NFL Playoff Predictions: 3 Players Who Will Struggle in Divisional Round

All four home teams won on Wild Card Weekend for the first time since 2006, which leads us to an intriguing divisional round that features three rematches from the regular season.

After watching more offensive outbursts in the opening round, will defenses continue to get shredded or will they make a stand? 

These are the three players who will struggle this weekend.

1. Devin McCourty

The Broncos aren't all of a sudden a passing juggernaut, but we saw what Demaryius Thomas did to Ike Taylor on Sunday.

Completed torched him.

Thomas is proving why he was a first-round pick in 2010. 

At 6'3'' and 235 pounds, he can dominate a corner physically and he made no mistake about it on the game-winning 80-yard touchdown reception—he's regaining his breakaway speed. 

I'm not sure if McCourty will be locked onto Thomas all afternoon, but there's a chance they'll be matched up for the majority of the afternoon. 

With added confidence in the passing game, expect John Fox to call more throws on first down Thomas' way. 

I have faith in Bill Belichick's defensive game plan, but McCourty is no match for the former Georgia Tech star. 

2. Arian Foster 

This is somewhat of a bold prediction, especially after Foster's 153-yard outburst against a stout Bengals run defense.

Baltimore will load the box often and make T.J. Yates beat them. Against the Ravens early in the year, Foster ran 15 times for 49 yards in a 29-14 loss. 

The Bengals have a stingy defensive line, but the Ravens' front seven is a beefy, veteran-laden bunch that will play downhill for most of the contest. 

3. Pierre Thomas 

Thomas had eight carries for 66 yards and touchdown in the New Orleans Saints' triumph over the Detroit Lions on Saturday. 

In their running back committee, Thomas is the between-the-tackles guy who essentially sets up the play-action pass. 

Nothing against the Lions defensive line and linebackers, but he'll have an incredibly harder time this week against Justin Smith, Isaac Sopoaga, Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman.

San Francisco allowed a paltry 77.3 yards rushing per game in 2011.  

The Saints like to run more than you think (they ran 36 times against Detroit), but they'll have to rely more on their passing game to win in San Francisco in the divisional round. 

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