NFL Playoffs 2012: Predicting the QBs of Wild Card Weekend

The 2011 NFL season has been the year of the QB. So, in addition to some great team matchups, the NFL postseason will have some intriguing QB matchups to look forward to.

Here's a look at how they will fare this Wild Card Weekend.

Andy Dalton (Bengals) vs. T.J. Yates (Texans)

Two rookie QBs will joust in the first AFC Wild Card Game, which is a rematch from their regular-season bout in Cincinnati.

Cincinnati's Andy Dalton had a solid year, but had a 1-6 record against teams with a winning record. Additionally, his passer rating was only 70.6 against those teams.

Fortunately, he still has solid targets in A.J. Green, Jerome Simpson and Jermain Gresham. He can rely on those three against a stout Texans defense.

As for T.J. Yates, he was without Andre Johnson in his first game versus Cincinnati. Yates still threw for 300 yards and had an impressive game-winning drive, though.

The Bengals, however, also have a solid defense. Despite Johnson appearing to be back to normal, they will blitz Yates to try and fluster him.

Don't expect an overly dominant performance from either QB. Their respective pass offenses will be overwhelmed by solid defenses.

Andy Dalton: 17-of-30, 195 yards, one TD, one INT, one fumble

T.J. Yates: 20-of-36, 205 yards, one TD, two INTs

Matthew Stafford (Lions) vs. Drew Brees (Saints)

If there's a playoff game this season with potential for record-breaking numbers, Matthew Stafford versus Drew Brees will be that game.

Both are the managers of a Top 5 passing offense and are facing two extremely weak pass defenses.

The Lions rank No. 22 against the pass and allow just under 240 pass yards per game. New Orleans, on the flip side, allows a hair under 260 yards per game and ranks No. 30.

The main difference between the two QBs is how they like to dish the rock around. Brees uses TE Jimmy Graham as well as an array of WRs, while Stafford has Calvin Johnson.

Barring a mental breakdown, both QBs will dominate. This playoff game will make a googolplex blush.

Matthew Stafford: 34-of-50, 425 yards, four TDs, one INT

Drew Brees: 32-of-45, 405 yards, four TDs, one rush TD, zero picks

Matt Ryan (Falcons) vs. Eli Manning (Giants)

This is another solid, pass-oriented offensive matchup between the Falcons and Giants. Both Matt Ryan and Eli Manning know how to be effective when launching the rock around.

Both have a number of targets to consider on every snap. Thanks to solid pass protection, they have ample time to read through their progressions.

WRs Roddy White of Atlanta and Victor Cruz of New York will be the two playmakers to watch. Both are the leading targets for their teams.

The major difference in this game, however, will be the pass rush. The Giants have one of the NFL's best pass-rushers in Jason Pierre-Paul and are dominant as a collective unit.

The Falcons may have John Abraham, Ray Edwards and Jonathan Babineaux, but they're not on New York's level. Matt Ryan will be under more pressure than Eli, which makes a difference in the outcome.

Matt Ryan: 21-of-38, 260 yards, two TDs, two INTs, one fumble

Eli Manning: 28-of-41, 320 yards, three TDs, one INT

Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers) vs. Tim Tebow (Broncos)

Here, we come to the lowest scoring game of the weekend. Both Pittsburgh and Denver have defenses capable of shutting down their opponent's rush offense. They each provide a great pass rush to boot.

Tim Tebow doesn't have the most luxurious receiving targets, and he still struggles with accuracy to a great extent.

Ben Roethlisberger isn't 100 percent, thus limiting his mobility. Pittsburgh has struggled in rush offense all season.

So, both teams have their weaknesses dialed up for the defenses to counter. In Pittsburgh's favor, though, Big Ben has two prime targets in Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown.

The Broncos struggle at defending the pass without help from a pass rush. Both Wallace and Brown are easily capable of burning anyone on the Orange Crush.

As for Tebow, if he can't buy time against the Steel Curtain, they will blitz him and it's lights out for Denver.

Ben Roethlisberger: 19-of-36, 250 yards, two TDs, one INT, one fumble

Tim Tebow: 13-of-28, 150 yards, no TDs, one rush TD, two INTs, one fumble

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