NFL Playoff Schedule 2012: Sunday Matchups That Start the Day off Heavenly

With the first week of the 2012 NFL playoffs in the book and the second round underway, it’s time to look at the games that make our restful Sundays far more enjoyable.

With just two games on the docket, all eyes will be fastened on these two pivotal matchups. The winner of each game advances on for a chance to play into the Super Bowl.

All of the teams that made it this far deserve the honor, but this week will expose the teams that are in over their head. I’m looking at you Houston Texans.

Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens: 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS

With Baltimore walking away from the team’s Week 6 matchup against a fully loaded Texans team, the Ravens are not scared to face a Houston team that is missing some of its biggest offensive and defensive threats.

What They're Saying

Polarizing columnist Stephen A. Smith is 100 percent right, something not often said:

Key Matchup: Arian Foster vs. Ray Lewis

With rookie T.J. Yates under center, the Texans will feed the rock to star running back Arian Foster upwards of 25 times this week. If Ray Lewis and the superior Ravens linebackers can stifle Foster, it will force Yates to air it out against Ed Reed and the ball-hawking Baltimore secondary. If Foster gets free and keeps the chains moving, the Ravens can lose this game in shocking fashion.

Prediction: Ravens 27, Texans 17

New York Giants at Green Bay Packers: 4:30 p.m. ET on FOX

In what could be the best game of the entire playoffs, the Packers square off against the team that took them to their limit earlier in the season with a 38-35 victory, the New York Giants. If the Giants can capitalize on the injuries that green Bay has sustained and use their improved defense to slow Aaron Rodgers down, New York could shock the NFL.

What They're Saying

TV personality Skip Bayless is going out on a limb…again:

Key Matchup: Eli Manning vs. Aaron Rodgers

In the Week 13 offensive war between these two teams, the quarterbacks threw for over 700 yards and seven total touchdowns. There is nothing that either team’s defense has show besides an improved pass rush from NY that will sway me from saying this game will be another shootout. The QB that has less turnovers will win the game.

Prediction: Giants 35, Packers 31

Check back for more on the National Football League as it comes, and check out Bleacher Report’s NFL Page to get your fill of all things football.

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