2012 NFL Playoff Predictions: Picks for Each Round

Trying to predict NFL playoffs games is always fun because there is a good mix of underdogs winning games that not many people expected (like the Seahawks beating the Saints last year) to go along with the expected teams being victorious.

In the MLB, the hottest teams going into the postseason usually go far. In the NBA, teams within the top three seeds are usually the ones who end up in the Finals. The NFL playoffs do not seem to share these traits.

The 2009 Saints started out 13-0, lost their last three regular-season games, then went on to win it all. Last year's Packers won their last two games to get into the playoffs, and they ended up being champs, as well. And name one person who picked the New York Giants to beat the Patriots in 2008. Exactly.

In the upcoming slides are my playoff predictions for each game in each round. It will probably end up being a good thing that I didn't bet on these games.

AFC Wild Card Round: Houston Texans over Cincinnati Bengals

People are not giving the Texans much of chance to go far in the playoffs, which is kind of baffling considering how solid their defense and running game have been this season. Sure, TJ Yates is a rookie and was the third-string QB before Matt Schaub and Matt Leinart got hurt, but as long as he avoids making costly mistakes, the Texans can be a dangerous team in the playoffs.

The Bengals have been one of the biggest surprises this season, but their road victory over Seattle might be their best win of the season. Their record masks the fact that they are an average team that road an easy schedule to the playoffs, and it is hard to see them going on the road and beating the Texans.

Houston beat Cincy in Week 14 on a last-second touchdown pass by Yates. The Texans shouldn't have as much trouble winning this time.

AFC Wild Card: Pittsburgh Steelers over Denver Broncos

Doesn't this game seem like a game the Broncos could miraculously win? Everyone is expecting the Broncos to get crushed by the always-tough Steelers, but Denver has shown time and time again that they believe they can win.

The Steelers might go in expecting to roll over the Broncos and not be prepared for the altitude, Denver's underrated defense, Denver's solid running game, and, of course, Tim Tebow being Tim Tebow.

In reality, though, Pittsburgh is much better than Denver and the Steelers' defense is so good, it is hard to see the Broncos being able to move the ball. All of Tebow's "miracle" wins came against average-at-best teams, not against the league's elite like the Steelers. The Week 16 and 17 losses to Buffalo and Kansas City, when Denver was still fighting to win their division, were not good signs, either.

Denver might not get completely destroyed but they will need some serious Tebow magic in order to win.

NFC Wild Card: New Orleans Saints over Detroit Lions

The Saints handily beat the Lions in Week 13 at home, and it's hard to see the Lions producing a much different result in this game, either.

The Saints have won eight games in a row and seem unbeatable at home. Drew Brees seems as unstoppable as he's ever been.

The Lions seem to live and die by how Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson perform. Their defense is a mess and they hardly have a running game. Not exactly the formula you want going into the playoffs.

Despite their struggles, Detroit will manage keep this game interesting for three quarters but the Saints' offense will be too much for them to overcome in the end.

NFC Wild Card: Atlanta Falcons over New York Giants

This is probably the best Wild Card game because both teams are fairly evenly matched and either could make a run in the playoffs.

The Falcons have not been overly impressive this year, but they are fairly steady and have played many close games against good teams.

The Giants have been much more inconsistent but have more impressive wins than the Falcons. They are a hard team to figure out because you never know if they are going to play like they did last week against Dallas or like they did two weeks before against the Redskins.

The Giants will show up against Atlanta, but their mediocre secondary will get carved up by Matt Ryan and his electric receivers and the Falcons will make enough plays on defense to prevail over the G-men.

AFC Divisional Round: Steelers over New England Patriots

The Steelers beat New England in Pittsburgh in Week 8 and really gave the Patriots' explosive offense fits (Tom Brady didn't even throw for 200 yards).

Pittsburgh might be banged up on offense but as long as Ben Roethlisberger's ankle isn't bothering him too much, the Steelers should be able to move the ball on New England and their terrible secondary.

It will be tougher for Pittsburgh to win their second match-up of the year against New England because it is in Foxboro, but Pittsburgh is the deeper team and they'll go to yet another AFC Championship.

AFC Divisional: Baltimore Ravens over Texans

These two teams also met in the regular season, and Baltimore beat Houston at home 29-14... when Matt Schaub was still quarterback for the Texans and TJ Yates was third-string. Not the best sign if your a Texans fan.

No one knows how T.J. Yates will perform in the playoffs, but it's hard to see him or Houston's running game doing a lot against the excellent Ravens defense. Houston does have a strong defense of their own and it's not like the Ravens have a great offense, so don't expect a blowout.

The thing is, Baltimore was 8-0 at home during the season and seem rise to the occasion when they are playing games of high magnitude, and that play will continue here.

NFC Divisional: San Francisco 49ers over Saints

The 49ers are the kind of team designed to beat the Saints. They have good pass rushers, athletic linebackers and safeties who can cover Jimmy Graham, a solid secondary, and they practically eliminate the opponent's running game.

The Saints are playing amazingly on offense right now, but they preform much better at home (indoors on turf, more specifically) than on the road. If their defense cannot get pressure on Alex Smith or limit Frank Gore, San Francisco will be able to put up some points themselves.

This feels like a close game and I think the 49ers will bother Drew Brees enough to come away with the victory.

NFC Divisional: Falcons over Packers

All evidence points to the Packers winning, and I wouldn't be surprised if they did end up winning, but I'm picking the Falcons.

I don't really have a reason, I just think the Falcons will win. Stranger things have happened in the National Football League.

AFC Championship: Ravens over Steelers

The Steelers have met the Ravens many times in the playoffs in recent years, and each time, Pittsburgh has won.

This year feels different. Maybe it's because the Ravens beat the Steelers twice in the regular season, but something makes me feel like the Ravens will end their misery against the Steelers in the playoffs.

Both teams are built extremely similarly and it should be a hard nosed, physical game like Baltimore-Pittsburgh games always are.

Baltimore is such a strong home team and they will be as hungry as ever to beat the Steelers. They'll finally get it done and reach the Super Bowl.

NFC Championship: 49ers over Falcons

The 49ers have been so good this year because they are obviously great on defense, but they also rarely turn the ball over on offense and have great special teams. Teams cannot make mistakes if they want to beat San Francisco because the Niners are so fundamentally sound.

I think Atlanta will turn the ball over at least one too many times and it will cost them. It will still be a close game, but the Niners will get back to a place their franchise has been five times before: the Super Bowl.

Super Bowl Champions: Baltimore Ravens

The Harbaugh Bowl: Part 2

These two teams met on Thanksgiving in Baltimore, and the Ravens won a defensive battle 16-6. Defense should rule this game as well, and John Harbaugh's Ravens will once again beat Jim Harbaugh's 49ers.

No, this won't be a home game for the Ravens, but there is no doubt that they will be amped up for the Super Bowl.

They will do just a little more than San Francisco, and history will show that Trent Dilfer and Joe Flacco were the starting quarterbacks for the two Baltimore Ravens Super Bowl-winning teams.