NFL Divisional Playoffs Predictions: Which Teams Will Advance

The NFL Playoffs kicked off this past weekend with all of the favorites moving on except for the Pittsburgh Steelers. They ran into the man they call "Tebow" and underestimated his ability. 

The home team won every game except for the Broncos game very easily. The Broncos vs Steelers game gave us our first look at the new playoff rules. It didn't really matter though because the explanation of the rules took longer than the actual overtime. Eleven seconds into it, Tim Tebow connected with Demaryius Thomas for an 80-yard touchdown that sent the Steelers back home. 

The next sets of games in the Divisional round are looking to be a lot closer. Let's take a look to see what I predict will happen.

NFC Divisional Playoffs: New Orleans Saints vs San Francisco 49ers

The New Orleans Saints are coming off a rout against the Detroit Lions to head west and take on the San Francisco 49ers. Drew Brees heads the NFL's top offense against Patrick Willis and the second stingiest defense. 

The Saints have scored more than 40 points in four straight games, but all have been inside domes. Their offense doesn't look as smooth when they're on grass and in the elements as it does in the domes. I don't see the Saints scoring 40 on the 49ers defense. I see Brees and company scoring in the mid-20s. 

San Francisco will be hosting a home playoff game for the first time in years and you know the crowd will be pumped up. Alex Smith brings in an offense that hasn't been anything close to the Saints. But Smith only has five interceptions on the year and has Frank Gore to head the running game. 

The 49ers have struggled in the red zone this year leading to David Akers to kick a record setting amount of field goals. But over the last three games, the 49ers scored a touchdown on six of nine chances. The Saints are 28th in red zone touchdown defense and allowed Detroit to go four for four against them in first round. 

With time running down in the fourth quarter, David Akers will line up and kick the game winning field goal, eliminating Drew Brees and his historic season from the playoffs. San Francisco's defense will come up with a couple big stops in the third and the 49ers' running game will control the clock in the second half. 

49ers 27, Saints 24

AFC Divisional Playoffs: Denver Broncos vs New England Patriots

It was "Tebow Time" in Denver last Sunday when Tim Tebow beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in overtime to advance and face the New England Patriots. The two teams met earlier in the season, which didn't end in any sort of "Tebow Time" for the Broncos. Tebow and the Broncos started out hot, scoring on their first three drives, but then sputtering as time went on. They fumbled three times and gave Tom Brady extra possessions, which you cannot do if you want to win a game versus the Patriots. 

This time, the game is in Foxboro and the Patriots are highly favored. Denver did a great job on Rob Gronkowski and Wes Welker, holding them to less than 100 yards receiving combined. But this time around, I don't see that happening. The Patriots are overall just a better team than the Denver Broncos. Yes, New England has a sub-par defense but the Broncos offense can't match the points that Brady and company will put up. 

This game will be out of hand by half time, with Tom Brady connecting with his fellow receiving corps for touchdown after touchdown. The "Tebow Mania" will finally come to an end, but I give Tebow and the Broncos a lot of credit for taking this team into the Divisional round. 

Patriots 38, Broncos 17

NFC Divisional Playoffs: New York Giants vs Green Bay Packers

The New York Giants took care of business in the first round, holding the Atlanta Falcons to only two points. But in the victory, the team was a little banged up, leaving it up in the air if cornerback Aaron Ross will play. The Giants will need all the comebacks they can have going up against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers' many talented receivers. The two teams played earlier in the season in New York with the Packers driving down to kick a game winning field goal as time expired. Both Eli Manning and Aaron Rodgers had spectacular games, throwing for more than 350 yards. 

Home games at Lambeau Field are not too kind to opposing teams. The Packers have not lost in Lambeau in 14 games, dating back to last season. But the Giants are no strangers to winning in Green Bay. They beat the Packers in 2008, but that was with Brett Favre heading the team. Aaron Rodgers isn't Favre and doesn't have the same "gun slinging mentality" as Favre. 

I see this being a close game, but not as close as their earlier meeting this season. But if the Giants want to stay in this game, they need to get some pressure on Rodgers. New York only had two sacks earlier this season and will need more than that to beat the Packers. Overall, the Giants will not stop Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. Green Bay will have a seven-point lead throughout the game and end up winning by 10. 

Packers 30, Giants 20 

AFC Divisional Playoffs: Houston Texans vs Baltimore Ravens

Houston is coming off an easy victory against the Cincinnati Bengals where they took over the third quarter and didn't look back. But now, they're headed to Baltimore where they lost by 15 earlier in the season. The Ravens are a perfect 8-0 at home this year and are looking to make it nine. 

Houston is putting out a different team then they were earlier in the season versus the Ravens. Matt Schaub is no longer the quarterback and has been replaced by T.J. Yates. Also, the Texans were without Andre Johnson, who is one of the best receivers in the league. Their defense has improved over the season and is playing as well as they have all year. 

Baltimore is still trying to make it to the Super Bowl and no longer has to worry about the Pittsburgh Steelers taking them out of it. Ray Rice was the second leading rusher but is going against the fourth ranked rushing defense. I see Houston keying on the run this game and the Ravens having to depend on Joe Flacco to win the game. I don't have confidence in Flacco to win this game with his arm. He's been way too inconsistent this year for me to believe he can pull it off. 

I see this being a close game until half way through the third quarter when the Ravens defense comes up with a huge play. Lardarius Webb will jump in front of a T.J. Yates pass and run it back for a game-changing touchdown. 

Ravens 24, Texans 17