Wild Card Weekend 2012

Cincinnati Bengals (9-7) @ Houston Texans (10-6)

The Bengals and Texans limp into the playoffs (like the entire AFC wildcard field, truly) but for both franchises to be here is a smiling affair. Houston will continue to miss QB Matt Schaub, and rely on either 3rd-string undrafted rookie QB T.J Yates for the franchise playoff game #1. D-Co Wade Philips has that defense humming.

The atmosphere will be electric in favor of Houston and that could add a boost or two. If Schaub and WR Andre Johnson were at full health, we would be talking about the Texans with the Patriots and Ravens for the Super Bowl. For the Bengals, QB Andy Dalton and WR A.J Green are the real deal. They really are the final, flashy, pieces to a solid team. The headline billing will be 'building expierence' for both teams before one goes to lose to an AFC elite but this is "the dance", anything can happen. Still, both teams are riding losing streaks into the playoffs.

KEYS FOR CINN: We saw the Ravens RB Ray Rice run all over that Bengals run D. Stopping the potent Texans running game has to be concern #1. In this era of preparation and big lights during the regular season are we really worried about Dalton and Green being awe-struck? RB Cedric Bensen is a hard runner, he could provide a lift

KEYS FOR TEX: Houston fans are hoping for an undrafted 3rd string QB to be healthy enough to play. That sums up their late season woes. RB Arian Foster, RB Ben Tate will need to have one of those monster rushing days because WR Andre Johnson does not appear to be in game shape after missing most of the season and with these question marks at QB. All this mares a special day for Houston.

Detroit Lions (11-5) @ New Orleans Saints (10-6)

QB Matthew Stafford threw for 520 yards in Week 17 and had monster numbers throughout the year, QB Drew Brees set- no- Drew Brees obliterated the record for passing yards in a season (5,476 to '84 Marino's 5,084). Two high-flying dome teams face off in the Superdome. The fixings appear ripe for a shootout.

I guess someone should inform that there will be defenses playing as well. DT Ndamakong Suh leads a strong Detroit D-line that must get after Brees and LB Jonathon Vilma leads a Saints D that only two years ago was hailed as opportunistic ballhawks. But let us give into the hype at least a little bit, this is a matchup of two 5,000 yard passers.

KEYS FOR DET: WR Calvin Johnson is almost unguardable in the red zone and the emergence of WR Titus Young has helped that, there's explosiveness on offense. There is an elephant in the room; a backup (Packers QB Matt Flynn) just threw 6 TDs against the Lions secondary that now faces a red-hot, record-setting Brees. Stafford may need more than 520 yards.

KEYS FOR NO: Turnovers. Has there been a time when Drew Brees wasn't amazing? He's got two new, almost unstoppable, weapons in RB Darren Sproles and breakout TE Jimmy Graham but the Saints have set offensive records and lost before. In order to win consistently, the defense will need to keep Brees on the field.

Atlanta Falcons (10-6) @ New York Giants (9-7)

The extremely competitive NFC has these two teams at the #4 and #5 seed. I would consider both teams possible #1 or #2 seeds in the AFC. Both teams are hungry for some playoff success. Atlanta has yet to have a playoff victory in the QB Matt Ryan era; he is 0-2. New York avoided a third-straight late season collapse, and is riding high.

QB Eli Manning has an arsenal at his disposal with WR Victor Cruz taking over the last two games, and WR Hakeem Nicks quietly becoming one of the best receivers in the league. Both teams can fly high through the air but would prefer an early lead and the luxury of riding the backs of RB Michael Turner (for ATL) or RB Ahmad Bradshaw (for NYG).

KEYS FOR ATL:  He is a rookie, but WR Julio Jones was brought here to provide big plays in the post-season. At the very least, he will allow these better post-season defenses to not focus so much on WR Roddy White, who did have a down year by 2010's standards, but is still a top-tier threat. The passing attack will need to be in high gear to compete in these playoffs.

KEYS FOR NYG: With two dominant victories over hated rivals on national television (Jets, then Cowboys) the Giants have announced themselves as a legitimate threat. The pass rush, just like 2007, could carry them if they can crank it up a notch. It's all on DE Justin Tuck, DE Osi Uminuroa and their best pass rusher DE Jason Pierre-Paul

Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6) @ Denver Broncos (11-5)

Last year, many people said Seattle was one of the worst teams to ever make the playoffs. Seattle had an NFL quarterback though. Denver does not. "QB" Tim Tebow has been exposed, the puzzle solved, and riding a three game losing streak the Broncos have worried looks on their faces.

Tebow has never taken the time to refute the legions of pseudo-religious "God loves the Broncos" hype and by not doing so he has to realize he has encouraged it. I know he's got his 'aw shucks, gee golly' act going on but the implication that God cares about football and likes Tebow more because he's Christian and hates abortions has is grating on the NFL populace. Yet still, no Seattle man can ever root for Pittsburgh.

KEYS FOR PITT: With RB Rashard Mendenhall out, the media will wonder if RB Isaac Redman is ready. This game will be all about an early lead. The Steelers would be smart to get QB Ben Rothlisberger firing early and let their defense, still anchored by S Troy Polamalu by the way, take over.

KEYS FOR DEN: Their best hope is the running game, which has actually been great. They ran good against Kansas City but scored three points. Because it is 2012 and not 1958 the Broncos are looking at an uphill battle. The defense with rookie LB Von Miller and veteran CB Champ Bailey is formidable and may be up to the task of the formula, keep Tebow in striking distance for when he can pile up the garbage yards and wait for a crucial mistake by other team. Not a terrible formula, actually, but it would be a lot easier if he played four quarters.