2012 NFC Divisional Playoffs Keys and Predictions

The opening round of the 2012 NFL Playoffs is over and in the NFC, you have the four best teams seed-wise advancing to the divisional round. In Green Bay will be a rematch between the New York Giants and the Green Bay Packers. In the other matchup will be the New Orleans Saints against the San Francisco 49ers. Two great matchups to determine the NFC Championship Game.

New York Giants @ Green Bay Packers

This will be a rematch of the Week 13 epic game in which Aaron Rodgers drove the Packers down the field to win, 38-35. Both teams, however, have changed so much since that game.

The Packers were stricken at the end of the season with the injury bug and the week off will surely help them in this game. The one thing that is helping the Packers is that this game is at Lambeau Field. This season the Packers are undefeated at home, and the Green Bay weather makes it that much tougher to win there.

The New York Giants are coming off a dismantling of the Atlanta Falcons and seem to be the second-hottest team in the NFC right now, the first being the New Orleans Saints. The Giants in the first meeting with the Packers were close to pulling off the upset and have a good chance of winning in Green Bay this weekend.

The Packers surprisingly have the worst defense in the NFL and arguably the MVP of the league in Aaron Rodgers. Though with many injuries to the offensive line for the Packers, they will have a tough time preparing and playing against the Giants defensive line that ranks 12th in the NFL.

This game is going to be very close and intriguing throughout the whole game. It will be a back and forth game, just like their first meeting in Week 13. Though the home-field advantage will help the Packers with the crowd noise, the Giants have won in Lambeau before on their way to the Super Bowl. Look for the same thing to happen yet again.

PREDICTION: Giants 21, Packers 20

New Orleans Saints @ San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco has been one of the most surprising teams in the NFL this season. The 49ers are hosting their first home playoff game since 2002. Unfortunately for them, they are facing the hottest team and quarterback in the NFL right now in the New Orleans Saints and Drew Brees.

The Saints are the number one team in the league in passing offense, which comes at no surprise when they have the gun-slinging Drew Brees heading the offense. The 49ers have the 16th ranked passing defense in the NFL, which will need to take it to another level to stop the Saints.

The 49ers have a defense that has only given up one rushing touchdown the entire season and is the best in the league against the run. The 49ers will be able to stop a Saints offense that doesn't run the ball much. But the real question is if anybody can stop the Saints passing offense. A bright light for the 49ers is that they are playing at home.

The Saints have the 12th ranked rushing defense in the NFL. Running back Frank Gore has amassed 1,211 yards and eight touchdowns this season. This bodes well if the 49ers want to control the ball enough so that Brees won't get the ball as often.

Though it will be competitive and the San Francisco crowd is happy to be hosting a playoff game, I don't believe it will be enough to stop the hottest quarterback in the league right now.

PREDICTION: New Orleans 35 San Francisco 17