NFL Playoff Predictions: Predicting the Highest-Scoring Games

As the NFL has transformed into a league centered entirely around offense, we have seen an emergence of winning teams based on high powered passing attacks rather than smash-mouth defense and solid running. 

In the 2011/2012 NFL playoffs, there are an abundance of teams who don't know what defense is, but manage to get by with record setters like Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees under center. 

Obviously, we won't see any high scoring affairs when the Houston Texans, Cincinnati Bengals, San Francisco 49ers or Denver Broncos are on the field, but as for the rest of these potential games...it should be a wild ride. 

Who will advance, and who will go home?

Honorable Mention: Green Bay Packers vs New Orleans Saints-NFC Championship

This is an honorable mention, because I truly do not believe that the Green Bay Packers will advance to the NFC championship game this season. 

They lack every bit of the momentum they had going into last season's playoffs, and their defense is not playing at nearly the same level it was back then, despite having fewer injuries.

Despite all of that, if this game should come to pass, it will be every bit as ridiculously high scoring as their first meeting in Week 1. 

The difference? This time it will be the New Orleans Saints coming out on top, 42-38

4. Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots

Taking for granted that the Pittsburgh Steelers will smack Tim Tebow's Broncos, they will head into New England to face a high powered offense with a weak defense in a major AFC showdown. 

The Steelers have a brutal defense, but the New England Patriots only have their offense to carry them. With the second-ranked passing attack where Tom Brady also broke Dan Marino's yardage record, the Patriots will likely do nothing but throw the ball against Pittsburgh.

With the second-worst passing defense, their secondary will be shredded by Mike Wallace and Ben Roethlisberger since the Steelers lack their feature runner, and will be throwing as well. 

The Steelers will walk away with the victory, 28-21

3. Atlanta Falcons at New York Giants

This game will not be an eye-popping points fest, but it will show you more points than any game involving the Broncos or 49ers will, of that you can be sure. 

The New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons both feature pass defenses in the bottom ten of the NFL, with passing offenses that rank in the top six. 

With New York's January weather feeling more like April, these two teams will be airing it out all day.

The Giants will walk away victorious in a nail biter, 27-24.

2. New York Giants at Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers came within a blown call of losing to the New York Giants the last time they played. As it stands though, they won 38-35, a fairly high scoring game. 

Without a whole lot of momentum,  the Packers will find themselves facing a New York Giants team that will have won three straight games scoring well over 20 points per game. 

The Giants also have a running  game that is back on track, which will serve them well in the Lambeau tundra, especially against a Packers team that hasn't had a running game at all this season.

Another score-a-palooza will definitely be in order, with the Giants somehow pulling out yet another ridiculous comeback win.

Yup. You heard it right here. 

Giants 38, Packers 31

1. Detroit Lions at New Orleans Saints

Matthew Stafford proved all of his backers right this year, throwing for over 5,000 yards and 40 touchdowns in his very first 16-game season under center. 

Last time the Detroit Lions played the New Orleans Saints, they were going through a rough patch of the schedule and ended up getting torched on both ends of the field. 

This time, the feel is different, the stakes are higher, and both teams are playing their best football of the season. 

This will be an eye-opening game. With an all star cast of receivers and quarterbacks and a mediocre group of defensive backs, this game could set a postseason record for most 20-plus-yard touchdowns in a game.

Final Score: Saints 45, Lions 38