NFL Playoff Schedule 2012: Tight End the Pivotal Position to Watch in Each Game

I'd like to start this article off with a "that's what she said" joke:

This weekend will be all about the tight ends.

Thank you. Thank you. I'll be here all week. Now let's talk some football.

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

The tight ends to watch: New England's Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez

It doesn't take a Ron Jaworski film session to see that the key to Baltimore's defensive game plan will likely revolve around slowing down the outstanding tight ends of the Patriots.

Baltimore has played well against tight ends all season long, but no team in the NFL has a duo as devastating as Gronk and Hernandez.

Slow down the production of the pair and the Baltimore defense will be that much closer to slowing down Tom Brady and the high-powered Patriots offense.

Fail to do so, and it will be a long day for Ravens fans.

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 

   

The tight end to watch: San Francisco's Vernon Davis

If there is one player on the 49ers offense that is a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses, it is Davis.

Just ask the Saints, who gave up seven catches for 180 yards and two touchdowns to him last week.

The Giants will likely focus on stopping the run and attacking Smith on obvious passing downs. But if they fail to account for Davis across the middle, he'll kill them all afternoon long and make San Francisco tough to beat.

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