Saturday
New Orleans Saints (14-3) at San Francisco 49ers (13-3) @ 4:30PM ET on FOX
Out of all the playoff matchups this weekend, the Saints/49ers game may give us the best chance to see an upset.
First year NFL coach Jim Harbaugh has his team playing outstanding football and quarterback Alex Smith has seen a career renaissance of sorts under Harbaugh’s system. Plus the 49ers are playing at home and we all know what happened last year in the playoffs when the Saints played on the road.
However what may be some of the 49ers’ strengths could come back to haunt them.
Despite Harbaugh having a great first season this is his first career NFL playoff came and it comes against a very experienced New Orleans Saints team that is arguably the best team in the NFL. Not to mention Alex Smith’s season has been somewhat fraudulent and he will be opposing a very established NFL QB in Drew Brees.
In the end the Saints win 24-17
Denver Broncos (9-8) at New England Patriots (13-3) @ 8PM ET on CBS
This may be the most anticipated first half of football we’ve seen all season.
Why?
Because once the second half starts New England will be well on their way to the AFC Championship game and Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos will come crashing back down to reality.
We’ve seen this matchup before and we’ve seen what happens when Tebow is matched up against a good quarterback.
Patriots win 30-13
Sunday
Houston Texans (11-6) at Baltimore Ravens (12-4) @ 1PM ET on CBS
Hypothetically lets say Houston wins this game, does that automatically mean we have a quarterback controversy next season. T.J. Yates in his first season has already done something that veteran QB Matt Schaub hasn’t done and that’s win a playoff game. Not to mention Schaub has shown that he is more injury prone than capable of winning a big game.
Still Houston is heading into Baltimore to take on a very experienced and seasoned Ravens team that still has a nice offense and very good defense.
Ravens win 28-17
New York Giants (10-7) at Green Bay Packers (15-1) @ 4:30PM ET on FOX
I know a lot of people have this game marked as a potential upset, however I’m just not seeing it. Yes Eli Manning and the New York Giants are peaking at just the right time but the last time I checked the Giants still have a very questionable secondary and the Packers still have Aaron Rodgers.
If the Giants want to win this game they’re going have to use their strong pass rush to get plenty of pressure on Rodgers.
In the end though the Packers are making their way to the NFC Championship Game against the New Orleans Saints.
Packers win 28-21
Ref: Getty (image)