NFL Playoff Picks: Ravens Set to Win Handily with Big Game from QB Joe Flacco

With an extra week of rest for the Baltimore Ravens and each of the first four wins of the playoffs being won by the home team, its fair to say the Ravens are the easy favorites in this second-round contest.

The Ray Rice-led Baltimore Ravens take on the Houston Texans in the division round of the 2012 NFL playoffs in what will be a contest that the Ravens will have the significant upper hand.

In the first meeting between the two teams this season, the Ravens won without trouble, taking the game 29-14 in what was a 4-1 start for the team on the season.

In the contest it was the play of RB Rice from scrimmage that stood out significantly, as he picked up 101 yards rushing and 60 receiving.

Yet it was the accuracy and production of QB Joe Flacco that was the game-changer for the Ravens in the 15-point win, setting the pace with his passes from the opening kickoff.

For the game, Flacco threw for an impressive 305 yards on 20-of-33 passing for the game, while also managing to pick up a rushing touchdown on the day.

It was not only a sounds performance, but his third-highest yards total of the season throwing the football. The 60.6 percent throwing the football in the contest was one of the more solid performances Flacco put together all season.

Flacco's ability to connect with receivers Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith was key to the team picking up first downs and having the convincing advantage in time of possession in the contest. Smith and Boldin combined for more than 200 yards in the win.

With the Texans D game-planning against Rice after a career-best season, expect Flacco to step up in a big way for this Ravens team in the divisional round. His ability to find receivers deep and break down the Texans secondary will be key in taking care of business at home.