NFL Playoff Picks: Favorites Will Win on Wild Card Sunday

The underdog is always a dangerous animal in the NFL, but the favored New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers will prevail in their respective games today.

The Giants squirmed their way into the postseason and the Steelers are riddled with injuries. However, that won't stop them from advancing to the second round of the playoffs.

Here are my picks for 2012's Wild Card Sunday.

Giants over Falcons

I like Matt Ryan and all his weapons, but this is a bad matchup for the Falcons.

The Giants have elite pass rushers in Jason Pierre-Paul (16.5 sacks) and Justin Tuck. Both will be terrorizing Ryan on Sunday.

On defense, Atlanta has to deal with a scorching hot Eli Manning. This season, Manning threw for 4,933 yards (sixth-most all-time) and an NFL-record 15 fourth quarter touchdowns.

In a do-or-die game in Week 17, Manning stepped up and torched Dallas with 346 yards and three touchdowns, while completing 72.7 percent of his passes.

Manning is a Super Bowl tested quarterback and has been the NFL's best clutch performer this season (sorry, Tebow).

Matt Ryan is still seeking his first playoff victory. Unfortunately, it won't come against the Giants and their fearsome D-line.

Prediction: Giants 27, Falcons 20

Steelers over Broncos

The Steelers will be without Rashard Mendenhall, but they won't need him to beat Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos.

Pittsburgh has the league's best pass defense (171.9 yards allowed per game) and eighth best run defense (99.8 yards allowed per game).

They are facing a Denver team that has lost three straight, including two blowouts and an embarrassing 7-3 loss to AFC West rival Kansas City.

The Steelers defense will have no trouble suffocating Tebow and the Denver offense.

Ben Roethlisberger is ailing, but he won't have to be spectacular in this one.

Prediction: Steelers 20, Broncos 10