NFL Playoff Schedule 2012: Projecting Divisional Round Matchups

The 2012 NFL Playoffs are now well underway, and after Saturday's victories by the Houston Texans and New Orleans Saints six of the eight participants for the divisional round of the playoffs are set.

There are still two cards for next week's dance that have yet to be punched, but I've never let things like facts or logic get in the way before, so here's an early look ahead at predictions for next week's games.

1. Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens

The Houston Texans earned their first postseason victory in franchise history with a win over the Cincinnati Bengals Saturday, but their postseason run will end next week against a Baltimore Ravens squad that beat the Texans handily in Week 6 and features a defense that has a tendency to make rookie quarterbacks look like, well, rookies.

WINNER: Baltimore Ravens

2. New Orleans Saints at San Francisco 49ers

The New Orleans Saints rolled the Detroit Lions Saturday night, setting up a classic offense versus defense matchup when the Saints travel west to face the San Francisco 49ers next week.

Unfortunately for the 49ers, as well as their defense has played this season Drew Brees and the Saints offense is clicking so well right now that even should the San Francisco defense play well New Orleans will likely put up more points than the Niners so-so offense can match.

WINNER: New Orleans Saints

3. Atlanta Falcons/New York Giants at Green Bay Packers

The New York Giants lead the Atlanta Falcons 7-2 at halftime of their Wild Card Round playoff matchup, with the winner advancing to meet the NFC's top seed in the Green Bay Packers next week.

Given that the Packers beat both these teams in their home stadiums during the regular season it really doesn't matter who emerges from this game with the win, as their season is going to end next week at Lambeau Field anyway.

WINNER: Green Bay Packers

4. Pittsburgh Steelers/Denver Broncos at New England Patriots

I'm fairly confident that even with Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger hobbled by a high ankle sprain the Steelers defense will be enough to propel them past the Denver Broncos and into a divisional round matchup with the New England Patriots.

If Roethlisberger was even close to 100 percent I'd give the Steelers a solid shot at downing the Patriots for the second time this season, but his injury has hindered the Pittsburgh offense severely enough that I can't see that happening.

Should the Broncos somehow survive the Steelers we'd likely see a repeat of Week 15, when the Patriots put up 41 points in a torching of the Fighting Tebows.

WINNER: New England Patriots