2012 NFL Playoff Projections

AFC Wild Card Round:

It
won’t take new Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning long to make his mark
in The Rocky Mountains. Manning will match former Broncos quarterback
Tim Tebow’s effort from 2011 as he will get The Broncos to the second
round of the playoffs.

Pittsburgh Steelers (5) vs. Houston Texans (4)

This
game will be a battle of 3-4 schemes between two of the best defensive
coordinators in The NFL. Dick LeBeau’s Steelers defense is stingy, but
Wade Phillips’ unit is a little younger in Houston. The Steelers lack a
cornerback that will be able to check Texans All-Pro wide receiver Andre
Johnson which will be the difference in the game.

NFC Wild Card Round:

The
defending Super Bowl Champion New York Giants are up for the challenge
of another deep run into February. The Lions are an undisciplined group
that will be picked apart by New York Giants head coach “General” Tom
Coughlin’s crew as he is all about discipline.

Chicago Bears (5) vs. Atlanta Falcons (4)

The
drought will continue for Falcons head coach Mike Smith and quarterback
Matt Ryan as far as not winning a playoff game. Now that The Bears have
an offense led by quarterback Jay Cutler and wide receiver Brandon
Marshall, it ignites the defense led by Pro Bowl middle linebacker Brian
Urlacher to regain the form that allowed them to reach Super Bowl 41 in
2006.

AFC Divisional Round:

Houston vs. New England Patriots (1)
                                       
The
Texans are on the cusp of becoming the next dominant team in The AFC,
but in the meantime Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback
Tom Brady are not ready to relinquish the crown.

Denver vs. Baltimore Ravens (2)

The
Broncos will reach the second round of the playoffs, but it is the same
old song for Peyton Manning as he and The Broncos take it on the chin
against a somewhat healthy Ravens defense.

NFC Divisional Round:

Chicago vs. San Francisco 49ers (1)
                                       
The
49ers rode a stingy defense to The NFC Championship Game in 2011, but
they will run into a buzz saw this year. Bears defensive end Julius
Peppers will introduce himself frequently in this game to 49ers
quarterback Alex Smith. The special teams will be the difference in this
one as Bears kick returner Devin Hester will dictate field position
while Bears kicker Robbie Gould will outduel 49ers kicker David Akers
denying 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh a victory over the team that
drafted him as a quarterback.

New York vs. Green Bay Packers (2)

It
is a new year, but Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is still running
for his life against The Giants defense. Very quietly, this is becoming a
fierce rivalry once again in the same form as it was in the 1950s and
early 1960s when such names as Vince Lombardi, Bart Starr, Jim Taylor,
Frank Gifford, Andy Robustelli, and Sam Huff led their teams into battle
for The NFL Championship.

AFC Championship Game: Baltimore vs. New England

It’s
a rematch of last year’s AFC Championship Game, but this time The
Ravens get their revenge as they do what it takes down the stretch to
silence the crowd in Foxboro.        

Giants
fans didn’t anticipate this when the playoffs started, but their
beloved Giants are hosting The NFC Championship Game. The two previous
NFC Championships Games at The Meadowlands were shutouts by Big Blue.
This one won’t be a shutout, but it will get The Giants to New Orleans.

Super Bowl 47: Baltimore vs. New York

Ravens
linebacker Ray Lewis gets back to The Super Bowl for first time since
2000 when Baltimore won the title. CBS will be televising the game just
like they did in 2000, but The Giants have quarterback Eli Manning this
time around as he is out to solidify his legacy and you do that by
winning back-to-back Super Bowl Championships.