NFL Playoffs 2012: Full First-Round Picks and Predictions

The Wild Card weekend has some outstanding games.

The game between the Lions and Saints has the makings to be one of the greatest playoff games of all time. It features two high-powered offenses against suspect defenses.

The other NFC game will feature a lot of offense as well, while both AFC games look to be defensive struggles.

Click through for picks and some predictions for each game.

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Houston Texans

This game will be an ugly one.

These two teams played each other Week 14 in Cincinnati with the Texans winning 20-19. That game was the second start for T.J. Yates, and he was really good. He finished the day 26-of-44 for 300 yards and two touchdowns.

The Houston defense will make life miserable for Andy Dalton. Dalton only threw for 186 yards in the first meeting, and he will not break 200 yards in this one either. The Bengals will need to force a couple of turnovers to create easy scoring opportunities for their offense.

Look for this game to be similar to the first one. It is going to be tight until the fourth quarter, but even with all of their injuries, Houston is the better team. Yates will end this game with 250 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Texans into the second round.

Prediction: Texans 23 Bengals 20

Detroit Lions vs. New Orleans Saints

This game will be the exact opposite of the Bengals and Texans game; these two teams will probably score more points in the first quarter than those two do in the whole game.

The Lions and the Saints faced each other in Week 13. New Orleans won that game in a rout, as Detroit self-destructed down the stretch. You can bet that Jim Schwartz has reminded his team of that game a lot this week.

Most people are picking the Saints to win this game easily—that is a mistake. Neither one of these teams defend the pass very well, but the Lions' front four can get after the passer. Plus, they are going to be pretty fired up after getting embarrassed in that first matchup.

Drew Brees is going to put up big numbers. He will end the day with at least 350 yards passing and three touchdowns, but he will be under pressure a lot more than he was in the first meeting.

On the other side, you can also expect Matthew Stafford to put up big numbers. He threw for 408 yards and one touchdown in the first meeting, so look for him to end the night somewhere around that same number.

This game will be tight in the fourth quarter. It will come down to the quarterback who makes the big play in the fourth quarter—and you have to put your money on Brees in that scenario.

Prediction: Saints 41, Lions 35

Atlanta Falcons vs. New York Giants

The Falcons are going to attempt to slow this football game down.

The one clear advantage they have here is when they run the football. Michael Turner should have 120 yards and a touchdown against a New York defense that gives up 121.3 yards per game on the ground.

Atlanta needs to keep Eli Manning and the Giants' offense off the field. The Falcons' defense is excellent against the run, but ranks 20th against the pass. That is not a good formula against Manning, who is playing some of the best football of his career right now.

Eli's numbers will be good, but not great in this one. Look for him to throw for 290 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.

This game will also be close until the fourth quarter, but it will ultimately be won by the Falcons with Turner picking up a couple of first downs late to ice the game.

Prediction: Falcons 24, Giants 21

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Denver Broncos

Most people are picking Pittsburgh to win this one easily.

The Steelers will win this game, but it will be closer than most people think.

The problem here for the Broncos is Tim Tebow against that Steelers' defense. Tebow is not going to be able to run or throw against them, and he will account for less than 200 total yards in this one.

The only chance Denver has in this one is their defense keeps the game close, and they should have a good chance of doing that against a banged-up Pittsburgh offense. Ben Roethlisberger is not 100 percent, and Rashard Mendenhall is out after tearing his ACL.

Again, this game comes down to the fourth quarter. 

Sure, Tebow has led some miraculous comebacks this season, but his comeback resume still is not anything compared to Roethlisberger's. Look for Big Ben to gut it out and end the game with 250 yards passing and a couple of touchdown passes—one of those will be late in the fourth quarter to win the game.

Prediction: Steelers 21, Broncos 17