NFL Playoff Bracket 2012: Who Has the Most Favorable Wild Card Matchup?

The NFL playoffs is all about matchups.  Because of the fact that division opponents get higher seeding automatically over wild-card teams, it doesn't always break down to wanting to play the lowest seeded teams.

Oftentimes, and almost every year, there is and inferior division champion who gets an undeserved home game over a higher-quality wild-card team who has to go on the road.

Click through the slideshow as I rank each Wild Card Round team's matchup from most favorable to least favorable.

Pittsburgh Steelers

It doesn't get much easier in the playoffs than playing this year's Denver Broncos, even though the Steelers have to go to Denver.

After much fanfare about unimpressive, last-second victories over non-playoff teams, reality has begun to set in for the Broncos.  That reality is that if Denver played in any other division besides the AFC West, the top-to-bottom worst division in football, Denver would already be on vacation.

For the Steelers, and especially their elite defense, this game represents the chance to flex their muscles as an experienced and well tested playoff squad against the worst offensive football team still standing.  The only real question left for this game is whether Big Ben and the Steelers can take advantage of their good fortune, or if injuries up and down their starting line up will prove too much to overcome.

Denver Broncos

Ironically, the Broncos have the second most favorable matchup this weekend.  The Broncos are at home against a Steelers team that will be without multiple key starters.  On top of that, Ben Roethlisberger has been nowhere near his normal self since he injured his leg.  If Denver's pass rush can produce any consistent pressure, Big Ben has shown lately that he will struggle to protect the football.

All of this, of course, assumes that Denver's offense can actually score more than a field goal here or there against the Steelers defense.  However, the thin air of Denver and Pittsburgh's way-less-than-healthy roster is about all an underdog could ask for in the playoffs.

Houston Texans

The Texans get the good fortune of hosting the Cincinnati Bengals in the first round of the NFL playoffs this year.  Anytime you can host a rookie quarterback that has to go on the road in his first playoff game, you have to like your chances.  Throw in an elite defensive coordinator in Wade Philips into the mix, and it becomes pretty obvious why, all things considered, the Texans have to feel pretty good about who they are facing this week.

The Bengals are a classic wild card team, just barely on the plus side of average.  They have yet to beat a team this season whose season is still ongoing, which is always a red flag when it come to playoff.  Outside of the Broncos, the Bengals had the least impressive regular season out of all the remaining playoff teams.  But they are largely healthy, something that could be the defining factor if the Bengals are able to pick up a win.

Cincinnati Bengals

If you have to be a wild card team and go on the road in the playoffs, you can't ask for too much more than what the Bengals have received.

 The Texans have zero playoff experience, and a rookie quarterback that has had far less playing time than the Bengals own rookie quarterback, Andy Dalton.  The Texans also have limped down the stretch almost as much as anyone, missing key starters and dropping a game to the hopeless Indianapolis Colts.

After years and years of struggle the Texans are finally in the playoffs.  However, that could mean a significant amount of nerves, as an unaccustomed roster tries to get used to the bright lights of the playoffs.  The injuries, especially to Matt Schaub, only serve to make this matchup more friendly for the visiting Bengals.

New York Giants

The Giants have a pretty tough matchup this weekend, with the Atlanta Falcons coming to town.  While Atlanta is by no means and easy matchup, they are the easiest of the NFC crop.  The Falcons are not a strong road team by any stretch of the imagination, and that should be good new to the Giants, who aren't exactly a sure thing at home either.

The key for the Giants will be unleashing their pass rush on Matt Ryan, who, like so many pocket passers, can really struggle if he can't get comfortable when he drops back to pass.  The Falcons also are somewhat lacking in their pass defense this season, which should be music to Eli Manning and his talented receivers' ears.

New Orleans Saints

The Saints will face a stiff challenge against the Detroit Lions. Detroit's offense has really heated up over the last month, as the Lions come into the game having scored and average of 35 points per game over their last four contests.  So while scoring is not exactly something New Orleans has a problem doing, especially at home, they will have to be on their A game should this one turn into a shoot out.

On defense, the Lions have forced 34 turnovers this season, third best in the league.  With an offense that is hitting on all cylinders coming to town, the Saints will have to make doubly sure that that take care of the football and no t give Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson any short fields.  Despite how good the Saints are at home, I think this game will be much closer than most people believe. 

Atlanta Falcons

Atlanta faces the unenviable task of trying to take on a veteran team, on the road, just as the Giants appear to be heating up.  It would certainly not be the first time the Giants waited until the very end of the season to play their best football.  They looked very, very good in what was essentially a pre-first-round playoff match in Week 17 against the Cowboys.  

Atlanta will have to limit the effectiveness of the Giants pass rush, most likely by getting Michael Turner off to a good start.  If the Falcons can give Matt Ryan some protection, they have more than enough weapons to exploit the Giants in the passing game, but keeping New York's front four at bay is easier said than done.

Detroit Lions

The good news: The Lions are finally in the playoffs again, after wandering through the dark depths of the Matt Millen era and its aftermath. The bad news:  they have to play perhaps the hottest team in the NFL on the road, where the Saints are nearly unbeatable. 

I'm sure the Lions will give a good fight, but the deck is stacked against them in a huge way.  Brees and company are just absolutely lethal in New Orleans.  The bright side is that, regardless of what happens in this weekend for the Lions, they are primed to be playoff contenders for years to come.  Hopefully they will have better luck in who they have to play in future playoff games.