NFL Playoff Preview

After the dust settled yesterday in the NFL, all 12 playoff spots were filled.

The AFC looks like this

1. New England Patriots (13-3)*

2. Baltimore Ravens (12-4)*

3. Houston Texans (10-6)**

4. Denver Broncos (8-8)**

5. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)***

6. Cincinnati Bengals (9-7)***

*-indicates 1st round bye & Division winner

**-Division Winner

***-Wild Card Team

Here's what the NFC looks like

1. Green Bay Packers (15-1)*

2. San Francisco 49ers (13-3)*

3. New Orleans Saints (13-3)**

4. New York Giants (9-7)**

5. Atlanta Falcons (10-6)***

6. Detroit Lions (10-6)***

*-indicates 1st round bye & Division winner

**-Division Winner

***-Wild Card Team

The Wild Card round features all good games. I only wish the Jets would have made the playoffs so I could have had a little more interest but nonetheless I truly believe we have an intriguing final 12 this year. So now let's get started.

TEAMS WITH BYES

AFC

AFC EAST CHAMPIONS- 

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

AFC NORTH CHAMPIONS- 

BALTIMORE RAVENS

NFC

NFC NORTH CHAMPIONS- 

GREEN BAY PACKERS

NFC WEST CHAMPIONS- 

SAN FRANCSICO 49ERS

AFC

BENGALS @ TEXANS

We start off in the AFC with the Cincinnati Bengals visiting the AFC South Champion Houston Texans in the Texans first ever playoff game. For this matchup I expected the Texans to make the playoffs and I wasn't expecting an above .500 season from the Bengals. If Bengals Head Coach Marvin Lewis is reading this, I would like to apologize for what I yelled to you at your preseason game in East Rutherford back in August. I said "Hey Lewis get ready to find a new job, without Palmer you guys suck!" Sorry Coach, props to your team for proving me wrong. As far as this matchup goes I'm gonna say Texans by a Field Goal in OT. This matchup features 2 young teams that is sure to be exciting to watch. Kickoff is Saturday at 4:30 PM ET on NBC

STEELERS @ BRONCOS

As for the other AFC matchup this weekend, the Steelers go to Denver to face the AFC West winner Broncos. To be honest every NFL fan knew the Steelers would have a good year and didn't expect Baltimore to win the division. No one and I mean no one  (except Bronco fans) expected Denver to make the playoffs at the beginning of the season but 5 months & Tim Tebow later the Broncos have snuck in as the winners of the AFC West. This game could get very ugly, very quickly for Denver if the Broncos defense doesn't step up. BUT if the defense holds Pittsburgh within 10 into the 4th Quarter...could it be possible to see some Tebow Magic in Tebow Time in the Playoffs!? I don't have an accurate prediction for this game because it's hard to tell. We'll have to wait and see when these 2 teams take the field on Sunday at 4:30 PM ET on CBS

NFC

LIONS @ SAINTS

Over in the NFC, first we have the Detroit Lions going down to the Big Easy to face the NFC South winners, the New Orleans Saints. I knew the Lions would make the playoffs and thought the Falcons would win the South but New Orleans really stepped up this year. For Detroit this game will be anything but Easy they face a tough Saints squad led by a possible MVP Drew Brees. This game could be like the Pittsburg-Denver game because it comes down to defense. I will definately be excited to see this one. Kickoff is at 8 PM ET Saturday on NBC.

FALCONS @ GIANTS

I've saved local for last as the Atlanta Falcons come to the Meadowlands to face the team that won their final 2 games to get into the playoffs, the New York Giants. Let's face it, the Giants are on a roll. Christmas Eve, I witnessed the Giants overcome a bad 1st Quarter and destroy the Jets. Last night the Giants beat division rival Dallas to win the NFC East. The Giants are going to need another big game from Eli Manning and Victor Cruz to beat Matty Ice & the Falcons. I think that Big Blue will come out with another big W against Atlanta and head for either Green Bay or San Francisco. I see the Giants taking this one by one score. We'll see if I'm right Sunday at 1 PM ET on FOX.