NFL Playoff Picks: Teams That Won't Utilize Home-Field Advantage

What is usually considered home-field advantage may prove to be just the opposite for some NFL teams this postseason.

Whether it be due to tough matchups, a poor home record during the season or battles with the injury bug, not every team playing at home will have the edge on their opponent.

The Denver Broncos, for instance, will be hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wild Card Weekend, yet they actually have a losing record (3-5) within the confines of Mile High Stadium.

The New York Giants have a similarly average record (4-4) in home games this season, and they have to play an Atlanta Falcons team that has won five of its last seven games.

Whatever the case may be, some teams may be suffering from home-field disadvantage this week.

Let's look at who those teams are.

3. New York Giants

The New York Giants were only 4-4 at home this season (5-4 if you include a technical road game against the Jets).

Not exactly an imposing statistic for teams entering the Meadowlands.

After an emotional division-clinching victory over the Dallas Cowboys, the Giants must turn their attention to an Atlanta Falcons team that seems to be clicking at just the right time.

The Falcons have won three of their last four games and have scored at least 30 points in seven games this season.

Atlanta will be able to focus almost solely on Eli Manning and New York's passing game because the rushing attack is almost nonexistent.

The Giants rank dead last in the NFL with only 89.2 yards per game on the ground.

New York will have to develop a running game and keep the Atlanta offense off the field for any hope of victory.

A tall order against a team that has a 1,300-yard rusher and a 4,000-yard passer.

2. Houston Texans

The Houston Texans are depleted by injuries and they are riding a string of losses into the playoffs.

This is not exactly the best way to approach the first postseason in franchise history.

Houston has had misfortune plague them throughout the season, losing Mario Williams, Andre Johnson and Matt Schaub to assorted ailments.

Third-string quarterback and current starter T.J. Yates is battling injury issues of his own, and the Texans have scored more than 20 points just once in the last six weeks.

With such a lack of depth are the Texans really prepared to utilize the energy that the fans inside Reliant Stadium are sure to provide?

It is somewhat beneficial to know they are playing an upstart Cincinnati Bengals team that is new to the playoffs themselves.

But the Bengals rank in the top 10 in both passing and rushing defense—assets that will prove beneficial against a struggling Houston team. 

1. Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos may have managed to back into the playoffs, but not even Tim Tebow's divine intervention can save them against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Sure, the Mile High air will keep Steelers safety Ryan Clark out of the game, but Pittsburgh has far too much experience and talent to lose to a young Broncos squad.

Denver has lost its last three games, while the Steelers have won six of their last seven.

The Broncos' one-dimensional offense will have a tough time against a rush defense that gives up fewer than 100 yards per game.

The crowd in Denver will certainly be excited when this matchup begins, but what air this stadium has will likely be gone once the Steelers offense takes the field against the struggling Broncos defense.

The unit has given up at least 35 points in three of its last five games.