NFL Playoff Schedule 2012: Sunday's Divisional Games Are Most Intriguing

With college football completed, the NFL takes over the weekend. However, it's still Sunday that will dominate thanks in large part to the teams that are playing.  

The Baltimore Ravens will host the Houston Texans at 1p.m., and then the defending champion Green Bay Packers will host the New York Giants at 4:30 p.m. 

Saturday may have a primetime slot, and it also features two of the league's biggest stars in Tim Tebow and Tom Brady, but it's Sunday that will steal the show.

Better Matchups 

While Saturday may have the bigger stars, Sunday easily has the better matchups, which is the main reason its lineup is more intriguing. 

The New Orleans Saints vs. the San Francisco 49ers is the best Saturday game, but it's easy to see that Drew Brees will dominate. The 49ers haven't faced a truly elite quarterback this season, and they're in for a rough time against a red-hot Brees. 

The other Saturday matchup is the Denver Broncos at the New England Patriots, and we all know how good of a game that was the first time around. 

Denver won in overtime the week before it played New England, but ended up being demolished by Tom Brady and company. The same thing should happen this weekend, which is why Saturday's lineup is far weaker than Sunday's. 

Close Games 

The Texans and Ravens did battle earlier in the year, and it was a good game until Baltimore pulled away in the fourth quarter. 

With their first ever playoff victory, the Texans are riding sky high and it will help them go toe-to-toe with the Ravens. Houston is somewhat of a different team now because of the new QB, but Arian Foster, Andre Johnson and the defense will keep the Texans competitive for all four quarters.

In Week 13, fans were blessed with one of the best games of the year, and the rematch between the Packers and the Giants won't disappoint either. 

New York showed its defense can step up in high-pressure moments, and the Giants will need to make sure it wasn't a fluke now that it must take on one of the best offenses in the league. 

Neither Green Bay or New York has a truly dominant defense, meaning both Aaron Rodgers and Eli Manning must put the team on their back and carry them to a victory, and that will be very fun to watch unfold. 

These are reasons why Saturday's matchups trump Sunday's with ease, along with the fact that these two games are much more appealing to those fans who no longer have a team to root for.

They're the best matchups of the divisional rounds, mostly because they'll be closer games throughout, resulting in the edge-of-your-seat type afternoon. 

Predictions 

The defending champs may start sluggish because of the week off, but in the end, they'll win when it counts. The Giants defense is playing much better, but Aaron Rodgers and that Packers offense will be too difficult to slow down, especially if the game is on the line. 

The Packers win another close one to advance to the NFC Championship Game where they face another rematch with the Saints. 

Baltimore beat the Texans before and they'll do it once more, only this time there won't be a fourth-quarter shutdown, but rather a comeback. 

Joe Flacco and company will be a little off in the early going because of their bye week, but when it matters most, the Ravens defense will make big plays, setting everything up for the offense to win it. 

The Ravens will then meet the Patriots in what should be an epic AFC Championship Game. 

2012 NFL Playoff Schedule

Divisional Round

Saturday, Jan 14

New Orleans Saints at San Francisco 49ers—4:30 p.m. ET on FOX

Denver Broncos at New England Patriots—8:00 p.m. ET on CBS

Sunday, Jan 15

Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens—1:00 p.m. ET on CBS

New York Giants at Green Bay Packers—4:30 p.m. ET on FOX

Conference Championships

AFC Championship Game

Sunday, Jan. 22 on CBS

NFC Championship Game

Sunday, Jan. 22 on FOX

Super Bowl XLVI

Where: Lucas Oil Stadium 

When: Sunday, Feb. 5 at 6:30 p.m. ET