NFL Playoff Predictions: Forecasting Every Wild Card Game for 2012

Here are some quick predictions for the upcoming NFL Wild Card weekend.

Cincinnati Bengals at Houston Texans

This is the game I have the hardest time getting a feeling for. Both teams have been terrific defensively this season and both have big question marks on defense.

The Bengals roll out Andy Dalton and A.J Green, rookies, at two of the most important positions. Those two have performed admirably, but who knows how they'll do come playoff time?

Meanwhile the Texans have TJ Yates at quarterback, so they have problems of their own. Still though, Arian Foster and Ben Tate provide a formidable duo at running back that the Bengals can't quite match.

I like the Texans in this one because of the home-field advantage and because I think they win the time of possession battle via Foster and Tate. It will be close and low-scoring, but I'll take Houston.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos

The Steelers looked like huge favorites a couple of days ago, but Rashard Mendenhall is now out due to a torn ACL and safety Ryan Clark is out due to health concerns.

Even with the injuries, the Steelers are a better team than the reeling Broncos. Teams have figured out this Tim Tebow-led offense in the last three games, and Pittsburgh will game-plan for it well.

The Broncos defense will have to be nearly perfect, but Big Ben Roethlisberger has too many weapons at wide receiver. 

Detroit Lions at New Orleans Saints

If the Saints weren't so white-hot, I would like the Lions here as an upset pick. 

They play well on the road (5-3), they have an explosive offense that can keep up with Drew Brees and they essentially have nothing to lose as a No. 6 seed. 

Still though, New Orleans proved its dominance over Detroit in Week 13 with a big 31-17 win and I just think the Saints are playing too well right now to lose at home.

If there's a silver lining for Detroit fans, this one will be closer than people think.

Atlanta Falcons at New York Giants

The Falcons are 4-4 on the road and the Giants are 4-4 at home. This should be a close, hard-fought battle. 

For the Giants to be successful they need to play a good game on defense, and for that to happen they need to pressure quarterback Matt Ryan.

New York certainly has the talented players to make that happen, but it just hasn't been consistent enough this season to convince me.

When it comes down to it, I don't know which New York team is going to show up, and that doesn't make me confident.

This is the closest game this weekend according to most odds-makers, and I'm going with the Falcons in an upset. Roddy White and Julio Jones will be the difference for Atlanta.