other NFC team that has been dominant from the beginning of the season.

The San Francisco 49ers will travel to Green Bay to face yet another high-octane passing attack. This time the 49ers will not have the benefit of playing in front of their home crowd to help them on defense.

Green Bay will easily be facing their toughest challengers all year. The two teams have opposing philosophies and both thrive under their system.

San Francisco's run first offense and physical defense will look to keep Aaron Rodgers off the field as much as possible. Green Bay on the other hand will be looking to score quick and utilize their entire receiving corp.

Key Matchup: Alex Smith vs. 2011 Alex Smith

The biggest matchup in this game is Alex Smith fighting his old habits in a high-pressure atmosphere at Lambeau. The San Francisco quarterback does not have to be the one to beat the Packers but he certainly cannot be the one to beat the 49ers.

If he can stay clear of Charles Woodson and not turn the ball over, the 49ers have an excellent chance of upending the defending Super Bowl champions.

Winner: San Francisco 49ers

Super Bowl: Baltimore Ravens at San Francisco 49ers

Preview:

The San Francisco 49ers will try to complete their miraculous run through the 2011 regular season and postseason. Knocking off the Green Bay Packers should tip them as favorites going into Super Bowl XLVI.

The Baltimore Ravens will be looking to finish the job after beating the New England Patriots. Ray Lewis and Co. will be looking to seize what could very well be their last opportunity at another Super Bowl title.

San Francisco will look to establish their run game early. Getting Frank Gore going will allow them to open up the play-action and try to catch the Ravens off guard.

Baltimore will also try to establish their running back as well. Ray Rice will receive plenty of handoffs and screen passes in hopes that he could bust out for a big play.

Key Matchup: Jim Harbaugh vs. Jon Harbaugh

The Harbaugh Bowl will be taken to new heights in Super Bowl XLVI. The two Harbaugh brothers provided an entertaining chess match on Thanksgiving night and will try to outsmart one another once again.

The match of wits and family pride will be so contentious you could probably taste it during the media sessions leading up to the game. With similar outstanding defenses and two good-but-not-great quarterbacks, the Harbaugh brother with the better game plan most likely wins.

Winner: Baltimore Ravens