NFL Playoff Scenarios: Ranking the 4 Most Likely Wild-Card Matchups

We're so close to Wild Card Weekend we can almost taste it. Or can we already claim Week 17 as Wild Card Weekend because of so many games with playoff implications?

In any event, the NFL playoffs will undoubtedly be exciting, especially if your favorite team is competing. That being said, since there are four wild-card games, here are the four most likely wild-card matchups.

4. Oakland at Houston

Houston has locked up the No. 3 seed, however, the rest of the AFC playoff picture is a crap shoot.

Four teams (Cincinnati, Oakland, NY Jets and Tennessee) have a shot to play the Texans and three of them (Bengals, Raiders, Titans) have already faced Houston.

Week 17 has a lot of games that will be a playoff type atmosphere and the Ravens vs. Bengals game in Cincinnati is arguably the one with the most on the line next to the Cowboys and Giants.

Baltimore needs a win to claim the AFC North title over Pittsburgh because we know the Steelers will win over Cleveland. So don't expect the Ravens' road woes to play a factor in this game, especially since they have already locked up a playoff spot anyway.

Hence, the Raiders beat San Diego in Oakland thanks to a dominant rush offense and defensive pass rush (much like when they beat the Chargers in San Diego) and leapfrogs the Bengals as the AFC's No. 6 seed.

Unfortunately for Houston, they already lost to the Raiders at home early this season. Now that the Texans are even more banged up, don't be surprised if The Silver and Black get a playoff W.

3. Pittsburgh at Denver

With Pittsburgh beating Cleveland and Oakland beating San Diego, the Denver Broncos need a win over the Kansas City Chiefs at home to claim the AFC West.

In that game, the Chiefs will be chomping at the bit with former 2011 Denver QB Kyle Orton under center. However, Tim Tebow is much more mobile and K.C. doesn't have as effective as a pass rush.

Yes, Tamba Hali is a beast but that's just one guy. Denver has Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil, so Orton and the Chiefs ground game isn't going anywhere.

It will be a low-scoring affair and that's how the Broncos win. Plus, the Chiefs aren't explosive enough to put up 24-plus points against an improving defense with a solid pass rush.

So, Denver wins and hosts Pittsburgh in the Wild Card Round.

That game will be an interesting matchup because of Pittsburgh's Steel Curtain defense against Tim Tebow, not to mention The Orange Crush pass-rushers pressuring a somewhat immobilized Ben Roethlisberger.

2. Detroit at NY Giants

With home-field advantage, the NFC North and the NFC's No. 1 seed already locked up, there's no reason for the Green Bay Packers to play their starters for most of the game in Week 17 against the Lions.

On the contrary, Detroit needs and wants a win to avoid a rematch with the New Orleans Saints in The Superdome.  So, anticipate the Lions playing their starters for a full 60 minutes. A matchup with the Dallas Cowboys or New York Giants is a much more winnable game.

And speaking of the Cowboys and Giants, the winner goes to the playoffs as the NFC East champion, whereas the loser goes home until the 2012 NFL season kicks off. Ironically, both are virtually exact replicas of one another.

Both have extremely effective passing games and one stud pass-rusher (DeMarcus Ware for Dallas and Jason Pierre-Paul for New York). On the flip side, the Giants and Cowboys have weak pass defenses which will play a major role this time as it did in the first meeting (The Giants won 37-34).

Dallas does have the much better rush defense and rush offense, however, that didn't stop Big Blue the first time in Dallas, so it won't matter in The Big Apple.

Last time Eli Manning threw for 400 yards, so unless the Cowboys can slow him down (because he does have excellent pass protection, unlike Tony Romo), the Giants will win again.

Thus, we see the Lions and Giants meet up in the NFC Wild Card.

1. Atlanta at New Orleans

Thanks to the Lions winning over Green Bay, the Atlanta Falcons get to play at the New Orleans Saints again this season.

The Saints won't manage the NFC's No. 2 seed as the San Francisco 49ers thump the St. Louis Rams in Week 17 to snag the first-round bye.

Here, we see a game that won't be any different than their Week 16 Monday night matchup. New Orleans won 45-16 because their defense limited Atlanta to just 8-of-17 on third-down conversions.

The Saints were 10-of-13.

Additionally, Drew Brees threw for 307 yards, four TDs, two picks and a near 59 percent completion percentage. If there's any hope for the Falcons, they know Brees can be turnover prone. However, they must establish a rushing attack.

In their last game Michael Turner had just 39 yards on 11 carries. Plus the Falcons only sacked Brees once and hit him two other times. More pressure is needed on defense along with a ground and pound run game to limit the Saints' possessions.

Otherwise The Dirty Birds are going one-and-done for a third time in as many playoff appearances.

Follow John Rozum on Twitter @ Sportswriter27