NFL Playoff Predictions: Projecting Tim Tebow and Weekend's 8 QBs

With the NFL's Divisional Round just a day away from kicking off, let's preview and project the stat lines for each of the weekend's eight quarterbacks. 

Tim Tebow, Denver Broncos

It will be interesting to see what kind of adjustments both teams make after their Week 15 meeting in Denver. Tebow was effective running the ball but never found a rhythm in the passing game. Will his performance against the Steelers (316 yards, three TDs) give him any confidence coming into this one throwing the football? 

We'll also see if the Patriots stick to their plan of attack against Tebow. They did well in the first meeting to force the Broncos signal-caller to his right, where he has shown wild inaccuracies. 

Comp	Att	Yrd	TD	INT	Rush Yrd	Rush TD
13	28	201	1	1	78	1

Tom Brady, New England Patriots

It's one thing for the Broncos to keep the cap on a Steelers offense with a gimpy quarterback and a running back who's sitting at home with an ACL injury. However, it's quite another to ask them to reverse a Week 15 performance against the Patriots that saw them allow 451 yards and 41 points.

The only chance the Broncos have is if their two edge rushers—Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil—are on Brady's back continually. If Brady is upright for most of Saturday, he will again rip their defense apart. 

Comp	Att	Yrd	TD	INT	Rush Yrd	Rush TD
26	34	314	3	0	5	0

Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

Fans of football should be excited to see Brees match up with the 49ers defense. The Saints will try to spread out the 49ers, but San Francisco can counter with a pressure package that only a few teams in the NFL matched this season.

In the end, the numbers won't look like the video game outputs he had in the Superdome. However, it's hard to imagine Brees and the red-hot Saints offense not being efficient, even outdoors in San Francisco.  

Comp	Att	Yrd	TD	INT	Rush Yrd	Rush TD
34	47	310	2	1	2	0

Alex Smith, San Francisco 49ers

Jim Harbaugh has helped groom Alex Smith into the NFL's best game-manager. With a dominating defense and a run-game that did the majority of the offensive work, Smith simply avoided game-changing mistakes. He threw just five interceptions on 445 attempts.

Smith might be asked to do more on Saturday against the Saints, especially if Brees and that offense comes out hot. Still, expect more of the same from the 49ers quarterback.  

Comp	Att	Yrd	TD	INT	Rush Yrd	Rush TD
14	25	202	1	0	20	0

T.J. Yates, Houston Texans

It's hard to imagine the Texans asking Yates to do much unless Houston falls down big. The NFL's best running game, featuring Arian Foster and Ben Tate, will carry much of the work load. 

However, as we've seen over and over, playoff games are usually won and lost by quarterbacks. Does Yates have enough moxie to win a game late in Baltimore? 

Comp	Att	Yrd	TD	INT	Rush Yrd	Rush TD
15	24	198	1	1	6	0

Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens

Despite throwing for 305 yards the first time around, we could really see Flacco struggle on Sunday. The Texans have really found a pressure package that works for them, and Flacco's numbers down the stretch were nothing to write home about. If the Ravens need a late score to win, I'm not confident that Flacco can provide against the Texans defense.

Comp	Att	Yrd	TD	INT	Rush Yrd	Rush TD
15	31	199	1	2	2	0

Eli Manning, New York Giants

Manning mostly picked apart the Packers secondary in the first meeting, and I'd expect it to happen again on Sunday afternoon. Manning could be particularly deadly in play-action if the Giants can continue their success on the ground from Wild Card Weekend.

Green Bay has struggled to find any pressure from their front seven this season. If Manning has time, he'll eventually find either Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz or Mario Manningham.  

Comp	Att	Yrd	TD	INT	Rush Yrd	Rush TD
22	34	342	3	1	0	0

Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers 

The only factor that can keep Rodgers from teeing off once again is the Giants defensive line. Collapsing the pocket hasn't always been the key to limiting Rodgers, but the Chiefs were effective in combining press coverage and a suffocating pass rush.

I'm not confident that the Giants cornerbacks can pull off that same look. Expect Rodgers to have another big day in the playoffs.

Comp	Att	Yrd	TD	INT	Rush Yrd	Rush TD
25	34	324	3	0	34	0