NFL Playoff Schedule: Previewing Every Game for Wild Card Weekend

Can the Cincinnati Bengals and Detroit Lions avenge regular season losses to the Houston Texans and New Orleans Saints during wild-card weekend? 

Something tells me the AFC matchups will be more defensive-minded, while the two NFC showdowns will feature lots and lots of yardage and points. 

Here's a quick preview of all the four games we're treated to this weekend. 

Cincinnati Bengals (No. 6 Seed) at Houston Texans (No. 3 Seed)

In one of two regular season rematches of wild card weekend, the Bengals travel to Houston as they take on the Texans, a team that beat them in Week 14. 

T.J. Yates threw for 300 yards with two touchdowns and an interception in that matchup, but has regressed considerably since. 

He was injured in the season finale loss to the Tennessee Titans, but is expected to start in the first playoff game in Texans history. 

This should be somewhat of a defensive battle, as both teams ended the year ranked in the top seven in terms of yardage allowed. 

Andy Dalton exceeded many expectations in his rookie season, but expect the Bengals to establish Cedric Benson in hopes of opening up the play-action possibilities for A.J. Green down the field. 

The same goes for the Texans. 

Their tremendously potent running back duo of Arian Foster and Ben Tate will be featured to take pressure off the rookie Yates. 

Whichever team can control the clock with the running game and hit the occasional big play should emerge victorious. 

Detroit Lions (No. 6 Seed) at New Orleans Saints (No. 3 Seed)

Offense, offense and more offense. 

Then some more offense. 

This game has something we've never seen before in the history of the NFL—two 5,000-yard passers facing each other. 

I send my condolences to the Saints and Lions secondaries now. 

Matthew Stafford has been playing with a bit of a tenacious edge in his last three games, something that's made him a highly-confident and extremely dangerous quarterback. 

Drew Brees enters the game with a long-list of signal-caller records on his 2011 resume and is playing at home. 

Remember, he had 29 touchdowns and six interception inside the Superdome this season. 

Also, don't forget that New Orleans beat the Lions, 31-17, in the team's regular season battle. 

Lots of Jimmy Graham, Marques Colston, Nate Burleson and Calvin Johnson in what has the potential to be the most entertaining game of the weekend. 

Pittsburgh Steelers (No. 5 Seed) at Denver Broncos (No. 4 Seed)

Tim Tebow enters his first playoff game having completed 19 of his last 51 passes with one touchdown pass and four interceptions. 

The Broncos backed into the postseason, losing their final three contests, but they did finish the year as the league's best run offense, averaging 164.5 ground yards per game. 

Ben Roethlisberger's ankle isn't fully healed, but he was efficient in the Steelers season-ending win over the Cleveland Browns. 

Pittsburgh faces a stout Denver defense without running back Rashard Mendenhall, who tore his ACL in Week 17. 

Expect a low-scoring game that'll feature two good defenses. 

Atlanta Falcons (No. 5 Seed) at New York Giants (No. 4 Seed)

Back to the NFC, the offensively explosive conference. 

While the Giants, most namely their pass rush, have played great over the last month, their offense is what has led them to wins in their of their last four contests. 

Eli Manning completed his best season as a professional, throwing for 4,933 yards with 29 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. 

Victor Cruz, who's somehow not a Pro Bowler, caught 82 passes for 1,536 yards with nine touchdown catches. 

He'll be a major factor in this matchup. 

The Falcons are more balanced, with 1,300-yard runner Michael Turner, but boast three legitimate pass-catching threats in Tony Gonzalez, Roddy White and the emerging rookie, Julio Jones. 

This game will come down to Matt Ryan and Manning getting time in the pocket, the big play and the often-overlooked running game. 

Ahmad Bradshaw has brought a great spark to the league's worst run game.