NFL Playoff Predictions: Teams That Will Sputter on Wild Card Weekend

There's a secret about NFL Wild Card weekend that not a lot of people talk about, and that's the fact that some teams just sputter out once they get there.

The grind to get to the playoffs is tough enough, and most teams have to really battle and work their way through some major adversity to even get in.

The fact is, the playoffs are just a second season, and even the teams lucky enough to get a first-round bye will have to continue grinding it out if they want to make it to and win the Super Bowl.

Here's two teams that I predict will sputter out during Wild Card Weekend:

Detroit Lions

At 9-5 the Lions are very much so in the driver's seat for the last spot in the NFC playoffs.

They've scratched and clawed their way to this spot, and yes they've gotten lucky, but more than once they've had to overcome some pretty big deficits to get wins.

I have a feeling they will be emotionally worn down by the time they get to the playoffs though.

It's a completely different ballgame when the pressure is turned up, and the Lions have been notorious for their mental lapses.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford is making a name for himself, but he is still far too inconsistent of a passer with 14 interceptions on the season. There are times when he throws a beautiful pass that's right on the money, and others when he's completely off the mark.

That doesn't fly in the playoffs, especially with an inconsistent running game behind him.

Right now they are slated to play the San Francisco 49ers, which can change mind you, but they have one of the league's strongest defenses.

They also rush for 126.9 points per game, and the Lions' biggest weakness is giving up yards on the ground, with an average of 136.1 rushing yards per game against.

They say you have to learn how to win in the NFL, and the Lions have done that. They also say you have to learn how to win in the playoffs, something these Lions know nothing about.

This is just the next step in their progression. There's no shame in getting there and not being able to hang your first time around.

Houston Texans

All the credit in the world has to be given to the Houston Texans for achieving their first ever playoff berth with all the injuries to key players they've dealt with.

That being said, I think they are going to have a very quick go of things.

Bless T.J. Yates' heart for filling in to replace both Matt Schaub and Matt Leinart, but I don't see him being able to take that next step in the playoffs.

It's just hard to trust a rookie quarterback in this situation, especially one that just had a two interception and no touchdown performance against the Carolina Panthers.

The Texans could hang their hat on running back Arian Foster and hope that wide receiver Andre Johnson is healthy by then, but right now they're slated to face the Jets, who only give up 109.2 yards per game on the ground and 200.8 passing yards.

The long and short of it is that the Texans are too one dimensional with Yates at quarterback, and in the playoffs that is a killer.

All a defense has to do is shut down the running game and double cover Andre Johnson if he's even healthy, and that's all she wrote for the Texans.