NFL Playoff Schedule 2012: Baltimore Ravens Will Represent AFC in Super Bowl

The Baltimore Ravens are getting ready to host their first home playoff game since a 2006 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.

The Houston Texans, fresh off the first playoff win in franchise history, will be coming to Baltimore looking to spoil the Ravens' Super Bowl hopes.

But, with quarterback Joe Flacco, running back Ray Rice and a strong defense led by linebacker Ray Lewis, the Ravens won't slip up this weekend.

In fact, they'll win this week and again next week, making it all the way to Super Bowl XLVI in Indy.

The Ravens defense is good enough to stop T.J. Yates, Arian Foster and the Texans this week.

Yates was just barely good enough to beat the Cincinnati Bengals in the first round of this year's playoffs. Putting him up against a ballhawk like Ed Reed would be a disaster.

Expect the Ravens defense to force a couple of dumb passes out of the rookie quarterback, setting up Flacco and the offense for some short drives.

Also, let's not forget the Ravens' home field advantage. Baltimore is 8-0 at home this season. They are more confident at home, playing in front of their loud, supportive fans.

Against a team as inconsistent and injury-plagued as the Texans, the Ravens should have no problem advancing to the AFC championship game.

Then it's just a matter of beating either the Denver Broncos or the New England Patriots and they'll be off to the Super Bowl.

Against the Broncos, I wouldn't expect the Ravens to make the same mistakes the Steelers did. For one, the Ravens secondary is better than the Steelers'.

And, with Terrell Suggs at outside linebacker, the Ravens are better at rushing the passer. That would help against Tom Brady and the Patriots as well.

The key to beating the Pats is to keep Brady off-balance. The Ravens can do that, and their offense can demolish the weak New England defense.

So, even though the Ravens have some flaws, most notably an inconsistent quarterback, they are still the best and most balanced team left in the AFC playoffs.

They'll use their experience and their superior talent to take them all the way to the Super Bowl.