NFL Playoff Schedule 2012: Predicting Winner of AFC and NFC Championship Game

Pretenders have officially been eliminated. Only true Super Bowl contenders remain in the NFL’s version of the Final Four. Here are the predictions and schedules for the AFC and NFC championship games.

Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots – Sunday, Jan. 22 at 3:00 p.m. EST on CBS

Baltimore never lost to a playoff team all season long. They beat the Houston Texans, Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals each twice along with the 49ers once.

Ray Lewis and Ed Reed’s hunger for a title cannot be underestimated; they’re both running out of time. But as well as the defense played on Sunday forcing four turnovers, the offensive side of the football stamps a question mark on this ballclub.

New England’s offense is insane and the Ravens don’t have a chance to knock off the Patriots if they can’t even put up 20 points. Now, Houston’s defense is much stronger than the Patriots, but 227 net yards is horrible even against the Texans.

Tom Brady and company are the hottest team in the league. This one will be close, but it’d be difficult to imagine Joe Flacco outperforming Brady in the fourth.

Prediction: New England 24-23

New York Giants at San Francisco 49ers – Sunday, Jan 22 at 6:30 p.m. EST on FOX

No two franchises are more fired up to still be alive than the Giants and 49ers. While New York shocked the world by knocking off the Green Bay Packers, San Francisco defeated the New Orleans Saints as Alex Smith had the game of his life.

NY may have just snuck into the postseason, but they’re as dangerous as anyone right now.  Eli Manning is officially an elite quarterback and is absolutely on fire. The relentless Giants pass rush complements their high-flying offense well.

San Francisco’s defense is arguably the best left in the playoffs, but Smith’s emergence has taken them to another level. No one will beat the 49ers if they continue to score 30-plus points in a single game. Even if they don’t, though, Patrick Willis and Justin Smith won’t be denied.

Prediction: 21-17 San Francisco

David Daniels is a Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

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