NFL Playoffs 2013: Nightmare Matchups for Each Team That's Already Clinched

While NFL players and coaches will never admit to it, there are certain teams that they do not want to face in January.

Matchups are extremely important in football, and playoff teams often have the personnel to expose flaws in even the most dominant squads. New England Patriots fans know this all to well after two Super Bowl losses to the New York Giants in the past five years. 

It takes a little luck to win a championship, and each franchise headed to the playoffs will be hoping to avoid specific teams.

Here is the nightmare matchup for each team that has already clinched a playoff berth.

NFC 

Atlanta Falcons

Nightmare Matchup: Green Bay Packers

The last time the Falcons clinched the No. 1 seed, Green Bay rolled into Atlanta and subjected them to an embarrassing 48-21 beatdown. While this Falcons team is more experienced, the Packers are playing as well as anyone in the NFL.

Atlanta has already clinched the home-field advantage, and the Packers will either place second or third in the NFC. This means the two teams will not meet until at least the NFC Championship game, but this matchup is daunting enough that the Falcons will be rooting against the Packers in each of their playoff games.

 

San Francisco 49ers 

Nightmare Matchup: Minnesota Vikings

If the 49ers are unable to clinch a first-round bye, they may find themselves taking the field against the Vikings on Wild Card Weekend. Earlier this season, Minnesota shocked San Francisco in a 24-13 upset.

As good as the Niners' front-seven is, it can only hope to contain Adrian Peterson, and the team’s offense will need to pull its weight. Alex Smith was unable to do that in September, and Colin Kaepernick must step up in January.

  

Green Bay Packers

Nightmare Matchup: New York Giants 

The Packers are on a hot streak right now, and the Giants certainly are not. Still, New York is the one team Green Bay does not want to see in a wild-card matchup. 

The Giants picked apart the Packers in the playoffs last year, and the Green Bay players will have that loss on their minds if they have to take on New York again.

  

AFC 

Houston Texans

Nightmare Matchup: New England Patriots

There will be a theme in the AFC playoff picture; nobody will want to play the Patriots. If Houston gives up its top overall seed to the Denver Broncos, it will likely face New England in the divisional round.

Two weeks ago, the Patriots demolished the Texans, and they will certainly have the psychological edge over Houston in this potential matchup.  

 

Denver Broncos

Nightmare Matchup: New England Patriots

Peyton Manning has had his problems against Tom Brady and Bill Belichick in the past, and he would face a much easier road to the Super Bowl if he did not have to face New England.

The Patriots beat Denver once already this season and will certainly be looking forward to repeating this accomplishment with more on the line. Manning, however, would not be thrilled with another matchup against Brady.

  

New England Patriots

Nightmare Matchup: Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens would have represented the AFC in the Super Bowl last year in place of the Patriots if not for a missed Billy Cundiff field goal. Baltimore also beat New England 31-30 earlier this season. 

With revenge on their minds, the Ravens will be focused and physical in a potential matchup with the Patriots.

 

Baltimore Ravens 

Nightmare Matchup: Cincinnati Bengals 

Playing a team three times in one season is never ideal, and playing a team twice in two weeks is even less advantageous. The Ravens opened their schedule with a big win over the Bengals, and they will end the regular season with another matchup.

It is also possible that the teams will meet again in the Wild Card Round, and there would be little left to hide between these two squads. This makes for an unpredictable matchup, and the Ravens would much rather see someone else in their first playoff game.

 

Indianapolis Colts 

Nightmare Matchup: New England Patriots

While the Colts have had an inspiring run this season, they have struggled against elite teams. This was never more evident than during a 59-24 loss to the Patriots.

Indy will have a difficult time in the postseason as its roster still has glaring holes, and it will be in danger of another blowout loss if it ends up traveling to New England for their first game.

  

Cincinnati Bengals

Nightmare Matchup: New England Patriots

Again, no AFC team will want to face New England. With five trips to the Super Bowl under Bill Belichick, no team knows how to win postseason games better than the Patriots.

Even after making the playoffs last year, there is still plenty of youth and inexperience on the Cincinnati roster. With Brady under center for the Patriots, the unseasoned Bengals will not be able to get past the Patriots.