NFL Playoff Picture: Predicting the Matchups Beyond Wild Card Weekend

With Wild Card Weekend just two days away, let's run down who we think will matching up in the rounds after this weekend.

New York Giants (NFC No. 4) at Green Bay Packers (NFC No. 1)

Few teams are coming into the 2012 playoffs riding as much momentum as the Giants, and they should win their third straight game at home to advance past the Atlanta Falcons. The Packers will get their chance at revenge from the Giants win in the 2007 NFC Championship.

New Orleans Saints (NFC No. 3) at San Francisco 49ers (NFC No. 2)

Defense is optional Saturday night in New Orleans. Vegas has the over/under for Saints-Lions at the highest mark they've ever had for a playoff game, and the consensus is we'll see a shootout in the Superdome. That kind of game heavily favors the Saints. If the Lions bring the same defense to New Orleans that showed up in Green Bay, the Saints will be able to plan their trip to San Francisco early. 

Houston Texans (AFC No. 3) at Baltimore Ravens (AFC No. 2)

I've gone back and forth on who I think will win in Houston this weekend. I'm starting to now lean towards the Texans, who can pound the ball on offense with Arian Foster and Ben Tate and play great defense against rookie Andy Dalton. It won't be pretty, but Houston should win their first ever playoff game.

Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC No. 5) at New England Patriots (AFC No. 1)

No team has a better Wild Card matchup than the Steelers. Their defense should be able to stomp on a quarterback who can't complete passes that 99 percent of NFL quarterbacks can. As long as Tim Tebow doesn't pick up big chunks on the ground, it's hard to see the Broncos scoring into the double digits. A win in Denver sets up another classic Steelers-Patriots playoff tilt in New England.