NFL Playoffs Preview

Houston Texans WR Andre Johnson

New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees

New York Giants QB Eli Manning

Denver Broncos QB Tim Tebow

Cincinnati vs. Houston

This is one of the most unpredictable games in recent memory for the NFL playoffs. The Bengals are coming into this game with a rookie quarterback and a rookie wide receiver, which seems almost impossible. Before the regular season started, some people had this team as the worst team in the league. Many had them finishing last in the division, below the Browns, Ravens and Steelers. It is clear to say the Bengals were the surprise of the NFL, and if it wasn't for Jim Harbaugh's great coaching job with the 49ers this year, Marvin Lewis is probably a front-runner to win the Coach of the Year.

The Texans are also coming into this game with a rookie quarterback, but with experienced receivers in Jacoby Jones and All-Pro Andre Johnson. The Texans are also playing well defensively under new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. However, the Texans have lost their last three games, including to the Colts who only had one win at that point. T.J. Yates injured his shoulder in the final game against the Titans, and he'll most likely have to play nursing that shoulder injury.

The Bengals are probably happy to get the Texans, since they're one of the teams struggling heading into the playoffs. However, this may be a blessing for the Texans as well, since the Bengals aren't that dangerous of a team to begin with. Yates loves to go with play-action roll outs, and the Texans should continue to utilize that since it's such a safe play. This isn't a good way for either team to be going into the playoffs, but the Texans are the home team, so they get the edge.

Cincinnati 20 Houston 23

Detroit vs. New Orleans

These two teams played in the Mercedes Benz Superdome back on December 4, and Drew Brees threw for 342 yards and three touchdowns in the 31-17 victory. The week before, the Saints completely dominated the Giants and the Saints ended the regular season a perfect 8-0 at the Superdome. While the Lions have had a very good season, this Lions season almost reminds me of the 2010 season the Buccaneers had.

The Buccaneers finished 10-6 last year as well, and didn't make the playoffs along with the 10-6 Giants because the Packers overtook both of them for the final playoff spot. With that 10-6 season, there were high expectations coming into this season for the Buccaneers, and with a harder schedule, they failed. The Lions benefited from an easy schedule en route to a 5-0 start, but then proceeded to lose six of their last 11 games, mostly to good teams.

While the Lions story may be heartwarming, I believe the Saints will be even better than the first matchup a month earlier. Simply put, the Saints cannot be stopped when playing on their home turf.

Detroit 10 New Orleans 38

Atlanta vs. New York Giants

This is an interesting matchup of teams who play a similar style of offense. While the Falcons have thrown the ball with Matt Ryan more this year than ever before, they still like to rely on their run game to keep the offense moving. The Giants have been that way throughout Eli Manning's tenure as quarterback, but it hasn't quite worked out the way they wanted it to work out this year. The Giants were dead last in rushing yards as a team this year, which meant Eli Manning had to carry a heavier load.

Boy did Manning do a great job of doing so. Manning almost threw for 5,000 yards, and has led the Giants to multiple comeback victories through the air. Manning also set an NFL record with 15 4th quarter touchdowns this season, eclipsing his brother Peyton. The Giants are riding high heading into the playoffs with victories over their city rivals and their division rivals in consecutive weeks to win the division. The Falcons easily dispatched the Buccaneers the final game of the season, but was easily dispatched a week before in New Orleans.

The Giants should be thrilled to get the Falcons at home instead of getting the Lions. While the Falcons have been explosive, the Falcons haven't been anything special. The Falcons play indoors, and Matt Ryan's two playoff games have been indoors. Now he gets the windy Meadowlands, which Eli Manning continues to struggle with himself. Familiarity with the wintry conditions will favor the Giants.

Atlanta 17 New York Giants 30

Pittsburgh vs. Denver

This game looks so easy to predict, but not so fast. The Broncos are probably the worst team in the playoffs, backing their way into the playoffs with some bad losses. The Steelers are the defending AFC champion, but aren't necessarily heading into the playoffs on a good note either. It was just revealed that Rashard Mendenhall tore his ACL in the final game against the Browns, eliminating him from the playoffs. Ben Roethlisberger also had a gruesome-looking ankle injury a month earlier against the Browns, and he has not quite bounced back from that yet.

For the Broncos to do anything offensively, they have to figure out a way to get the receivers open. Tim Tebow isn't your average quarterback. Simply put, he will not throw the ball to a receiver unless he is wide open. Tebow's accuracy is probably the worst in the league, so any throw into traffic is in danger of being picked off. Teams are starting to play the read-option schemes much better now, so Tebow will have to throw like he's never done before in order to win the game.

The Steelers will most likely not have Ryan Clark play, as his sickle cell trait almost cost him his life years ago in the high altitude in Denver. In the last two games in Denver, Clark did not play. While Clark is an important part of the defense, he isn't the most important. The defensive line and the linebackers will get after Tebow, and any throws Tebow makes will be in danger of being intercepted by Troy Polamalu or Ike Taylor.

Pittsburgh 17 Denver 10