NFL Playoff Scenarios: Division Winners That Will Go Down in Wild Card Weekend

Week 17 will give plenty of drama. We don't know a single first-round matchup. Still, despite the fact that we don't know who's going to play where, Wild Card Weekend is actually more predictable than Week 17. 

This is not a good team to be a division champion. The 49ers and Saints are battling for the No. 2 spot. The loser will go into Wild Card Weekend, and will win in Wild Card Weekend. The other three division champions won't be so fortunate. 

Houston Texans

The 2011 Houston Texans: What could have been?

No slogan will ever define this team better than that one. Unfortunately, what could have happened or should have happened means nothing in the playoffs. The Texans don't have the weapons on offense that will win in the playoffs. 

Yes, I know that they can host any of four teams, but it won't matter. There's just not enough punch on this team to win in the playoffs. If they return their players in 2012, that will be a good season. A healthy Texans squad can absolutely make a deep playoff run. 

But this isn't the 2011 season. Either the Bengals, Raiders, Jets or Titans would go into Houston and beat the Texans in the playoffs.

Denver Broncos

Unlike the Titans, the Broncos aren't clinched. But a win or Raiders loss locks things up. At least one of those will happen.

Like the Texans, the Broncos don't have the offense to win in the playoffs. They will be going against the Ravens or Steelers. Denver has a hard time scoring against average defenses. Those two will be overwhelming. 

The Broncos have to find a way to generate consistent offense. However that comes, they need to turn it on before the final five minutes of games to beat good teams. In the playoffs, they will be playing good teams. The results won't be pretty. 

If by chance the Raiders win the division, they will put up for of an offensive fight against Pittsburgh or Baltimore, but the result will be the same.  

New York Giants

A win or tie from the Giants on Sunday is all they will need. The NFC East has made a lot of people look ridiculous all year, but the Giants do have an edge over the Cowboys. But much like the AFC West, it won't matter. 

The division champion will get either the Lions or Falcons in the first round. Either one of those teams would win on the road. The Giants and Cowboys don't have the defenses that will be needed to stop those teams. 

Sunday will provide some euphoria for someone. I believe it will be the Giants. But whether I am right or wrong, the following week will be far uglier. 

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