NFL Playoff Predictions 2011: Breaking Down Every Game This Weekend

Divisional playoff time in the NFL this weekend, and it will provide fans with some pretty solid match-ups. There is just something about this year's NFL Playoffs ("Playoffs?") that makes it special.

Maybe it's the fact that there won't be an NFL season next year, or maybe it's the fact that no matter what, we get to watch the Patriots face the Steelers or Ravens in the AFC Championship next weekend. (Yes, I just gave away my pick for the Patriots-Jets game).

Alright folks, I'll show you my predictions for this weekend's games. Feel free to tell me your thoughts underneath.

AFC Divisional Playoff: Ravens at Steelers

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CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 02: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers smiles after their game against the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium on January 2, 2011 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)

This will be the best game of the weekend, because these are two division rivals who have traded wins this year in the regular season, with both games being decided by three points.

Ray Rice will be shut down by the Steelers defense. They have allowed only 62 yards per game on the ground this season, which is second in NFL history. So they are going to make Joe Flacco beat them with his arm, and I don't know if he can do it.

The Ravens defense is loaded with veteran talent, but has some weaknesses at the corner position. Big Ben is good enough to go after those corners, and Mike Wallace and Hines Ward are good enough to get open.

Although Rashard Mendenhall has been fairly quiet in the Steelers' two games against the Ravens this year (44 carries, 124 yards, two touchdowns), he is a very legitimate threat in the backfield, and will keep the Baltimore defense honest.

I think the Steelers take this one 21-17 and move on the to AFC Championship.

Ravens v. Steelers = Flat Out Violence

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BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 05: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers walks off the field after defeating the Baltimore Ravens 13-10 at M&T Bank Stadium on December 5, 2010 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images)

If the league wants to protect the players—so they can milk them for two more games and make the owners even more rich while putting the players they care so much about at greater risk—then they should make these two teams stop playing each other.

The amount of hard hits in these games is no doubt dangerous, but extremely entertaining. Just watch these and see for yourself. And look at what Haloti Ngata did to Ben Roethlisberger's nose. If that was Tom Brady, Roger Goodell would've had Ngata executed.

Check out these memorable Steelers-Ravens hits. Ryan Clark on Willis McGahee, Hines Ward on Ed Reed, Ngata on Big Ben.

NFC Divisional: Green Bay at Atlanta

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ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 27: Michael Turner #33 of the Atlanta Falcons rushes upfield during the first half of the game against the New Orleans Saints at the Georgia Dome on December 27, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

This game is going to be interesting at least. Great players on both teams, and the Falcons have been great all year really, while the Packers are peaking at just the right time. They really seem to be coming together with every game.

The Falcons have a high powered offense with Matt Ryan, Roddy White, Tony Gonzalez and Michael Turner, who I think will be the x-factor.

Give the ball to Turner and let him wear that Green Bay defense down. You don't want to drop Ryan back too much, especially with Clay Matthews rushing of the outside.

Green Bay has Pro Bowl Caliber nose tackle in B.J. Raji. He is extremely disruptive inside, but the Falcons should be able to showcase their balance this week and roll at home.

I'm taking Atlanta, 31-24.

Matt Ryan v. Aaron Rodgers

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ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 02: Quarterback Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons waits for a play call against the Carolina Panthers at Georgia Dome on January 2, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

This game is going to feature two of the league's most impressive quarterbacks, who might not have even hit their prime yet, and are in the playoffs. No matter who wins this week, enjoy the Pro Bowl caliber performances behind center.

Bot work well under pressure, and have prototypical size, arm strength and intelligence with strong supporting casts. But Rodgers is lacking a true running back with Ryan Grant out.

Win will go to Ryan I believe. But it will be fun to watch these two.

Falcons Do Not Lose at Home in the Dome

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ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 02: Fans of the Atlanta Falcons hold up a sign during the game against the Carolina Panthers at Georgia Dome on January 2, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The Falcons are 20-4 at home over the past three seasons. That's good.

Those 70,000 people start to sound like 700,000 when the game gets going, and they are smart.

This year, their one loss came to the Saints in a game many believe the Falcons were holding back, simply because they had nothing gain from pulling out the whole playbook. They were planning on seeing the Saints in the playoffs, then Seattle happened.

The decibel rating hit a season high 110.3 that game, and I expect the roof to fly off on Saturday.

NFC Divisional: Seahawks at Bears

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SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 08: Head coach Pete Carroll of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates the Seahawks 41-36 victory against the New Orleans Saints during the 2011 NFC wild-card playoff game at Qwest Field on January 8, 2011 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by

Didn't think I'd be analyzing this match-up a few days ago. Once again, things line up for the Chicago Bears to under-perform, yet still win a football game. The Bears' up-and-down offense is going to play a Seahawks team, who is coming in fired up after a win over the defending champion Saints.

Many said the Seahawks didn't belong in the playoffs with their 7-9 regular season record. But they dismissed that theory with an impressive home win. They will need some great play from their defensive front and linebackers to get to Jay Cutler quick. If you get him throwing off his back foot, he will make bad throws that will lead to interceptions.

But on the other side, the Bears defense is good, very good. Julius Peppers is the best defensive end in the league and can shut down his side, and get to the quarterback at will. Marshawn Lynch will need to step up big again and punch some Bears in the face this week. They will also need Matt Hasselbeck to play uncharacteristically well again.

I'm taking Marshawn Lynch and the Seahawks.

Seattle over Chicago 17-13

Momentum Favors Seahawks

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SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 08: Running back Marshawn Lynch #24 of the Seattle Seahawks runs for a 67-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Saints during the 2011 NFC wild-card playoff game at Qwest Field on January 8, 2011 in Seattl

The momentum is definitely in favor of Seattle heading into this game. The Bears are coming in after a week off, and before that they lost to the Packers in Green Bay.

The Bears might be a little rusty to start, understandably. but the Seahawks were down last week to a good, not great, New Orleans team at home.

Marshawn Lynch is going to put it in beast mode and roll through the Windy City.

AFC Divisional: Jets at Patriots

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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 12: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots looks for a receiver against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 12, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Patriots defeated the Bears 36-7. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Patriots might as well just say how much they want to win by now. These divisional rivals played twice this season, and traded wins. The Jets surprised some people in the first game, pulling out a 28-14 win at home. But the Patriots, in standard Bill Belichick fashion, made a statement out of their next meeting, demolishing the Jets 45-3 in New England.

This weekend's game is in New England, and should be the same kind of results. It's going to be cold, gross, New England weather. The kind of stuff Tom Brady and the boys seem to love, and they are going to make it 45-3 Part II in my opinion.

It is going to simply come down to the fact that Tom Brady will perform surgery, even on that great Jets' defense. They will run crossing routes all day and have the Jets so twisted up, it will get embarrassing for Rex Ryan.

Belichick is going to want to roll big in this game. He and Brady will them ready to go.

New England roll through the Jets, 38-13

Tom, Freakin, Brady

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NEW YORK - MAY 04: NFL player Tom Brady and model Gisele Bundchen attends 'The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion' Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

Tom Brady flat-out wins.

He was cut from the same cloth as Bill Belichick and they both want to destroy everyone in the NFL, because they can. That's how Brady thinks and plays. He is celebrating his touchdown that put the Patriots up 28 points the same way he celebrated the first score of the game.

And if he loses? Oh wait, that doesn't really happen. He'll roll on Sunday, and he'll love every minute of it.

Then he'll go home to his super model wife.

God, I hate that man.

Jets Defense Better Fuel Up

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JANUARY 08: Head coach Rex Ryan of the New York Jets looks on during warm ups against the Indianapolis Colts during their 2011 AFC wild card playoff game at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 8, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy

The intimidating Jets' defense gave up 45 points last time these two teams played. Pretty good defenses don't give up 45 points. Not even OK defenses give up 45 points. Rex Ryan's team is a team that prides themselves on their ability to defend.

This is just a testament to how out-coached and out-played the "J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets" got in New England last time the two teams met.

They better be ready for it again, because the Pats are in playoff mode.