NFL Playoff Predictions: Epic Performances That Will Shape Wild Card Round

The first weekend of playoff football is going to provide us with some scintillating performances. These are the feats that are going to dominate the headlines Monday morning.

There are four games on tap to get the playoff season started, and they are going to waste no time delivering us memorable performances.  

New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees

Drew Brees is going to follow up his record-breaking season with an amazing first playoff game.

Brees' frightening aerial assault will be going against a sinking Lions defense. While the Lions played solid pass defense this season, they ended ranked eighth in yards allowed per pass at 6.4.

However that pass defense is falling apart. Over their last three games, they have allowed 8.1 yards per pass. 

Last week, in a game they desperately wanted to win, the Lions allowed over 400 yards passing and six touchdowns to Packers backup Matt Flynn. 

One of the Lions keys to playing good pass defense has been their pass rush, but that rush has been fading and taking their pass defense with it. They spent the early portion of the season ranked near the top of the NFL in sack percentage. They finished 16th in the NFL at 6.4, and over their last three they are sacking the opposing QB just 4.2 percent of the time. 

They will be hard-pressed to get any pressure on Brees. The Saints are first in the league in sacks allowed percentage. 

This will lead to Brees having plenty of time to throw the ball and putting up huge numbers. 

Prediction: 423 yards, five TDs

Atlanta Falcons' RB Michael Turner

Turner is going to cap off a productive and consistent season with a tremendous effort in the playoffs. 

The Falcons will be on the road to play the Giants. They will look to take the wind out of the sails of the Giants' passing attack. 

They will do this by handing the ball to Turner early and often, and he will get that ball against a poor Giants run defense. The Giants are 23rd in yards allowed per rush at 4.5. 

Turner finished the season averaging 4.5 yards per carry. It would be safe to assume he will average 4.5 yards per carry in this game. 

That number is too low, though. Turner will boost that with a couple of long runs. 

Prediction: 26 carries, 168 yards, three TDs

Pittsburgh's Defense

Tim Tebow is in store for a long playoff debut. The book is out on Tebow and his spread option attack, and that book is something the Steelers are well equipped to institute into a dominant game plan. 

Teams have shut down Tebow by crowding the line, playing man on the receivers and sending linebackers from the edge to keep Tebow in the pocket. 

The Steelers love that style. LaMarr Woodley and James Harrison are going to destroy Tebow. This will allow safety Troy Polamalu to key on the run, and when they don't run he will be ready to pick off misfired Tebow passes. 

With all these defenders close to the line, Broncos RB Willis McGahee is not going to find many running lanes against a defense that is ninth in rushing yards allowed per attempt. 

This is going to be a miserable day for the Broncos' offense. 

Prediction: Four sacks, two INTs, two fumbles recovered, no points allowed