NFL Playoffs 2012: Top 5 Most Captivating Divisional Round Matchups

The 2012 NFL playoffs are steamrolling toward Super Bowl XLVI and the upcoming divisional round matchups promise to pack a punch. Tim Tebow leads the way as he continues to be Tim Tebow—which entails winning improbable games, proving doubters wrong and being in the spotlight 24 hours a day.

While Tebow continues to capitvate, he isn’t the only reason to watch the divisional round of the NFL playoffs though. After all, there are four games in total, each of which has a small hint of an upset brewing. 

These games have no shortage of talented players, including four Super Bowl champion quarterbacks. The other quarterbacks include a rookie, a former No. 1 overall selection, a fourth-year player that has yet to miss the playoffs and, of course, Tebow.

Cancel your plans, there’s only seven football games remaining until the fall. Fans everywhere should be plastered to their favorite recliner to take in all the action. 

Here are the top five most captivating NFL divisional round playoff matchups.

No. 5: T.J. Yates vs. the Vaunted (but aging) Baltimore Ravens’ Defense

The Houston Texans make their second trip of the season to M&T Bank Stadium to face the Baltimore Ravens.

In a Week 6 matchup, the Ravens disposed of the Texans 29-14.

Things are different for the Texans this time around as they have plenty of momentum coming off of their first franchise playoff win against the Cincinnati Bengals during 2012's Wild Card Weekend. 

Now led by rookie quarterback T.J. Yates, the Texans have a puncher's chance of knocking the Ravens out of the playoffs this season.

The Texans are 6-0 when running back Arian Foster has 30-plus carries, which one should expect to see, but it will be the arm of Yates that must make the most impact for the Texans. He must keep the Ravens’ defense honest in their attempts of loading up the box and honing in on Foster.  

Despite playing in only seven NFL games to date, the spotlight will be on Yates as he tries to do the unthinkable—beat the Ravens, who are 8-0 in Baltimore this season, at home.  

No. 4: Joe Flacco vs. His Critics

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco has received more than his fair share of criticism in his young four-year career.  

Truth be told, Flacco is quietly great. In the end, wins and losses, not necessarily gaudy numbers, are what matters most in the NFL.

Flacco has a 44-20 regular-season record, proving that he belongs. He’s led the Ravens to the playoffs in each of his first four seasons and has a 4-3 playoff record to date.

In 2008, Flacco was the first rookie quarterback to ever win two playoff games. His counterpart in the 2012 divisional round, Houston Texans’ quarterback T.J. Yates, looks to match that feat in their upcoming duel. This dream won’t come true for Yates as Flacco will show why he deserves to be mentioned with the best in the NFL.

Look for Flacco and the Ravens to escape this defensive minded game and to move on to the AFC Championship Game.

Prediction: Baltimore Ravens 20, Houston Texans 13

No. 3: Tim Tebow vs. Tom Brady

Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow shocked the world once again with a playoff win in dramatic, Tim Tebow-like fashion against the Pittsburgh Steelers during Wild Card Weekend.

Now the Broncos head to Foxboro to face the New England Patriots in what is a Week 15 rematch with everything on the line.

Tebow’s Week 15 stat line read 11-for-22 passing for 194 yards, with 93 rushing yards and two touchdowns.  The Patriots won the Week 15 game, 41-23, as everyone began to think “Tebow time” was over.

Wrong.

Tebow proved his naysayers wrong once again as the Broncos have life. Most impressively, Tebow threw for 316 yards against the Steelers—something no one thought was possible from Tebow’s arm.  

Certainly no one thinks that Tebow will have another 300-plus yard game this week, but then again the Patriots defense is porous. Plus, Tebow has proven time and time again that he is capable of anything.

The only thing standing in Tebow’s way is a three-time Super Bowl champion named Tom Brady, who won’t lose his fourth straight playoff game. 

Expect Brady, along with Patriots head coach Bill Belichick to have something up their sleeve to thwart off the charging Broncos.

Prediction: New England Patriots 31, Denver Broncos 23

No. 2: New Orleans’ Offense vs. San Francisco’s Defense

Something has got to give when the New Orleans Saints face the San Francisco 49ers in this NFL divisional round matchup.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees had a record-breaking season for passing yards while the 49ers’ defense is as stingy as they come.  

The Saints have scored 40-plus points in four straight games while the 49ers have only allowed 30 total points in their last four home games.

What this game will come down to is the efficiency of the 49ers’ offense.

They have only scored 30-plus points in three games this season, all against teams with a losing record. Bottom line is the 49ers have to find a way to keep Brees off the field.

No matter how good the 49ers defense is, no defense can stop Brees for 60 minutes. After all, the Saints didn’t even punt against the Detroit Lions in their Wild Card Weekend matchup.

Prediction: New Orleans Saints 27, San Francisco 49ers 17

No. 1: Eli Manning vs. Aaron Rodgers

The game between the New York Giants and the Green Bay Packers in the NFC divisional round promises to be slugfest.

There’s not much more a football fan could ask for in a playoff matchup other than two top-five NFL quarterbacks.

Aaron Rodgers has been on a roll since the playoffs began last year and is the presumptive NFL MVP this season. His counterpart, Eli Manning, has stepped out of his older brother's shadow and has solidified himself as an elite quarterback in the NFL.

The last time these two teams met in the playoffs was 2008, when the Giants won 23-20 in OT. This was at Lambeau Field, and the Giants will carry that confidence into Green Bay once again. The Packers don’t plan on history repeating itself as they have plenty of rest coming off an opening-round bye.

These two teams squared off in NFL Week 13, with the Packers winning by a 38-35 decision.  These two colossal quarterbacks put up monstrous numbers as they combined for 716 yards and seven touchdowns.  Fans should expect nothing less this time around.

With plenty of offense in store and a legitimate chance that the defending Super Bowl Champions lose at home, this matchup will be the most captivating game of the 2012divisional round of the NFL playoffs. 

Prediction: Last Team with the Ball Wins

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