NFL Playoff Schedule 2012: Breaking Down Key Matchups in Sunday's Games

Sunday's divisional round games present a pair of rematches and some intriguing matchups for NFL fans. 

Two of the league's top defenses will battle it out for a spot in the AFC championship game in the early bout in Baltimore, while the defending Super Bowl champions will look to advance to Championship Sunday next weekend with a huge win over the most feared pass rush left in the playoffs.

So which matchups will take center stage, and who will win them?  Let's take a closer look.

Houston Texans vs. Baltimore Ravens (Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012, 1:00 p.m. EST, CBS)

Arguably the most critical matchup of Sunday's first game is Houston's rushing attack against the Baltimore run stoppers. 

The Texans rank No. 2 in the league in rushing offense by yardage, racking up 153 yards per game on the ground on average this season.

The Ravens, however, rank No. 2 in rushing defense by yardage, allowing less than 93 yards per game on the ground. 

Texans' starting running back Arian Foster rushed for 153 yards and two touchdowns last weekend in Houston's wild-card win over the Bengals. 

That Cincinnati rush defense had been ranked No. 10 in the league going in. 

When Baltimore and Houston met back in week six of the regular season, the Ravens held the Texans to just 93 rushing yards total on 25 attempts. 

They will need a similar performance this Sunday, and they will get just that with a rested defense returning to the field. 

Field goal kicking will also be critical in deciding a winner in Baltimore Sunday. 

In the two teams' last meeting, the Ravens made and attempted five field goals, which resulted in the 15-point difference (29-14) on the scoreboard.

When two top four defenses get together, first downs and points will be at a premium. 

Both Billy Cundiff and Neil Rackers are capable kickers, but whoever comes up short will likely be to blame for their team's loss. 

Matchup Winner: Baltimore Ravens

New York Giants vs. Green Bay Packers (Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012, 4:30 p.m. EST, FOX)

Although it seems turnovers are the biggest key to any playoff matchup, they will tell the entire story in the final game of the weekend between the Giants and Packers.

The Packers forced 38 turnovers this season, including 31 interceptions in 16 games during the regular season.

Giants quarterback Eli Manning has thrown 16 interceptions by himself this season.  The two statistics equate to Manning tossing at least one or two on Sunday, which will ultimately doom New York.

In the Dec. 4, 2011, matchup between the two teams, Manning threw a decisive pick-six to linebacker Clay Matthews early, giving the Packers seven extra points on their way to a three-point win at the horn.

The best shot the Giants have of forcing turnovers Sunday is to get an effective pass rush on Aaron Rodgers, who has given up just six to the other team all year. 

If Rodgers is not constantly under pressure from the Giants' front four, he will likely be on his way to another 350-plus yard, multiple touchdown effort en route to booking Green Bay's trip to the NFC championship game for the second straight season.

Pressure and defense will be key for New York, considering the Giants are not going to outscore the highest-scoring team in the playoffs in a shootout. 

The blueprint for a Giants upset will have to look a lot like their 2008 win at Lambeau Field over the Packers in the 2007 NFC championship game.

The Packers will have to stay under 30 points, and have their time of possession taken away by Ahmad Bradshaw, Brandon Jacobs and the Giants' offense. 

Matchup Winner: Green Bay Packers