NFL Playoff Schedule 2012: New England Patriots Will Prove They Are AFC's Best

The New England Patriots were fortunate to earn the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs. They have had a week off to collect their thoughts and get healthy before hosting either the Pittsburgh Steelers or Denver Broncos this Saturday night, and prime time is the perfect stage for them to show what they are made of. 

I know that the Steelers defeated the Patriots earlier this season, but that was when the Patriots were struggling in every facet of the game and the Steelers were healthy. 

Looking at the Steelers now, they are as vulnerable as they have ever been. Ben Roethlisberger's ankle is still a problem, and he has been limited in practice all this week. Rashard Mendenhall, who is a huge part of what the offense wants to do, tore his ACL in the final game of the regular season. 

For those of you who will point to the Steelers defense, I will agree that they did as good a job as anyone this season against Tom Brady. That said, he still completed 69 percent of his passes while throwing two touchdowns with no interceptions. 

The Broncos showed what they can do against the Patriots four weeks ago. Tim Tebow looked good early running the ball, but when he had to throw it, he couldn't do it. That game would be a disaster waiting to happen. 

The Patriots are not without their flaws. Defensively, they're still trying to find some kind of an identity. They have been able to force a lot of turnovers (34, which led the AFC) but, overall, the numbers aren't pretty. 

They rank 31st in the NFL in yards allowed (411.1 per game) and pass yards allowed (293.9 per game), so they are going to give up yards. The trick is for them not to allow touchdowns, which they were relatively successful at this season. They finished in the middle of the pack in points allowed (21.4 per game).

But a game against the Steelers or Broncos in prime time at Gillette Stadium will get the defense to step up it performance, and the Patriots will not have another disappointing ending like last season. 

We all have doubted the Patriots at some point in the past, and they always seem to find a way to prove us wrong. This year will be no different, as the Patriots will dominate in the AFC Divisional Playoff round. 

AFC Divisional Playoff Schedule

Saturday, Jan. 14 at 8:00 p.m. EDT on CBS: Steelers/Broncos at New England Patriots

Sunday, Jan. 15 at 1:00 p.m. EDT on CBS: Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens

NFC Divisional Playoff Schedule

Saturday, Jan 14. at 4:30 p.m. EDT on FOX: New Orleans Saints at San Francisco 49ers

Sunday, Jan.  15 at 4:30 p.m. EDT on FOX: Falcons/Giants at Green Bay Packers

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