NFL Playoff Scenarios: 10 Matchups to Watch for Championship Weekend

We are one week from knowing who will play in the Super Bowl, and if the rest of the playoffs can match what has already happened, fans are in for a treat.

The AFC went as expected, with both home favorites taking care of business. The Baltimore Ravens will now need to travel to Foxboro to take on the New England Patriots.

Baltimore won last time these teams played in the playoffs in 2009 by a score of 33-14. However, the franchise has lost all six previous matchups with New England.

In the NFC, the New York Giants shocked almost everyone by easily defeating the Green Bay Packers 37-20. They will face the San Francisco 49ers, who won at home despite many doubters in an unbelievable finish over the New Orleans Saints.

The 49ers beat the Giants in Week 10, but New York is playing like a much stronger team since then.

Each championship game should be thrilling to watch, but there are few individual matchups to focus on that will decide the winners.

Alex Smith vs. Eli Manning

These players will not be on the field at the same time, but Alex Smith and Eli Manning have similar stories.

Both quarterbacks were No. 1 overall picks in the NFL draft and each have a little Rodney Dangerfield in them.

This year has been different for both men. Eli Manning has played his way into being an elite quarterback in the NFL, and coach Jim Harbaugh believes that Alex Smith deserves to be in the Pro Bowl.

After playing great games in the divisional round, Manning and Smith have to make sure there is no let down next weekend.

The winning quarterback will be the one that can seize the moment and take his team to the Super Bowl.

Giants Running Backs vs. 49ers Linebackers

The New York Giants were able to throw all day in the victory over the Green Bay Packers, but their ability to run the ball is a big part of the team's success.

In the first round, running backs Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs combined for 155 yards on the ground as the Giants defeated the Atlanta Falcons.

It will be difficult to have that same kind of success against the San Francisco 49ers, who had by far the best rush defense in the NFL this season.

Linebackers Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman were both named All Pro based on their ability to get to the football and finish tackles. Both Bradshaw and Jacobs are dangerous after contact, but they might not be able to break too many long runs in this game.

Obviously Eli Manning can pass the ball very well, but a one-dimensional team is much easier to defend.

Joe Staley vs. Jason Pierre-Paul

Left tackle Joe Staley was selected to his first Pro Bowl this season as a member of the San Francisco 49ers, but his job gets much harder this week.

He will likely be matched up against Defensive Player of the Year candidate Jason Pierre-Paul. The defensive end had 16.5 sacks and 86 tackles during the regular season. Although he does not have a sack in the playoffs yet, he has still caused plenty of disruption.

The 49ers gave up four sacks to the New Orleans Saints, but quarterback Alex Smith was usually able to throw deep successfully into single coverage when the offensive line picked up the blitz. The New York Giants are weak enough in the secondary that the 49ers can recreate this strategy.

The key will be if Staley and the rest of the big men up front can do their jobs and hold off the pass rush.

Vernon Davis vs. Anyone

Vernon Davis had by far the best game of his career last week in the win over the New Orleans Saints.

The tight end finished with 180 yards receiving (a playoff record for the position) and two touchdowns including a game-winner with nine seconds left.

Davis will not be able to sneak up on the New York Giants, but the team will still need to find someone to defend him.

Athletic linebacker Jacquian Williams could try, but does not have the speed to stick with Davis. Safety Antrel Rolle will also get a chance, but it will be difficult to stay with the tight end physically.

The San Francisco 49ers will try to use Vernon Davis early and often next week, if the Giants cannot defend him they will be in serious trouble.

Tom Coughlin vs. Jim Harbaugh

The San Francisco 49ers have been quite a success story this season.

First-year head coach Jim Harbaugh turned the team around from 6-10 a year ago to 13-3 and one game away from the Super Bowl.

However, there is no substitute for experience. Tom Coughlin has a 10-7 record in the postseason, including a victory in Super Bowl XLII.

Many players from that victory are still on the team, and it will be easier to keep nerves in check for such a big moment.

Few of the 49ers had ever played in the playoffs before last week. Harbaugh himself went to one conference championship as a player and lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The entire locker room is sure to be overly excited before the big game against the New York Giants. That is a good thing, unless it leads to early mistakes.

Harbaugh will need to make sure his team has complete focus.

Joe Flacco vs. Patriots Secondary

During the regular season, the New England Patriots were one of the worst teams in the league at defending the pass. The defense gave up 293.9 yards per game through the air and constantly gave up big plays.

The team was fortunate in the divisional round that they were able to face a quarterback who struggles to complete passes, but Joe Flacco will come in ready to attack.

Baltimore has solid weapons at receiver including Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith that will be difficult for anyone on the Patriots to defend. The key will be to jump on Flacco's mistakes.

In the four losses by the Ravens this season, the quarterback has five touchdowns but also six interceptions. All of these games were on the road, where they will be on Sunday as well.

Flacco needs to play a clean game in order to defeat the Patriots.

Rob Gronkowski vs. Ed Reed

Ed Reed rarely plays man coverage on anyone, but the Baltimore Ravens safety specializes in taking away the deep ball.

Tight end Rob Gronkowski has made a living this season by being a mismatch: too big for cornerbacks and too fast for linebackers. Unfortunately Reed has the size and strength to win a jump ball if necessary.

The Ravens could also slow down the shorter routes with Ray Lewis, who is still an elite linebacker after all these years.

The New England Patriots have a lot of weapons on offense, but this might be one of the few teams that can match up athletically.

Terrell Suggs vs. Matt Light

Terrell Suggs' name has been discussed for NFL Defensive Player of the Year, and it would be difficult to argue.

He has as much impact on a game as any defender in the league with 14 regular season sacks, seven forced fumbles and two interceptions.

The New England Patriots need to give Tom Brady time in the pocket, and in order to do that tackle Matt Light will have to do his best to block Suggs.

He should also receive help from Pro Bowl guard Logan Mankins if a double team is needed.

Whatever it takes for the team to keep the linebacker's hands off Brady will be necessary to win.

Bill O'Brien vs. Chuck Pagano

Bill O'Brien will leave to coach Penn State after the playoffs, but as of now he is still offensive coordinator of the New England Patriots.

The Patriots have the best offense remaining in the postseason, but it has not done well against this type of defense. They struggled against the Pittsburgh Steelers in a 25-17 regular season loss, and both teams have physical, veteran players that know how to tackle.

With the help of new assistant Josh McDaniels, O'Brien will need to use his creative schemes against Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano.

Pagano has done a great job in his first season at the position, keeping his unit among the best in the NFL. The Ravens defense ranks third in total yards allowed and total points allowed.

He will have his work cut out for him though if he wants to stop Tom Brady and all the offensive weapons around him.

Tom Brady vs. History

Only two quarterbacks have ever won four Super Bowls as a starter. Only John Elway has ever reached five.

Tom Brady can achieve both of those marks this season and strengthen the argument towards being the best quarterback ever.

It seemed easy when Brady won a Super Bowl three times in his first four years since taking over for Drew Bledsoe. However, he is in a bit of a rough patch, and the victory last week over the Denver Broncos is the New England Patriots first playoff win since 2007.

The dynasty is still not over, and the Patriots would like to bring home the Lombardi Trophy for the first time since 2004.