NFL Playoff Schedule 2012: Things More Compelling Than Tim Tebow to Watch for

I get it—Tim Tebow intrigues you. He's so unorthodox and polarizing, I know. You just can't wait to see what he can do against the New England Patriots next week.

But let's review some history here. Remember last year, when the Seattle Seahawks limped into the playoffs with a 7-9 mark because somebody from the putrid NFC West was required to make the playoffs?

Do you remember how they shocked the world by beating the highly favored New Orleans Saints behind Marshawn Lynch's earthquake-inducing run?

Well, what happened the week after that, when they had to travel to Chicago?

Oh yeah, the Bears manhandled the Seahawks and led the game 28-0 in the third quarter before allowing the Seahawks to score in garbage time, ultimately winning 35-24.

Remember how the Broncos lost three in a row and limped into the playoffs? Remember how nobody gave them a chance against the Steelers but they shocked the world by winning on their home field?

Sound familiar?

Let's take a look at some of the things this weekend that are more compelling than Tim Tebow, whose magic will run out this week.

New Orleans Saints at San Francisco 49ers

Date and Time: Saturday, Jan. 14 (4:30 p.m. ET on FOX) 

More Compelling than Tebow: Watching Drew Brees orchestrate the Saints offense

Brees is a tactician, and watching him should be required viewing for every high school and college quarterback in the country.

But some of his weapons are really fun to watch as well.

Jimmy Graham goes up and gets the ball as well as anyone in the NFL. Darren Sproles is harder to catch in space for defenders than the Road Runner was for Wile E. Coyote to track down. Pierre Thomas, oft forgotten about, bounces off of tacklers and never gives up on a run.

And one of the Saints wide receivers generally breaks free for a long touchdown pass at least once a game.

The 49ers will slow down the Saints offense, but I don't think they'll stop them.

Denver Broncos at New England Patriots

Date and Time: Saturday, Jan. 14 (8:00 p.m. ET on CBS)

More Compelling than Tebow: Watching Tom Brady orchestrate the Patriots offense.

Denver did a heck of a job getting in Ben Roethlisberger's face, sacking the quarterback five times. But Roethlisberger was missing two key linemen, his starting running back and was severely hobbled himself with a high ankle sprain.

Tom Brady has his full arsenal ready to go.

Who do you focus on if you are the Broncos? If you blitz Brady, chances are he'll beat you with quick reads to Wes Welker or he'll find one of your defenders in a mismatch against one or both of New England's stud tight ends, Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez.

If you sit back in coverage and give Brady time to throw, chances are high that he'll find the open receiver and carve up your secondary all day long.

Denver's best chance to slow down New England's offense is simple: Keep the ball out of their hands.

Which means Tebow and the Broncos running game will have to sustain the fast start the team had when these teams first met in Week 15, when the Broncos scored on their first three possessions and rushed for 167 yards in the first quarter.

But the Broncos fumbled three times in the second quarter, and the Patriots sprinted past them, winning 41-23.

Expect Brady and the Patriots offense to do the same thing this weekend.

Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens

Date and Time: Sunday, Jan. 15 (1:00 p.m. ET on CBS)

More Compelling than Tebow: Ray Rice versus the Texans defense

The key to Baltimore's success is pretty simple.

In the Ravens' four losses this year, Rice averaged nine carries and 39 yards per game. In their 12 wins, he averaged 21 carries and 101 yards.

The Texans boasted the NFL's fourth-ranked run defense during the regular season and held Cincinnati to 76 yards rushing last week.

If the Texans can stuff the Ravens ground game early and force Baltimore to rely heavily on Joe Flacco and the passing game, the Texans will have a legitimate shot to force turnovers and beat the Ravens in a game I expect to be close.

New York Giants at Green Bay Packers

Date and Time: Sunday, Jan 15 (4:30 p.m. ET on FOX) 

More Compelling than Tebow: Pretty much everything about this game

The Giants head into Lambeau as one of the NFL's hottest teams, having won three straight games and absolutely dominating Atlanta last week, 24-2.

But the Packers boast Aaron Rodgers, an explosive Packers offense and a defense that doesn't stop many people but does force a whole lot of turnovers (plus-24 turnover differential for the season).

The Giants defense is playing well right now and the Packers defense is rested, which makes me think the shootout we all expect—and the one we got when the Packers beat the Giants in Week 13, 38-35—may be a more defensive affair than we're expecting.

Then again, Rodgers and Eli Manning might not be stopped.

I can't wait to watch this game.

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