NFL Playoff Picture: Who's Moving On, Who's Dropping Out?

The NFL Wild Card Weekend is officially over, and at this point the match ups for the division and championships are much clearer.

Yesterday's wild card games featured great offenses and not-so-great defenses, and today's games were no different. The beauty of the playoffs is you never know what could happen.

This year's playoffs seem to be a myriad of firsts, fights, dreams and revivals. San Francisco, Detroit, Cincinnati, Houston and Denver were all in unfamiliar territory. Sure, these teams have been to the playoffs before, but it has been so long.

Three weeks ago, the New York Giants were struggling to keep their playoff hopes—and their season—alive. Now they're the NFC East champions and their coach gets to keep his job a while longer.

The Lions made it to the playoffs for the first time in 12 years. Who would have thought the Bengals, who have been so inept the past ten years, would actually make the playoffs? The Houston Texans finally got their shot too.

So without further ado, here's who's in, and who's out of this year's NFL playoffs:

New York Giants

The New York Giants just saved their season and essentially their coach's job. The Giants, who won the NFC East division, beat the Atlanta Falcons to advance into the NFC division championship against the Green Bay Packers.

The Giants beat the Falcons rather handily, 24-2.

Eli Manning led the way with 277 yards and two touchdowns. With the win, the Giants improved to 10-7.

Houston Texans

The Houston Texans won their first ever playoff appearance in rather sound fashion, drubbing the Cincinnati Bengals 31-10.

Superhuman running back Arian Foster led the Texans' explosive offensive attack with 24 carries, 153 yards and two scores.

For Cincy, their first playoff visit in years was short-lived. Andy Dalton, the rookie sensation, led Cincy with 257 yards but also turned the ball over three times on three interceptions.

New Orleans Saints

Well, as if this wasn't obvious.

The New Orleans Saints advanced to the NFC divisional round thanks in large part to a 45-28 drubbing of the Detroit Lions.

All-universe quarterback Drew Brees—okay, is he really that good? Yes—threw for 466 yards and three touchdowns.

The Saints next travel to Candlestick Park to take on the jump-start San Francisco 49ers in what should be a dandy of an NFC Division championship.

Denver Broncos

Well, it looks like all Tim Tebow does is win after all.

In what could only be a prophetic turn of events, Tim Tebow managed to throw an 80-yard bomb to Demaryius Thomas on his first play in overtime to lead the Broncos to their first playoff victory since 2006.

The Broncos beat the Steelers 30-23 and now travel to New England for the Tim Tebow-Tom Brady rematch from earlier this season.

San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers shocked the football world this season.

New head coach Jim Harbaugh has certainly got that team going, molding them in his image—tough, hard-nosed, play till the whistle.

Defense was key for the 49ers this season, as was evidenced by the emergence of rookie defensive end Aldon Smith, who is a likely candidate to win the NFL Rookie of the Year and is going to the Pro Bowl.

On offense, veteran running back Frank Gore leads the offensive charge behind quarterback Alex Smith.

The Niners will have to keep Drew Brees off the field and force turnovers on defense if they expect to win. Should be a barn-burner.

Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens did not get into the AFC division championship by accident.

A good mix of Ray Rice at running back and Joe Flacco at quarterback makes for a potent offense. Of course, when one speaks of the Baltimore Ravens, they of course mention their vaunted defense.

Ray Lewis continues to make plays from the middle linebacker position. And Ed Reed, the grizzled veteran, still patrols the free safety position. Corey Redding, Terrell Suggs, Haloti Ngata and Fabian Washington fill out that Ravens defense that will cause headaches for T.J. Yates.

Green Bay Packers

Is there anything this team can't do?!

Aaron "Discount Double Check" Rodgers probably won't need to do a double check for this game. They take on a New York Giants team that has more questions than answers on any given Sunday.

This game is also a rematch of earlier this season when Aaron Rodgers led a game-winning drive at the last minute to keep the Packers' unbeaten streak alive. Rodgers has too many weapons to exploit the Giants' secondary with tight end Jermichael Finley as the x-factor.

On defense, the Giants lead a dominant defensive line, anchored by Osi Umenyiora, Jason Pierre-Paul and Justin Tuck. That line should give the Packers fits all game long. This is going to be a real showdown.

New England Patriots

The New England Patriots are up to their usual tricks this off-season.

The test now is determining whether or not this team can win a home playoff game for the first time in what seems like decades. Tom Brady leads that vaunted Patriots offense against an on-again, off-again Broncos defense.

In a coaching move of note, speaking of Tom Brady, he will have a new offensive coordinator. Josh McDaniels is coming in next year to take over as offensive coordinator. This reunion should prove to work wonders for Brady as he has thrived under McDaniels' scheme before.

So here's a quick rundown of the NFC division championship games:

The Saints, Giants, Packers, and 49ers are in in the NFC. The Pack plays the Giants, and the Saints play the Niners.

On the AFC side, the Broncos, Patriots, Ravens, and Texans are in. The Broncos play the Patriots, the Ravens play the Texans.

The Lions, Bengals, Steelers, and Falcons will look to have better luck next season.