NFL Playoffs 2012: A Bold Preview of Wild Card Weekend

The NFL playoffs are upon us and whether your team is getting ready for a big game or getting ready to watch, it truly is the most wonderful time of the year in the NFL.

The Wild Card round in 2011 has an intriguing slate of games. Can the Lions upset the high-powered Saints in their first playoff appearance in over a decade? Who will win the seemingly evenly-matched struggle between the Giants and Falcons? Can the Houston Texans win with a third-string rookie QB, or will the Bengals continue their magical year? And will Tim Tebow find a way to defeat the vaunted Pittsburgh Steelers?

This article aims to predict the outcomes of this excellent schedule of games. Let me know what you think!

Detroit Lions at New Orleans Saints

The Lowdown

The Lions are making their first playoff appearance since 1999, reviving a fanbase that has been in the doldrums for nearly 40 years. The Saints are making their third-straight trip to the postseason and are looking to forget an embarrassing opening-round loss to the Seattle Seahawks last season.  

This game features two of the NFL's premier offenses, including two 5,000-yard, 40 TD passers in Drew Brees and Matthew Stafford.

Prediction

The Lions looked awful defensively in a season ending loss to Green Bay. That doesn't bode well against a Saints team that is decent defensively and has a record-setting QB in Drew Brees, a record-setting machine in Darren Sproles (most yards from scrimmage in NFL history) and an offense that smashed the NFL's total season yardage record.  

The Saints are unbeatable at home, as well, and have a wealth of playoff experience that the Lions severely lack. That alone should make this game a one-sided affair.  

Saints 45, Lions 20

Atlanta Falcons at New York Giants

The Lowdown

The Giants are coming off a dominant win-or-go-home victory over the Dallas Cowboys and boast a quarterback in Eli Manning who, in a year other than this one, would have had a season remembered as one of the best in NFL history. The Giants defense has Jason Pierre-Paul, the excellent second year defensive end, and have two 1,000-yard receivers.  

The Falcons' Matt Ryan put together another good season, and Atlanta's offense often rolled over the opposition. Defense remains a question for the Falcons, and it could be what keeps them from winning this game.

Prediction

The Giants are playing at home which definitely gives them an advantage. The Falcons, while they have all the skill in the world, lack a certain killer instinct and a defensive identity. Neither of these teams are particularly great, but look for Eli Manning to take over and use the weapons at his disposal to lay waste to Atlanta in the Meadowlands.  

Giants 27, Falcons 21

Cincinnati Bengals at Houston Texans

The Lowdown

This is one of the most interesting matchups of the weekend, since both teams essentially backed into the postseason. The Bengals scored in the 2011 draft with QB Andy Dalton and WR A.J. Green who, paired with a dominant defense, engineered one of the most improbably successful seasons of any team in the NFL. In a division with Baltimore and Pittsburgh, Cincinnati held its own.  

The Texans lost several stars to injury this year, including one of the league's best QB's (Matt Schaub), his backup (Matt Leinart), one of the NFL's premier receivers (Andre Johnson) and one of the most dominant defensive players in football (Mario Williams).

Prediction

The Bengals are a solid pick because of all the injuries to the Texans, but I can't see it happening. Cincy played well against bad teams this season but fared completely differently against winning teams. Everyone forgets the Houston has one of the best (if not the very best) defenses in the league and although third-string QB T.J. Yates will struggle, the Texans will win with the old-fashioned formula of running the ball and playing good defense.  

Texans 17, Bengals 13

Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos

The Lowdown

Tim Tebow. I mean, is there really anything else to say? Because that's all the media will focus on. It won't be about Ben Roethlisberger or Rashard Mendenhall or the Bronco's defense. It will be all about Tebow, and how he'll handle being the quarterback during the playoffs against one of the NFL's best defenses.  

Tebow looked awful down the stretch in 2011, and the Steelers breezed through the end. Of note is the lack of two key Steelers: RB Rashard Mendenhall and S Ryan Clark.

Prediction

People will clamor for Tebow magic in the Mile High City, but I don't see it happening. The Broncos are a good team stuck in a rut offensively, and while their defense is championship caliber, it won't be enough against the experienced Steelers.   

Steelers 24, Broncos 6