NFL Playoff Schedule 2012: Why Home Teams Will Sweep Conference Championships

At the time this article was published, the game between the Green Bay Packers and New York Giants had not been decided.

No matter—I firmly believe it will be the home team in the NFC, one way or another, that will be headed to the Super Bowl next weekend.

Why?

All shall be revealed, my friends.

Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots

Date and time: Sunday, January 22 (3:00 p.m. EST on CBS)

Patriots home record: 8-1

Ravens road record: 4-4

Analysis: We start with the game already locked in, the Ravens at the Patriots.

Both teams are excellent at home (Baltimore is 9-0 this season at home), but Baltimore becomes highly beatable when they travel, having lost to Tennessee, Jacksonville, Seattle and San Diego on the road this season.

And they won't be able to count on T.J. Yates or the four turnovers they turned into 17 points against the Texans next weekend.

Look for the Patriots to win in a more defensive game than you might expect.

Pick: Patriots

San Francisco 49ers at Green Bay Packers

Date and time: Sunday, January 22 (6:30 p.m. EST on FOX)

Packers home record: 9-0 (it is currently 8-0, but this is assuming they beat the Giants)

49ers road record: 6-2

Analysis: If you want to know just how good the Packers are at home, you need to look no further than what Aaron Rodgers did at Lambeau Field during the regular season.

The team was 8-0 at Lambeau during the regular season, scoring 40.1 points per game. And since taking over as quarterback for the team in 2008, Rodgers has gone 25-7 in his home stadium.

The 49ers probably won't get five turnovers against the Packers like they did against the Saints. Without those turnovers, they won't be able to keep up.

Pick: Packers

New York Giants at San Francisco 49ers

Date and time: Sunday, January 22 (6:30 p.m. EST on FOX)

49ers home record: 8-1

Giants road record: 6-3 (it is currently 5-3, but will be 6-3 with a victory over the Packers)

Analysis: Would you want to play against the 49ers in San Francisco right now?

The 49ers and their run-stuffing defense would make the Giants offense one-dimensional, and unlike a matchup against the Packers, this game would settle into the more physical, ball-control affair the 49ers prefer to play.

With the juice of their home crowd and the confidence that Alex Smith can in fact lead them to victory late in the game—I mean honestly, who saw that coming?—the 49ers will narrowly defeat the Giants and continue their magical run.

If they get to play them, that is.

Pick: 49ers

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