AFC

Cincinnati (9-7) at Houston (10-6)

Is this matchup one of the worst playoff games ever? Apologies to the Bengals and Texans but we are talking about two teams that limped into the playoffs, both with rookie quarterbacks against two of the best defenses in the NFL. It is not Houston’s fault. The team has had the worst injury troubles of any team this season, losing its top two QBs, its best defensive player, and its best offensive player for significant parts of the season. Despite this, Houston has reached the playoffs for the first time in its history. The Bengals are a different story. Riding a wave of talented rookies, the team overachieved at the beginning of the season, starting 6-2 before crashing back to Earth with a 3-5 finish. Can the Bengals finally beat a decent team after losing to every team above .500? They certainly have a chance if Carlos Dunlap and Geno Atkins can get to T.J. Yates consistently. Don’t count it. The Texans will dominate the battle of the trenches, force Andy Dalton into mistakes, and loosen up the play calling just enough to keep the Bengals honest. The team that would be the AFC favorite if healthy lives on for another day. Texans 15, Bengals 14

Pittsburgh (12-4) at Denver (8-8)

If Bengals-Texans is the most uninspired game of Wild Card Weekend, this one could be the most lopsided. The dream of the fighting Tebows has recently become a nightmare, ending the year with three straight losses. Denver’s offensive struggles have worsened, predominately due to Tebow’s regression as a passer. Expect the Steelers to test Tebow’s arm and mind with tight man-to-man coverage combined with multiple zone-blitz looks to keep the Broncos guessing. It will be up to the Denver defense to keep it in the game. The Broncos might have a chance to do so with an immobile Big Ben as their target as well as a weakened Steelers rushing attack. Fortunately for Pittsburgh, it will take only a few points to win. With a banged-up secondary, the Broncos will be susceptible to the big-play ability of Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown. That will be enough. Steelers 17, Broncos 10

NFC

Detroit (10-6) at New Orleans (13-3)

Oh how the times have changed. It was not long ago that both the Saints and Lions were two of the worst franchises in the NFL. What a change a quarterback and coaching staff can make. Each offense has been locked and loaded all season, with dual 5,000 yard passers. Drew Brees has been otherworldly, as has Megatron. The Lions, though, have to head to the SuperDome, which the Saints have transformed into a modern day fortress. An undefeated regular season at home with an explosive 42 points per game challenges Detroit. The Lions got a taste of the Big Easy earlier in the season, losing 31-17. They hope to slow down the Saints with Big Suh and Louis Detmas, but this will be no defensive battle. The offenses will determine the outcome, and none has been better then the Saints of late. Excellent receivers combined with Jimmy Graham and Darren Sproles make this team nearly impossible to stop, especially at home while teams have been getting better at containing Megatron. It will be a true gunslingers delight and a ball to watch. Saints 38, Lions 33

Atlanta (10-6) at New York Giants (9-7)

Sometimes you have to save the best for last. The most even match-up of the wild-card round will end up being the most exciting. The Giants have been a Jekyll-and-Hyde show, with a surprising lack of emotion and execution coming out of nowhere at times. When the G-men come out to play, though, they are fierce. Eli Manning has had his best season, nearly 5,000 yards passing with a record 15 fourth-quarter touchdowns. New York’s defensive line has given quarterbacks nightmares. Pierre-Paul, Tuck, and Umenyiora have the Giants 3rd in the league in sacks. They do look reminiscent of the ’07 champs. But teams have still been able to throw on New York. Expect Matty Ice to try to get the ball into the hand of Julio Jones and Roddy White. The problem is that you can’t expect them to catch it. The team that is able to make the big plays will have the advantage. Dancer instructor Victor Cruz will be teaching multiple lessons on Sunday, and the 2011 Giants start to look more like the 2007 version. Giants 27, Falcons 24

Last Week: 2-3

Season: 50-3