NFL Playoff Schedule 2012-Game Times-Divisional Preview and Predictions

The 2012 NFL football playoff schedule has finally been set for the AFC and the NFC Conference Championship run. The Green Bay Packers will try to repeat as Super Bowl champions, but will have a challenge from the New Orleans Saints, who won the Super Bowl the year before, hope to reclaim the NFL Title.

NFL Divisional playoffs got off to a wild beginning with the San Francisco 49’ers beating the New Orleans Saints 36-32 Saturday afternoon. The game was led by the Forty-Niners defense for 3 quarters. The final four plus minutes had four lead changes as the offenses exploded.

The Forty-niners were led by Alex Smith and Vernon Davis as they advance to the NFC Championship game next weekend to face the winner of the New York Giants and Green Bay Packers game.

Tom Brady threw 5 touchdowns in the first half and 6 for the game to lead the Patriots to an easy 45-10 victory over Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos. The Patriots defense smothered Tebow throughout the game and the Broncos were unable to get any offense started or slow the Patriots offense.

The Green Bay Packers open their Super Bowl title defense against the New York Giants in another rematch game from the regular season. Aaron Rodgers led the Packers to a game winning field goal in the regular season, but the NY Giants have a healthy defense and running game to bring a tougher challenge to Lambeau Field.

The Houston Texans won the first playoff game in their first ever playoff appearance and now travel to face the Baltimore Ravens, a team they have never beaten.

The 2012 NFL Divisional Playoff round schedule is now set. The home teams all won their playoff game in the Wild Card round last weekend.

The Houston Texans won their first playoff game in their first playoff appearance and will now face the AFC #2 seed Baltimore Ravens.

The NFC Divisional games will showcase offenses versus defenses. The #1 seed Green Bay Packers will host the New York Giants whose defense features a pass rush that has taken over games at the end of the season.

The New England Patriots and San Francisco 49'ers advanced to the Conference Championship game with their victories on Saturday. The Patriots ran over the Denver Broncos 45-10 to crush Tebomania and return to the AFC Championship.

The San Francisco 49'er used a smothering defense for 3 quarters and exploded offensively in the last 4 minutes of the game to survive the New Orleans Saints (36-32) and advance to the NFC Championship game.

1. New England Patriots- Host the AFC Championship Game.
2. Baltimore Ravens- Host the Houston Texans in the AFC Divisional game.
3. Houston Texans- Travel to the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Divisional game.
4. Denver Broncos- Lost to the New England Patriots in the AFC Divisional game.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers- Lost to the Denver Broncos in the Wild Card game.
6. Cincinnati Bengals- Lost to the Houston Texans in the Wild Card game.

The NFL Playoff Schedule opens January 7th and 8th with the NFL Wild Card Round.

NFL Wild Card Round Schedule-Game Time

Saturday January 7th, 2012

Cincinnati Bengals @ Houston Texans 4:30 pm eastern time NBC

---Results: Cincinnati 10 Houston 31---

Detroit Lions @ New Orleans Saints 8:00 pm eastern time NBC

---Results: Detroit 28 New Orleans 45---

Sunday January 8th, 2012

Atlanta Falcons @ New York Giants 1:00 pm eastern time FOX

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Denver Broncos 4:30 pm eastern time CBS

Divisional Playoff Round Schedule-Game Time

Saturday January 14th, 2012

New Orleans Saints at San Francisco 49'ers 4:30 pm eastern time FOX

---Results: San Francisco 36 New Orleans 32---

Denver Broncos at New England Patriots 8:00 pm eastern time CBS

---Results: New England 45 Denver 10---

Sunday January 15th, 2012

Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens 1:00 pm eastern time CBS

New York Giants at Green Bay Packers 4:30 pm eastern time FOX

AFC and NFC Championship Game

Sunday January 22nd, 2012

Baltimore/Houston at New England Patriots 3:00 pm eastern time CBS

NY Giants/Green Bay vs San Francisco 49'ers 6:30 pm eastern time FOX

Super Bowl XLVI

Sunday February 5th, 2012 Lucas Oil Stadium Indianapolis, Indiana NBC 6:30 eastern time

AFC vs NFC

The Ravens and Texans rely on their defenses and running game to win games. These two teams are even statistically with their defenses. In the regular season match up, Ray Rice shredded the Texan defense as the Ravens beat the Texans 29-14. Matt Schaub was the Texan quarterback in that game, without wide-out Andre Johnson.

Rookie quarterback T.J.Yates will face the pass rush of the Baltimore Ravens, led by Ray Lewis as he now plays in his first road playoff game. The Texans must find a way to get the running game going with Arian Foster and Ben Tate to keep the pass rush from the Ravens from dominating the game.

Andre Johnson and Owen Daniels are the favorite targets for Yates and he will need to get these receivers involved in the game early to allow the running game to get started. Johnson is a big and strong receiver who is hard to stop when he gets downfield and could be the deciding factor in this game, especially for a young quarterback.

Wade Phillips has done an amazing job turning the Texans defense into a top 3 defense in the league. The defense will have it’s hands full slowing down Ray Rice.

The Baltimore Ravens will give the Texans a heavy dose of Ray Rice and pass rush from their defense. Ray Lewis and the defense will focus on shutting down the Texan running game first and forcing the Texans to rely on rookie quarterback T.J. Yates.

Quarterback Joe Flacco will have Aquan Boldin back to help the passing game. Torrey Smith can get down the field and make big plays against the secondary. Flacco will need to be patient and avoid mistakes and keep the offense balanced.

The Baltimore Ravens have gone undefeated this year at home. Experience will show in this game as the Texans are in their first road game in the playoffs and the Ravens have been here before.

Prediction: Baltimore 27 Houston 20

The Green Bay Packers (15-1) will open their defense of the NFC Championship and Super Bowl title against the surging New York Giants at Lambeau Field. The two teams met on December 4th with the Packers winning 38-35 on a game winning drive led by Aaron Rodgers.

The last time these two teams met in the NFL playoffs was in 2007 when the Giants upset the Packers, at Lambeau, on their way to the Super Bowl title. There are again similarities to that game, but Green Bay is a much stronger team than they were in 2007.

Eli Manning is playing his best ever as the New York Giants quarterback. He has a tandem of wide receivers in Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz and Mario Manningham that will give any secondary nightmares. Victor Cruz has emerged as a serious threat to go the distance on any pass he catches.

The Giants running game has finally become healthy at the right time. Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs need a huge game to keep the Packers offense on the sidelines as much as possible. The Giants have the advantage with their running backs.

The Giants defensive font four can dominate any game. The play of Jason Pierre-Paul and return of Osi Umenyiora gives the Giants one of the best pass rushing duos in the league. They will bring the rush against Rodgers and try to keep him in the pocket. The Giants secondary is the weak spot for the defense. The front four will need to pressure Rodgers to help their secondary from being exploited by the Packers receivers.

Aaron Rodgers threw for 45 TD’s with only 6 int. in the regular season and is the MVP favorite. Rodgers has his full arsenal of receivers healthy for this game. Greg Jennings returns and makes this offense even more dangerous. With Jordy Nelson, Greg Jennings, James Jones, Donald Driver, Jermichael Finley and the running backs who catch the ball well, the Giants will have trouble trying to slow down this passing attack.

The Packer’s defense will need to step up against the Giants and make plays if the Packers want to return to the NFC Championship game. The secondary had a league high 31 interceptions and will need one of their best games to keep up with the Giants wide receivers.

This game should be one of the most exciting in the playoffs. Both teams will move the ball and put points on the board. Look for a key defensive play near the end of the game to determine who wins and moves on to face the Forty-Niners in the NFC Championship Game next weekend.

Prediction: Green Bay 34 New York Giants 33

Offense versus Defense; this will be the key in this NFC Divisional playoff game when the New Orleans Saints face the San Francisco 49’ers. The 49’ers led the league in turnover differential and Drew Brees led a record breaking season for the Saints offense.

The 49’ers first year Head Coach Jim Harbaugh has turned this team around and returned San Francisco to the playoffs. Frank Gore and Alex Smith lead the offense, which rarely makes mistakes and must be able to make some plays to keep up with the Saints.

Receivers Crabtree, Heyward-Bay and Davis will have opportunities to make plays against the Saints defense. Frank Gore will be the leader on offense and will need a big day to keep the Saints pass rush from bringing the blitzes against Alex Smith. Gore could have a big game in the screen passes against this defense.

The 49’ers defense will rush Brees and try to force him to make mistakes. The Niners will look to shut down the run game and rush Brees on every throw.

Drew Brees has been unstoppable as of late and will hope to continue against the Niners #1 ranked NFC defense. The grass field in San Francisco could be key for Brees and his receivers. The Saints will want to jump on the Niners early and take away the Niners running game.

Pierre Thomas, Chris Ivory and Darren Sproles will need to make plays against this defense. Sproles could be the big factor in the pass screen game. Look for Brees to go to him often, especially when the Niners bring the pass rush.

The Saints have a talented group of receivers where any one can explode for big plays. The addition of tight end Jimmy Graham, make the Saints offense very dangerous against any defense.

The Saints defense will blitz when the Alex Smith go to pass. They must limit Gore in the running game and force Smith to have to throw the ball. The defense cannot allow the Niners offense to make long drives and limit the number of opportunities for Brees to put points on the board.

The Saints and 49’ers game will be a good match up. Offense against defense. Look for the 49’ers to keep the game close and for Drew Brees to make a game winning drive at the end to seal the Sainst return to the NFC Championship Game.

Prediction: New Orleans 27 San Francisco 23

Tebowmania continues another week as the Broncos will face the Tom Brady led New England Patriots in a rematch game from the regular season. The Broncos led early in the 2nd quarter, 16-7, before Tom Brady led his team to a 41-23 victory.

The key for the Broncos will be to keep Tom Brady off the field. Tebow must not make the mistakes he made in the previous game with turnovers. The running game with Willis McGahee and Tebow must be solid and move the ball methodically to run the clock and limit the Patriots offense opportunities.

Tim Tebow will need to make some big plays to keep the Patriots defense from stacking the line against the run. If the Broncos can rush Brady with their pass rush and keep the game close until the 4th quarter, then maybe the Tebow magic will have a chance.

The Patriots will look to score early and often to take the running game away from the Broncos. Forcing Tebow to have to throw the ball will give the defense a chance to force turnovers and rattle the Broncos.

Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez could have big days as Brady’s top targets while the Broncos will have to focus on Wes Welker.

The New England defense was the 2nd worst in the regular season, but came up big against the Broncos in December. The defense will need to slow down the option play of the Broncos running attack and keep Tebow in the pocket.

The experience of the Patriots and all of the offensive weapons at Brady’s disposal, at home, will be too much for the Broncos in the playoff atmosphere. Look for Brady to air it out early and often.

Prediction: New England 31 Denver 13