NFL Playoffs Schedule Is Set: Saints-49ers, Broncos-Patriots, Texans-Ravens And Giants-Packers

by Joel Thorman on Jan 9, 2012 8:02 AM CST

Chris dropped the updated 2012 NFL playoffs schedule in here last night but I wanted to follow up with a few of my thoughts on the AFC and NFC Divisional round games. We had three of the four teams on Wild Card weekend win in a blowout and the points spreads for the Divisional round are similar with three of the four games having a line of eight or more points.

A few early thoughts and early predictions on next weekend's games:

New Orleans Saints at San Francisco 49ers: Love this game. I imagine most are saying the Saints should take care of business -- they're early 3.5 point favorites on the road -- but the 49ers have the formula to stick with these guys. They can rush the passer well, which should disrupt Drew Brees, and they have a solid secondary. They can also run the ball well on offense, which means they can control the time of possession. I'm not picking the 49ers to win this game -- in the end, I'm sticking with the Saints -- but I do think this is a very close game.

Denver Broncos vs. New England Patriots: Geez, how many story lines can one game have? Tim Tebow was awesome on Sunday night beating the Pittsburgh Steelers but he'll have to do it again against a team with a significantly better offense. The Broncos lost by 18 points to the Patriots earlier this season and I wouldn't be surprise to see a similar score this time around. The Patriots should win by double digits.

Houston Texans vs. Baltimore Ravens: I still have trouble remembering that this Texans team is very good on defense, like top-5-in-the-league good. So this could be a defensive battle. In these hard-to-predict games, I always look to the quarterback for the tiebreaker so my early prediction is the Ravens.

New York Giants vs. Green Bay Packers: I'm going all in with this prediction and taking the Giants. I think they have the pieces in place for an upset and I think they'll go to Green Bay and beat the Packers. I wouldn't be that surprised to see Green Bay win in a blowout but my bold pick of the week is the Giants over the Packers.

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Saints, Pats, Ravens, Giants.

Pats vs. Saints, Saints bring it home.

"Why are all these people here? There are too many people on this earth. We need a new plague…"
-Dwight Schrute

by severn58 on Jan 9, 2012 8:05 AM CST reply actions

I have never seen,...

So many people people who wanna suck on TeBag’s jock strap! I’m sick of ESPN giving this dude 30 min coverage! I can’t wait till NE bends him over next week!

by HOF4DT58 on Jan 9, 2012 8:10 AM CST reply actions

Agree with you on most days

But this morning Tebow is the story of the playoffs. Three other games were blowouts, he won in OT. The story’s going to be about him.

Arrowhead Pride
SBNation.com/NFL

by Joel Thorman on Jan 9, 2012 8:24 AM CST up reply actions

Not to say that I agree with all-Tebow, all-the-time the other 364 days of the year

Arrowhead Pride
SBNation.com/NFL

by Joel Thorman on Jan 9, 2012 8:26 AM CST up reply actions

Agree 100%

At least there was an actual story there this time…not just talking about the guy to talk about him.

My earliest Chiefs memories are watching guys named Dawson, Podolak, Taylor, Thomas, Bell, and Buchanan. So, yeah...I'm kind of an old fart.

by Scott B. on Jan 9, 2012 8:48 AM CST up reply actions

Giants, bold pick for sure ... nice job, Joel

you mentioned QB as difference, I think home-field also is an edge … ergo Balt in a close game

Twisted Lord of AP Color Commentary (H/T - Loco)
Winner: 2009 Nostradamus of Arrowhead Pride Award
"I shall conquer untruth by truth" - Mahatma Gandhi
"It's always easier to sell 'em some shit than it is to give 'em the truth" - Shel Silverstein, The Perfect High
hi, Mo! 5 minutes!!!

by upamtn on Jan 9, 2012 8:26 AM CST up reply actions

All I know

is the whole Tebow orgy needs to stop.

by SCKSChief on Jan 9, 2012 8:11 AM CST reply actions

And It WILL!!

That will be his 1 and only playoff win in his career! We would have beaten the Steelers if it wasn’t for PickO’

by HOF4DT58 on Jan 9, 2012 8:13 AM CST up reply actions

Well...A lot of people call this Tebow hate

That is far from it. People think we hate Tebow. I don’t hate anyone. I hate the hype surrounding him. So it is time for Brady to silence Tebow Time again, but this time on his own turf.

When you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail.

Jamaal above all. #25 ftw.

CHIEFS WILL!

by NJChieffan16 on Jan 9, 2012 8:18 AM CST up reply actions

yeah, just like we beat the Ravens last year!

We would have beaten the Steelers if …

by upamtn on Jan 9, 2012 8:28 AM CST up reply actions

Ouch

by SCKSChief on Jan 9, 2012 8:30 AM CST up reply actions

I just don't get it

Why the hell everyone is so in “ah” about Tebow….He’s not the only Christian to play football!!

by Arrowhead816 on Jan 9, 2012 8:19 AM CST reply actions

His religion doesn't really matter to me

But I thought he was a really bad quarterback and now he’s playing well enough to knock off the defending AFC champs. You gotta admit, it’s pretty interesting.

Arrowhead Pride
SBNation.com/NFL

by Joel Thorman on Jan 9, 2012 8:25 AM CST up reply actions

Is it Tebow playing "well"

or Pittsburgh playing “badly”? A case could be made for both. I think Ditka said it best on Mike and Mike this morning; “He’d (Tebow) be the first to admit he’s just a part of an interesting situation.” Paraphrased there (sorry, Ditka), but the gist is there. It isn’t Tebow winning these games, guys.

by SCKSChief on Jan 9, 2012 8:31 AM CST up reply actions

Tebow Haters at it again

Give it up. Tebow has done nothing to warrant all this hate he gets. It’s the media who can’t leave him alone for one second. It’s the media who force feed us Tebow storylines every minute of every day!

Sorry but I’m not gonna hate on Tebow because he is just doing his job “HELPING” to win games!

How long should you try? Until.
- Jim Rohn

by Matt_Grbac on Jan 9, 2012 8:28 AM CST via mobile reply actions

yup, and yesterday he actually looked like a real QB most of the game

by upamtn on Jan 9, 2012 8:30 AM CST up reply actions

That'll happen when you give him 2 minutes to sit back in the pocket while he waits for his receivers to get open

by RA_ChiefsFan on Jan 9, 2012 8:32 AM CST up reply actions

Yesterday

One time this season. Still had more incomplete passes than completed passes.

by SCKSChief on Jan 9, 2012 8:32 AM CST up reply actions

Yep if Cassel was 10 for 21 and the same outcome,

We all would still be saying he’s a bad QB.

I don't have a catchy, catch phrase.

by dbakerku on Jan 9, 2012 8:38 AM CST up reply actions

I don't see people hating on Tebow.

I must just look at things different, because I see them hating on his game, not on him. I hate all the hype he gets because I believe he can’t keep it up, but I understand all the circumstances into it, and the reasons for it. Tebow as been hyped up all his carrer, and shoved down everyne’s throats from the MEDIA, So the MEDIA is the one’s who bring it on Tebow. Just like you’re sick of the “HATE”, I’m sick of the leave him alone, he’s done nothing crap. Tebow is probably a great guy, and I don’t HATE him. I hate evrything revolving around the situation, and it has ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with his religion, that’s another MEDIA BS topic thrown on top.

I don't have a catchy, catch phrase.

by dbakerku on Jan 9, 2012 8:38 AM CST up reply actions

Well I'm sure some do actually hate him,

There are assholes in the world, but I think it’s more the situation and not him

I don't have a catchy, catch phrase.

by dbakerku on Jan 9, 2012 8:40 AM CST up reply actions

I hate the hype

it’s ridiculous.

by SCKSChief on Jan 9, 2012 8:48 AM CST up reply actions

I'm glad Tebow is winning,

Better for the Chiefs in the long run. Surely they have to keep him as starter next year now. His game will die off just like the Wildcat.

I don't have a catchy, catch phrase.

by dbakerku on Jan 9, 2012 8:30 AM CST reply actions

I too am glad that they'll be saddled with a bad QB

by SCKSChief on Jan 9, 2012 8:33 AM CST up reply actions

Which is why

RAC is a pure genius!!! Have man on man coverage, with a QB spy….force Tebow to play….

by Arrowhead816 on Jan 9, 2012 8:34 AM CST up reply actions

The funny thing is seeing an un-enthusiastic Elway during the game when they would score.

It’s like he’s happy that his team won but with every win he’s stuck with a guy who he knows is not a real NFL QB.

by RA_ChiefsFan on Jan 9, 2012 8:34 AM CST reply actions

steelers were crippled

everybody is making a big deal out of denvers win,the fact is the steelers were banged up pretty much.the patriots are healthy and ready to roll,so we will see how tebow does against a lot better team.and i think we all know what the results will be.and maybe the media will finally shut the hell up.no matter what the chiefs beat them.

by chiefsfool on Jan 9, 2012 8:38 AM CST reply actions

I'm on board with the Giants

I think the Packers peaked about midway through the season. The Giants were a bit of a surprise last time they made a run to the big dance as well… While I don’t think they are the best team in the bracket, I think they put up when it counts.

ToddQuixote III

by ToddQuixote on Jan 9, 2012 8:45 AM CST reply actions

Go Niners, Pack, Ravens and fightin Tebows

Sucks to pull for the Donks but Boston sports need to be taken down a notch

Standing on the corner in a white Godfather hat. He drives a long black gangster Cadillac. He can steal a broads mind, man, in three or four minutes. It’s not how long you talk, brother, it’s what you put in it.

by HIV 2 Elway on Jan 9, 2012 9:11 AM CST reply actions

Saints, Pats, Ravens, and Packers.

Pats will beat the Ravens to go to the Super Bowl. I will reserve judgment on the Saints and Packers game until I see how they each play leading up to the NFC championship game.

"The Hammer"

by G.L. on Jan 9, 2012 9:34 AM CST reply actions