NFL Playoff Picture: Ranking Each Game by Its Watchability

There's no place like home, especially in the NFL playoffs. On Wild Card Weekend, all four home teams won their games.

Now, the top two seeds from each division join the fray for what should be another entertaining NFL weekend.

However, on paper, three of the four games appear to be significant mismatches, at least according to Las Vegas. Oddsmakers currently have two teams as nine-point favorites and one team as a two-touchdown favorite.

Despite Vegas' competitive pessimism, there is still plenty to watch for this weekend.

Here is how I rank the NFL divisional playoff games in order of "watchability."

4. Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens

The Texans routed the Cincinnati Bengals 31-10 for their first-ever playoff win. Their next challenge won't be as easy.

The Texans now travel to Baltimore to face the second-seeded Ravens.

This game features two of the best running backs in the NFL and two of the best run defenses. That combination is likely to keep both teams' punters busy and viewers tuned out.

Arian Foster is the key for the Texans in this game. If Houston hopes to upset the nine-point favorite Ravens, it will need Foster to replicate his Wild Card Weekend performance.

Foster finished last week's game with 153 rushing yards and two touchdowns. More importantly, he took the pressure off of rookie quarterback T.J. Yates.

Yates, who will make just his seventh NFL start this weekend, looked poised against the Bengals but offered the casual football watchers very little to get excited about.

Yates is the definition of a game-manager, but he'll need to do more if the Texans want to beat Baltimore. The Ravens have the second ranked run defense in the NFL, allowing just 92 yards per game.

When the two teams met in Week 6, the Ravens held Foster to 49 yards rushing. The Ravens beat the Texans that game 29-14, with Matt Schaub at quarterback.

As for the Ravens, they enter this game as winners of six of their last seven. They have also been dominant at M&T Bank Stadium, winning all eight of their home games this season. 

It doesn't take a genius to figure out that the Ravens will lean heavily on Ray Rice when they're on offense. This is clear for two reasons.

First, quarterback Joe Flacco has been dreadful at times this season. He has struggled with his consistency and when teams get pressure up the middle, which the Texans do well.

Secondly, since Week 11, Rice has 805 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. He also ran for 103 yards against the Texans in Week 6.

The Ravens should be able to control the tempo with their running game and defense. Look for them to pull away late.

3. Denver Broncos at New England Patriots

If there's one thing we've learned this season, it's don't turn off your television when Tim Tebow is playing.

The Broncos quarterback led Denver to another late-game victory, when he connected with Demaryius Thomas on an 80-yard touchdown to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 29-23 in overtime on Wild Card Weekend.

Tebow and the Broncos now have the challenging task of trying to beat Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, on Brady's home field.    

While this game does have its intriguing story lines, recent history tells us we could be in for a dud of a game. 

This game is just four weeks removed from the last time these two teams played each other. During Week 15, New England dominated the Broncos, beating them 41-23 in Denver. At the time, Denver was one of the hottest teams in football, winners of six straight.

Much like that previous meeting, the Broncos are riding high again after knocking off the defending AFC champions.

However, before you get too caught up in the revival of Tebowmania, you need to remember the Patriots are currently on an eight-game winning streak.

The No. 1 seed in the AFC is playing its best football of the season, and it'll have an old face—to both teams—back on the sidelines this weekend.

Josh McDaniels rejoins the Patriots this week as an offensive assistant. McDaniels was hired to replace offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien, who's taking over the Penn State head coaching job next year. 

McDaniels, who coached Denver from 2009-10, should be able to provide the Patriots defensive players with many players on Denver's roster. 

The Patriots are currently 14-point favorites and should have no problem outscoring Denver in this game.

Look for "Tebow Time" to run out this weekend in Foxboro.

2. New Orleans Saints at San Francisco 49ers

According to oddsmakers, this should be the best game of the weekend.

I don't necessarily agree.

The Saints are favored by three-and-a-half points, making the Niners the only home team that isn't favored.

New Orleans enters this game on a nine-game winning streak, including a 45-28 Wild Card Weekend victory over the Detroit Lions.

As for the 49ers, they are the NFC's second seed and winners of three straight.

This game matches two teams with very different styles. The Saints' aerial assault is the best in football, while the Niners win by running the ball and playing great defense.

While the Niners don't play pretty football, they do win a lot of games. The Saints, however, do play pretty football, and they're winning games too. 

If you're looking for a reason to watch this game, look no further than Saints quarterback Drew Brees. Brees is playing the position masterfully right now, and it'll be worth your time to see him attack the Niners' attacking defense.   

Brees is coming off a regular season in which he set an NFL record for most passing yards in a season with 5,476. He also added 46 touchdowns.

But perhaps what's most impressive about Brees' season is the way he's finished.

Since Week 9 (including the playoffs), Brees has thrown for 3,196 yards, 30 touchdowns and four interceptions.

The Niners' best defense against Brees will be its running game. If San Francisco can sustain drives with Frank Gore and keep Brees on the sidelines, it will keep this game close.

Even though the Saints are playing on the road, it's hard to go against Brees right now.

1. New York Giants at Green Bay Packers

It seems like the New York Giants have been playing "must-win" games practically the entire season. So, they should be ready for their weekend matchup with the Green Bay Packers.

The Giants enter this game winners of two straight big games. They beat Dallas in Week 17 to win the NFC East, and they handled the Atlanta Falcons last weekend in the Wild Card Round.

New York appears to be peaking at the right time, which could spell doom for Green Bay.

This game is a rematch of Week 13, when the Packers kicked a last-second field goal to beat the Giants in New York. However, this game will be in Green Bay, where the Packers were unbeaten this year.

Unlike the Giants, Green Bay hasn't played a meaningful game since Week 16. The Packers enter these playoffs as the NFL's top team and defending Super Bowl champions.

But I'm concerned about Green Bay's offensive line and defense.

The Packers are built to throw. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has had an unbelievable season and is likely headed for league MVP. However, he'll need his offensive line to hold up.

The Giants have one of the best defensive lines in football and have the ability to get pressure on the quarterback without blitzing. That allows them to drop seven into coverage and still harass opposing quarterbacks. 

The good news for Rodgers and the Packers is offensive tackles Chad Clifton (hamstring) and Bryan Bulaga (knee) will both be ready to play this weekend.

As for the Packers defense, it has surrendered an enormous amount of yards this season.

With the way quarterback Eli Manning has been throwing the ball recently, it could be a long afternoon for Green Bay defenders.

Despite being nine-point underdogs, the Giants match up extremely well with the Packers and have a great shot at an upset.

Also, this game has the potential to be an offensive showdown, featuring two Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks.

If I had to pick just one game to watch this weekend, this is it.

Happy viewing!