NFL Playoff Schedule 2012: Ranking Divisional Round's Most Exciting Games

The NFL playoff divisional round storylines go a little something like this:

Saints @ 49ers

Can the dominant 49ers defense slow down the commanding Saints offense?

Broncos @ Patriots

Can Tim Tebow and the Broncos pull off a huge upset and defeat the New England Patriots?

Texans @ Ravens

Will it be Ravens running back Ray Rice or Texans running back Arian Foster that leads his team to a victory?

Giants @ Packers

Can the Giants end the Packers 13-game home win streak and redeem their Week 13 loss?

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Now the question is which of these stories will prove to be the most exciting?

Texans @ Ravens

This game will be the closest and most evenly matched game of the NFL divisional playoffs.  

The battle to watch will be that of Ravens running back Ray Rice and Texans running back Arian Foster. 

With both of their teams relying heavily on the rushing game this season, both Rice and Foster finished in the top five in the league for rushing yards.

When these two teams faced earlier this season, the Ravens came out victorious 29-14 and Foster was held to just 49 yards.  However, the Ravens defense, which finished second in rushing yards allowed this year, will be face a large task. Foster is coming off of a dominant performance last week in which he rushed for two touchdowns and 153 yards.

X-factors to keep an eye on:

-The Ravens have not lost at home yet this season

-If the game comes down to quarterback play, how will Texans rookie T.J. Yates respond?

Giants @ Packers

The Giants and the Packers is an interesting matchup for a number of reasons.  

The storyline this week has been whether or not the Giants, who have looked good as of late, are the hottest team right now.

However, could the Giants possibly be hotter than the Packers who have won 21 of their last 22 games and thirteen straight at home? I have to say absolutely not, but only this game will tell.

The Giants will seek redemption from their Week 13 matchup in which the Packers pulled off a heroic 38-35 win in the final minute.

Many members of the Packers, though, still have lingering memories of the 2007 playoff loss to the Giants in overtime, killing their Super Bowl run.

Both Rodgers and Manning have the ability to take over a game and will their team to victory.  Chances are this will be a head-to-head quarterback and offensive battle.

Saints @ 49ers

Since their bye week in Week 11, the Saints are averaging nearly 40 points per game. In their past four games alone they have managed to score 42 or more points. 

On the other hand, the 49ers have given up an average of just 14.3 points per game, and only 10.5 per game at home.

The keys for the 49ers will be how often they can get to their quarterback and if their 16th-ranked passing defense can keep Brees and his boys out of the end zone.

Broncos @ Patriots

As exciting as everyone may want this game to be, let's remember that it was the Patriots who put in an end to Tebow and the Broncos' magnificent win streak the first time around, and they did it with no problem.

After winning six games straight, Denver faced New England in Week 15 at home and were handed a 41-23 defeat.

Things could be different this time around though. After all, in probably his best passing game of the season, Tebow was able to lead the Broncos to a 29-23 victory in overtime against the top ranked Steelers defense.

To pull of the win Tebow and the Broncos may have to duplicate last week's performance, but we all know they are the team of miracles, so let's not put this out of question.