NFL Playoff Schedule 2012: Upsets That Will Turn Playoffs Upside Down

Richard LangfordJun 7, 2018

These NFL playoffs are not going to go as planned—we are headed for a wild postseason ride. The upsets will start in the Wild Card Round, and they won't end until the Super Bowl matchup is set.

The possibility of upsets is what makes the postseason great, and they are what is going to make this postseason amazing. Read on to see what is in store.

Cincinnati Bengals over Houston Texans

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Bleacher Report1w

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The Texans are limping into the playoffs. They have lost three straight and their QB situation is in complete disarray.

However, their last win came against these very Bengals. That fact is likely the biggest contributing factor in the Texans being listed as early three-point favorites, according to Football Locks.

This game will be a different story, though. The Bengals will make the needed adjustments to find more success against the Texans, and given the fact the Texans are starting either an injured third-string quarterback or a newly acquired fourth-string veteran QB, there are only so many adjustments they can make.

Another big factor leading to the Texans demise is that their defense is no longer capable of carrying them like they did in the game against the Bengals. Houston's defense rose to the challenge of trying to compete with an untested QB in their first meeting.

Since that game the defense has suffered while the offense has suffered. It has allowed 28,19 and 23 points in the last three games. Prior to that, the Texans had allowed 23 points only three times all season.

Prediction: Bengals 24,13

Pittsburgh Steelers over Baltimore Ravens

After the Bengals beat the Texans, Pittsburgh's road to Baltimore will be paved. This will be the third matchup of these two AFC North heavyweights. The Ravens won the previous two battles, but the third will be a different story.

The Ravens won the first two matchups largely on the fact they won the turnover battle by a combined 9-1. A big part of the Ravens winning the battle was the fact QB Joe Flacco was able to take care of the ball.

In two games against the Steelers Flacco did not throw a pick. The mistake-prone QB only had six games where he did not throw a pick. This run of ball protection is not going to continue.

What is also going to help tip the scale in Pittsburgh's favor is the fact Baltimore's pass rush has disappeared. The Ravens spent most of the season leading the league in sack percentage. They are currently third at 8.2 percent. In their two games against Pittsburgh, they sacked Roethlisberger on 6.4 percent of his dropbacks.

Over their last three games, Baltimore is sacking the QB on just 2.9 percent of dropbacks. This is going to give Roethlisberger time in the pocket to pick apart the Ravens defense, and that will lead to a win for Pittsburgh.

Prediction: Steelers 24, 17

New Orleans Saints over Green Bay Packers

This upset is coming in the NFC Championship Game. The Saints are going to take down the mighty Packers. Green Bay took down the Saints way back in the season opener in thrilling fashion with a 42-34 win.

That game showed how close these two teams are. However, these are two different teams now. The Packers have hit their peak, while the Saints are just reaching theirs.

The Saints are absolutely steamrolling opponents right now. They have won their last three games by a combined score of 132-53. Meanwhile, the Packers are just 2-1 in their last three and their combined score in that span is 104-81.

Another key factor here, just like the Raves-Steelers matchup, is the pass rush. In the opening game the Packers sacked Drew Brees three times. Their pass rush has since fallen off the map. Over their last three games they have a sack percentage of just 1.7 and they are also last on the season in sack percentage.

Meanwhile, the Saints have done an amazing job of protecting Brees. For the season they are first in sacks-allowed percentage at 3.5, and over their last three they have allowed a sterling sack percentage of just 0.8 percent.

Brees is going to have plenty of time to throw the ball, and the Saints will win a shootout.

Prediction: Saints 41, Packers 32

Check out the full playoff schedule.

Wild Card Round

Cincinnati Bengals at Houston Texans

Where: Reliant Stadium

When: Saturday, Jan. 7 at 4:30 p.m. ET

Watch: NBC; replay available via Game Rewind package on NFL.com (minimum $19.99 payment)

Atlanta Falcons at New York Giants

Where: MetLife Stadium

When: Sunday, Jan. 8 at 1 p.m. ET

Watch: FOX; replay available via Game Rewind package on NFL.com (minimum $19.99 payment)