NFL Playoffs 2012: 3 Things to Watch for During the Divisional Round

During the Wild Card Round, we got a rookie showdown, a shootout, a defensive gem and a Tim Tebow thriller. The Divisional Round should bring the same.

Football's eight best teams look to bring their A-game for these matchups, as the winner reaches the conference championship. The top four seeds from each conference remain for more football.

You've got offense vs. defense, Tebow vs. Brady, inexperience vs. experience, and defending champs vs. 2007 champs. The story lines are intense, and there is a lot to watch for on Saturday and Sunday.

What should you watch for this weekend? We've got the answer.

Number 1: How Will Inexperienced Quarterbacks Fare at This Stage

Last week, Tim Tebow and T.J. Yates racked up their first career playoff wins.

Now, on the road, they have to travel to face great teams (Baltimore and New England) and defeat the top two seeds in the conference.

Tebow beat 12-4 Pittsburgh in dramatic fashion, with an 80-yard overtime touchdown pass, and T.J Yates threw a 40-yard touchdown in an impressive performance during Houston's win over Cincinnati, but the bar has been raised.

The same goes for 49ers quarterback Alex Smith, who is playing in his first playoff game in his seventh year. He guided the Niners to a 13-3 record and the NFC West title, and his assignment is to beat Drew Brees and the Saints, the NFC South champions.

If the rookie Yates, the comeback kid Smith, and the super-hyped Tebow can come out alive, the attention will zoom in to their teams. It's up to them to show their stuff on the biggest stage yet.

Number 2: Will Eli Manning Show That He's Better Then Aaron Rodgers?

We've all seen Eli Manning show his best on football's biggest stage. If you haven't, just rewind back to the 2007 season.

Now, he's got to show his best against Aaron Rodgers. Manning may have Tom Brady's number (2-1 lifetime) but against Rodgers, he's 0-2, and against Green Bay, he's 1-3.

Rodgers beat Manning in a shootout earlier this year, but the Giants brought out their best. They kept the game close the whole time, and Green Bay needed a last-second field goal to hold on (38-35).

Of course, this game is at Lambeau Field, where the Packers currently are in the midst of a 13-game winning streak (at home). Manning is 5-2 in the postseason, and Rodgers is 4-1. One quarterback will have to add the dreary letter L to their playoff record.

It's a regular season rematch. Manning is 4-0 on the road in the playoffs, and if he can conquer the Frozen Tundra, his August statement about being up there with Tom Brady should be proven correct.

Number 3: Will the Saints Offense Show Their Best on the Road?

At the Superdome, New Orleans has been nearly unstoppable. Away from the Big Easy, we've seen Brees and Co. lay eggs.

On the road this year, New Orleans went 5-3, with ugly wins over Tennessee, Carolina, Jacksonville and Atlanta, plus a 22-point win over 3-13 Minnesota.

Against a top defense like San Francisco, the run game shouldn't be a huge factor for the Saints. Drew Brees will have to bring his A-game away from the Dome. Fans will pack "The Stick," ready for the team's first home playoff game in nine years.

For the first time in nine years, football is back in the Bay. The city wants it to stay, and the only way for that to happen is to support the team. So, while Brees is used to domed stadiums (11 of their 17 games have been at domed stadiums) the weather could be frightful for the Saints.

The Saints look like the better team right now. But when you put all these factors into play, you have the stage set for a great football game.