NFL Playoff Predictions: Who Is Sure to Go One-and-Done?

With four NFL playoff games scheduled for this weekend, it's thus guaranteed that four teams will be one-and-done this year.

Whether it's because the team is just outmatched on offense and defense or are the unfortunate beneficiary of a bad matchup, here are three squads I predict will be eliminated from the playoffs after their first game.

Denver Broncos (vs. Pittsburgh Steelers)

The Denver Broncos made it into the playoffs as AFC West champions despite losing their last three games of the season thanks to being part of a division that sat up for grabs for the majority of the second half of the year.

With Tim Tebow under center, they boast the 31st most productive passing offense in the league and managed to score just three points in their Week 17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Though they're the league-leaders in rushing yards, averaging nearly 165 yards per game, the Pittsburgh Steelers defense isn't as susceptible to the run as they were at the beginning of the year, now giving up just under 100 yards on the ground per game.

They're also the best squad at defending the pass in the league, not boding well for Tebow's chances to turn around his slumping performance against the most playoff-experienced team in the NFL.

On offense, the Steelers have a top-10 passing game, which doesn't bode well for a Broncos defense that is prone to giving up big plays.

The Broncos practically performed miracles through the middle of the season that has seen them as an unlikely postseason entrant. But they have little chance to notch a playoff victory against the Steelers this Sunday.

Detroit Lions (at New Orleans Saints)

The Detroit Lions went into the 2011 regular season as heavy playoff favorites, and unlike some other teams with high expectations placed on them, have managed to deliver as they made the postseason for the first time since 1999.

They've done so largely on the merits of their top-four passing offense, led by quarterback Matthew Stafford, who has been able to stay healthy for the entirety of the regular season and of course aided by the play-making abilities of his many receivers, primarily wideout Calvin Johnson.

In the air, the Lions are averaging just over 300 passing yards per game. However, they're up against the New Orleans Saints and their league-best passing offense that's putting up 334.2 yards per game, thanks to quarterback Drew Brees and his record-breaking year.

Neither the Saints nor the Lions have done much on defense this season, but on paper the Saints have the advantage.

The Saints top-10 rushing offense will be meeting the Lions' 23rd-ranked run defense, and that aforementioned high-production passing game will only be benefited by the 239.4 yards per game the Lions are giving up in the air on average.

When these teams first met, in Week 14, the Saints won 31-17. Though this game should be closer—and high scoring—the Lions just don't have enough offense, nor enough defense, to stop the surging Saints.

Houston Texans (vs. Cincinnati Bengals)

The major storyline in this week's Wild Card playoff matchup between the Houston Texans and Cincinnati Bengals is inexperience.

Both teams are fielding rookie quarterbacks in this contest, with the Bengals' Andy Dalton drafted specifically to start and the fifth-round Houston Texans pick, T.J. Yates, being thrust into the position because of injuries to starter Matt Schaub and backup Matt Leinart.

Of the two, Dalton's been far more successful. While Yates has performed well in his conservative role, his responsibility mainly lies in game management and handing the ball off to star running back Arian Foster more than in making deep completions.

Yates will be the key to the Texans win or loss, and I see him costing them this game rather than doing enough to help them along to a divisional game against the New England Patriots the following week.

Though the Bengals aren't the most dominant team in the AFC playoffs this year, their strength in the passing game will be enough to overcome the Texans defense while at the same time their up-and-down defense will stand strong against a Houston team rapidly becoming one-dimensional.