2012 NFL playoff thread

[Sylvanfan]

Let's get a separate thread going here for the playoffs, as the few playoff predictions in the other thread are tough to find with all the front office/coaching moves.

Saturday starts with the Texans first ever playoff game at home against the Bengals. Both teams will be using rookie QB's. Andy Daulton is superior to T.J. Yates, but it won't count for squat. Arian Foster will still be able to run behind that Offensive line, and the Texans at home will be able to keep the Bengals below 20 points. Texans win 21-13

Detroit makes their first playoff appearance since 1999 visiting the Saints. Unfortunately for them, the Saints might be the best home team in the NFL. It will be entertaining as both QB's can move their teams down the field in a hurry. But the Saints are scoring 40+ a game in domes...Saints 42-29.

Moving onto Sunday we get two more pretty good offensive teams going at it with the Giants and Falcons at the Met. The Falcons are mediocre on the road, but the Giants were only 5-4 in their home stadium, and one of those was a road win. Giants do seem to be able to win once they get in the playoffs and the Falcons under Mike Smith haven't. I'll take the Giants 27-21.

Finally the Epic battle between the Denver Teebows erm..Bronco's and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Denver struggles into the playoffs having lost their last three games. Pittsburgh themselves have a QB on a gimpy ankle, plus will be without one of their starting safety's and their top running back. I don't think either team will be able to do anything offensively. Pittsburgh is tough against the run and will force Denver to try and move the ball thru the air. Pittsburgh is also going to have to try and move the ball in the air and the Bronco's can be tough to throw on. I think the Steelers win 17-10 with both teams getting a defensive T.D.

[PeteLFan]

Texans over Bengals 17-10

New Orleans will steam roll Detroit 42-14

Falcons over Giants 27-24

Steelers beat the Broncos 6-3 in Overtime.

[Sainters7]

Wow, was going to take the Bengals but just took a look at their sked to study how they finished the season...they didn't beat anyone worth mentioning all year. Benefactors of an easy sked (0-7 against playoff teams, 9-0 against non-playoff teams). With that in mind:

Texans over Bengals
Saints over Lions
Falcons over Giants
Steelers over Broncos

[Cheese]

always at least one upset...who will it be?

Bengals over Texans (upset of the week)
Saints over Lions
Falcons over Giants
Steelers over Broncos

[Machiavelli]

If I had to pick one upset, it would be the Falcons.

[Otsy]

Texans over Bengals. Too many offensive weapons and Jonathon Joseph to shut down AJ Green. 21-10

Saints over Detroit 45-38. Taking Detroit to cover the -10.5 spread in a shootout at the dome. I realize Saints D has played better since their bye week, but Staff/Megatron playing great and a healthy Kevin Smith (well, to start the game anyway) will show up to play.

Giants over Falcons 31-14. Falcons stink on the road. Giants may not have done great at home, but I think their defense will be all over Ryan not letting him set up long enough to hit Julio for the long strikes. On the flip side, as long as Giants don't let Abrahm get to Eli, then he'll hit Cruz, Nicks and Manningham all day.

DENVER over Steelers 10-7. Steelers are not that great. Big Ben the raper is nowhere near 100% and Mendenhall is out. Somehow Tebow will figure this out in the end. He was just awful against KC, but KC defense a little better then given credit for. Managed to confuse Aaron Rodgers somehow too..... I don't think I'd wager too much on Denver to win, but I very confident in them covering the ridiculous high spread of -8.5.

[The Big Chill]

Go texans! Getting Andre Johnson back should help out Yates, but we will still need a huge game from the D. Can't wait!

[brocoli]

I'm going with the Texans over Bengals. 19-13

I don't think taht Detroit will cover as the Saints are just too hot right now. I'm going with 42- 21

Giants will win. The Falcons have been good, but I've learned to be cautious of betting against a Manning. 24-21 in the closest game.

Tebow time is over. Big Ben crushes the tired and over worked Bronco's D. 35-7

[troutman]

Hou -3.0
no -10.5
nyg -3.0
pit -8.5

[Montana Moe]

Texans 24-17
I don't think Cincy is quite ready for prime time. As stated before, they haven't beaten anybody good.

Saints 37-24
Lions get some pressure on Brees, leading to a couple turnovers. Saints D returns the favor on Stafford, who tries to do too much. The combination of the Saints better than advertised running game, and an absolutely rocking Saturday night Superdome will be the difference.

Giants 27-17
Atlanta's offense is not the same on the road. The Giants are really getting after the QB in the past couple of weeks. Plus, I'd take Manning over Ryan in pretty much every situation.

Steelers 24-13
Denver won't be able to do much offensively. A rushing TD, and probably a couple of field goals from the tribal warrior, perhaps. If they try to press to get back into the game, Tebow throws 4 INT.

[Spuds_Buckley]

Bengals over the Texans 24-13. Bengals D is solid and the Texans season was over when Schaub got hurt.

Steelers over the Broncos 20-13. I'll be praying for Tebow time but the Steelers D will get pressure on the QB and they can stop the run.

Giants over the Falcons 33-21. Giants are hot and have too many weapons on both sides of the ball.

Saints over the Lions 38-28. Defence will be non-existant in this game. Both QB's pass for 300+ yards.

[Bobblehead]

Bengals/Texans - the Texans D scares me - it absolutely collapsed when Phillips was gone. But the Texans won in Cincinnati in wk 14 and with home field advantage they will do so again. 24-20 Texans.

Lions/Saints - A massive shoot out. The home crowd will make the difference and the Lions will be just happy to get in. 42-33 Saints

Falcons/Giants - I don't like either of these teams, but in that case take the home team and don't bet against a Eli (he may not be great but he seems to be money in pressure situations). 23 - 17 Giants.

Steelers/Broncos - Tebow time is over. Steelers may have trouble putting up points but they won't have any trouble keeping the Broncos off the board. 23-13 Steelers.

[transplant99]

There always seems to be an upset in week 1 of the playoffs...so that being said...

Bengals beat the Texans who have not played well down the stretch...close one 23-21

Lions 38 Brees 34....Not sure that NO can cover Johnson enough to win with the way those two have gelled lately...just a gut feeling here and in no way would i be surprised if NO blows them out.

Giants 40 Falcons 28...ATL wonders what went wrong once again.

Steelers 27 Broncos 15...5 field goals arent enough for Tebow and crew. Actually i have no idea what to expect in this game...Pitt is beat up and Denver are schizophrenic.

[troutman]

If TEX and PIT win, NE actually gets the tougher opponent.

[The Big Chill]

Originally Posted by troutman

If TEX and PIT win, NE actually gets the tougher opponent.

I just read something interesting on another site and I don't know if it has been posted here, but NE did not beat a single team over .500 this year. Its amazing in both that they only played 2 teams that ended up with at least 9 wins, and also that they lost to both!

Texans over Bengals: Phillips is back with the team, Foster has been rested and Yates will do just enough to get the win. Joseph vs Green is the key match-up in this game. Texans 16 - Bengals 13

Saints over Lions: Saints just too much to handle. Saints 34 - Lions 24

Falcons over Giants: Upset! Both teams have been pretty hit and miss and times this year. Falcons 24 - Giants 21

Steelers over Broncos: Entertaining but never in doubt. Steelers 17 - Broncos 6

[Jbo]

Hoping for a Broncos win, but I don't think it will happen.

[Stay Golden]

Texans 23 Bengals 21

Saints 42 Det 28

Giants 24 Falcons 21

Steelers 24 Broncos 13

[Flabbibulin]

Originally Posted by troutman

If TEX and PIT win, NE actually gets the tougher opponent.

I actually like the Pats chances against the Steelers, but am still cheering for a Bengals or Broncos win this weekend. At the very least, hopefully the Broncos pass rush takes its toll on Big Ben.

I would like to think the Pats have exercised their playoff demons of the last 2 years and can at least make it to the AFC championship game. If not, I would expect some big changes in the offseason.

You would think the most likely upset this week is the Bengals over the Texans, but even then Im skeptical. I think the Giants-Falcons could go either way, but would give the edge to the Falcons.

[Sylvanfan]

Whoever avoids Pittsburgh in the second round gets the easy road to the AFC Championship game in my opinion. The Broncos, Bengals, or Texans sans Schaub will get beaten handily by either the Patriots or the Ravens.

[Flickered Flame]

Texans over Bengals
Steelers over Broncos

Saints over Lions
Giants over Falcons

For some reason, I think the Giants could actually give the Packers a challenge next week.